Azamara, Why No Casino?!

[Lottie A]

1 hour ago, excitedofharpenden said:

Glad you like it. Thought you would. Way better, isn't it?  If there was one disadvantage on the Azamara ships it was that they didn't cope well if the weather's poor with space for guests inside. The Den gives another option now. 

 

Phil 

I do like it a lot Phil, in fact I would say it's my favourite space onboard after Mosaic of course. I'm in there now, drinking a glass of wine and waiting for my Trivia team...we are doing rather well! 😄

[MNgardens]

I read through the thread linked to on page 1 and didn't notice when the Journey is going to convert to having a Den. I am stalking a summer cruise 2020 on the Journey and am hoping that the conversion will be completed. I really really liked the Den on the Pursuit.

 

Apologies if I missed the date in the thread.

[excitedofharpenden]

39 minutes ago, MNgardens said:

I read through the thread linked to on page 1 and didn't notice when the Journey is going to convert to having a Den. I am stalking a summer cruise 2020 on the Journey and am hoping that the conversion will be completed. I really really liked the Den on the Pursuit.

 

Apologies if I missed the date in the thread.

It won’t be done by then unfortunately.  Journey goes into drydock in October for the changes. 

 

Phil

[DRJVH]

On 7/23/2019 at 4:45 AM, donaldsc said:

I have been on several cruises on Azamara ships which did have the casinos.  They tended to be deserted for the limited times that they are open.  They clearly are not making much money considering the space that it takes.

 

DON

Looking forward to seeing the Den. Having been on several azamara cruises, I don’t think I have ever seen the casino running fully. Half the time they were closed because the ship was in port or overnighting, so can’t see how they made any profit. Hopefully the music will be good in the den but not too loud that you can’t talk at the bar. 

[chromered7]

So was the decision to remove them partly to do with not enough space on the ship and saving money by not having Casino staff ? 

Does the Den become overcrowded because it “so popular “ ?

Edited July 26, 2019 by chromered7

[takemewithyou]

Are there plans to remove the casino from Quest?  

If so, does anyone know when this is planned?

[uktog]

3 hours ago, takemewithyou said:

Are there plans to remove the casino from Quest?  

If so, does anyone know when this is planned?

It went in March 2019. 

[excitedofharpenden]

10 hours ago, chromered7 said:

So was the decision to remove them partly to do with not enough space on the ship and saving money by not having Casino staff ? 

Does the Den become overcrowded because it “so popular “ ?

I can’t answer the first question as that is one for Azamara, but I do know that for the amount of time they were actually able to work, employing casino staff can’t have been at all economic.  As far as your second question, from my observations The Den was busy, but I never saw it overcrowded. 

 

Phil

[nordski]

12 hours ago, chromered7 said:

So was the decision to remove them partly to do with not enough space on the ship and saving money by not having Casino staff ? 

Does the Den become overcrowded because it “so popular “ ?

 

Can’t comment on the rationale used but removing Casino staff would free up some accommodation as well as money.

[hubofhockey]

Adding the six new cabins drives some economics here.  Also, the proliferation of casinos in the US has something to do with this as well.  There are too many casinos and the novelty of gaming, which at one time was limited to Vegas and Atlantic City, just isn't there.  It's hard to believe that people really need these things on a cruise.  I really like Las Vegas, but more so for entertainment and dining (which are also important at sea).  

[Georgia_Peaches]

54 minutes ago, hubofhockey said:

It's hard to believe that people really need these things on a cruise.   

I always say to each their own when it comes to cruising.  Which is why it is so important to do one's research prior to booking a cruise.

[chromered7]

3 hours ago, hubofhockey said:

Adding the six new cabins drives some economics here.  Also, the proliferation of casinos in the US has something to do with this as well.  There are too many casinos and the novelty of gaming, which at one time was limited to Vegas and Atlantic City, just isn't there.  It's hard to believe that people really need these things on a cruise.  I really like Las Vegas, but more so for entertainment and dining (which are also important at sea).  

 

3 hours ago, hubofhockey said:

Adding the six new cabins drives some economics here.  Also, the proliferation of casinos in the US has something to do with this as well.  There are too many casinos and the novelty of gaming, which at one time was limited to Vegas and Atlantic City, just isn't there.  It's hard to believe that people really need these things on a cruise.  I really like Las Vegas, but more so for entertainment and dining (which are also important at sea).  

Do you only use ships without  a Casino?

[chromered7]

2 hours ago, Georgia_Peaches said:

I always say to each their own when it comes to cruising.  Which is why it is so important to do one's research prior to booking a cruise.

We did not know that Azamara  had removed the Casino’s until after we had booked the cruise. If we could of had all money back we would have gone with another cruise line.

[chromered7]

Azamara have changed, they are now concerned with land and sea packages, longer stays , more overnights and country intensive itineraries. Like other cruise lines they are pushing for you to book another cruise before you have completed the one you are on. 

[Georgia_Peaches]

38 minutes ago, chromered7 said:

 

Do you only use ships without  a Casino?

Yes.  For this reason (and others as well) we won't book a Disney cruise or a river cruise.  And it's not because we are huge gamblers...actually far from it.  It's about the routine of the things that we enjoy that we find ourselves in when we cruise.  We like to spend some time in the casino either before dinner or after a show.  And sometimes we even win!  😎  However, I completely appreciate why people would cruise Azamara (or similar) and feel glad that there are so many options from which cruise lovers can choose.

[excitedofharpenden]

1 hour ago, chromered7 said:

We did not know that Azamara  had removed the Casino’s until after we had booked the cruise. If we could of had all money back we would have gone with another cruise line.

Just as a matter of interest, what ship and sail date are you on?

 

Phil 

[chromered7]

28 minutes ago, excitedofharpenden said:

Just as a matter of interest, what ship and sail date are you on?

 

Phil 

Why is that relevant?

[hubofhockey]

2 hours ago, chromered7 said:

 

Do you only use ships without  a Casino?

 

I don't just cruise on ships without a casino, but I do avoid casinos on ships.  Hey, if cruise lines still make money on them, great for the rest of us because it keeps fares down.  If cruise lines find casinos becoming less profitable, they'll be gone.  I'm not and Azamara regular, but I'm good with the Den concept because it makes more passengers happy and makes other areas less crowded.  

Edited July 27, 2019 by hubofhockey

[excitedofharpenden]

1 hour ago, chromered7 said:

Why is that relevant?

I'm trying to help you. 

 

Phil 

[ellbon]

Is there another cruise line besides Viking and AZ that does not have gaming? I have to walk thru some casinos to get to shows but I just walk thru them. 

[hubofhockey]

15 minutes ago, ellbon said:

Is there another cruise line besides Viking and AZ that does not have gaming? I have to walk thru some casinos to get to shows but I just walk thru them. 

 

Virgin will not have casinos or kids on their ships. Disney has kids but no casinos.  

[ellbon]

10 minutes ago, hubofhockey said:

 

Virgin will not have casinos or kids on their ships. Disney has kids but no casinos.  

 

10 minutes ago, hubofhockey said:

 

Virgin will not have casinos or kids on their ships. Disney has kids but no casinos.  

Forgot about disney

 

 Virgin.do not know that one

 

nit a gamer 

[hubofhockey]

26 minutes ago, ellbon said:

 

Forgot about disney

 

 Virgin.do not know that one

 

nit a gamer 

 

Virgin is Richard Branson's new line.  I watched the video.  At 59, I think I may be a little old for the typical demographic.  

 

There is no gaming on any of the ships in the Galapagos (Celebrity or Silversea), so oddly enough, no casinos on our next two cruises, which is fine.  We're on the Equinox November 2020 in the Caribbean, so there's a casino we can avoid. 😎

 

Most people go to these casinos at sea and think they are gambling with the same chances they get at casinos in the USA, but they aren't.  Payout ratios simply aren't regulated and they pay out less.  Now that obviously doesn't apply to craps and blackjack tables, it does apply to anything electronic.  

 

 

 

[chromered7]

2 hours ago, excitedofharpenden said:

I'm trying to help you. 

 

Phil 

How?

[donaldsc]

1 hour ago, hubofhockey said:

 

Virgin is Richard Branson's new line.  I watched the video.  At 59, I think I may be a little old for the typical demographic.  

 

There is no gaming on any of the ships in the Galapagos (Celebrity or Silversea), so oddly enough, no casinos on our next two cruises, which is fine.  We're on the Equinox November 2020 in the Caribbean, so there's a casino we can avoid. 😎

 

Most people go to these casinos at sea and think they are gambling with the same chances they get at casinos in the USA, but they aren't.  Payout ratios simply aren't regulated and they pay out less.  Now that obviously doesn't apply to craps and blackjack tables, it does apply to anything electronic.  

 

 

 

 

If you go to Vegas to gamble, you are going to lose.  However, you are at least protected by the Nevada Gambling Commision from being cheated.  If you gamble on a ship, you are protected from being cheated by the cruise company management.  Which would you prefer.

 

DON