Slot Machines in the Ocean Bar

[cruisemom42]

2 hours ago, JennysUncle said:

Let us hope that putting slot machines in the Ocean Bar is an experiment.  While some lines have gone smoke-free, HAL has clung to allowing smoking in the Casino.  Presumably the theory is that banning it there would hurt profits by not luring smokers - but maybe it would increase them by drawing non-smokers who don't gamble because they can't stand the smoke.  Having slots now in a non-smoking area will provide a direct head-to-head test, and maybe convince HAL to finally get rid of the stink in the Casino.

 

Or they could decide after a trial that it makes them more money to have two casinos, one smoking and one non-smoking.

 

And the rest of us passengers lose yet another lovely space onboard ship that was intended to be for the use of all.

 

[Mary229]

11 minutes ago, cruisemom42 said:

two casinos, one smoking and one non-smoking.

Curious?  Is the smoking community that much of a force.  I am married to a smoker and he has no problem complying with the current set up of the outside area.  I would think most smokers, like my DH, don't like inside smoking either. He does not smoke in the casino and will leave if it is too smoky.    

 

I remember being on Oceania seeking my nephew in the cigar lounge - it was never very full.  I would often sit and visit while he finished his cigarette since the air was ok.  

 

[Laminator]

49 minutes ago, cruisemom42 said:

 

Does HAL have bigger losses to recoup than other lines?  I don't see them doing this.

 

Possibly...I am not sure how financially stable HAL was prior to the pandemic.

[luvn2cruzzz]

Just got off the Rotterdam crossing which was wonderful and thoroughly enjoyed the music in the Ocean Bar.   Today we cancelled a back to back on the Rotterdam in January due to the Ocean Bar's tacky transformation.  Sel de Mer is our favorite restaurant and now the thought of going to dine there is forever tarnished with slot machines directly across from it.  If this is temporary, please someone in an official capacity announce that before 4*s like us  defect to another line.  

[Laminator]

16 minutes ago, luvn2cruzzz said:

Just got off the Rotterdam crossing which was wonderful and thoroughly enjoyed the music in the Ocean Bar.   Today we cancelled a back to back on the Rotterdam in January due to the Ocean Bar's tacky transformation.  Sel de Mer is our favorite restaurant and now the thought of going to dine there is forever tarnished with slot machines directly across from it.  If this is temporary, please someone in an official capacity announce that before 4*s like us  defect to another line.  

The Rotterdam has a huge slot tournament coming up on what I believe is the Dec 1st cruise. From what I am hearing from a very reliable source is the machines have been installed for that tournament. If you have ever sailed on a cruise where they have these VIP tournaments it is very hard to get near a slot machine as the casino is packed.

[kazu]

It’s been posted on sansterre’s thread that the slot machines will be out before the holiday sailings.

[mcrcruiser]

3 hours ago, cruisemom42 said:

 

Or they could decide after a trial that it makes them more money to have two casinos, one smoking and one non-smoking.

 

And the rest of us passengers lose yet another lovely space onboard ship that was intended to be for the use of all.

 

Call it Vegas Style ,once in never leaves .

Slots are the main source of any casino profits .Reason is that they are the worst pay back  .On any cruise ship the best game & imo the only game is the craps table .Even there the ship casinos limit the behind the line bet to  2 chips where as LAs Vegas is 20 chips or twenty times odds 

Summary :those who keep money in pocket are the real winners ,lol

[rkacruiser]

3 hours ago, kazu said:

It’s been posted on sansterre’s thread that the slot machines will be out before the holiday sailings.

 

Let's believe it when it happens, kazu.  

[RuthC]

4 hours ago, Laminator said:

The Rotterdam has a huge slot tournament coming up on what I believe is the Dec 1st cruise. From what I am hearing from a very reliable source is the machines have been installed for that tournament.

That may be the truth, but is it the whole truth? Does your 'reliable source' also say that when the tournament is over, the machines will be removed from the Ocean Bar? 
They seem to have been installed quite early for a tournament that doesn't start until December 1. 

[rkacruiser]

9 hours ago, Hlitner said:

I suppose they could replace chairs in the cabins with slot machines.

 

Hank

 

 

How about pay toilets in the public restrooms?  

[kazu]

1 minute ago, rkacruiser said:

 

Let's believe it when it happens, kazu.  

Check out the post.   It’s from a media person who wanted to share before writing the article in a week.  they also stated that the wine stewards will be returning.  They are on board and have had interviews.

[Hlitner]

3 minutes ago, rkacruiser said:

 

How about pay toilets in the public restrooms?  

Awwww'!  Even HAL would not go that low.  But there is something to say for slots in the restrooms and a few extra slots outside the Ladies Restrooms where the men tend to wait for their mates.  Even I could be tempted to play a slot while waiting for DW although I will confess that slots are the last place I would go in any casino.  For me it would be Craps or Blackjack where I actually have a small chance of winning.  I understand the strong attraction of slots but there is a reason they have long been called "one armed bandits."  I believe they generally have the poorest odds of any game in a casino with the exception of Keno.

 

Hank

[highscar]

@rkacruiseri needed a good laugh today.  Thanks. 

[rkacruiser]

4 minutes ago, highscar said:

@rkacruiseri needed a good laugh today.  Thanks. 

 

You are welcome!  

[YYC F/A]

5 hours ago, Laminator said:

The Rotterdam has a huge slot tournament coming up on what I believe is the Dec 1st cruise. From what I am hearing from a very reliable source is the machines have been installed for that tournament. If you have ever sailed on a cruise where they have these VIP tournaments it is very hard to get near a slot machine as the casino is packed.

So is that why they’re also on Koningsdam then as well?

[tjcox9]

5 minutes ago, YYC F/A said:

So is that why they’re also on Koningsdam then as well?

However, I have not seen that they have taken over the entire Ocean Bar as they seem to have done on the Rotterdam, perhaps on their next day in San Diego, but they seem to be having enough embarkation/disembarkation issues that it may not be possible to bring more machines on board at this time. Who knows what is going on when we are all so anxious to be at sea once again, regardless the circumstances............perhaps.

[Laminator]

1 hour ago, kazu said:

Check out the post.   It’s from a media person who wanted to share before writing the article in a week.  they also stated that the wine stewards will be returning.  They are on board and have had interviews.

This is what I can tell you. My source was on the Koningsdam for a few weeks approximately a month ago when the machines were put there. My source was also on the Rotterdam when the machines were put in the Ocean Bar. All I can tell you is my source will be on the Nieuw Statendam on Nov 12th. If you said Oh No now there will be slot machines in the Ocean Bar on that ship you would be correct. Not all of these ships are having VIP slot tournaments between now and the end of the year. So let's see what transpires. 

[Laminator]

1 hour ago, RuthC said:

That may be the truth, but is it the whole truth? Does your 'reliable source' also say that when the tournament is over, the machines will be removed from the Ocean Bar? 
They seem to have been installed quite early for a tournament that doesn't start until December 1. 

I think as of now that is the company line. Let's see what transpires moving forward. I, like you, am a bit skeptical.

[Laminator]

I think HAL is fully aware of what percentage of pax are booked on casino offers the next few months. Those numbers may be significantly higher than usual. As a result they may be adding these additional slot machines to accommodate those pax that have taken advantage of the casino offers. I don't think a final determination will be made on whether those slot machines stay or go for a little awhile. I am quite sure the bean counters will be involved.  

[Hlitner]

Allow me to speculate.  More then ever HAL needs to exercise part of the mass market business plan which relies on the "maximization of onboard revenue" to boost the bottom line.  If you a HAL planner would you prefer the traditional HAL cruiser who tends to no do a lot of drinking and goes to bed relatively early  versus the gambler type cruiser who spends many nighttime hours in the casino spending their money and drinking.    While the traditional HAL customer is comfortably tucked away in their cabin (not spending money) these gambler folks are out and about and contributing to the bottom line.  Yes, I know that gamblers all think they win.  But Las Vegas and Macao were not built on the profits from winning gamblers!   

 

So perhaps HAL is trying to make their ships more inviting to the free spending gambler crowd. I sure hope this is not the case....but there is cause to be suspicious.   A typical HAL cruiser might go to the Ocean Bar to nurse s single drink and do some dancing.  This generates very little revenue for HAL.  But replace those folks with gamblers (especially those that are content to lose money at bad odds slot machines) and this is good for HAL.  Having a live band (and taking space for a dance floor) in the Ocean bar does not make HAL much money.  But even a dozen gamblers playing slots and drinking booze can turn that venue into a profit maker.   If this is the thinking in Seattle (and we sure hope this is not the situation) then HAL might not be too concerned about alienating their long term fans who spend little beyond the cruise fare.

 

What do you think?

 

Hank

[Florida_gal_50]

I spend a lot on hal and none of it is in the casino.  That’s not the only revenue source for hal.

[DaveOKC]

Hlitnor -  good points to be sure.

 

While I agree with you that gamblers all think they win, I have found one way to do so.  Over the years and many different casinos in different areas, I found that by knowing the 1) rules of the game/machine and 2) the comp rules/procedures, we can do quite well and even come out ahead.  A main key is being able to control your gambling, which can be hard to do after a few drinks.

 

If these items are not in your favor, do not gamble and move onto something else.  Case in point, back in the 70s I used to "count" cards playing Blackjack in Vegas.  When they went to multiple decks, I stopped as I no longer had an advantage.  When the comps were flowing freely (especially in the early 00s), I would play full pay video poker (lost a bit but enjoyed lots of freebies and had alot of fun).  When they reduced the pays and comp system, I moved on.

 

As to HAL casinos, I know that the rules/payouts are not the greatest, but we have been able to limit our losses and at the same time gain nice discounts on our cruises (which we would take anyway), so we are ahead IMO (plus had fun at the same time).

 

 

[Hlitner]

45 minutes ago, DaveOKC said:

Hlitnor -  good points to be sure.

 

While I agree with you that gamblers all think they win, I have found one way to do so.  Over the years and many different casinos in different areas, I found that by knowing the 1) rules of the game/machine and 2) the comp rules/procedures, we can do quite well and even come out ahead.  A main key is being able to control your gambling, which can be hard to do after a few drinks.

 

If these items are not in your favor, do not gamble and move onto something else.  Case in point, back in the 70s I used to "count" cards playing Blackjack in Vegas.  When they went to multiple decks, I stopped as I no longer had an advantage.  When the comps were flowing freely (especially in the early 00s), I would play full pay video poker (lost a bit but enjoyed lots of freebies and had alot of fun).  When they reduced the pays and comp system, I moved on.

 

As to HAL casinos, I know that the rules/payouts are not the greatest, but we have been able to limit our losses and at the same time gain nice discounts on our cruises (which we would take anyway), so we are ahead IMO (plus had fun at the same time).

 

 

All true but perhaps my basic point is that just reading various threads and recent reviews of HAL ships is making me want to go elsewhere.  While some HAL fans are very loyal and only cruise on HAL, DW and I are loyal to the cruise industry and readily move between many lines.  In fact in the next year we have bookings with HAL, Princess, MSC, Seabourn, and a large FCC sitting with Oceania that we will need to handle.  One thing I strongly dislike about HAL are their casinos with the smoking policy.  We have a strong preference for ships that do not allow any indoor smoking (and limit where it can be done outside) and HAL along with MSC are the two worst lines we cruise in terms of allowing cigarette smoke inside the ship.  

 

We view this new expansion of slots as just one more nail in the coffin of the HAL that we love.  I think HAL's senior management has made many big mistakes (especially in regard to entertainment and cuisine) and it is driving us (5 Star Mariners) to concentrate our future bookings with other lines.  Just yesterday we booked a 20 day Princess cruise for later this month (a true last minute booking).  We could have easily done that Caribbean booking on a HAL vessel but DW and I did not even bother to look at the available HAL cruises.  Why?  Lack of Production Shows, lack of live entertainment during pre-dinner cocktail time, no piano bar, smoking in the casino, numerous add-ons in the MDR, etc.  We only looked at MSC (Yacht Club only), Princess and Seabourn for our last minute booking.  If HAL is driving folks like me away from their fold they should be concerned because we are typical of many other HAL regulars.

 

Hank

[OVgirl]

If you are moving your cruises from HAL to another CCL branded ship, I don't think the big wigs care. Your money is still ending up in the same bank account.

But if those same people move to a RCL ship, that's a different story.

[mcrcruiser]

14 hours ago, RuthC said:

That may be the truth, but is it the whole truth? Does your 'reliable source' also say that when the tournament is over, the machines will be removed from the Ocean Bar? 
They seem to have been installed quite early for a tournament that doesn't start until December 1. 

Spot on