Royal Caribbean Cruise Casino

#1
Hi all. Recently went on a 7 day cruise and wanted to give a data dump on what I experienced as a way of introducing myself.

My wife and I played all but the last night. There were about 6 blackjack tables - 2 were single deck (paying 6-5) and the rest were 8 decks (paying 3-2). They were all "dealer hit on soft 17." The limits were pretty small. They had a $3 table most of the time and a $6 table. They would also open a $10 table as things got busy. There were two tables that would have a $25 min with a $300 max that would be available but usually not being used. The max limits seemed moe a suggestion than a hard and fast rule in that there were times I bet $250 each on two different hands and split with no raised eyebrows.

I found most nights I could go head-to-head on the $25 table and never have any company. I think two or three times I played with one or two other people.

The penetration was about 75% (6 decks out of 8). Though 2 sessions I hit dealers that cut to 7 decks!

Overall, it was a very positive experience with no heat even though we walked away with over $1,500 for the week.

--

A little about myself. My wife and I saw the movie "21" when it came out and it sounded interesting. I am a member of Mensa and my wife was looking for a Christmas gift for me on the Mensa web site. She found "Mensa Guide to Blackjack." I read it, memorized the tables, learned the hi-lo system and headed for the casinos on New Years Day. We are pretty close to one of the main gambling sites. We spent most of Jan at the $10 tables with groups of people.

Then I bought and read "Blackbelt in Blackjack" and "Burning the Tables in Las Vegas." I am now at the chunky green tables and trying to play mostly head-to-head. Our bankroll is doing pretty good (slowly growing) and we get a chance to go to the tables about 2 or 3 times a month.

Thanks for a great web site. I look on here every chance I get to see if there is something new to learn.
 

tribute

Well-Known Member
#2
Cruise

preacher,
I was on Voyager of the Seas a year ago. I had a very good blackjack experience. Do you mind telling which ship you sailed on? If you prefer, send a PM.
 

flysrb

Well-Known Member
#3
Hey Now!!

I too am planning a RC trip, so if anyone has more info on some of their ships, it would be nice.

Thanks!!
 

FLASH1296

Well-Known Member
#4
You said: "The max limits seemed moe a suggestion than a hard and fast rule in that there were times I bet $250 each on two different hands and split with no raised eyebrows."

The Table Max [anywhere] refers only to an in initial bet on a single spot.

If the Table Max is $500 and you bet 2 spots of $500 each - with splits and doubles you can quickly have several thousand dollars riding on that round.
 

nj45lady

Well-Known Member
#5
Royal Carribean from Cape Liberty Bayonne, NJ

We are taking a cruise on November 21. We were offered a $400 rebate from Casino Club Royale in exchange for agreeing to $50 a hand average for 4 hours a day. I have agreed, yet, I realize the only thing that happens if I dont meet the requirement, I dont get the rebate. They checked with my casino host to see if I rated to be rated with them. If anyone has even more info please let me know. The last time I cruised RC (the only line I will cruise) I also did QUITE well..
Thanks!
 

nj45lady

Well-Known Member
#6
Profitable Cruise

I didnt play blackjack (too crowded with idiots). I did play alot of VP. I had 1175 having started with 100 on a dollar machine playing J/B. I hit the Royal FLush for 4000 totalling 5175, I thoroughly enjoy the fact of no taxes. The next day I earned 800 on the dollar double bonus and day 4 I hit the quarter progressive for 1514. We stopped at the Bahamas and we went to the Atlantis, where within an hour I hit the Royal Flush on a quarter machine (however bet max was 10) and that was good for 2090, and then I hit 4 of a kind for 598 playing DB VP. All in all a very good VP honeymoon cruise. IF I TOLD YOU THE PAY SCHEDULE ON THE MACHINES you would all tell me WHY did you play? My response is this: Payout is ONE part of it, the second is the RNG and hot/cold, people WERE winning, so why not? I WAS RIGHT!
 

nj45lady

Well-Known Member
#8
Opinion

Whatever Sabre, your entitled to your opinion and I have the money in my pocket so I do win all the way around no matter HOW YOU look at it.

End of Subject.
 
#11
Hi:

I just returned from an Alaska cruise on Radiance of the Seas. I didn't do too well at the live tables. Both the
8-deck and even single-deck were too full of UNBELIEVABLY bad players.

I did better at single-deck (of course) but thought that it was strange that there was only a $5 minimum. I suggested that they bump the minimum to $25 so hopefully the bad players and newbies would migrate over to the 8-deck table but the pit boss said that they wanted the tables to be welcoming for everyone :mad:

I did come in third in the first tournamemt but didn't play in the second, as I am a tournament player in real life and didn't like the way that Royal Caribbean organized (disorganized?) the tournament -- only 7 hands per round and other weird stuff.

I'm not normally a slots player (even if I were I wouldn't play on a cruise ship) but I actually did put a $20 bill in a VP machine while waiting for a seat at the tables. I promptly hit 4 of a kind. I just pocketed the proceeds and returned to the tables.

And that's the story of my experience on a Royal Caribbean ship.

Susan
 
#13
bread without butter/jam

yes,
like the waiter forget to serve the butter/jam with the bread.
most important thing----table condition n the tolerance.
 
#14
Maybe I'm going out on a limb here, but I don't honestly expect pertinent conditions to be accurately reported by someone that is concerned with "bad players" and that seems to imply that they are the reason for a losing session. No disrespect intended, but I believe our reporter is more likely a recreational, non-advantage player.
 

Mr. T

Well-Known Member
#15
nj45lady said:
We are taking a cruise on November 21. We were offered a $400 rebate from Casino Club Royale in exchange for agreeing to $50 a hand average for 4 hours a day. I have agreed, yet, I realize the only thing that happens if I dont meet the requirement, I dont get the rebate. They checked with my casino host to see if I rated to be rated with them. If anyone has even more info please let me know. The last time I cruised RC (the only line I will cruise) I also did QUITE well..
Thanks!
It all depends on how you play. If you are a card counter I assume they would only allow you to play on the CSM table. If you don't play perfect BS I would say you could get hurt very badly.
Assuming you play perfect BS this is your senario. With HE on cruise ship of about 0.60% and at $50 per hand you would likely play 1 to1 with the dealer.
Stanford Wong gives a figuire of 300 hands per hour for this. So for 4 hours you are looking at a theoretical loss of 0.006x50x300x4 i.e.=$360. This is almost like $400. So it is not a teriffic deal. Assuming again you don't make any BS mistakes.
At this level you should get free drinks but you need to tip the dealers. I myself would bring a bankroll of $20,000 to go through this betting scheme. But others may be comfortable with less of a bankroll.

I am sorry did you say $50 a hand average for 4 hours a day. For a 7 day cruise it is madness.
 
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