Question for the Gamblers!

[bbryan5]

Some great info here. Would love to hear more stories about good slot hits!

[April42749]

The last time I was on the Breakaway (Dec 2016) the slots were so tight, I stopped playing on Day 4 of a 7 day cruise.

 

And, this is coming from someone who expects to lose her entire bankroll.

 

So tight, and the money was going so fast.....it just wasn't fun.

[skeeter195]

I will have to check this out on my cruise later this year.

 

Last I checked, you could not double after split, you could not double on anything but 9-10-11 and they DEFINITELY were not standing on soft 17. This includes the high limit games I observed.

 

If the game description you gave is true, then it's actually a GOOD blackjack game, albeit one with high minimums.

 

Can anyone else verify having played a game like this on NCL?

 

Again I am not an NCL cheerleader here but I do not want false info out there for anyone wanting to gamble seriously.

 

These have been the blackjack rules for as far back as I can remember on NCL fleetwide. Until recently the $25 and up tables had the same rules.

 

The craps game is also on par with the land based games with the 3-4-5 odds. The only bad thing is that when buying a number you may pay the vig up front. Good land based games will take the vig after you hit.

 

If you want to seriously gamble the $50 BJ and craps games are as good as most land based games. If you want to just have fun at lower stakes then the BJ and other games are not for you. Any serious gambler will not be playing less than the $100 table BJ table anyway. Most cruisers are there to have fun and the lower stakes games with side bets are much more fun than grinding it out just making the by the book bets.

[Prinz]

I can't speak to your information about all of the games but what you wrote about Blackjack is not true. In all of my NCL cruises:

- Only $6 BJ tables ($5 main bet, $1 side bet) pay 6:5 on Blackjack. $10+ pay standard 3:2. I usualyl sit at a $15 table and have always been paid 3:2.

- Double after split is definitely allowed, except when splitting Aces in which you only get one card (standard across most casinos, land or sea).

- I've doubled down with an 8 and have seen some do so on a 12 (ugh), so the 9/10/11 rule is not true either

 

That's been my experience as well. On the Gem, Breakaway, Dawn and Pearl.

They're also pretty accommodating in opening up non-continuous shuffle tables if you ask for it. Or higher minimum tables at the times they've got only the cheap tables open.

[BostonGal35]

That's been my experience as well. On the Gem, Breakaway, Dawn and Pearl.

They're also pretty accommodating in opening up non-continuous shuffle tables if you ask for it. Or higher minimum tables at the times they've got only the cheap tables open.

 

i concur. no issues with playing "normal" blackjack ($15 and $25 tables) on any NCL ship.

[candigirl41]

I sailed the Norwegian Jewel last October. I was playing the gold fish slot. It was a 2 cent machine. I played .50 cents a spin. I started with 10 or 20 dollars and I walked away with over 80 dollars. I went and put 70 dollars in the safe. I played like this all week. I had enough money to purchase all my gifts and things in port. We were at the piano bar most of the time and when the piano player took a break I told my friend I was going to the casino and would be back for the next set. The piano bar is next to the casino so very convenient. I was gone 5 minutes and my friend thought I had lost. I hit 120 dollar bonus. Off to safe to put money away. I think I only lost one night. I had left for the trip with under 100 dollars and came back with about 130 dollars. I realize this isn't usual but I was quite happy. Good luck with whatever you decide t play and have fun.

 

Candi

[bbryan5]

I sailed the Norwegian Jewel last October. I was playing the gold fish slot. It was a 2 cent machine. I played .50 cents a spin. I started with 10 or 20 dollars and I walked away with over 80 dollars. I went and put 70 dollars in the safe. I played like this all week. I had enough money to purchase all my gifts and things in port. We were at the piano bar most of the time and when the piano player took a break I told my friend I was going to the casino and would be back for the next set. The piano bar is next to the casino so very convenient. I was gone 5 minutes and my friend thought I had lost. I hit 120 dollar bonus. Off to safe to put money away. I think I only lost one night. I had left for the trip with under 100 dollars and came back with about 130 dollars. I realize this isn't usual but I was quite happy. Good luck with whatever you decide t play and have fun.

 

Candi

 

Thanks! If I end up even at the end of the cruise, I consider that a win!

[creosotegirl]

I actually enjoy playing the slots and video poker games on NCL, even though I don't always win. On the video poker side, I have had far better luck playing the Ultimate Times games at low amounts. I think the best that I've done on that is about a $500 profit playing nickels. I have gone home with a couple of forms to submit to Uncle Sam for small jackpots on the slots. I go into the casino knowing that I have a better chance of losing than winning. I always hope I sit in the right chair. Good luck and have fun!

[Sand and Seas]

The Fu Dao Le (also known as Chinese Babies!) bank on the Dawn was always busy on our recent cruise. We saw a lady betting 88cents hit a Major jackpot for over $9400 early in the cruise. I usually play video poker but spent a lot of time on those slots that cruise. Hit a couple of bonus rounds that I cashed out for several hundred $$ before I played it back that week. Very fun!

 

On VP I play ultimate X for small denominations on board. Have hit a couple of 10X Royals for $4000.

[jplovestocruise]

The Fu Dao Le (also known as Chinese Babies!) bank on the Dawn was always busy on our recent cruise. We saw a lady betting 88cents hit a Major jackpot for over $9400 early in the cruise. I usually play video poker but spent a lot of time on those slots that cruise. Hit a couple of bonus rounds that I cashed out for several hundred $$ before I played it back that week. Very fun!

 

On VP I play ultimate X for small denominations on board. Have hit a couple of 10X Royals for $4000.

 

Hey, I wonder if this is the cruise I was on! I went on the Dawn in April out of New Orleans :-) The casino was so good to me!

[Sand and Seas]

Hey, I wonder if this is the cruise I was on! I went on the Dawn in April out of New Orleans :-) The casino was so good to me!

We were on the Dawn just before you. That was a great little casino. I hope the Escape has some good machines for our next cruise!

[asubaru]

What ship was this? I have cruised NCL for years, on various ships, and have NEVER seen these rules (I do not play the $6 tables)

 

You don't have to go with high minimum games to get decent rules.

 

Saying you're a professional gambler while stating this false info, really is not fair. People might actually believe you:o

 

 

 

I will have to check this out on my cruise later this year.

 

Last I checked, you could not double after split, you could not double on anything but 9-10-11 and they DEFINITELY were not standing on soft 17. This includes the high limit games I observed.

 

If the game description you gave is true, then it's actually a GOOD blackjack game, albeit one with high minimums.

 

Can anyone else verify having played a game like this on NCL?

[lenquixote66]

I'm diamond player for total rewards. Mostly play at Ballys in AC. Play a lot of craps, 3 card, bj, etc.. Never a big slot player at all. Have hit a few 1200-1500 jackpots in AC on dollar machines, but nothing that great. On my ncl cruises I stick to the same games for the most part, and rarely, if ever, play slots on board. My question is, how do the ship machines pay out compared to land based casinos? I always feel the ship machines would be extremely tight. I'm seriously considering hitting the slots a lot more than normal on my upcoming Breakaway cruise, but I'm looking for feedback. I APPRECIATE IT!

 

I gave up on AC casinos .I have only lost once in a cruise casino .On my last 4 cruises (2015-2017) I have won 3 times paying penny slots ($1600) and lost once ,approximately $140.

 

[asubaru]

I have had many video poker hand pays, but have had more losses than wins::shocking:: I have seen many slot jackpots but, of course, there are more losses. Cruise ships have really, really, poor pay outs on slots. Doesn't mean you can't put a 20 in here and there to see if it's "hot". The key is recognizing when it's cold!

 

IMO, you should stick to what you normally play; table games. If you want to start dabbling in slot play, I would definitely choose a land based casino:D

 

 

Some great info here. Would love to hear more stories about good slot hits!

[asubaru]

I did quite a bit of research on this some years ago and the general consensus was that they are not monitored; IOW unregulated. I read (more than once) that according to the International Council of Cruise Lines, slot machines on cruise ships are supposed to meet the regulatory standards of the Nevada Gaming Control Board or other licensed jurisdiction for payback and internal software. This percentage is 75%. Since cruise lines don't have to publish payouts, who really knows?

As I see it, the main issue is lack of competition. For example: Nevada says you must have at least a 75% payout, yet in the LV area they payout about 88-96% (depending on area and denomination). The reason these aren't closer to the minimum is competition. Another example: Michigan has Indian casinos and they must have a minimum 75% return. They don't publish their returns, but they have competition and if they didn't have "decent" (approx 90%), they wouldn't have much volume/business.

The bottom line is, sadly, cruise line casino don't have any competition and slot players are at a huge disadvantage. This doesn't mean people don't win;)

 

 

 

Where are you getting this information?

[smithop]

I have had many video poker hand pays, but have had more losses than wins::shocking:: I have seen many slot jackpots but, of course, there are more losses. Cruise ships have really, really, poor pay outs on slots. Doesn't mean you can't put a 20 in here and there to see if it's "hot". The key is recognizing when it's cold!

 

 

 

IMO, you should stick to what you normally play; table games. If you want to start dabbling in slot play, I would definitely choose a land based casino:D

 

 

 

The other key is never play unless you can afford MAX bet. I put $10 in a penny machine on a recent cruise, the second MAX bet it went crazy, when it was done I had $1000 on the credits. I cashed out right away and went to the bar. The people sitting next were doing minimum bets, even when they had winners it was a piddling amount.

 

I put the $1000 down on my next cruise and scored the $400 OBC deal.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[$hip$hape]

The bottom line is, sadly, cruise line casino don't have any competition and slot players are at a huge disadvantage.

This doesn't mean people don't win;)

 

Sue,

To be short,

Me DW, Catherine, scored a video Royal Flush on a recent NCL cruise.

Her win was featured on a promo, (video on the ship).

And to your point, most pax tell of their winnings, but not of their losses. :cool:

(See you on the Bliss)

Michael

[bbryan5]

TTT! Anymore good casino stories?

[Faulkh]

Single odds behind, is that true? I've never seen any casino give worse than 345. And if there's some competing casinos around they'll often allow more than that.

What about 5 and 9, not allowed to make your odds behind even?

 

If that's the case then I'm guessing the only people at that craps table will be the same people who you see crowding the one dollar blackjack tables splitting 10s.

 

Sent from my Nexus 6P using Forums mobile app

I am not a gambler, but enjoying this thread for you are all speaking a different language to me. ;p

[tempus137]

Just off the NCL Star.

 

$10 blackjack - 3:2 on blackjack, double on splits (except A's), double on anything. I'm not 100% positive, but I think dealer hit on soft 17.

 

I had 1 hand with 66 and dealer showed 5. Split the 6's. 1st 6, another 6. Split them. 1st 6 - 4, doubled. Next 6 - 2, doubled. Next 6 - 6, split again. 1st 6 - 3, doubled. Last 6 - J, stayed. Dealer showed a 3. Dealer then starts pulling small cards like crazy. Finally busted on th 7th card.

[tgloersen]

Single odds behind, is that true? I've never seen any casino give worse than 345. And if there's some competing casinos around they'll often allow more than that.

What about 5 and 9, not allowed to make your odds behind even?

 

If that's the case then I'm guessing the only people at that craps table will be the same people who you see crowding the one dollar blackjack tables splitting 10s.

 

Sent from my Nexus 6P using Forums mobile app

 

I kid you not, RCCL = single odds behind the line, they will let you even up the odds on 5 and 9.

[UGADoc]

Like any casino the house wins overall but that doesn't mean that there are no winners. If that were true, soon there would be no casinos. Casinos at Sea (NCL) give nice comps to good players such as, on my last cruise, premium drinks for me and house drinks for my wife anytime we were in the casino, $250 in food and beverage credit, $300 in spa credit, chocolates or other goodies each night of the cruise and 1 premium cigar per day of the cruise. Additionally, they comped our balony stateroom (we paid $360 each for an 11 day cruise for taxes and port fees). As at any casino I take this into account when tallying up my win/loss for the trip. So if I am down a couple of thousand dollars I consider myself even. Last trip I played in 4 poker tournaments and netted $2,000 in winnings. The only slots that I play are video poker and while the odds are not optimal they are about what you find in any Caesars/Harrahs casino. I hit a couple of jackpots totaling $6,000 and netted another $2,000.

Of course, I have had cruises where I lost and lost but that is why they call it gambling. The bottom line is: if you enjoy casino gambling you will enjoy it at NCL/Casinos at Sea. My wife and I are going on two cruises this summer and one in December - all comped. Take advantage of offers like these from your casino host/hostess and even your losses can go in the plus category.

[Nelsj099]

I tend to play slots when I don't know the players at a table. I'd play by myself at a table any day. My May cruise on the Epic I lost a grand total of 90$ I was comped 130$ plus a free cruise in October for Greece. I would say that I came out a winner with that deal. I did not buy a beverage package but got free drinks in the Casino on the start of day 2. I had expected a loss of about 3k, so I walked away very happy.

[asubaru]

Congrats to her on the Royal.

 

See you in 335 days!:cool:

 

 

Sue,

To be short,

Me DW, Catherine, scored a video Royal Flush on a recent NCL cruise.

Her win was featured on a promo, (video on the ship).

And to your point, most pax tell of their winnings, but not of their losses. :cool:

(See you on the Bliss)

Michael

[TYSONBOXER]

On my first NCL cruise many years ago, I played the 25 cent video poker game . $1.25 max. I told my wife if I get royal flush I will give her the winnings. On third pull I pulled a royal flush and won $1000. Me and my big mouth. Gave her the money.

 

 

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