No Casino on Journey.

[chromered7]

Disappointed that there is no longer a Casino on Journey. We have a cruise booked for next year and have only just discovered the removal of the Casino. While we cannot do anything about this cruise we may not consider AZ again for future cruises.

[Kojak68]

What is replacing the casino.

[excitedofharpenden]

Journey is the only ship at the moment to still have something like a casino. Slots and electronic gaming tables. It will go in the dry dock later next year. 

 

Phil 

[BBMacLaird]

1 hour ago, Kojak68 said:

What is replacing the casino.

 

Hi Kojak68,

The Casino area is replaced with The Den. This is a lovely space with comfortable seating, a piano and the same bar as was in the Casino. Along the forward wall there is a Shore Excursion counter, and the Cruise Again office.

You can get a feel for it on our Deck Plans: https://www.azamaraclubcruises.com/our-ships/azamara-quest/azamara-quest-deck-plans-2020

[Shawnino]

Maybe you can ask around on the Roll Call and get a Dealer's Choice game going.

(At worst, someone should be able to offer some shady three-card monte.)

[sabbo55]

2 hours ago, BBMacLaird said:

 

Hi Kojak68,

The Casino area is replaced with The Den. This is a lovely space with comfortable seating, a piano and the same bar as was in the Casino. Along the forward wall there is a Shore Excursion counter, and the Cruise Again office.

You can get a feel for it on our Deck Plans: https://www.azamaraclubcruises.com/our-ships/azamara-quest/azamara-quest-deck-plans-2020

Thanks for the update.  I looked over the write up on The Den. It mentions Destination Immersion and tools for travel.  Will it still have nightly entertainment?  I really hope so.  That was a favorite venue of mine.

[sunlover33]

8 hours ago, BBMacLaird said:

 

Hi Kojak68,

The Casino area is replaced with The Den. This is a lovely space with comfortable seating, a piano and the same bar as was in the Casino. Along the forward wall there is a Shore Excursion counter, and the Cruise Again office.

You can get a feel for it on our Deck Plans: https://www.azamaraclubcruises.com/our-ships/azamara-quest/azamara-quest-deck-plans-2020

This seems to be more about increasing the selling of expensive trips  thus resulting in less provision for alternate entertainment, surely there was room in the other lounges for a piano/ musical entertainment? 

Edited July 3, 2019 by sunlover33
Spelling

[excitedofharpenden]

5 minutes ago, sunlover33 said:

This seems to be more about  selling of expensive trips  and less provision for alternate entertainment, surely there was room in the other lounges for a piano/ musical entertainment? 

That's what I thought prior to seeing it, but believe me. It's a way better use of space and has transformed this area. Much more life and comfort and the shorex and LCV desks are a positive benefit and don't intrude.  

 

Admittedly I am not a casino goer, but considering how much time it can be open on a typical Azamara cruise this is now a venue that everyone can enjoy. I will be glad when Journey is converted, but sadly not in time for my next cruise on her. 

 

Phil 

[excitedofharpenden]

5 hours ago, sabbo55 said:

Thanks for the update.  I looked over the write up on The Den. It mentions Destination Immersion and tools for travel.  Will it still have nightly entertainment?  I really hope so.  That was a favorite venue of mine.

Yes, there is a piano there for nightly entertainment. 

 

Phil 

Edited July 3, 2019 by excitedofharpenden

[sunlover33]

18 minutes ago, excitedofharpenden said:

That's what I thought prior to seeing it, but believe me. It's a way better use of space and has transformed this area. Much more life and comfort and the shorex and LCV desks are a positive benefit and don't intrude.  

 

Admittedly I am not a casino goer, but considering how much time it can be open on a typical Azamara cruise this is now a venue that everyone can enjoy. I will be glad when Journey is converted, but sadly not in time for my next cruise on her. 

 

Phil 

Slots and electronic gaming tables are not what we use in the casino, much prefer the tables.  I can’t see the date due for the refurbishment but don’t think it’s before April 2020 when we will be on her, so unfortunately may have the worst of both options but will remain positive as destination is the prime reason for the cruise. 

[uktog]

Some of the best nightly entertainment onboard happens in The Den. And through the day it can also be busy as the bar is open from mid morning and serves coffees etc so it’s an alternative to Mosaic. 

Like Phil, I wasn’t sure until I experienced it but found for us, it’s now one of the nicest spaces onboard. Cant wait for Journey to be done.  

[ECCruise]

Big fan of the Den vs. casino.

Whereas virtually everyone can enjoy the Den (sitting and relaxing, listening to the entertainment, taking advantage of the extensive travel book library) a casino has a much more limited appeal (and usage).

[AllisonJames]

Also big fan of Den vs. Casino and disappointed on my 7/17 Journey cruise that this change hasn't yet been implemented because I loved it on Pursuit and our cruise is so port intensive it's hard to see much time when casino will even be open!  Plus, it's not like there is a lot of choice with the table games in the existing casino . . .

[PSULion]

Living in Las Vegas for 25 years, I look forward to going on Journey with NO casino and those chiming gaming machines!

 

John R.

[mnocket]

As one might expect there is a mixed reaction to the removal of the casinos from AZ ships. 

 

Personally,  a casino is important to me.  My routine is show-dinner-casino.  The casino is where we tend to make the most friends.  It's the social aspect more than gambling itself (although my wife loves the slots). 

 

I understand with a port intensive focus the opportunity to use the casino is somewhat reduced.  That said, the removal of the casinos makes AZ MUCH less attractive to us.  Show-Dinner-Bed just isn't attractive to us.  The Den is nice, but not at the expense of the casino.  JMHO

[excitedofharpenden]

It might be mixed, but it's way favouring those that prefer the casino gone. In seven cruises on Pursuit I have yet to meet anyone that laments the loss of the casino and they really like The Den. To coin a phrase, the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few. 

 

Phil 

[Lottie A]

I enjoy the odd donation at The Casino as well. However The Den does look like a great place to spend an evening and I'm looking forward to trying it out on Pursuit in two weeks. 

Perhaps a possible solution might be to keep the Casino on just one of the ships and I suppose people who wanted an Azamara cruise but also enjoyed some Casino action could then book that ship. Just a thought. 

[sunlover33]

11 minutes ago, Lottie A said:

I enjoy the odd donation at The Casino as well. However The Den does look like a great place to spend an evening and I'm looking forward to trying it out on Pursuit in two weeks. 

Perhaps a possible solution might be to keep the Casino on just one of the ships and I suppose people who wanted an Azamara cruise but also enjoyed some Casino action could then book that ship. Just a thought. 

I enjoy the odd flutter too, I can’t see why there can’t be a small space preserved for a few gaming tables, it need not take up much space and after all there are plenty of spaces available for music, bars, entertainment etc. We will seriously consider this loss before booking our next cruise. We really like the ambiance of Azamara and Itinerary plus good service wins every time but the type of leisure time post dinner is also important, especially on a cruise with many sea days. 

Edited July 3, 2019 by sunlover33
Additional text

[mnocket]

26 minutes ago, excitedofharpenden said:

It might be mixed, but it's way favouring those that prefer the casino gone. In seven cruises on Pursuit I have yet to meet anyone that laments the loss of the casino and they really like The Den. To coin a phrase, the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few. 

 

Phil 

 

Ah, I love a good phrase.  How about this one.....  the tyranny of the majority?

[PSULion]

7 minutes ago, mnocket said:

 

Ah, I love a good phrase.  How about this one.....  the tyranny of the majority?

 So long as I am in the majority, I like it 🙂

[bbqoug]

On our 2 Azamara cruises my wife & I enjoyed stopping by the casino after leaving the show.

Some gambling along with a glass of wine is something we looked forward to in ending our evening.

 

I was looking to book an Azamara cruise for 2020.

Azamara's current high prices along with the lack of a casino has led us to book a cruise with Oceania for next April.

 

 

[nordski]

1 hour ago, mnocket said:

 

Ah, I love a good phrase.  How about this one.....  the tyranny of the majority?

 

 

I will have to look up again the meaning of “tyranny”.

 

 

[mnocket]

30 minutes ago, nordski said:

 

 

I will have to look up again the meaning of “tyranny”.

 

 

 

The tyranny of the majority (or tyranny of the masses) is an inherent weakness of majority rule in which the majority of an electorate can and does place its own interests above, and at the expense of those in the minority.

[Tom47]

We are not gamblers.  We can live without the casino.  A bigger shower with doors is still on my wish list.  Everyone has different priorities.

[nordski]

1 hour ago, mnocket said:

 

The tyranny of the majority (or tyranny of the masses) is an inherent weakness of majority rule in which the majority of an electorate can and does place its own interests above, and at the expense of those in the minority.

 

Oh, I think I know what the phrase means.

 

It was the “tyranny” part that interested me. It suggests that Azamara, in a desire to please the majority. did not take into account the rights and welfare of the people who frequent the casino.

 

Perhaps the creation of The Den was meant to provide a new space  that could be utilized by all, even the former casino participants, albeit in a different way. If it isn’t used, then it might not meet that criteria.

 

But I still wouldn’t call that mistaken decision “tyrannical”.