Enchanted -"Take 5"' - redo

[startedwithamouse]

On 5/28/2024 at 6:12 PM, SCX22 said:

Not sure about the Enchanted...

 

But on the Majestic, Take 5 is/was a VIP Casino and Lounge.  The VIP Casino and Lounge was for the Chinese market when the ship launched.  Been on her several times post restart and it seems to go back and forth.  There's a section the side nearest Princess Theater that's walled off with card tables.  Last year the card tables were covered up with stretch wrap.  This year the tables were operational (with casino dealers for at part of the time that the casino was open) with the rest of the space open for passengers as a lounge and in the evening had a singing piano player.  A little like a casino and Crooners combined.

Pretty sure that area on Majestic is sports lounge - we watched playoff games in there on multiple TVs.

[SCX22]

30 minutes ago, startedwithamouse said:

Pretty sure that area on Majestic is sports lounge - we watched playoff games in there on multiple TVs.

 

You're partially correct.  It's more of a sports lounge during the day.  There's a grand piano that was added sometime between this year and last, and at night, a piano player/singer playing it.  The partitioned area in the back has the card tables.  The tickers have been removed.

 

[WisCruiser2]

OH, would hate to see this! We loved Take 5 in February, spent time each night listening to the awesome jazz trio, and it was full most evenings. Wish they would just make the whole casino non-smoking instead!

[JGmf]

 

In my opinion, commingling a lounge with slot machines on the Royal as @azbirdmom shared in this photo below works only if they turn the slot machine audio WAY down. 

 

That said, I've been on the Enchanted twice so far and both times it's been difficult to get a machine during peak hours.  I suspect (like all of us) that if they're going to add new machines, they'll fill-up the space (and please, please make it non-smoking).

 

[555]

1 hour ago, JGmf said:

In my opinion, commingling a lounge with slot machines on the Royal as @azbirdmom shared in this photo below works only if they turn the slot machine audio WAY down

Princess's idea of a low volume isn't the same as what you might consider normal. i.e.- MUTS, Piazza, show Lounge.

[memoak]

29 minutes ago, 555 said:

Princess's idea of a low volume isn't the same as what you might consider normal. i.e.- MUTS, Piazza, show Lounge.

Slot machines do have volume controls. They are not set by Princess. We always turn ours down

[peanutter]

5 hours ago, WisCruiser2 said:

OH, would hate to see this! We loved Take 5 in February, spent time each night listening to the awesome jazz trio, and it was full most evenings. Wish they would just make the whole casino non-smoking instead!

 

Agree with both points - love Take 5 and wish the casino was non-smoking.  We don't frequent the casino but that smoke really does travel to all locations close/open to it.  For whatever reason, they just can't seem to get the airflow correct.

[555]

3 hours ago, memoak said:

Slot machines do have volume controls. They are not set by Princess. We always turn ours down

Thanks, I didn't know that. Lets hope people will be respectful to the music in the background. 

[JimmyVWine]

1 hour ago, 555 said:

Lets hope people will be respectful to the music in the background. 

Equally likely that it will work in reverse and some lout will scream at the musicians to "keep it down" because they can't hear the carnival sounds coming out of their machine. 

[weregoingcruising]

On 5/28/2024 at 11:27 PM, Kineticoh20 said:

If this is true it is misguided imo Take 5 is a great venue,  first they added gambling on your stateroom TV, what's next slots in the buffet or piazza?

I read they have the best paying slot machines. They paid for the ship with them.😊

[libraryld]

We were on Enchanted in February, and loved listening to jazz in Take Five. In spite of the proximity to the casino it was not at all smoky. Just a chill place to listen to good music and have a cocktail. I am very disappointed to hear any of this news. It’s obviously all about money.

[suzyed]

On 5/28/2024 at 4:57 PM, carlp said:

was in the Enchanted 2 weeks ago -rumor has it that they are removing "Take 5" 

& adding more casino space

 

anyone else know about this

 

We’re on now and Take 5 is closed. There was something about adding 50 slots and making the non-smoking side bigger, but it doesn’t seem to be done yet so maybe the casino will take over Take 5 to do that. BTW, Churchhills is no more and now there are video games in there and there’s no casino bar.  Nothing seems improved to me.
 

[JamieLogical]

6 minutes ago, suzyed said:

We’re on now and Take 5 is closed. There was something about adding 50 slots and making the non-smoking side bigger, but it doesn’t seem to be done yet so maybe the casino will take over Take 5 to do that. BTW, Churchhills is no more and now there are video games in there and there’s no casino bar.  Nothing seems improved to me.
 

 

The changes to Churchill's and the removal of the casino bar happened a while ago. Sounds like Bon was right about the changes to Take 5 happening before my August sailing if they are already underway. I am sorry for those onboard now who don't even get to experience the reduced version of Take 5. It was such a nice space.

[voljeep]

On 5/29/2024 at 3:28 PM, JimmyVWine said:

Are they going to rename the space "Take My Money"?

Princess has never taken a penny of my money.  I, However have given them plenty on my own accord.

[Canuker]

3 hours ago, suzyed said:

We’re on now and Take 5 is closed. There was something about adding 50 slots and making the non-smoking side bigger, but it doesn’t seem to be done yet so maybe the casino will take over Take 5 to do that. BTW, Churchhills is no more and now there are video games in there and there’s no casino bar.  Nothing seems improved to me.
 

Given it's about revenue, not having a casino bar will induce folk to leave there in search of a beverage. Or do they bring it to your stool?

Shame about the Take 5. It's been on the cards.

[JamieLogical]

52 minutes ago, Canuker said:

Given it's about revenue, not having a casino bar will induce folk to leave there in search of a beverage. Or do they bring it to your stool?

Shame about the Take 5. It's been on the cards.

 

So the do have a very few bar servers roaming who seem to be specifically trained to never make eye contact with me. I tried ordering drinks to the casino via the app, but never received any of them. That's not surprising though, as I tried ordering drinks to my location all over the ship in my 7-day cruise and only ever received them one time.

[Scottdalfonso]

On 6/11/2024 at 6:21 PM, Canuker said:

Given it's about revenue, not having a casino bar will induce folk to leave there in search of a beverage. Or do they bring it to your stool?

Shame about the Take 5. It's been on the cards.

Yeah, I find removing a casino bar very odd. On any ship I've sailed, the casino bar is always hopping and usually pretty fun to hang at. 

[JGmf]

29 minutes ago, Scottdalfonso said:

Yeah, I find removing a casino bar very odd. On any ship I've sailed, the casino bar is always hopping and usually pretty fun to hang at.

 

Agree with the notion of casino bar being fun, esp if they have video poker there.  However, at least in my experience on both NCL and Princess, on refurbs and new ships, the casino bar is kaput.  It's too much up-front real estate that can generate casino revenue...

[voljeep]

1 hour ago, JGmf said:

 

Agree with the notion of casino bar being fun, esp if they have video poker there.  However, at least in my experience on both NCL and Princess, on refurbs and new ships, the casino bar is kaput.  It's too much up-front real estate that can generate casino revenue...

and if "most" casino players have a package - why make it easy to get an already paid for drink?

 

I guess to keep gambling?

[Host CJSKIDS]

On 6/11/2024 at 2:26 PM, suzyed said:

We’re on now and Take 5 is closed. There was something about adding 50 slots and making the non-smoking side bigger, but it doesn’t seem to be done yet so maybe the casino will take over Take 5 to do that. BTW, Churchhills is no more and now there are video games in there and there’s no casino bar.  Nothing seems improved to me.
 

 

Oh I hate to hear that Take 5 is closed and not open for your sailing..  We actually ended every night there with our friends in April.  Have they given any idea of when it is opening again?

[JamieLogical]

32 minutes ago, voljeep said:

and if "most" casino players have a package - why make it easy to get an already paid for drink?

 

I guess to keep gambling?

 

Whatever you do, don't rely on Ocean Now to get a drink in the Casino. I tried several times on my May 4th sailing and never received any of the drinks I ordered.

[suzyed]

On 6/14/2024 at 2:04 PM, Host CJSKIDS said:

 

Oh I hate to hear that Take 5 is closed and not open for your sailing..  We actually ended every night there with our friends in April.  Have they given any idea of when it is opening again?

Nope, no idea when.   We spent quite a bit of time there on a previous sailing.
I believe that is going to be the expanded part of the casino.  The non-smoking side is really pretty small. Someone told me that the Take 5 area will be the smoking side of the casino. I guess we will have to wait and see.

 

[suzyed]

On 5/28/2024 at 5:54 PM, Thrak said:

Sounds pretty idiotic if true.

It is true.  

[suzyed]

On 5/28/2024 at 7:02 PM, vakamalua said:

😱  Sure hope that's not true.  Take 5 is a great place to hang out both during the day for quiet time & at night for good music!  Will be on the Enchanted in August, it better be there...

Just got off the Enchanted this morning.  Take 5 was not open and I was told it's going to be casino space with smoking.

[JamieLogical]

13 minutes ago, suzyed said:

Just got off the Enchanted this morning.  Take 5 was not open and I was told it's going to be casino space with smoking.

 

Wow! I assumed it would be a non-smoking area. If they make it a smoking area, that will make the bar/lounge portion they are keeping pretty unusable!