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Casino on Marina was actually BUSY!!!

corpkid

By corpkid,
in Oceania Cruises

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corpkid

corpkid

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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?

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corpkid

corpkid

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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. :)

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Mura

Mura

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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

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corpkid

corpkid

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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.

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Aloha 1

Aloha 1

Posted
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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. .

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orchestrapal

orchestrapal

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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.

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karska

karska

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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. :)

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pinotlover Great Review Rare

pinotlover

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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 ?

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corpkid

corpkid

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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. :)

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LHT28 Holiday Sharing Rare

LHT28

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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 ;)

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corpkid

corpkid

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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... :)

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pacheco18

pacheco18

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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

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StanandJim

StanandJim

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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 by StanandJim
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rallydave

rallydave

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+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.

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