corpkid Posted August 6, 2014 #1 Share Posted August 6, 2014 Have to say I was shocked on our just-off cruise on Marina to see the Casino hopping every night from about 9:30 until 1 or 2 am. Seeing as I love playing craps, I had to get in what seemed like a very busy and happy table (rare from what I understand). Over the 5 nights I played I met some great friends, lost a lot of sleep, and managed to pretty much turn $100 into enough to cover our $1400 OB spending. Not bad if I say so myself. The dealers are all really great people with big personalities. It was a hoot even if I was exhausted for several of our tours around Scotland and Ireland. :) Wonder how it will be with all the sea days we have for our 16 night Australia/NZ cruise? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare LHT28 Posted August 6, 2014 #2 Share Posted August 6, 2014 not rare at all It has been busy on most of our cruises :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
corpkid Posted August 7, 2014 Author #3 Share Posted August 7, 2014 That's great. On our first (and only other so far) on Marina around the Baltics it was a deadzone. They didn't even open the craps table most nights. Probably because it was a super-heavy port-intensive day (3 Days in Russia, 5am train rides to Moscow, etc.). Either way - had such a good time.... Adding BIB beverage package and it almost felt like you were playing at a great vegas/MC style casino. Almost. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
potterhill Posted August 7, 2014 #4 Share Posted August 7, 2014 We have done several cruises and on all of them the casino was more empty than not. A few people at the one armed bandits. Have never seen the craps table open. Ever. Mo Sent using the Cruise Critic forums app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pacheco18 Posted August 7, 2014 #5 Share Posted August 7, 2014 Just off Nautica Casino was largely dead Two women playing (and losing) slots. Occasional blackjack game. I think they should make Martinis bigger and get rid of the casino altogether. LOL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mura Posted August 7, 2014 #6 Share Posted August 7, 2014 Just off NauticaCasino was largely dead Two women playing (and losing) slots. Occasional blackjack game. I think they should make Martinis bigger and get rid of the casino altogether. LOL LOL, indeed, Laraine. I'm with you but I don't see that happening! Mura Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
corpkid Posted August 7, 2014 Author #7 Share Posted August 7, 2014 I agree w/ making Martini's larger. It was totally full by 5pm each night on our last cruise. To the point you couldn't even share a seating area! Those silly but amazing happy hours! ;) I'm not the biggest fan of the Casino bar personally - Seems like a waste of space and the look seems out of place. That whole area around the casino should be a big lounge rolling into Martini's with cocktail service IMHO. But what do I know!? Still love the ship. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aloha 1 Posted August 8, 2014 #8 Share Posted August 8, 2014 Quote: Originally Posted by pacheco18 View Post Just off Nautica Casino was largely dead Two women playing (and losing) slots. Occasional blackjack game. I think they should make Martinis bigger and get rid of the casino altogether. LOL LOL, indeed, Laraine. I'm with you but I don't see that happening! Mura Let's be giving FDR any ideas, ladies. :) The casino after dinner with a fine cognac is a perfect digestive. . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aloha 1 Posted August 8, 2014 #9 Share Posted August 8, 2014 Should be "let's not! Darn CC captioning. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pacheco18 Posted August 8, 2014 #10 Share Posted August 8, 2014 Better yet Let's turn the underused Casino into an onboard teaching kitchen so we can cooking classes on the R ships. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
orchestrapal Posted August 8, 2014 #11 Share Posted August 8, 2014 Better yet Let's turn the underused Casino into an onboard teaching kitchen so we can cooking classes on the R ships. What a great idea. This year on our three Regatta cruises the casino was always dead. Even on sea days you could hardly see it was open. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
digtexas Posted August 8, 2014 #12 Share Posted August 8, 2014 Corpkid, I enjoyed the lively casino too, and met some fun, friendly people at the blackjack table. I looked for you guys but never got the chance to meet you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
karska Posted August 8, 2014 #13 Share Posted August 8, 2014 Better yet Let's turn the underused Casino into an onboard teaching kitchen so we can cooking classes on the R ships. Love both of your ideas!! We'll be on Insignia in four weeks, port intensive. But there's always time for a cocktail or two....and would love the cooking classes. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare pinotlover Posted August 8, 2014 #14 Share Posted August 8, 2014 Utilization of the casino varies a lot. Last summer on our Marina-Baltic cruise the casino was hopping every night. One of the complaints I heard, from a group, sitting around the pool was that at 3 in the morning there was no restaurant to get something to eat in, after a night of gambling. One had to stand in line to get on one of the blackjack tables, or engage in a different game of chance while waiting your turn. Seems to all depend upon the particular cruise and crowd. There exists a significant number of O cruisers that eat at 6-7 p.m., check out the entertainment on level 5, and are in bed every night before 10. I often question how much many really know about what goes on during the cruise at night. ;) I 've seen the casino empty at 10, and crowded at 11:30 through ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oceanbill457 Posted August 8, 2014 #15 Share Posted August 8, 2014 My big complaint with the casino is the single odds on craps. Celebrity has 3, 4, 5 times odds. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
corpkid Posted August 8, 2014 Author #16 Share Posted August 8, 2014 My big complaint with the casino is the single odds on craps. Celebrity has 3, 4, 5 times odds. Agree - I really thought I was going to drop my initial $100 and be done in a matter of minutes. That's why I still can't figure out how I won so much!!! Really made for a very entertaining few nights and I learned more about the more "exotic" inside bets since I had a nice cushion. Overall a really good time was had. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare LHT28 Posted August 8, 2014 #17 Share Posted August 8, 2014 I 've seen the casino empty at 10, and crowded at 11:30 through ? Maybe they go to the show until 10:30 then a drink & hit the casino ;) Each cruise is different depending on a number of factors ...passengers, port intensive, not gamblers etc.... I often stop by to make my donation ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
corpkid Posted August 8, 2014 Author #18 Share Posted August 8, 2014 Maybe they go to the show until 10:30 then a drink & hit the casino ;) Each cruise is different depending on a number of factors ...passengers, port intensive, not gamblers etc.... I often stop by to make my donation ;) I noted that after the show let out it did get more busy... oftentimes they held off opening the table until the show let out. I would be the only one standing at an empty closed craps table with a bunch of chips set up sipping a drink and waiting at 9:30pm sharp... :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pacheco18 Posted August 8, 2014 #19 Share Posted August 8, 2014 I know this will upset a handful of O cruisers but that space really could be put to better use. Most people don't cruise O to gamble (the casino is teeny) -- it's a time filler. I bet the casino is not much of a revenue source for O. Sad to have a large space that such a small percentage of passengers utilize. It is notable I think that the new Viking Oceans ships are not going to have casinos at all -- and many of their sailings are sold out. I bet if we did a poll and asked how many would sail O if there were no casino, the percentage would be in the high 90's. Maybe keep the casino on the O ships, but replace with something better on the R ships? Just giving food for thought to Miami for the next refurb LOL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
digtexas Posted August 9, 2014 #20 Share Posted August 9, 2014 I would bet that the casino is a very good source of revenue for O. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ttalbcr Posted August 9, 2014 #21 Share Posted August 9, 2014 What other table games do they have in casinos? First time on Oceania-Nautica. Enjoy playing Let It Ride and Three Card Poker in addition to slots. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StanandJim Posted August 9, 2014 #22 Share Posted August 9, 2014 (edited) What other table games do they have in casinos? First time on Oceania-Nautica. Enjoy playing Let It Ride and Three Card Poker in addition to slots. The Casino's on Oceania are small, because the ships are quite intimate. There will always be a blackjack game running, sometimes two if the interest is strong enough (at different buy in levels, naturally), and the other tables will vary between Caribbean Stud, Three Card Poker, Let it Ride, and even (occasionally) Texas Holdem'. The key is to speak to the Casino Manager who will arrange for a time when your game of choice will be played.....and if it catches on, that game may remain at that table for the rest of the voyage. Invite your friends! Edited August 9, 2014 by StanandJim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare PaulMCO Posted August 9, 2014 #23 Share Posted August 9, 2014 I would bet that the casino is a very good source of revenue for O. +1 If it did not generate good revenue -- it would be off the ship pronto. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rallydave Posted August 9, 2014 #24 Share Posted August 9, 2014 +1 If it did not generate good revenue -- it would be off the ship pronto. Pretty sure the Casino is a concession run by a third party which would be concerned over how many people play as they most probably pay a fixed fee to Oceania for the space and need sufficient revenue to pay the staff as well as Oceania for the space plus make a profit. The concessionaire would leave first because of low play as Oceania has a fixed income from the operator including payment for the staff cabins and meals. Perhaps O get a percentage of the winnings but, don't know for sure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
corpkid Posted August 10, 2014 Author #25 Share Posted August 10, 2014 It is Century Casinos, (CNTY ticker) that runs the casinos. It is a completely separate operation akin to the shops. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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