No more casino bar on the Vista and Horizon.

[BrotherCraig]

Just heard that they removed the casino bar from those ships.  Interesting move and didn't expect that to happen.  Suppose to help with the smoking situation and it adds more games.  

 

 

[LHARTWICK]

Awesome news!  Purely selfish reasons of course.  🙂  Thanks, BrotherCraig!

[BlerkOne]

Not sure how much it helps - there will still be smoking and non-smoking sections, but at least chain smokers can't stand at the bar all day BSing and hotboxing.

[BrotherCraig]

I enjoyed watching the sports on TV there but not a deal breaker or anything for me.  I don't care as long as there are other bars around.  🙂

[IntrepidFromDC]

5 minutes ago, BrotherCraig said:

I enjoyed watching the sports on TV there but not a deal breaker or anything for me.  I don't care as long as there are other bars around.  🙂

Agreed, and they should do a better job with sports on the tv's above the table games.

[JEANMR1]

Makes me sad. I liked that bar. 

[dbrucern]

Disappointed, we had the best bartender crew on the Horizon and the best entertainment at the Casino Bar

 

[BrotherCraig]

8 minutes ago, IntrepidFromDC said:

Agreed, and they should do a better job with sports on the tv's above the table games.

 

 

The issue with that is that you will have people at the tables and such just watching TV and hogging seats.  No way Carnival workers would enforce any rule or ask someone to leave the tables.  I always have a rough time grabbing a seat as it is.

[cruisingguy007]

This is a terrible move and one that will be reversed quickly I'll bet. Sounds like someone "got a great idea" without thinking about the big picture. The casino bar is the hot hangout late night. Even many nonsmokers hang out there and shoot the breeze. Those that think this will get rid of smokers congregating, get real, this change won't stop folks who want to smoke indoors or avoid cold/hot weather to smoke. Giving people an incentive to leave the casino to fetch a drink or hang elsewhere is a losing proposition.  

[kwokpot]

6 minutes ago, BrotherCraig said:

 

 

The issue with that is that you will have people at the tables and such just watching TV and hogging seats.  No way Carnival workers would enforce any rule or ask someone to leave the tables.  I always have a rough time grabbing a seat as it is.

The Sports Bar on Vista Class ships are in an odd place and TBH I never see people in there

[phoneman69]

1 hour ago, BrotherCraig said:

Just heard that they removed the casino bar from those ships.  Interesting move and didn't expect that to happen.  Suppose to help with the smoking situation and it adds more games.  

 

 

Shame one of my favorite bar spots. Not a smoker but always like the location to grab a beer / drink

[cruisingguy007]

Just now, kwokpot said:

The Sports Bar on Vista Class ships are in an odd place and TBH I never see people in there

 

Panorama has the Hero bar but it's oddly shaped, in a odd location and there isn't much seating. It just doesn't feel inviting as a place to hang out. Got a drink there once and would check scores when at the casino bar or nightclub. Most of the time people are standing around because there is no where to sit. 

[crewsweeper]

2 minutes ago, cruisingguy007 said:

This is a terrible move and one that will be reversed quickly I'll bet. Sounds like someone "got a great idea" without thinking about the big picture. The casino bar is the hot hangout late night. Even many nonsmokers hang out there and shoot the breeze. Those that think this will get rid of smokers congregating, get real, this change won't stop folks who want to smoke indoors or avoid cold/hot weather to smoke. Giving people an incentive to leave the casino to fetch a drink or hang elsewhere is a losing proposition.  

This is probably why.  Hot spot could also be a hot spot for COVID and need to social distance. Ships are trying to reduce these types of areas.  Once the panic is over, the casino bars could stagea comeback.

[cruisingguy007]

4 minutes ago, phoneman69 said:

Shame one of my favorite bar spots. Not a smoker but always like the location to grab a beer / drink

 

Exactly, I usually end up there every night. I'd say maybe 25% smokers at any given time, many who have non smoking spouses/significant others with them. Many singles there as well, many who don't smoke. A lot also float in and out as they carry on with their evening. They're there because it's a happening place, people are outgoing, and it's very easy to strike up a conversation. It's the #1 spot for social interaction.  

[jerrya72]

I always liked the casino bar even though I don't smoke.

[cruisingguy007]

30 minutes ago, crewsweeper said:

This is probably why.  Hot spot could also be a hot spot for COVID and need to social distance. Ships are trying to reduce these types of areas.  Once the panic is over, the casino bars could stagea comeback.

 

Fair point but a lot of folks cruise to be around others and have some social interaction. We (as a society) are more electronically connected than ever before but have concurrently, the highest numbers of reported loneliness and social isolation than even pre-internet days. It's hard for many adults to be social and have opportunities to do so in a natural environment. Closing this down is removing a big one. Sure, folks can mingle in smoking sections (and they do) but it's just not quite the same as the interactions are much shorter vs hanging at a bar, drinking a few and smoking a few. Plus non-smokers may not feel as comfortable as they do in the casino bar.

 

Even the smoking section set up makes a huge difference. On Inspiration the set up and chair/table arrangement made it much more conducive to conversation and the drink service was fantastic enough that one could lounge up there similar to a bar visit. On Panorama, though same location, it's completely different and the chair/chaise arrangement isn't conducive to conversation and the drink service is slow to nonexistent at times. Even these small differences can make a huge impact to peoples natural inclination to socialize. 

 

Thant and the vaccines work. There should be no need to reduce peoples social interactions and push the social distancing agenda, as nearly everyone is vaccinated.      

Edited June 30, 2021 by cruisingguy007

[cruisingguy007]

55 minutes ago, IntrepidFromDC said:

Agreed, and they should do a better job with sports on the tv's above the table games.

 

On Vista class ships they could add a bunch of TV's/monitors to the wall of the limelight lounge and turn the nightclub into a sports bar by day. Plenty of seating available and they can add some lounge couches around the perimeter. You can also run music videos at night on those same TV's/monitors and special affects for the DJ for the nightclub set up. Win-win.  

Edited June 30, 2021 by cruisingguy007

[joe/jack]

1st Carnival Cruise 7/24

No Bar in Casino?

Horizon Why 

Crazy 

 

 

 

[BlerkOne]

3 minutes ago, joe/jack said:

1st Carnival Cruise 7/24

No Bar in Casino?

Horizon Why 

Crazy 

 

 

 

There is still bar service. Just no bar, which is fine with me.

[Cruise Related]

Sniff, I kinda liked that bar. I don’t gamble, but I  would go to the bar, grab a beer, vape a little, and chat with folks. 

[BlerkOne]

30 minutes ago, Cruise Related said:

Sniff, I kinda liked that bar. I don’t gamble, but I  would go to the bar, grab a beer, vape a little, and chat with folks. 

And that's the problem. People weren't supposed to smoke in the casino if they weren't gambling. Removing the bar and replacing with machines solves the problem.

 

Enforcement of no non-gamblers smoking is also supposed to be better. 

[Cruise Related]

12 minutes ago, BlerkOne said:

And that's the problem. People weren't supposed to smoke in the casino if they weren't gambling. Removing the bar and replacing with machines solves the problem.

 

Enforcement of no non-gamblers smoking is also supposed to be better. 

The bar literally had a smoking side and a non-smoking side. I would plop my butt down in the smoking section of the bar, cause there were signs every where, order a beer, and chat with folks. The bar doesn’t have slots/card-tables or any sort of gambling thing. Not sure why it’s for “gamblers” only, just because it’s in the casino. I’ve been on a crap ton of cruises and this is the first time I’ve ever heard the bar is for gamblers only. I’m sure carnival was happy to have my money in any fashion I provided, whether it was through the casino or through booze. 

[lazydayz]

16 minutes ago, BlerkOne said:

And that's the problem. People weren't supposed to smoke in the casino if they weren't gambling. Removing the bar and replacing with machines solves the problem.

 

Enforcement of no non-gamblers smoking is also supposed to be better. 

 

I hope so.  I have seen people sitting in the casino before the ship sails smoking away!  

[cruisingguy007]

13 minutes ago, BlerkOne said:

And that's the problem. People weren't supposed to smoke in the casino if they weren't gambling. Removing the bar and replacing with machines solves the problem.

 

Enforcement of no non-gamblers smoking is also supposed to be better. 

 

It's not a problem. The casino bar is full of smokers, non-smokers, gamblers, drinkers and any combination of those individuals/couples/groups. It was the one free place on the ship where people could come together and socialize and those who wanted to self-segregate could stay away. It always has the most outgoing and unpretentious people (both smokers and non-smokers alike). Then funnest passengers frequent the casino bar, it's a real shame if this is really true. It was the last refuge where everyone is welcomed.  

[Cruise Related]

6 minutes ago, cruisingguy007 said:

 

It's not a problem. The casino bar is full of smokers, non-smokers, gamblers, drinkers and any combination of those individuals/couples/groups. It was the one free place on the ship where people could come together and socialize and those who wanted to self-segregate could stay away. It always has the most outgoing and unpretentious people (both smokers and non-smokers alike). Then funnest passengers frequent the casino bar, it's a real shame if this is really true. It was the last refuge where everyone is welcomed.  

Heck yeah! Met some great people at that bar! I know Carnival started having issues with people that would go and sit at the slots just to smoke, that’s why carnival started implementing rules, like you gotta play to stay. But it had nothing to do with the bar.