jajohnson Posted September 27, 2010 #1 Share Posted September 27, 2010 On all of our past cruises (before last October) we have been able to get free playing cards on board. Last October on the Emerald we were told that there were no free cards any more, they had to be purchased for $1/deck (and only if used decks were available from the casino). The reason given was that no one ever returned the cards (who wants to play with used cards, not knopwing who has handled them?) Can anyone verify if this is in fact the case? Just want to know so we can buy cards locally in Sydney before boarding the Sappire in October. Thanks...... John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
btrojanoski Posted September 27, 2010 #2 Share Posted September 27, 2010 In January on the Grand Princess they told us that there were no more free cards and we had to buy them used at the casino....first time this has happened since we started cruising Princess many years ago. Barry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richie2pies Posted September 27, 2010 #3 Share Posted September 27, 2010 Just another cutback. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loonbeam Posted September 27, 2010 #4 Share Posted September 27, 2010 Actually, shared heavy use items are no longer allowed under most norovirus containment rules (think about how cards are passed around and handled), so once handled they really can't go back into a general use pool (btw, you will notice if there is a norovirus outbreak the card tables in the casino may be shut down as they can't be disinfected like the slots). Once away from the card room, the ship has no idea what they have come into contact with so they can't be used. By selling used casino cards for $1, that eliminates some risk. Based on an earlier thread, I checked into books. Apparently the paper type used for pages is not as conductive to viral spread, but the glossy paper covers need to be disinfected on return. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caribill Posted September 27, 2010 #5 Share Posted September 27, 2010 Actually, shared heavy use items are no longer allowed under most norovirus containment rules (think about how cards are passed around and handled), so once handled they really can't go back into a general use pool (btw, you will notice if there is a norovirus outbreak the card tables in the casino may be shut down as they can't be disinfected like the slots). Once away from the card room, the ship has no idea what they have come into contact with so they can't be used. By selling used casino cards for $1, that eliminates some risk. Seems to me selling used cards does not eliminate any risk, but instead increases risk. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul929207 Posted September 27, 2010 #6 Share Posted September 27, 2010 We got two free packs of cards on the Ocean in May Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1 HappyCruiser Posted September 27, 2010 #7 Share Posted September 27, 2010 I don't remember if it was on the Grand (Jan) or Emerald (May) but the cards were free at the time and there were asking people to turn them in at the end of the cruise. I guess this has stopped & they're charging for them now. Any way to make a buck I suppose. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wizard-of-roz Posted September 27, 2010 #8 Share Posted September 27, 2010 $1.00 for a deck cards is more than reasonable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ibrasu Posted September 27, 2010 #9 Share Posted September 27, 2010 Last month on The Grand we had to pay $2 - the cards were the sort with indentations which we presumed were to enable their use in the machines on the casino tables ...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pegpowell Posted September 27, 2010 #10 Share Posted September 27, 2010 I saw that the Bingo cards are no longer the kind that push back the spot, instead they sell you a marker for $1. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wizard-of-roz Posted September 27, 2010 #11 Share Posted September 27, 2010 I saw that the Bingo cards are no longer the kind that push back the spot, instead they sell you a marker for $1. I have more of those darn markers at home. Does the color matter, I'll bring them from home? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pegpowell Posted September 28, 2010 #12 Share Posted September 28, 2010 I doubt it, lots of people were just using ball point pens to mark. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loonbeam Posted September 28, 2010 #13 Share Posted September 28, 2010 Not as much because the sold cards are likely to stay within the same group of players. The larger risk is if someone with the virus uses the cards, returns them to the desk, then another group takes the same cards, and so on. Seems to me selling used cards does not eliminate any risk, but instead increases risk. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DiTomCruisers Posted September 28, 2010 #14 Share Posted September 28, 2010 $1 per pack sounds OK to me. I just bought a 2 pack of bicycles for $6... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mindy43 Posted September 28, 2010 #15 Share Posted September 28, 2010 I have more of those darn markers at home. Does the color matter, I'll bring them from home? I bought a bingo marker once on a Princess cruise and I bring the same marker back on each cruise that we take! Color doesn't matter at all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KreinKrunker Posted September 28, 2010 #16 Share Posted September 28, 2010 The free ones can be bought on ebay all the time. Might be one reason they no longer give them away. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
piper28 Posted September 28, 2010 #17 Share Posted September 28, 2010 There's no free cards left because they have to have enough to give out for trivia prizes, since that seems to be the only thing they give away for prizes now :). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Putterdude Posted September 28, 2010 #18 Share Posted September 28, 2010 While it varies from ship to ship, for the most part playing cards are no longer free.:( Another cut back...just like the post cards of the ships. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caribill Posted September 28, 2010 #19 Share Posted September 28, 2010 Not as much because the sold cards are likely to stay within the same group of players. The larger risk is if someone with the virus uses the cards, returns them to the desk, then another group takes the same cards, and so on. The risk is that whoever used them before they were sold to you may have been sick. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fairground11 Posted September 28, 2010 #20 Share Posted September 28, 2010 Last month on The Grand we had to pay $2 - the cards were the sort with indentations which we presumed were to enable their use in the machines on the casino tables ...... the indentations are for security reasons,it stops you trying to slip in a card on the tables when playing blackjack or let it ride or whatever. the ones on the casino tables have no indentations so they would stick out like a sore thumb if you tried slipping 1 in Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ibrasu Posted September 28, 2010 #21 Share Posted September 28, 2010 Thanks Fairground11 .... never thought of that! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unboringuy Posted September 28, 2010 #22 Share Posted September 28, 2010 Free cards, to keep, were available in the library on the Sapphire earlier this year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wizard-of-roz Posted September 28, 2010 #23 Share Posted September 28, 2010 I bought a bingo marker once on a Princess cruise and I bring the same marker back on each cruise that we take! Color doesn't matter at all. Yippee! I know the odds are against us.....but, I love Bingo. I'm going to make a really fine older person! Oh! Wait! I already am!!!! :rolleyes: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wizard-of-roz Posted September 28, 2010 #24 Share Posted September 28, 2010 the indentations are for security reasons,it stops you trying to slip in a card on the tables when playing blackjack or let it ride or whatever. the ones on the casino tables have no indentations so they would stick out like a sore thumb if you tried slipping 1 in It never ceases to amaze me how careful one has to be to keep the "cheaters" out. I wasn't born yesterday but still to try and stay a step ahead of the "criminal mind" is an industry all in itself!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teripp Posted September 28, 2010 #25 Share Posted September 28, 2010 Saw cards for sale in the gift shop but I always have a pack of cards in any suitcase I have no biggy. But makes sense that no more free cards with the virusus going around. Ter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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