One reason why I like Ncl's casino better than Celebrity

[fstuff1]

On ncl, you know how much extra obc you're getting on the last night of the cruise by asking the host.

You can estimate it based on your points earned that cruise

 

From my experience:

- 4k points is +$25 extra

- 5k is ~$100

- 10k is ~$300

- 15k is ~$600 (not from experience but from a couple of people I know who regularly gamble this much)

 

Based on my estimate, I charge enough on my acct throughout the cruise.

If any leftover, I just buy alcohol from the gift shop on the last night.

 

On Celebrity, you have no idea how many points you earned if you play tables. (And I play tables on Celebrity because they set all the slots to the tightest return, 85%.)

 

The casino sends the info to hq after the cruise is over and hq calculates the points.

While The casino host can estimate how much you have, s/he won't tell you how much extra obc you're getting. (Tried with 2 hosts on 2 different cruises.)

 

So if you don't have enough charges on your acct, you leave $ on the table. 😞

 

Edited December 13, 2019 by fstuff1

[Sand and Seas]

Fstuff, what are you playing on NCL?  

I used to play video poker, but of course the odds on the ships are horrid. 

 

I'm getting better comps playing slots now due to the increased theo without risking more money.    I don't know what percent they have the slots set at, but it's been working much better for me than video poker.   I've had a couple of cruises where I've earned 10,000 points and CAS has given me an additional 400-600 in comps (on top of my Ruby $400 obc).   I attribute that to the theoretical for the slots.

 

[fstuff1]

9 hours ago, Sand and Seas said:

Fstuff, what are you playing on NCL?  

I used to play video poker, but of course the odds on the ships are horrid. 

 

I'm getting better comps playing slots now due to the increased theo without risking more money.    I don't know what percent they have the slots set at, but it's been working much better for me than video poker.   I've had a couple of cruises where I've earned 10,000 points and CAS has given me an additional 400-600 in comps (on top of my Ruby $400 obc).   I attribute that to the theoretical for the slots.

 

 

interesting.

no idea what the slots return % is on ncl but configurable setting options from major slot manufacturers are usually:

85%, 87%, 89%, 91%, 93%, 95%

 

the worst video poker setting (6/5 JoB = 95%) is equal to the highest slot setting.

and i highly doubt NCL sets their slots anywhere in the 90% range.

 

yes you get better comps by playing slots because of better theo than vp.

but you will be losing more $ by playing slots than vp (in the long run).

even at $2 coin-in for 1point, you lose less $ per point by playing vp (in the long run).

 

protip:

the Best vp on NCL is on the Escape --> 8/6 bonus poker deluxe Triple Play (98.5%) @ $5 denomination.

i havent seen that game at that high of a setting on any other ncl ship.

2nd best vp is 8/6 JoB Triple Play (98.4%) @ $5 denomination. 

 

but it's been 2 years since i've been on the Escape so ncl might have changed it.

 

Edited December 14, 2019 by fstuff1

[Sand and Seas]

I do understand your point, but we don't go on cruises to play $5 and up VP.    We used to play many hours of over 99% multi-line dollar slots in Las Vegas and New Orleans.   (Can I say....it's a pain to have to file a state tax return in Louisiana to get back some of those automatic with-holdings!)  Just not our thing anymore as odds are gone now at our favorite land casinos.   It was pretty hard 'work' to keep chasing the odds while comps were disappearing too.

   

Our cruises a few years ago were all certificates from CET and we rarely played on the ship at all since the odds weren't to my liking😕   Before we retired, we went to Las Vegas and New Orleans regularly to play the best odds VP.  Did very well at Harrah's New Orleans in the High Limit slots playing 3/5/10 play Deuces before they lowered the odds.    We used to have to wait to get on those machines but since they lowered the odds I've rarely seen anyone playing them.   We no longer find it worth it to chase around Las Vegas trying to find some decent odds.   We still can get nice suites comped in LV and some good meals but we just don't go there as often.   We keep up our 'relationship' with CET so we can also get those comped rooms in New Orleans before and after cruises.   Now that we have time, we like to cruise more.

 

Now, we look at our gambling budget differently.  We factor in the type of comped cabin we enjoy and all of the other comps we enjoy from CAS.    I understand how this doesn't work for everyone, but we enjoy it.   We often gamble less $$ during a week on a cruise than we did in 2 days in Las Vegas, but we enjoy the balcony or mini-suite along with the perks of being Platinum with NCL and Ruby with CAS.   Yes, we know the odds are probably not set very high on those machines but we have had some very decent returns at times.   I have to suspect they have a few machines set higher than the others or else I've just had that magic touch....at times😉

 

We worked hard enough to retire with a good entertainment/travel budget.   We now take the  gambling budget we would have spent in Las Vegas over a 2 day week-end to pick up a cruise certificate and instead plan to play that on the ship.  It works for us and we are happy when we look at what our 'cost' per cruise is for what type of cabin & comps we get.    I'm not the person playing $10 slots, either.  You'll find me playing in the $2 to $4 range, but by cruising four times a year I'm keeping my Ruby status with CAS easily enough.    I am deliberately playing in that range to win the $500 to $1000 jackpots as we really don't need  more re-portable ones for taxes.   

 

This is what works for us, and I know it wouldn't be comfortable for others.  No one should go on a cruise with the idea they will make money in the casino.  However, I like the 'return' on our gambling dollars versus the cruise vacation we enjoy.  We used to pay full list price for cruises many many years ago!