dwc13

In general, when you gamble during a cruise doesn't matter as far as earning points. Obviously, some table games supervisors are more competent / player-friendly when evaluating play. It's a good idea to verify your rated play at table games so any discrepancies can be addressed. It also depends on your objective. Is it free drinks while playing at the casino, a rewards program tier level, earning enough points for a limited time cruise specific casino promotion or something else? On my last cruise with Holland America (May 2023), we didn't buy a beverage package. Fortunately, the casino offered free drinks while gambling to those who had earned 1500 points during the cruise. In that situation earning 1500 points earlier was better so I could take advantage of the 'free' drinks sooner. Note that depending upon play / luck, it might be more economical to buy a beverage package in advance rather than trying to qualify for free drinks from the casino. If you're trying to get to the next tier of a cruise line casino rewards program, then it doesn't matter when you earn the points as long as the current annual period doesn't expire during your cruise. If the end date for the current annual period will occur during your cruise and you still need points to achieve the next tier, it might be better to get ahead of the curve and earn points earlier in the cruise. You know, just in case there are great entertainment options or an emergency happens and you're unable to gamble as often as you had planned. However, if you realize you won't be able to achieve the next tier during the soon-to-expire current annual period (during the cruise), then perhaps wait for the new annual period to begin before starting to gamble. For limited time cruise specific casino promotions, the applicable terms will dictate when and how many points you need to earn to qualify.

What matters is type of bets made, average amount bet, and time at the table actively playing. Buy in doesn't matter from the casino's perspective because it has no advantage until chips are actually bet. A player could buy in for $5,000 then pocket $4,500, take a break and cash in $4,500 chips and return to the table to buy in again. FWIW, I buy in on multiple occasions as a form of bankroll preservation and to document I was playing at given points in time. Craps is by far the most difficult game to evaluate because of the variety of bets (and the different associated house edge on each) and the player's ability to press/regress/turn off most of them during a roll.

You're welcome. Enjoy your cruise and good luck in the casino.

Casino hours vary depending upon the ship's itinerary. Gaming operations are (supposed to) shut down when in port (Bermuda is an exception, I believe) and while sailing territorial waters. So if you're cruising around the Hawaiian islands or taking the inside passage on an Alaska cruise, your gambling opportunities might be somewhat limited. Maybe, lol. That being said, live table games tend to open later and close earlier because of staffing considerations. Around 1:30-2am is when table games started shutting down on the cruises I have been on (including Regal Princess), even earlier if there were no players. For live table games already in progress, they'll finish out the current shoe for card games and the last shooter will get to finish his/her roll in craps (however long that might last). Slots open earlier and close later -- I think it depends in part upon how many players remain actively playing slots in the early morning hours and when the ship is expected to reach territorial waters / arrive in port. Eventually slots 'close' so a slot attendant doesn't have to remain in the event of a hand pay jackpot; could also be so the floor boss can get some sleep. Note that there is also an Emerald Princess Casino cruise, which sails out of Brunswick, Georgia. It is not the same ship as Princess Cruise Lines ship Emerald Princess. In the off chance you had that one in mind... Emerald Princess Casino (sailing out of Brunswick, Georgia)

@Euby If you're interested in the underlying math of craps (or other casino games), head over the Wizard of Odds site. House Edge for all the Major Craps Bet How the House Edge for Each Bet is Derived Just remember those numbers are theoretical. In the long run, craps is a negative expectations game. However, short term variance / luck can skew everything; we hope that is the case so we can win while we're at the craps table. Wizard of Odds even has a free craps simulator. I'm not going to link it here, but it's fairly easy to find on that site.

There might be but I hardly ever look at baccarat videos on YouTube. Search 'baccarat tutorial' or something similar. I did a quick search and the link below is a decent introduction to baccarat. Note that it doesn't cover bonus bets such as Dragon or Panda that might be offered. As a general rule, bonus bets for any casino game are high risk / high reward. Dragon and Panda bonus bets are definitely long shot and carry a high house advantage (like the ATS in craps). How to Play Baccarat - Everything You Need to Know I have played many shoes of baccarat over the years. In an earlier post I mentioned coin flip while talking about this game. IME, baccarat can be more streaky than any other game in the casino. For example, I have seen 24 consecutive Banker wins; obviously, this is an outlier, but mini runs of 3-8 straight for one side are fairly common and can occur multiple times in a shoe. In all my years of playing baccarat, I have never played through a complete (start to end) 8 deck shoe with less than 3 ties. So if there hasn't been a tie and there are only a few hands remaining in the shoe, that would be one of the few times I would consider making a Tie bet.

Last time my wife and I were on a Holland America ship was in May 2023 aboard Nieuw Statendam on a Norwegian Fjord cruise out of Amsterdam. Nice ship. At the time of our sailing, the casino had a single 12' craps table. $5 minimum bet, $500 maximum bet, 2x odds, 2x Field 12. If memory serves, some of the hardways bets had lower limits. The craps table layout was very basic aside from the very popular All Tall Small bonus bets (ATS). Winning ATS bonus bets were paid the same as Las Vegas Strip casino payouts: Roll the All Small (2, 3, 4, 5 & 6) before ANY 7 and get paid 30 to 1. Box person will say 'Small completed' if this bet is a winner. Roll the All Tall (8, 9, 10, 11, 12) before ANY 7 and get paid 30 to 1. Box person will say 'Tall completed' if this bet is a winner. Roll the All All (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12) before ANY 7 and get paid 150 to 1. As the various numbers are rolled by the shooter, the box person will mark that number as having been 'hit'. When only 1 number is needed for the All All, it gets very exciting. You'll know if this bet is a winner if someone has bet it. Box person will confirm by saying 'All completed' if this bet is a winner. What makes the ATS difficult -- aside from rolling a 2 or 12, for which there is only 1 dice combination for each -- is ANY 7 will wipe out the ATS bets. That includes a come out roll 7, which is a winner on the Pass Line but a loser for the ATS bets. It's actually not terribly difficult to hit one side (i.e., Small or Tall), but hitting the All is extremely difficult. Some casinos require ATS bets to be in increments of $5 in order to speed up a reset (after a come out roll 7) and to simplify the math involved on a payout. Nobody wants to calculate a winning $13 bet, especially on tables that have the good payout schedule (34x/175x/34x). If you choose to make a ATS bonus bet, you don't have to bet all 3 ATS bets. You can bet 1, 2, or all 3 of them.

I play live craps and baccarat at my local casino and while on a cruise if the casino has those live tables. If you're looking for a live table game of chance with a very low house edge, consider playing Baccarat if available. It is as close to a fair coin flip as you can find at a live table game in a casino on a cruise ship. Card dealing rules are set in advance -- there are no subjective hit/stand options like in blackjack. Aside from being a very simple game for the player, the house advantage for an 8 shoe game is 1.06 % on a Banker bet and 1.24% on a Player bet. Ignore the Tie bet unless it is down to the final few hands of the shoe and there hasn't been a single tie. IMO, live craps is the most entertaining table game in a casino. Sticking with Pass Line / Come, Place 6 & 8 bets will help keep the house advantage to a minimum while you learn the game. You can make a optional odds bet on a Pass Line / Come bet. The house has no advantage on the odds bet, so it effectively lowers the house advantage on the Pass Line / Come bet. However, betting odds also increases bankroll volatility (because there is more at risk). Also keep in mind while there is no house advantage on the odds bet, the house still has a lower advantage on the higher total amount wagered (Pass Line / Come bet + odds bet). Provided there are others at the craps tables, you can bet as often -- or infrequently -- as you want. Except for contract bets (Pass Line / Come bets, Put bets, any bonus bets), you can turn off / take down your bets at any time by telling the dealer before the dice are tossed. Note that you can always take down / turn off odds bets. Cruise ship craps tables attract plenty of players who haven't played or don't regularly play craps. Etiquette that might be followed at a craps table at a land-based casino...more often than not will not be followed aboard a cruise ship. That being said, there are a few things I'll mention: 1. Know where the dice are at all times. Don't be the person who wasn't paying attention / didn't look before reaching into the table to buy in / bet and the dice hit their hand, resulting in a 7 out. 2. The time to make bets or ask for check change is when the dice are at the center of the table. Same with buying in (cash, room card). 3. Once the shooter has the dice, don't make any bets and keep your hands outside of the table. 4. Be vigilant about your bets. Know where they have been positioned by the dealer/stickperson, as well as the amount of each such bet you have made. Sometimes the dealer/stickperson will erroneously take down one or more of your bets. 5. Don't assume the dealers/stickperson will pay a winning bet properly. Sometimes they forget to pay a winning bet at all -- speak up promptly if either happens to you. You should know the proper payouts for each bet you make. 6. You don't have to shoot the dice (unless you're the only player at the table). You can pass the dice to the next person. Players take turns shooting dice. 7. There is a rail below the top of the table for your beverages. 8. Have fun playing within your means/bankroll. Craps can be really fun, especially when the table is hot. 9. See #1 above. If you want to learn the basics of craps play, YouTube videos are probably a good starting place. YouTuber Color Up has a few beginner craps videos. Keep things simple when you're starting out. There is *NO* strategy / system that can guarantee a winning craps session. None. Ultimately, how you fare at a live table game largely depends upon your timing (and also your bankroll and betting). If you're playing at the right table at the right time, you have a much better chance of enjoying a good session. If you're playing at the wrong table and/or the wrong time, you're likely going to lose. But you already know that. The other night I played craps at my local casino (7 craps tables, all open). My table was up and down; it was a grind. The one behind me, a player made the All All 2x on the same roll and there were a few other good rolls. Later that night (after I had switched tables), a player on the table across from me made a 5 point Fire and hit the All All. Right time, wrong tables for me that night. Enjoy your cruise and good luck at the tables.

My wife and I recently took a short cruise (1/23 - 1/26) aboard Icon of the Seas. This was the final sailing before the 1/27 maiden voyage. It is a very nice ship. The casino on Icon of the Seas is large and very nice. On a cruise, I play craps and baccarat unless neither is an option. Fortunately, there were 2 x 12' craps tables and 1 baccarat table in the casino. A few observations from having played multiple craps sessions during the cruise: Rule #1: Both dice must hit the back wall or it is an automatic 'No roll'. No exceptions. At least this rule was consistently applied (for better or worse) by all of the box personnel. Rule #2: Dice thrown more than @1' higher than the player's chip rack would receive a 'Too high toss' warning. Not sure if they would have passed the dice or called no roll for continued offenses. Suffice it to say, I and several others had to completely change the way we tossed the dice because of this rule. There are no bonus bets (i.e., Fire, ATS, Repeater, Hot Shooter, etc.). $10 table minimum, but somehow a $5 Field Bet can be made. Smh. Try that in any other casino... Variable odds: Under $25 PL/Come/DP/DC gets up to 1x odds. If the bettor makes (or increases to) a $15 PL/Come/DP/DC bet and the Point is 6 or 8, up to $25 odds bet can be made. If the point is 4, 5, 9 or 10, only up to 1x odds even if the PL/Come/DP/DCbet is $15. A $25 PL/Come/DP/DC bet gets up to 2x odds. A $50 PL/Come/DP/DC bet gets up to 3x/4x/5x odds. Vig on the Buy 4/10 is upfront. As a group, the craps dealers were decent for a cruise ship craps table. Most knew basic payouts fairly well. Bets were correctly spotted most of the time. However, proper procedures (i.e., first take down losing bets, then travel/pay come/DC bets,...; paying winning bets using the correct hand depending upon which side dealer was on) were inconsistently followed. Finally, as a group the box personnel didn't properly rate average bet for my play. I'm not going to sugar coat what happened -- they were either not paying attention, incompetent and/or trying to short-change me. It was comical how short they were from what I had actually bet during multiple craps sessions. After my initial 3+-hour gaming session (closed the table), I asked the pit boss how I had been rated (buy in, time at the table, average bet). Since I had charged all buy ins to the room and received receipts, they couldn't dispute the first 2 items. However, for average bet the figure they came up with was about 1/3 to 1/2 of where it objectively should have been. I pressed early and often, so I know I had much more wagered on non-come out rolls to handily offset lower amounts bet on come out rolls. There were enough decent rolls, too. I politely explained how I had bet and expressed my concerns to the pit boss, who told me he would look into the matter. Never heard back from him about it -- shocking, right? Same thing happened the next 2 sessions; by that point I had figured something was amiss. Perhaps it's a sign I should save my gambling $$$ for my local casino, which has a tie in with MSC Cruises, and Holland America / Princess, which have far superior craps game (including ATS bet). If you're concerned with how you're being rated at table games -- be sure to periodically ask the box person / pit boss how they're rating you. This is more important on a cruise, where you might not see the same casino personnel for months. At your local casino, you'll probably see the same box personnel far more frequently so they'll probably be more inclined to give you a fair shake.

Ponant offers cruises in North America https://us.ponant.com/destinations/north-america And in other locations throughout the world. https://us.ponant.com/cruises Far smaller ships than the large cruise lines. This is not a mass-market experience.

Now that the RTX 4080 Super has officially been announced, you can get ready to order it. The good news is at 246 watts AGP, it will likely use less power than that 14th Gen Intel CPU you're planning on buying.

C'mon, 10GigE fiber ring...

At some point supply could substantially outpace demand given the new, larger ships that are currently under construction / planned in the upcoming years that will add to existing capacity. But if that happens, the cruise industry could take a page from the oil companies' playbook and take excess capacity offline in an effort to cut costs and prop/stabilize prices.

I started off with Freestyle, then WordStar before migrating over to WordPerfect. WP5.1 for DOS was one of the greatest programs ever written for the PC. Right up there with SimCity. The printer support and formatting capabilities WordPerfect 5.1 for DOS had in the pre-Windows era was mind-boggling. Even today there are legions of users who continue to use WP5.1 for DOS on Windows 10. https://mendelson.org/wpdos/ Here's the capacity rust drive you should get for your new build: https://slickdeals.net/f/17217304-22tb-western-digital-ultrastar-dc-hc570-3-5-7-2k-rpm-sata-6-0-gb-s-internal-hard-drive-370-free-shipping?src=category_page Do you have a large format Epson / Canon / HP printer for printing out your digital images?

My wife and I had a comped balcony room for a 7-day Caribbean cruise on sister ship MSC Seashore in Fall 2022 courtesy of my local casino. Very nice ship with really good pizza -- the privately held parent company was founded in Italy and is owned by an Italian family. Seashore had a very nice casino...except there was no craps table. The explanation I received is craps is dead in Europe -- it is -- and that's where the parent company is headquartered (Switzerland). Plenty of slots and roulette tables, including a single zero table (try finding that on a US-based cruise line, lol). MSC Cruises is a European cruise line that has been making a concerted effort in recent years to break into the North American market. Some things (entertainment, food) will be different from you have experienced on NCL and Royal Caribbean, but I definitely recommend giving MSC a try. MSC Yacht Club ("ship within a ship", kind of like NCL Haven) gets high marks from people who have booked those rooms. We haven't yet decided to try Yacht Club but we have booked balcony rooms on 2 MSC cruises this year and are looking at a third one.