Celebrity Equinox Casino

I enjoy playing at the casino on cruises and before cruising the Equinox I couldn't find many reviews of the casino. I'm also into video poker and wanted to know what options they had.

I thought I would do a little review of the casino and VP options.

It's a nice casino with a good selection of slots ranging from penny machines up to $5 machines. They also have some tractor style machines where you try to push quarters over the edge. There are also table games: black jack, craps, three card poker, UTH, and tables start at $5 minimums with a max of $300 per hand.

As for video poker they have two banks of machines.

One bank of 11 VP machines has 4 superstar machines offering 3-5-10 play video poker and in .25,.50, $1, $2. The rest are single play in the same denominations. They also have a video keno game.

The second bank of machines are all single play video poker and range from .10,.25,.50,$1.00,$2.00. These machines are progressive with most of the game options having a progressive jackpot.

I personally like triple double bonus poker but this game is not a option at any of the machines. The closest option they have is double double bonus poker and the other traditional options like deuces wild, jacks or better, bonus poker etc.

The superstar machines have 3,5,10 play, super times pay, and ultimate x.

The casino takes USD currency and there is a cash machine on board, but it will charge a fee of $6.50 per transaction.

You can also get money from the casino cage by charging the funds to your credit card and they will load it to your ship card, which you can insert into the slots or VP and add funds to the machine. They charge a 5% fee for this, so I would recommend bringing cash so you avoid the fees. If you are in need of larger amounts to play with of $1000 or more, talk to the casino host and they can waive the transaction fees.

On day 2 of the cruise they had a special where they waive the 5% fee and if you buy $100 they will give you $110, $300=$340 and $500=$575. They only allow you to do this three times per person and the offer was valid for three days forward. We purchased a package to get the free extra play.

We are on the cruise currently and will be for another week, so if you have any questions, I'll try to answer them.

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Thanks for posting. :)

What are their rules for 21 for payoff on BJ, doubling down on any combo, how many times can you split, split aces, amount of decks,and etc?

Thanks 🎲🎰

Hello,

The casino was a bit busy so I couldn't ask all these questions and I'm not a BJ player but they gave me their brochure which has the rules. Hopefully this covers your questions.

Cheers

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Thanks for posting the rules for 21.

Good luck 🎲🎰

If you are familiar with the pay tables on video poker, are there any 9/6 machines? Thanks.

8/5 and 6/5. Don't see any 9/6

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I enjoy playing at the casino on cruises and before cruising the Equinox I couldn't find many reviews of the casino. I'm also into video poker and wanted to know what options they had.

 

I thought I would do a little review of the casino and VP options.

 

It's a nice casino with a good selection of slots ranging from penny machines up to $5 machines. They also have some tractor style machines where you try to push quarters over the edge. There are also table games: black jack, craps, three card poker, UTH, and tables start at $5 minimums with a max of $300 per hand.

 

As for video poker they have two banks of machines.

 

One bank of 11 VP machines has 4 superstar machines offering 3-5-10 play video poker and in .25,.50, $1, $2. The rest are single play in the same denominations. They also have a video keno game.

 

The second bank of machines are all single play video poker and range from .10,.25,.50,$1.00,$2.00. These machines are progressive with most of the game options having a progressive jackpot.

 

I personally like triple double bonus poker but this game is not a option at any of the machines. The closest option they have is double double bonus poker and the other traditional options like deuces wild, jacks or better, bonus poker etc.

 

The superstar machines have 3,5,10 play, super times pay, and ultimate x.

 

The casino takes USD currency and there is a cash machine on board, but it will charge a fee of $6.50 per transaction.

 

You can also get money from the casino cage by charging the funds to your credit card and they will load it to your ship card, which you can insert into the slots or VP and add funds to the machine. They charge a 5% fee for this, so I would recommend bringing cash so you avoid the fees. If you are in need of larger amounts to play with of $1000 or more, talk to the casino host and they can waive the transaction fees.

 

On day 2 of the cruise they had a special where they waive the 5% fee and if you buy $100 they will give you $110, $300=$340 and $500=$575. They only allow you to do this three times per person and the offer was valid for three days forward. We purchased a package to get the free extra play.

 

We are on the cruise currently and will be for another week, so if you have any questions, I'll try to answer them.

 

 

 

 

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thanks for the info. will be on the Friday

Enjoy

8/5 and 6/5. Don't see any 9/6

 

 

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Thanks. 8/5 isn't ideal but not bad. Good luck while you're there.

Thanks. Video poker has been ok. I've been mostly playing 3 play dollar and have hit $800 several times. The second night I put $50 into a $1 slot machine and within about 10 pulls it hit for $5k. There have not been a lot of jackpots paid out this cruise. I've been asking the host everyday if there are any other jackpots and he said they have had another 5k hit on a 2 cent machine and a couple of $1000 wins. I guess the casino has been slow this cruise according to the staff.

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Thanks for explaining how your game works. It does look interesting.

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As for table minimums, I was just on Equinox a week ago and craps was always $10, and blackjack almost always $10 except for a couple hours in the morning on the sea days at the end of the cruise when it was $5. Other card games were $5 presumably to induce the greater play.

It's the usual mystery of table minimums. I'd walk through often before and around dinner time and find $10 tables with all dealers sitting on their hands. But on those mornings with $5 tables were packed and people waiting for seats. You'd think they'd want to lower the tables to $5 just to get them filled and then switch.

"You'd think they'd want to lower the tables to $5 just to get them filled and then switch."

You think? I've been thinking this for years!

The reason why most people don't win in casinos is because deep down they don't want to. Most people and I qualify that with most is because they go with a budget and plan on "losing" or spending it. The casinos operate on this. They put up in very large letters on their signs outside what their payback is. They brag about it and don't hide it.

How may will go into a casino and win the first hand of 21, first play on the slots and etc and leave? If every patron went in and left after winning a few dollars more than they started with the casino would be out of business in a few days. No one goes in with the intention of winning a dollar, five , 10, 25, and etc. and then leaving. They are there for the long run. Who would go into a casino play a game and win a few dollars on the first play and leave? They don't go to win a few dollars. They want the big payoff that could be to them a life changer. Even if they win a few thousand they aren't satisfied because it isn't really enough or it just replaced what they lost to get it.

The casinos rely on time. They want to keep you playing there as they know that time is on their side. Play one more hand to ge the next point, or the player only has a few more credits left so what so to lose? Play a few more minutes at the table and you will qualify for a fee buffet. When I was dealing a player asked for a comp. Tje pit boss said if he played 10 minutes more he would get a free buffet. He continued to play and over $ 200 for a "free" $12 buffet.

I know many people that would go to Vegas and I use to go 5 to 6 times a year ( and live in Mi) and they would be happy thinking they came out ahead because they didn't lose all the money that the took with them. You don't go there spending 3 to 7 days to win a few dollars. If you won big on the first day chances are you will play it all back before you leave because you are there to play and most will move up to the next denomination because they are playing with " house money". Some may take the money and splurge on something from one of the high end stores as something to have to remember that win as they don't want to blow it but it still stays there.

People go for entertainment. They want the thrill of the rush when money is on the line. No different than riding a roller coaster. Gambler are in it for that rush. That is the cost that they pay and enjoy the experience that they get from it. Some like to "blow" their money on dining in a fancy restaurant, others woud rather spend their money on a tour, or show. At the end no matter what you do with your money it is all memories and the experience.

Good luck 🎲🎰

You can also get money from the casino cage by charging the funds to your credit card and they will load it to your ship card, which you can insert into the slots or VP and add funds to the machine. They charge a 5% fee for this, so I would recommend bringing cash so you avoid the fees. If you are in need of larger amounts to play with of $1000 or more, talk to the casino host and they can waive the transaction fees.

 

On day 2 of the cruise they had a special where they waive the 5% fee and if you buy $100 they will give you $110, $300=$340 and $500=$575. They only allow you to do this three times per person and the offer was valid for three days forward. We purchased a package to get the free extra play.

 

 

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Can you charge chips for table games to your seapass card? Is that Day 2 bonus also applicable to chip purchases?

Yes, you can charge your ship card and get chips and also the promo is good for chips :)

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Do the onboard blackjack rules allow "surrender"?

For 3 Card Poker, can do they have a "pairs plus" bet? And can you only play that bet, and not the Ante?

TYIA

Thanks for the info about the package cash with no fee.

They don't allow surrender and for 3-card they do have the pairs plus bet along with a 5 card bonus side game. You can play just the pairs plus as long as it matches the minimum bet.

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If you charge chips to your sea pass will they apply OBC? I can't see them giving you the extra credit and also letting you use OBC but it doesn't hurt to ask . . .

Probably not able to use on board credit for gambling. That is used for drinks, excursions etc.

I did learn that if you get 10,000 points in the casino you get a free cruise. We are at 9000 points so far and should be able to get the free cruise. Not playing for it, but it just happened. :)

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