MB320

We have been on board at least 3 Holland America ships for the Super Bowl.  They have the theater open with designated seating on the left for Team A and on the right for Team B.  It was marked at the entrance with the team names.  As you enter, there are tables set up with tailgate food (sliders, chicken wings, hot dogs, chips, etc.)  Plenty of bar staff to take drink orders.  The game is shown on the big screen and is a lot of fun watching the fans cheer or grimace.

I do remember that they sold seats up front for a fee with special perks and drinks.  This area was roped off.  Since we did not pay for that privilege, I don't know all that was included.  The cruise director did drawings for door prizes at the end of each quarter.  (We did not win anything.)  This was my experience, however, I have no idea of the plans for this year's Super Bowl, but I feel they will do something special.  Have fun.

Yes, there is three card poker and the six card bonus bet with a minimum bet of $1 and max of $10.

Leaving on a 7 day Veendam cruise on Wednesday (1/10) with a casino discount. If I recall correctly the discount offer was 30% for inside, 25% for outside, 20% for balcony, and 15% for suite. I am sailing solo and was charged a 50% solo supplement rather than the usual 100% supplement. In the past, I have been given free inside stateroom and/or significant casino cash. For the last several years, I have received no offers for free staterooms, just discounts, but the discounts have been available for almost any cruise I choose. Sometimes I get a mailer for casino cash and discounts for cruises on specific dates and itineraries. I usually play mostly table games and very limited slot play. Princess offers have been more generous recently even though I am 4 star on HAL and platinum on Princess.

Go to oceanplayersclub.com and you can request a win/loss statement for your past cruises on Princess.

Casino chips or slot play using your ship card is considered a purchase and not a cash advance on your credit card. It will show up in your final statement listed as "Casino", then amount for that session. I have never been charged a cash advance fee when using my ship card in the casino.

Thank you, tompeter for your response. At least, I now know they are consistent, and therefore, I do not expect any different response from corporate to my complaint. Princess lost my casino play for that 10 day cruise because of this, and may very well lose my cruise business in the future. I have two cruises currently booked on other lines through casino promotions. It seems Princess, while trying to attract gamblers with "casino cash" promotions, is willing to lose those same customers by the way they are treated once on board. So be it. Their casino may be the only one on the ship, but their ships are not the only ones on the seas.

Alabaster, I am glad you (and hopefully the others at the table) were comped a drink while play stopped at the table. I felt bad that I negatively impacted others play while you all waited for the manager to arrive to address my issue. I gladly would have paid for the drinks myself, as it wasn't a money value problem for me as much as I felt cheated by the action. Since I posted no play in the casino for the remainder of the cruise, I saved quite a bit of money compared to what I normally spend. I am still waiting for a reply from Princess Players Club. I hope you had a great cruise and a good time in the casino. Again, my apologies if I negatively impacted your time at the casino that evening.

I recently returned from a cruise on Royal Princess that included a casino fare reduction and some "Casino Cash". I met the casino host after boarding and confirmed my "casino cash" amount, and was advised I could use this free play on table games or slots (no longer actual cash given at casino cage as in the past). I am ok with that part of the promotion. I chose table play, was given the appropriate amount in promotional chips (different color) and went to the Three Card Poker Table. I paced my bets and was dealt a Q,Q,9. The dealer did not have a qualifying hand. My bet on the Play was pushed, my bet on the Ante was paid even money and my promotional chip was taken and not replaced with a real chip by the dealer. I was paid even money on the Pairs Plus bet and again my promotional chip was taken by the dealer and not replaced. When I offered an objection, as I had won the hand, the dealer said "The promotional chips have no value, we take them whether you win or lose." I objected and asked to see a manager. In the past when I have played promotional chips at another cruise casino when a bet loses, the promotional chip is lost. When the bet wins, the bet is paid the proper odds, and the promotional chip is replaced with a cash valued chip. Not on Princess. I explained to the casino manager, you have changed the bet from a one TO one wager to a one FOR one wager which is not right. He said he understood my position but could do nothing about it as it was the rule from corporate. I could complain to them when I returned home. I have submitted my complaint through their website, but have yet to receive a response. Have any of you casino players had a similar experience on Princess or other cruise lines? Please correct my reasoning if I am wrong, but I can't understand how I can win a hand and end up with less money.

Regal Princess 10/21/17 5 day Canada cruise from NY. Booked an inside, up sell to balcony for $39 pp, Took the up sell.

I wonder what study (if any) was done by HAL to determine if this change was warranted? Was the Crow's Nest underutilized by passengers? Will this result in more sales for shore excursions? There seems to be little justification for the change that has been publicized by HAL.

The topic of dance hosts reminds me of one of my favorite movies, "Out to Sea" with Walter Matthau and Jack Lemmon. It was filmed on the old Westerdam. I wonder if they have it in their DVD collection on board HAL ships?

The NA docks at the Crown Bay pier in St. Thomas.

As a Diamond, you are probably eligible for a free cruise certificate. I have taken two this way, one on NCL Pearl out of Miami, and another on NCL Breakaway out of NY. My certificates gave me a free inside cabin (may pay for an upgrade) but you have to pay port fees and taxes.

Once on board you will have two "Drinks On Us" cards, one for you and one for a guest. These can be used for free drinks anytime you are playing in the casino. In addition, I received some type of treat delivered to my cabin each evening, ie, chocolate covered strawberries, truffles, cookies, etc. from the casino management.

I seem to get a mailer about once every other month or so for the free cruise certificate. You need to pick these up in person from either Atlantic City, Las Vegas, or New Orleans on certain dates listed in the mailer. Other CET destinations may offer them as well, but these are the properties I have experience with. A good offer and a lot of fun. On my last cruise, I hit a royal flush on a $1 poker machine for a $4,000 payout. Made the trip very worthwhile.

We had a similar experience for our Dec. 8 cruise on the NA. We had booked a VF guarantee and a price drop occurred after final payment. Called our TA and were able to pick a VC cabin we are very happy with. Don't know if we will be considered for further upgrade as we now have a cabin number assigned to our booking. Does anyone else have experience with this? Did you get an upgrade after your cabin number was assigned?

I purchased a pair of Leica Trinovid 10x25 for travel. They are a high quality binocular and easily fit in a shirt pocket or jacket. They are a little pricey @ about $600 retail but can be found on-line for around $450. Try an internet search for "binoculars" and you will find a website that includes that word followed by dot com. A wealth of information there as well as fair prices and good customer service.

A quality pair is a good investment, and if "travel size" will be carried often rather than left in the cabin on the desk. I've been very pleased with mine and they go with me on all my cruises. Have a great cruise.

On a Celebrity cruise to Alaska in 2011, I put a $20 bill in a dollar slot machine and hit for $7,200. The hit was 12X, bar-7, 12X on a three reel slot. The win paid 144 x $50. My best win yet in a cruise casino.