Slot Machines in the Ocean Bar

[johnnyswitzerland]

Has anyone reached out directly to HAL about this yet?

 

On Monday I asked a TA I'm friendly with if she had any intel but haven't heard back yet.  I was going to write to HAL too but thought it would probably take a long time to get a response.

[Sea42]

15 hours ago, RuthC said:

They seem to have been installed quite early for a tournament that doesn't start until December 1. 

That may have to do with delivery and installation schedules of vendors and available personnel for set up. Those type of things have been a bit unreliable lately.

[InTheWASide]

On 11/4/2021 at 7:17 PM, rkacruiser said:

 

The HAL slogan of "Signature of Excellence" continues to be tarnished.  

That's not HAL's current slogan

[MTAK]

7 minutes ago, InTheWASide said:

That's not HAL's current slogan

Maybe they should solicit ideas for a new slogan. Here's one:

 

"HAL - You can gamble on us!"

[Aquahound]

So this supposed slot tournament that is being reported by some supposed reliable source.....is there any advertisement for this?  Is the ship chartered or partially chartered on that date?  I find it hard to believe HAL would go through all the effort of installing all these extra slots just to spring this supposed tournament on unsuspecting guests for that 1 sailing.   Where's the advertisement?

[Laminator]

11 minutes ago, Aquahound said:

So this supposed slot tournament that is being reported by some supposed reliable source.....is there any advertisement for this?  Is the ship chartered or partially chartered on that date?  I find it hard to believe HAL would go through all the effort of installing all these extra slots just to spring this supposed tournament on unsuspecting guests for that 1 sailing.   Where's the advertisement?

Casino players receive offers all the time. I booked the Rotterdam cruise that I embarked on today last November. There is a large contigent of players from a land based casino on this cruise.

[Mary229]

29 minutes ago, Laminator said:

Casino players receive offers all the time. I booked the Rotterdam cruise that I embarked on today last November. There is a large contigent of players from a land based casino on this cruise.

I was wondering about the hook up between cruise casinos and land based casinos.  If one were to visit a land based casino would one possibly get cruise offers from those visits?

[Laminator]

6 minutes ago, Mary229 said:

I was wondering about the hook up between cruise casinos and land based casinos.  If one were to visit a land based casino would one possibly get cruise offers from those visits?

Yes...I get several a year but mostly from NCL.

[DaveOKC]

34 minutes ago, Mary229 said:

I was wondering about the hook up between cruise casinos and land based casinos.  If one were to visit a land based casino would one possibly get cruise offers from those visits?

Yes, some cruiselines do partner with land based casinos, often oferring free or heavily discounted cruises.  I do not think HAL does however.

[figmentdj]

1 hour ago, DaveOKC said:

Yes, some cruiselines do partner with land based casinos, often oferring free or heavily discounted cruises.  I do not think HAL does however.

Boyd Casinos offer one free HAL cruise a year to certain tier levels. In fact, this will be a free cruise for us. inside cabin only, but at least it gets us on the ship.

 

Edited November 10, 2021 by figmentdj

[cruisemom42]

6 hours ago, MTAK said:

Maybe they should solicit ideas for a new slogan. Here's one:

 

"HAL - You can gamble on us!"

 

I've got one for HAL management:  "Quit while you're ahead."  Or maybe "Know when to fold 'em."

 

 

[rkacruiser]

7 hours ago, InTheWASide said:

That's not HAL's current slogan

 

You think I do not know this?  "Savor the Journey"?  Who among us does not "savior the journey" on whatever cruise/trip/tour that we take?  

 

I associate HAL with "excellence" when I am considering a cruise.  That "excellence" has been seriously eroded in recent years.  Not yet in the ICU, but, ill.  

[Caribbean Chris]

8 hours ago, johnnyswitzerland said:

Has anyone reached out directly to HAL about this yet?

 

Just filled out my survey after disembarking Rotterdam this a.m.  The first thing I wrote under “how could we make this cruise better?” Was to please remove the slot machines from the Ocean Bar. Hope others do the same!!

[luvn2cruzzz]

I was contacted yesterday by a PCC who was reaching out to us.  When I mentioned the slot machines in the Ocean Bar she was clearly dumbfounded and dismayed.  She got in touch with her colleagues while we were speaking and they either had not heard of it or had read it on CC.  At first she was not sure I knew what I was talking about but when I said I knew people on the current Rotterdam sailing and I saw pictures on CC, she was a believer. The PCC was aware that there were going to be slot tournaments on both the Kdam and the Rdam in early December.   She also suggested I contact Guest Relations who have a direct ear to Gus Antorcha.  As it turns out, I needed to speak to them about something else and shared my not too pleasant thoughts on the slots.  Please speak up if you are not happy with this current situation.  Silence is the voice of complicity.

[travelholics]

20 minutes ago, luvn2cruzzz said:

I was contacted yesterday by a PCC who was reaching out to us.  When I mentioned the slot machines in the Ocean Bar she was clearly dumbfounded and dismayed.  She got in touch with her colleagues while we were speaking and they either had not heard of it or had read it on CC.  At first she was not sure I knew what I was talking about but when I said I knew people on the current Rotterdam sailing and I saw pictures on CC, she was a believer. The PCC was aware that there were going to be slot tournaments on both the Kdam and the Rdam in early December.   She also suggested I contact Guest Relations who have a direct ear to Gus Antorcha.  As it turns out, I needed to speak to them about something else and shared my not too pleasant thoughts on the slots.  Please speak up if you are not happy with this current situation.  Silence is the voice of complicity.

We have expressed our thoughts to Guest Relations, also included positive feedback on company's 'thank you' to Torbay and donation to RNLI (UK lifeboats)

[OVgirl]

Seth Wayne just mentioned on his Live From that the slot machines on the 2 ships in the Ocean Bar are just temporary for some tournament cruises. Suggested that they would be removed shortly after the new year. 

Let's hope that's true and not just a line to placate us.

[KAKcruiser]

If they aren't scheduled to be removed until after New Year's, that means they will be on the holiday cruises where the fares are almost double normal.

[rkacruiser]

5 hours ago, OVgirl said:

Suggested that they would be removed shortly after the new year. 

 

What a wonderful "Signature of Excellence" example for a Christmas and New Year's cruise if they remain during the holiday.  If I wanted such a "wonderful experience", I would book a Las Vegas holiday for much less money.  Or, indeed, visit the local gambling venues that have now become available for even less money!  

[Laminator]

I am hearing from several different excellent sources that HAL's intention is to have the machines removed prior to the New Year. For those who have not been on one of these $50,000 slot tournament cruises I believe you should withhold judgememt. It is very difficult to even get to a slot machine on those cruises. The amount of work put into them in extraordinary.

HAL is also going through major upgrades in the casino at this time. You no longer need to insert your card in the slot machine. You simply tap your card at the appropriate area on the front of the machine. When leaving you tap it again and the money automatically goes into your card. This will slowly be introduced fleet wide over the next several months. HAL will also be going to a tiered card system like land based casincruised. There are also several other upgrades coming. 

[rkacruiser]

10 minutes ago, Laminator said:

I am hearing from several different excellent sources that HAL's intention is to have the machines removed prior to the New Year.

 

But, is such a situation really appropriate for a Christmas cruise or a cruise during the holiday season for HAL's Jewish guests?  

 

Somehow the sound or sight of slot machines in the Ocean Bar during the Christmas Tree lighting ceremony in the ship's Atrium while the Stewards distribute cups of hot chocolate and Christmas cookies and the staff/guests sing Christmas carols just doesn't seem quite right to me.  

Edited November 12, 2021 by rkacruiser

[KAKcruiser]

I agree and again must mention that people don't pay a premium to cruise over the holidays to have the Ocean Bar loaded with slot machines.

[The-Inside-Cabin]

12 hours ago, Laminator said:

I am hearing from several different excellent sources that HAL's intention is to have the machines removed prior to the New Year. For those who have not been on one of these $50,000 slot tournament cruises I believe you should withhold judgememt. It is very difficult to even get to a slot machine on those cruises. The amount of work put into them in extraordinary.

HAL is also going through major upgrades in the casino at this time. You no longer need to insert your card in the slot machine. You simply tap your card at the appropriate area on the front of the machine. When leaving you tap it again and the money automatically goes into your card. This will slowly be introduced fleet wide over the next several months. HAL will also be going to a tiered card system like land based casincruised. There are also several other upgrades coming. 

If HAL wants to rebrand itself as the home to slot machine players they should make that known.     Slots are very busy here on the  K dam.  They should take out the roulette wheel, crap table and half of the other games that are little used.    The casino is nothing more than a slot machine arcade anymore.   The $6 minimum 6/5 blackjack tables aren't worth playing.    I used to enjoy going to the casino.   Not any more.  Nothing but slots!! 

[chrisbu315]

I am currently on the Kdam and asked the Casino Manager about this last night.  He said they are in the Ocean Bar only for the slots tournament on next week's cruise and will be removed immediately thereafter.  We'll see.

 

Right now the Ocean Bar has been taken over by slot machines.  It looks like a second casino!

[Laminator]

4 hours ago, The-Inside-Cabin said:

If HAL wants to rebrand itself as the home to slot machine players they should make that known.     Slots are very busy here on the  K dam.  They should take out the roulette wheel, crap table and half of the other games that are little used.    The casino is nothing more than a slot machine arcade anymore.   The $6 minimum 6/5 blackjack tables aren't worth playing.    I used to enjoy going to the casino.   Not any more.  Nothing but slots!! 

Let me give you all an idea of a HAL slot tournament. On the NSDM in Nov 19 one player won over $140,000 in jackpots. I play both BJ and slots. I won over $40,000 in jackpots. I remember you mentioned on ur cruise you heard a few small jackpots were announced. I would be willing to bet her roll thru the machines had to be over $500 grand to win that much. I am sure I rolled over $250 grand thru the slots. I am sure my wife rolled $50 grand through them. From a business perspective do we inconvenience a few people for a few weeks when the casino spend in one day is probably equivalent to the normal casino spend in one month. Each slot machine in the Ocean Bar will make more money for HAL in one day than the Ocean Bar makes for them in a month. If you owned HAL what would you do?

[taxmantoo]

35 minutes ago, Laminator said:

 If you owned HAL what would you do?

Take care of the other customers that account for the other 99% of HAL's revenue !!!

Edited November 12, 2021 by taxmantoo