Cruise Ship Slots Odds
Posted : admin On 4/3/2022- The ship is not 'US' but international - how else could they get away with paying some people $50/month! I worked on cruise ships for 11 years and I htink I know a little bit about what goes on at sea. You seem very familiar with slot machines, but not the casino programs that operate on cruise ship.
- Cruise Ship Casinos Aren’t Huge. Given everything that a cruise ship needs to operate must fit within the confines of the vessel, it may not be surprising to hear that the casinos on cruise ships will tend to be smaller than their land-based counterparts.
Do Cruise Ships Tighten Slots During the Cruise?
Slots are a popular choice, and are easy for everyone since there isn’t much skill or strategy involved. This is a situation where you are relying almost completely on luck, though. Needless to say, there are many other exciting things to do while on a voyage aboard a Norwegian Cruise Line ship. A slot machine house edge is known by casino managers as the “hold”, and hold percentages vary a great deal, and do tend to be smaller at more expensive slots, frequently found to be around 1- 3% at the five dollar slots. Although there aren’t too many dissimilarities between brick-and-mortar casinos and gambling ships, there may be a slightly more limited amount of slot machines for example, due to the fact that the cruise ship will have a much smaller gaming area, as it has to accommodate for an abundance of other facilities too.
By Jerry 'Stickman'
Jerry:
I have gone on several cruises over the past several years. While at sea, I enjoy playing the slot machines as well as blackjack and craps.
I believe there is a sinister plan being executed by the ship’s management. Let me explain. During the first few days of each cruise – roughly the first half – I win on the slots. I may not win every time, but I am always money ahead. Then sometime after the cruise midpoint the slots become very tight. Sure I get a small win now and then, but I always lose. It seems the closer to the end of the trip, the more I lose.
I sometimes play longer near the end to try to win something, but it is no use. I simply lose, lose and lose some more. I believe the slots are programmed looser at the start of the cruise to make you think you will win and then they are tightened at the end to get the most money they can.
I have complained to management but was told they don’t change the payback of the machines. I don’t believe them. My wallet knows better.
Joe M
Dear Joe,
This would be a diabolical plot, indeed. Bait the 'sucker' and draw him in, then change the game – sort of like a 'bait-and-switch' ploy.
The oversight of games aboard ship is not the same as Las Vegas, Atlantic City Tunica and other major US land based casinos. I guess it may be theoretically possible to alter the pay schedules during the cruise, but it would take a considerable amount of work swapping out the control chips. Being found guilty of such actions would prove devastating for the cruise lines. Besides, they don’t have to resort to surreptitious actions such as changing payouts to make money; they have an automatic edge built in.
Do you keep accurate records of each session? Do you note the time, game, denomination and amount won or lost? I suspect your memory may be playing tricks with you. You may remember a few wins early on, but when you begin to lose as the trip progresses, you notice the depleted bankroll. You stated that you play longer sessions. Longer sessions mean more loses.
I recommend that you break your total trip bankroll into session bankrolls, play for a fixed amount of time each session (or until your session bankroll runs out), and keep accurate records of your play. If you do this I think you will see that the ship’s casino makes money at a consistent rate throughout the trip.
Follow these tips and you should have better of luck on future cruises.
Jerry 'Stickman' is an expert in craps, blackjack and video poker and advantage slot machine play. He is a regular contributor to top gaming magazines. The 'Stickman' is also a certified instructor for Golden Touch Craps and Golden Touch Blackjack. For more information visit www.goldentouchcraps.com or www.goldentouchblackjack.com or call 1-886-738-3423. You can contact Jerry 'Stickman' at stickmanGTC@aol.com
The MS Radiance of the Seas has a Vegas-style casino that is an impressive 6,459 square foot with 188 slots and 11 tables.
Cruise ships are a great place for players top enjoy some gambling while they are on a relaxing vacation at sea. With many of the leading cruise lines offering ships that have full casinos, players who enjoy the thrills of blackjack will find great games that can be played. The main difference between playing on a cruise ship as opposed to a land casino is the limitation of game variations. Since there is smaller floor space available, most cruise ships will only offer a single variation of blackjack, though there may be a few that have two or more variations depending on the size of the casino.
Cruise ship casinos open their gaming tables the moment the ship is three miles offshore, in international waters. Gamblers will find that he betting options on a cruise ship are relatively low, so high rollers may not be interested in betting. However, for the casual blackjack player, these cruise casinos offer a great way to enjoy some gabling action while on vacation. There are even themed cruises, where the focus is on gambling and these can offer more game variations and even tournaments that can be played aboard.
Best Cruises for Gambling & Blackjack
Blackjack fans will want to make sure their selected cruise ship offers the game and below are the most popular ships for those that enjoy the thrills of blackjack.
Radiance of the Seas – Royal Caribbean
Destinations: Alaska, Australia/New Zealand, Transpacific, Hawaii
- Single and eight deck blackjack offered with a $5 minimum on both tables.
- Cruise offers blackjack tournaments.
More info:www.royalcaribbean.com
Voyager of the Seas – Royal Caribbean
Destinations: Asia, Australia/New Zealand
- 6 blackjack tables offered, 2 with single deck games.
- Small table limits, between $3 and $6. Two tables offer higher bets, ranging from $25 to $300 per hand.
More info:www.royalcaribbean.com
Carnival Fantasy – Carnival
Destinations: Bahamas, Caribbean
- Multiple blackjack tables with variations such as Face Up and Fun 21.
- Low game minimums for casual players with some higher limits up to $300 per hand.
More info:www.carnival.com
Norwegian Jewel – Norwegian
Destinations: Alaska, Mexican Riviera, Pacific Coastal
- 9 multi-deck blackjack tables with $5 minimums.
- One table offered for high rollers for bets from $100 to $2000.
More info:www.ncl.com
Norwegian Dawn – Norwegian
Destinations: Bermuda, Canada, New England, Caribbean
- Multiple tables with eight deck games and side bets, like Lucky Ladies and Wheel of Madness.
- High roller table reserved with minimums of $100.
More info:www.ncl.com
Five Important Tips for Playing on a Casino Cruise
Playing casino games on a cruise ship is not much different from playing at a land casino, but there are some slight differences to prepare for when sailing. The following tips will get gamblers ready for their onboard blackjack experience.
1. Plan gambling around the complete cruise itinerary. Always remember that all cruise ship casinos are closed when the boat is in port. There are some exceptions, such as in Bermuda and Nassau.
2. The casino will be open when in international waters, so those eager to play just have to wait for the boat to be between 3 and 12 nautical miles from shore.
3. Be ready to deal with smokers. Most of the cruise ships that offer a casino will have designated smoking areas and if the casino is small, smoking may be allowed everywhere in the casino. There may be some exceptions to cigar smoking.
4. Most casino games on a cruise ship are played by casual players. There are seldom card sharks or professional players on board, so prepare for a casual and relaxing experience at the tables.
Cruise Ship Slots Odds No Deposit
5. Watch for themed cruises where a major focus is on gambling. These are the cruises that will offer blackjack tournaments and special events throughout the cruise that will make onboard gambling even more exciting and rewarding.