Question About Carnival Casino Game

[Calnev1]

This question is for those of you who have actually been on a recent Carnival cruise and went into the casino.

 

Before the pandemic, most Carnival casinos had a blackjack variant called “Fun 21.”  Do any of the ships still have it following the restart? And is it still dealt from a shoe?  ( It was pretty much the only blackjack game dealt from a shoe, at least before the pandemic.)  Thanks in advance for your replies!

[IntrepidFromDC]

They had it on the Pride's 9/12 sailing.  Sorry I don't recall if it was a shoe or machine.

[Calnev1]

41 minutes ago, IntrepidFromDC said:

They had it on the Pride's 9/12 sailing.  Sorry I don't recall if it was a shoe or machine.

OK.  Thanks.

[vwrestler171]

It was a continuous shuffle machine last I saw, but that was pre-COVID, I doubt they would change it back to a shoe.

[Calnev1]

4 minutes ago, vwrestler171 said:

It was a continuous shuffle machine last I saw, but that was pre-COVID, I doubt they would change it back to a shoe.

Dang.   I was on the "last Carnival ship at sea" pre pandemic (Carnival Miracle through the Panama Canal) and the Fun 21 was definitely dealt from a shoe on the Miracle.  The casino staff said they couldn't use the CSM on the Fun 21 game because the individual decks only had 48 cards due to removal of the Kings and the CSM couldnt handle 48 card decks.    But the staff could have made that explanation up.  Anyways, I won't play CSM, so I was hoping that at least some of the Fun 21 games were still ongoing with a shoe.

[vwrestler171]

23 hours ago, Calnev1 said:

Dang.   I was on the "last Carnival ship at sea" pre pandemic (Carnival Miracle through the Panama Canal) and the Fun 21 was definitely dealt from a shoe on the Miracle.  The casino staff said they couldn't use the CSM on the Fun 21 game because the individual decks only had 48 cards due to removal of the Kings and the CSM couldnt handle 48 card decks.    But the staff could have made that explanation up.  Anyways, I won't play CSM, so I was hoping that at least some of the Fun 21 games were still ongoing with a shoe.

Maybe it was a shoe.  Now you have me questioning.  

[hurricane0226]

Saw it on the automatic shuffle machine on the Magic in Aug. 

[Coopdog08]

On Horizon at beginning of Sept and it was hand shuffle like it always has been. Had $6 min table, $10 and $25. Three fun 21 tables to one regular blackjack. Paid 3/2 blackjack. Love the game, can be more aggressive than regular blackjack. Also had the two side games. One with the Q hearts and another if the dealer busts based on his flip card. 

Edited September 22, 2021 by Coopdog08
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[Caribbean Drifters]

On 9/20/2021 at 8:22 PM, Calnev1 said:

Dang.   I was on the "last Carnival ship at sea" pre pandemic (Carnival Miracle through the Panama Canal) and the Fun 21 was definitely dealt from a shoe on the Miracle.  The casino staff said they couldn't use the CSM on the Fun 21 game because the individual decks only had 48 cards due to removal of the Kings and the CSM couldnt handle 48 card decks.    But the staff could have made that explanation up.  Anyways, I won't play CSM, so I was hoping that at least some of the Fun 21 games were still ongoing with a shoe.

it's not the CSM that is hurting you, it's the structure of the game. more than double the House Edge of good rules Blackjack, if you play perfect strategy, which is very convoluted.

[Calnev1]

1 hour ago, Coopdog08 said:

On Horizon at beginning of Sept and it was hand shuffle like it always has been. Had $6 min table, $10 and $25. Three fun 21 tables to one regular blackjack. Paid 3/2 blackjack. Love the game, can be more aggressive than regular blackjack. Also had the two side games. One with the Q hearts and another if the dealer busts based on his flip card. 

Thanks Coopdog.  This is what I was hoping to hear.  Interesting that there were three fun21 tables on the Horizon.  The game was definitely popular on the previous Carnival cruises I was on, but there was only one Fun21 table on those cruises.

[Calnev1]

1 hour ago, Caribbean Drifters said:

it's not the CSM that is hurting you, it's the structure of the game. more than double the House Edge of good rules Blackjack, if you play perfect strategy, which is very convoluted.

Yes, the house edge in Fun21 is a bit over 1% if you play perfect Fun21 "basic" strategy.  The basic strategy for Fun 21 is very similar to that for Spanish 21, which strategy can be found on numerous gambling websites and I dont think is that convoluted.  For me, anyways.

[woodey]

It was a shoe on the Miracle last month...and yes I'm positive.. im a pit manager in real life...I watch them shuffle the shoe.

[Calnev1]

2 minutes ago, woodey said:

It was a shoe on the Miracle last month...and yes I'm positive.. im a pit manager in real life...I watch them shuffle the shoe.

 And another happy data point.  Thanks Woodey.  But one wonders.  When you go on vacation . . . why are you in the casino??  Ha.

[woodey]

Well I was standing behind my brother watching him play...but I only play while on vacation... I'm wise to the wicked ways and know just to gamble for fun..

 

[Caribbean Drifters]

On 9/21/2021 at 9:55 PM, Calnev1 said:

Yes, the house edge in Fun21 is a bit over 1% if you play perfect Fun21 "basic" strategy.  The basic strategy for Fun 21 is very similar to that for Spanish 21, which strategy can be found on numerous gambling websites and I dont think is that convoluted.  For me, anyways.

Not sure why you are reiterating the facts already stated. Just because you dont know the game is hurting you, doesn't mean it isn't 😉.

 

[Calnev1]

3 hours ago, woodey said:

 I'm wise to the wicked ways and know just to gamble for fun..

 

Amen to that!