So, what do YOU think??!!

[Bob++]

One thging is for sure; and that is that, in the long run, the house ALWAYS wins. How could it be any other way - if they didn't win they wouldn't have them.

 

The same applies to any casino gambling. An individual may well make a short term gain, and if it is spectacular the casino will make sure they get plenty of publicity. Then all the other mugs (oops) gamblers will flock to give them their cash.

 

American casinos even tweak the odds on roulette by adding an extra zero.

 

Keep it up folks - it keeps the cost of my cruise down:)

[northerndynasty]

Just came back from our second Hawaiian RT. We had so enjoyed our cruise on the Island Princess five years ago that we've often talked about repeating it. Finally we got in a good place (long story) that hubby said let's see if there's still cabins this year. I didn't think so (it was late October for the 12/22 sailing) but we managed to get one of the few cabins left. Am almost finished with writing up a review for this site' date=' but first posting to a blog with photos. Had some delays doing this as we had a major computer meltdown plus a lot of homework that I needed to help our girl with. So keep checking out the Princess forum.

 

But to answer your question as far as our two RT's:

 

the first one we had rough seas the first couple of days. Lotsa passengers staying in their cabins. I brought a ton of ginger (Altoids and candied), but my hubby and daughter are never bothered by motion. But after the third or fourth day, relatively smooth seas for the rest of the cruise.

 

On this one, there was only a little bit of rough seas. Not as much as the first one. We seemed to get a lot more wind as there were some storms in the Pacific (we had a week straight of rain before our cruise and that front came from Hawaii...and heard that there was a lot more rain and some snow in the area when we were on the cruise so that front came from up north). A lot of swaying for a few days. Again, plenty of ginger.

 

Both cabins were midships, which is best if someone in your cabin has a tendency to motion sickness.

 

Despite the rain we had the first couple of days of the cruise and not really warm weather, we had a great time. We really needed those sea days to relax.[/quote']

 

 

And don't take this wrong....in your most candid of ways did you describe how your trips went...and that thoroughly convinced me that we will not be doing the RT out of LA for HI. (what the heck...3 2-letter abbrevs in as many words in one sentence! Bah!). :)

 

For me, I'm good. For the daughter, she's good. For the wifey...yeahhhhh...not so much. So, with even the prospect of "a couple" of days of swaying ships, I think it would be too much for her. She's naturally queesy onboard, and did have a minor mishap this voyage. Thankfully, only once, and after that, she seemed 'ok' for the remainder. I just think that many days in-a-row would be too much. And this is supposed to be a trip for all of us to ENJOY!

 

I really appreciate your description and how candid you were. If we want to do HI, we'll have to fly there and tour a local island tour.

 

Thanks again!

[northerndynasty]

Opps, my error, you are correct, just pulled mine out to double check. I had already added it to my tax form and had a lot of 1099's also in the pile, it definitely is a W-2G. Thanks for the correction. ;)

 

 

It's too bad we can't be more fluent in THAT particular form...it would mean we were winning MORE often! :)

[northerndynasty]

One thging is for sure; and that is that, in the long run, the house ALWAYS wins. How could it be any other way - if they didn't win they wouldn't have them.

 

The same applies to any casino gambling. An individual may well make a short term gain, and if it is spectacular the casino will make sure they get plenty of publicity. Then all the other mugs (oops) gamblers will flock to give them their cash.

 

American casinos even tweak the odds on roulette by adding an extra zero.

 

Keep it up folks - it keeps the cost of my cruise down:)

 

 

The driving factor to keeping the cost of cruises down, is that more and more folks are booking later and later. I LOVE that...because...as the voyage nears 4-months-out, Princess (I've seen) drops the price to fill the cabins. And if you're watching it as closely and religiously as I do, you can jump on in and catch the low crest of the price-wave. I started out in Feb of 10 "reserving" two cabins at almost $1700/pp (obstructed), and wound-up paying just $1009/pp by the time we were locked-in. Why? Because I constantly, daily, hourly, watched the price.

 

Our casino losses do nothing but appease stockholders... I suspect you were merely speaking in jest... :P

[gooch47]

We are WAY too familiar with casinos and slot machines. The following applies for land based casinos, not ship ones but the idea might be the same.

 

My husband starts a session by putting $100 into a machine. He just keeps playing on that $100 until it eventually runs out or if he is lucky he adds to it. He cashes out and moves to another machine and puts the ticket back in. If he has been winning steadily (which he often does, darn him), it LOOKS like he has won a great deal of money on whatever machine he is currently playing, but it is an accumulation thing.

 

Could these people be doing something similar with their cruise cards? Instead of just putting a small amount in to start, they put the sum total of everything they have on their card? That doesn't account for their verbal celebrations, of course.

 

But we have run into people on other ships that were like that. They just seem to have some kind of lucky charm that most people don't.

 

We heard many years ago that there were people in Las Vegas who were hired to "win" and keep people interested. This was back in the day when the coins dropping into the tray was quite loud. Wouldn't work so well with a ticket.

[northerndynasty]

We are WAY too familiar with casinos and slot machines. The following applies for land based casinos, not ship ones but the idea might be the same.

 

My husband starts a session by putting $100 into a machine. He just keeps playing on that $100 until it eventually runs out or if he is lucky he adds to it. He cashes out and moves to another machine and puts the ticket back in. If he has been winning steadily (which he often does, darn him), it LOOKS like he has won a great deal of money on whatever machine he is currently playing, but it is an accumulation thing.

 

Could these people be doing something similar with their cruise cards? Instead of just putting a small amount in to start, they put the sum total of everything they have on their card? That doesn't account for their verbal celebrations, of course.

 

But we have run into people on other ships that were like that. They just seem to have some kind of lucky charm that most people don't.

 

We heard many years ago that there were people in Las Vegas who were hired to "win" and keep people interested. This was back in the day when the coins dropping into the tray was quite loud. Wouldn't work so well with a ticket.

 

 

Hello there:

 

Thanks for your response. Interesting to read what others have experienced and what others suspect as well.

 

I can tell you...I would stand behind these guys (and by now, they knew I was watching them, because I wouldn't be shy about leaving the Poker table mid-hand-that-I've-already-folded), just to see their play. They just kept hitting multi-payouts over and over and over again. Yet, if you looked around, no one else was even coming close. And, further, when they would get up, and someone else would sit down thinking they had the same chances on these "loose" machines...right....one out of the 5 that was paying off for these jokers SHOULD pay off for someone else, no? Well, you can probably tell where this is going. Because...no one would ever hit. And you can hear them saying to themselves, over and over again..."I don't get it...these machines were paying off for them, why not us"?..etc.etc..

 

Anyway, hypothesizing or suspecting...it's all good. There will be some around who will continue to chalk-it-up as "dumb-luck". Unless you're there, and seeing it first-hand, you can't really get the idea of what we (the many regulars who were in the Casino), experienced. All I can say is...don't play the slots if you even have a hope to win something. It's not going to happen...for the most part. And of course, that's why these casinos are in business.

 

However...like I said, many of us played at the Crystal Casino during port, and won...smartly...and quickly. I also played at the Hollywood Hard Rock, and needed a W-2G...very quickly. So...I really have to wonder.

 

By the way...the Cruise staff onboard the Island all got to know me because of how often I was there. (Roulette, Poker, shmoozing-up for comps, etc...). And each of them knew that I was part of a very active Cruise Critic board. Furthermore, I made sure they heard many of our complaints and suspicions about the winning and non-winning. All they kept repeating was...are you going to be writing this on Cruise Critics? Over and over again? Why would they be so concerned...if things are all legit, they have nothing to worry about...do they?

 

:)

 

Happy Travels everyone! Remember to Win Win Win! :P

[morriscats]

Interesting to read your posts - you sound like a fun cruiser.

As for the casino I can't comment much. I know I will not win and have better things to do with my money. My DH - well he tries. Can usually hold his own for a while but in the end they always win.

Our favorite itinerary is the RT Hawaii cruise. On our first one both DH and I got a little "sickly" the first day and night out - but we had never taken Bonine on a cruise - didn't think we needed it. After taking it and the seas calming down, we were fine. And after that we always take Bonine the first few days. Nothing too rough - just enough to take our sea legs away. But it is an amazing cruise. In October we are headed out again but going further - the 28 day RT to Hawaii, Samoa and Tahiti. Can't wait.

[Cruisin' Chick]

I don't think you should totally rule out this itinerary. Just find remedies that will work first. I don't recommend this cruise for first time cruisers (even though my hubby did find a couple on their first cruise, and they loved it so much they're already planning their second).

 

The next time your wife has her physical, she can bring up her motion sickness to her doctor. He may have something for her to try. That's what my mother did for the cruise she went on (she gets motion sickness at even the sight of a bus, but she's managed to fly to Europe several times, Asia once, the mid-east once). She got a prescription for the patch, and after her four-day cruise, I asked if she was nauseous at all, and she said no. It worked fine. And she was in her 70s by that time.

 

The problem with any cruise is that if the weather is stormy, you can get a lot of wave action. Our Alaskan cruise was very smooth (and we were even as far forward as possible on the ship). But it doesn't mean all Alaskan cruises are. On both our Caribbean cruises, there was a tropical storm on one (that turned into a hurricane, but fortunately after we got back to Miami and got on our flight home) and it was after a storm on the other.

 

I'm not a good flier at all, but if needed, I'll get on the plane. I can't keep my fears or stomach get in the way of my family's enjoyment. Don't know if that's your wife's feelings or mindset, but maybe she does feel that way, too.

[gooch47]

Bonine works for my hubby who can get sick just from the vibration of the propeller, never mind big waves. Bonine is the OTC version of a medicine called meclazine which is used for vertigo. We leave on the Grand for Hawaii on Feb. 2 and I will certainly have a good supply of Bonine with me.

 

As far as the slots go, they are terrible on cruise ships on all lines we've been on. My favorite story about them is one time when I really blasted the casino on the survey they used to give at the end of the cruise. Then, that night I won back everything I had lost and $800 more to boot. I was kind of embarassed.

[2Oregonians]

Nevermind

[northerndynasty]

Interesting to read your posts - you sound like a fun cruiser.

 

As for the casino I can't comment much. I know I will not win and have better things to do with my money. My DH - well he tries. Can usually hold his own for a while but in the end they always win.

 

Our favorite itinerary is the RT Hawaii cruise. On our first one both DH and I got a little "sickly" the first day and night out - but we had never taken Bonine on a cruise - didn't think we needed it. After taking it and the seas calming down, we were fine. And after that we always take Bonine the first few days. Nothing too rough - just enough to take our sea legs away. But it is an amazing cruise. In October we are headed out again but going further - the 28 day RT to Hawaii, Samoa and Tahiti. Can't wait.

 

 

Hi there!

 

I like to think I'm a fun cruiser. I know I am, actually. For real...my mom and wife sit back and just marvel at how I'm like a kid in a candy store. I get so extremely worked-up about cruising...even after 3 cruises, I'm so rarin' to go on our next. All we do is talk cruising (the family and I), and are well underway in booking our next. It's too bad I can't "retire" and simply travel/cruise. Because, that's all I would do. Heck, I'd love to get a gig just cruising and critiquing...but I think the cruise companies would banish me in a heart-beat!

 

As for the Bonine, and I know some of y'all have also posted on this: She was religiously taking the Bonine...and for some reason, this trip, it wasn't really doing it's job. However, there is probably a logical explanation: Cedar Fever and Moulds in Texas right now are extremely high, and just playing havoc with those sensative to it. (I'm not, she is EXTREMELY affected by it...took no time to return after we got back!) So, pack her being totally worn-out for battling Cedar fever since about October, and rough seas leaving FLL for the first day, and it was a recipe for disaster. Generally, though, the Bonine does the trick. So, good info there!

 

With even the slightest risk, however, of "days" of potential nausea, I think we're going to have to wear-out the Caribbean for a while, before getting the courage to "cross the pond" to Hawaii. I really want to do this itinerary, as I'm a "Ship Boy". If I never had to get off the ship at the ports, I wouldn't. However, the wifey doesn't allow me that kind of freedom - even when I create the "excuse" for having to 'babysit' the 8-year-old. Haha!

[northerndynasty]

I don't think you should totally rule out this itinerary. Just find remedies that will work first. I don't recommend this cruise for first time cruisers (even though my hubby did find a couple on their first cruise' date=' and they loved it so much they're already planning their second).

 

The next time your wife has her physical, she can bring up her motion sickness to her doctor. He may have something for her to try. That's what my mother did for the cruise she went on (she gets motion sickness at even the sight of a bus, but she's managed to fly to Europe several times, Asia once, the mid-east once). She got a prescription for the patch, and after her four-day cruise, I asked if she was nauseous at all, and she said no. It worked fine. And she was in her 70s by that time.

 

The problem with any cruise is that if the weather is stormy, you can get a lot of wave action. Our Alaskan cruise was very smooth (and we were even as far forward as possible on the ship). But it doesn't mean all Alaskan cruises are. On both our Caribbean cruises, there was a tropical storm on one (that turned into a hurricane, but fortunately after we got back to Miami and got on our flight home) and it was after a storm on the other.

 

I'm not a good flier at all, but if needed, I'll get on the plane. I can't keep my fears or stomach get in the way of my family's enjoyment. Don't know if that's your wife's feelings or mindset, but maybe she does feel that way, too.[/quote']

 

 

Again, very, very useful information here. Good suggestion about getting the wifey to check with her doctor at her next visit about the latest travel/sea-sickness remedies. Maybe the combination of allergy meds and the Bonine x'd each other out, or just lessened the effectiveness of both or either.

 

The flight back here was no fun either! Whew! Even I got a wee bit nervous on the long approach in to the airport. They said to be prepared for a bumpy ride in, and they weren't kidding! I don't get sick on flights (or cruises), I just get nervous, especially when the flights are bumpy like we experienced.

 

It doesn't help when the rest on the plane gasp like they did! :) On each ride up-and-down. Enough gasping already! :P

 

Thanks for the info!

[northerndynasty]

Bonine works for my hubby who can get sick just from the vibration of the propeller, never mind big waves. Bonine is the OTC version of a medicine called meclazine which is used for vertigo. We leave on the Grand for Hawaii on Feb. 2 and I will certainly have a good supply of Bonine with me.

 

As far as the slots go, they are terrible on cruise ships on all lines we've been on. My favorite story about them is one time when I really blasted the casino on the survey they used to give at the end of the cruise. Then, that night I won back everything I had lost and $800 more to boot. I was kind of embarassed.

 

Exactly my point...yet, these three could never miss. Hmmm... :)

 

"Always use your cruise card" they said, over and over and over again. And yet, when I didn't use the cruise card, maybe I'd win back a few bucks here and there. The $10 for every 1000pts is like wow...so, you want me to keep losing THAT much just to get $10 in free-play? And the benefit of THAT is?! Well, to the stockholders, I'm sure. :P

 

Sorry, the playing of the slots was thankfully shortlived (fed the 'piggy' less...after winning a "few bucks" back on the $1 slots using just plain-old-cash with no cruise card. It was the convincing factor...and getting a few bucks back was good enough for me.!) It was back to the Poker table only from then on out...

 

Congrats on the win, just the same!

[cdub72]

There is no doubt in my mind that a cruise line would hire people to pull off a stunt like this. Nightclubs hire good looking women to "work" their clubs. Liquor companies pay rappers to drink their products in music videos. Even Sony has admitted to "placing" people in high traffic areas to promote new electronics. It's called guerilla marketing, and there is nothing wrong with it. Believing that you can win against a random number generator in a slot machine just because others are winning is another gambler's falacy. Everyone hears about the winners, but there isn't a post or conversation about the guy who lost $1000 a night on a $600 cruise. Even if the payouts are 95%, those percentages are made by paying out one enormous jackpot every few years. In the meantime, you have massive cash flow for a cruise line, casino, or resort.

 

Don't get me wrong, I like to gamble. It's really funny though to see people complaining about being "nickle and dimed" on a cruise ship for coffee, ice cream, etc., but then blow hundreds, or thousands in a low payout casino.

[northerndynasty]

There is no doubt in my mind that a cruise line would hire people to pull off a stunt like this. Nightclubs hire good looking women to "work" their clubs. Liquor companies pay rappers to drink their products in music videos. Even Sony has admitted to "placing" people in high traffic areas to promote new electronics. It's called guerilla marketing, and there is nothing wrong with it. Believing that you can win against a random number generator in a slot machine just because others are winning is another gambler's falacy. Everyone hears about the winners, but there isn't a post or conversation about the guy who lost $1000 a night on a $600 cruise. Even if the payouts are 95%, those percentages are made by paying out one enormous jackpot every few years. In the meantime, you have massive cash flow for a cruise line, casino, or resort.

 

Don't get me wrong, I like to gamble. It's really funny though to see people complaining about being "nickle and dimed" on a cruise ship for coffee, ice cream, etc., but then blow hundreds, or thousands in a low payout casino.

 

 

Your last sentence sums it all up!

 

Very 'touche'.

 

Thanks for your feedback. :)

 

Safe travels!

[ldubs]

OP -- Use of shills is fairly common. Why waste time staking them out. Why waste time worrying about them at all.

[morriscats]

 

With even the slightest risk, however, of "days" of potential nausea, I think we're going to have to wear-out the Caribbean for a while, before getting the courage to "cross the pond" to Hawaii. I really want to do this itinerary, as I'm a "Ship Boy". If I never had to get off the ship at the ports, I wouldn't. However, the wifey doesn't allow me that kind of freedom - even when I create the "excuse" for having to 'babysit' the 8-year-old. Haha!

When I was in the medical center (replacing my meds that somehow got lost between the hotel and the ship) there were several there who were seasick and they all got shots which helped them very quickly. That could also be an option?

[northerndynasty]

When I was in the medical center (replacing my meds that somehow got lost between the hotel and the ship) there were several there who were seasick and they all got shots which helped them very quickly. That could also be an option?

 

 

Indeed. The shot is an option. Was it covered by Travel Insurance, or, did you have to foot-the-bill?

 

28-day-cruise you have coming-up...oh, how exciting that sounds! Don't take this the wrong way...please...there is no offense intended, but I can just imagine the cost?!

[morriscats]

Indeed. The shot is an option. Was it covered by Travel Insurance, or, did you have to foot-the-bill?

 

28-day-cruise you have coming-up...oh, how exciting that sounds! Don't take this the wrong way...please...there is no offense intended, but I can just imagine the cost?!

I don't know if it was covered - I was not getting it. I would think so though?? Maybe someone else knows.

[jerseygirl3]

I don't know if it was covered - I was not getting it. I would think so though?? Maybe someone else knows.

 

I had to take my sister to the ship's medical center one time due to seasickness. She never saw the doctor; the nurse simply gave her the shot, told her to wait an hour and then taking sips of ginger ale. It worked like a charm, but she did sleep for the rest of the night.

 

Her travel insurance would have covered it, but the bill was only $13, so she didn't bother submitting it.

[northerndynasty]

As always...where else can you turn to to get the info you need, but...

 

Cruise Critics, of course! :)

 

 

 

Now...to convince the wifey to consider Hawaii R/T LA. I'm all for it...I just hate to think that anything but enjoying the cruise will be on her mind. And I know "it" will be...

 

Let's see what her doctor says...