What would you do?

[Saint Greg]

1 minute ago, EngIceDave said:

We finish in Lisbon.

Oh. 7 more days before your 3 days then.

[EngIceDave]

9 minutes ago, cruizergal70 said:

Have folks done a cost analysis? The OP is spending $500 a day in the casino for a 9 day cruise.  That's  $4500. Without the special deal, that cruise is like $3000 give or take. Is it really a deal when you run the numbers?

It never really is....No matter what some host or "whale" says...We could always buy our "freebees" cheaper than what we spend to get them free....LOL

BUT, it's kind of like a two-fer for players....we get to play AND get the free stuff, and I enjoy playing. It's relaxing for me. 

If I win big, all that much better (also guarantees a free cruise from them...)

[ledges1]

14 hours ago, EngIceDave said:

I'll spend a few hours a day in the casino, that requires a decent bankroll

I will likely budget about $500 a day for gambling on the ship. 

If you budget $500 a day (4,500 for the cruise), what is you average net gain or lose at the end of the day/end of the cruise. If you are willing to lose $4500 a cruise, most people are not qualified to answer your question.

[mz-s]

11 hours ago, cruizergal70 said:

Have folks done a cost analysis? The OP is spending $500 a day in the casino for a 9 day cruise.  That's  $4500. Without the special deal, that cruise is like $3000 give or take. Is it really a deal when you run the numbers?

 

Slippery slope. If you were worried about losing money you wouldn't go into the casino at all.

[EngIceDave]

1 hour ago, ledges1 said:

If you budget $500 a day (4,500 for the cruise), what is you average net gain or lose at the end of the day/end of the cruise. If you are willing to lose $4500 a cruise, most people are not qualified to answer your question.

I realize that, but I hope to not spend/lose that much in the casino.

Many people spend a few thousand dollars on their cruise, I do as well, I just pay it a different way.

 

It does sound like a few days in Rome itself may be enough

 

Thanks

[cruizergal70]

3 hours ago, ledges1 said:

If you budget $500 a day (4,500 for the cruise), what is you average net gain or lose at the end of the day/end of the cruise. If you are willing to lose $4500 a cruise, most people are not qualified to answer your question.

Are you saying this because you think most on this forum aren't big time gamblers? Or are you saying this because you think most on this forum don't have $4500 to spend (lose)?

[Matco]

Most of my gambling is done in Vegas, I played very little compared to what we normally spend in Vegas on our last few cruises. I noticed the cruise casino offers are more than the typical Vegas offers on less play, and with Vegas cutting way back on comps, we were primarily MGM players, Platinum with M-Life, and since moved to Cosmopolitan and Identity rewards, Platinum with them as well, but now MGM is set to take over Cosmo and presumably change Identity rewards, we have decided to gamble more on our next cruise and potentially limit our Vegas trips in favor of more cruise casino comps. Seems like the average player in Vegas in more like a VIP on the cruise lines... $500 a day in Vegas is a drop in the bucket for them but for the cruise line is much larger player    

[cruizergal70]

7 minutes ago, Matco said:

Seems like the average player in Vegas in more like a VIP on the cruise lines... $500 a day in Vegas is a drop in the bucket for them but for the cruise line is much larger player    

Cruises are vacations. Most people are there to enjoy the ship's offerings or they cruise for the ports.  Most don't cruise with gambling as their primary motivation.  One would think true gamblers would find better places to gamble.

[Matco]

For some gambling is the vacation, the bars, the drinks, the entertainment and fun of the casino is the best part, the ports are just an added bonus. I know gambling isn't everyone's cup of tea so I guess my comment was more towards the OP and others who enjoy the casino regularly. I know for our upcoming Mexican Rivera trip we have been there done that so many times that we are not even getting off the ship, we are just going to enjoy the ship and all she has to offer including the casino 🤑

[Matco]

10 minutes ago, cruizergal70 said:

Cruises are vacations. Most people are there to enjoy the ship's offerings or they cruise for the ports.  Most don't cruise with gambling as their primary motivation.  One would think true gamblers would find better places to gamble.

To add to this, it goes back to my original post, most low to mid level players at a land based casino are considered mid to high level in a cruise casino, hence why they would prefer to gamble on a cruise. In my experience it take way more gambling in Vegas to get 2-3 comp nights, some free play and resort credit compared to a free inside cabin ore reduced balcony with some fun play and OBC 

Edited May 12, 2022 by Matco

[EngIceDave]

42 minutes ago, Matco said:

Most of my gambling is done in Vegas, I played very little compared to what we normally spend in Vegas on our last few cruises. I noticed the cruise casino offers are more than the typical Vegas offers on less play, and with Vegas cutting way back on comps, we were primarily MGM players, Platinum with M-Life, and since moved to Cosmopolitan and Identity rewards, Platinum with them as well, but now MGM is set to take over Cosmo and presumably change Identity rewards, we have decided to gamble more on our next cruise and potentially limit our Vegas trips in favor of more cruise casino comps. Seems like the average player in Vegas in more like a VIP on the cruise lines... $500 a day in Vegas is a drop in the bucket for them but for the cruise line is much larger player    

Ah, fellow degenerate....welcome!

I'm a Caesars Diamond Plus and a few others, but concentrate on CET when in LV

 

$500 is less than my land based casino budgets, basically because ship casinos are not the winningest. 

 

I have a balcony aft, free drinks everywhere (I don't do alcohol though) and I think it's $500 in free play.....good deal, and if I "paid" for it up front without casino comp, that'd be a few grand, right?

So, I am paying about the same, but getting some added entertainment, because gambling is entertainment for me. It's mindless (I play slots), kills time and can be enjoyable (or frustrating).

I live in Florida and have a pool, so no sun worshipping or people stew for me.

 

[Matco]

13 minutes ago, EngIceDave said:

Ah, fellow degenerate....welcome!

I'm a Caesars Diamond Plus and a few others, but concentrate on CET when in LV

 

$500 is less than my land based casino budgets, basically because ship casinos are not the winningest. 

 

I have a balcony aft, free drinks everywhere (I don't do alcohol though) and I think it's $500 in free play.....good deal, and if I "paid" for it up front without casino comp, that'd be a few grand, right?

So, I am paying about the same, but getting some added entertainment, because gambling is entertainment for me. It's mindless (I play slots), kills time and can be enjoyable (or frustrating).

I live in Florida and have a pool, so no sun worshipping or people stew for me.

 

that is true in regards to winning, I try to play more tables while on the ship cause the limits are lower and there's less of a chance to get yelled at by someone for not playing correctly or ruining there streak/strategy yada yada. gives me a chance to learn rather than be intimidated by others in Vegas  

[ledges1]

1 hour ago, cruizergal70 said:

Are you saying this because you think most on this forum aren't big time gamblers? Or are you saying this because you think most on this forum don't have $4500 to spend (lose)?

Neither. I have been on 25 cruises. Some cruises included my children, but they are grown. His gambling budget is far higher than my individual per cruise budget for 2. I guess I choose volume of cruises . Therefore, I am not qualified to answer the question. This is no criticism of anyone, I spend a bunch playing golf every week.

[stephen@stoneyard.co.uk]

It depends on you both and what you are looking for in the holiday. 
 

I agree that cruise calls at ports do not allow you to fully experience the place you are visiting. That would not matter to me as Mediterranean ports are local to me and many I have visited and stayed in separately from cruises. If you are rarely in Europe you might want to spend your time experiencing Italy. If you have plenty of free time you could do a cruise nearer to home going to places you already know. 
 

I would probably not look at ten days in Rome.  Do you know Venice?  A place that is difficult to see properly on a cruise. People rave about Florence. I loved the Cinque Terre coast. Italy seems to be able to built things without destroying the beauty of the place they built them. They often seem to make the places more beautiful. What would Venice be without those buildings and canals. I just find so much of Italy so wonderful.
 

If you can travel light and drag your own luggage then rail travel round Italy and most of Europe is perfectly possible. You are making me dream about a grand tour of Europe. 

Of course you still have to think about COVID not just now but how it might change things before or during your trip. 
 

Best wishes, Stephen. 

 

 

[CruisinSus]

17 hours ago, EngIceDave said:

No, they can't make me and I'd spend more in the casino given the opportunity, I enjoy it. 

It's also why I get offers of $100pp 9-Day Med Cruises as well as casino offers to Las Vegas and more.

Lol nope not true.  We don't spend alot in the Casino and have received the same great offers with free rooms, free drinks and OBC.  

[EngIceDave]

1 hour ago, stephen@stoneyard.co.uk said:

It depends on you both and what you are looking for in the holiday. 
 

I agree that cruise calls at ports do not allow you to fully experience the place you are visiting. That would not matter to me as Mediterranean ports are local to me and many I have visited and stayed in separately from cruises. If you are rarely in Europe you might want to spend your time experiencing Italy. If you have plenty of free time you could do a cruise nearer to home going to places you already know. 
 

I would probably not look at ten days in Rome.  Do you know Venice?  A place that is difficult to see properly on a cruise. People rave about Florence. I loved the Cinque Terre coast. Italy seems to be able to built things without destroying the beauty of the place they built them. They often seem to make the places more beautiful. What would Venice be without those buildings and canals. I just find so much of Italy so wonderful.
 

If you can travel light and drag your own luggage then rail travel round Italy and most of Europe is perfectly possible. You are making me dream about a grand tour of Europe. 

Of course you still have to think about COVID not just now but how it might change things before or during your trip. 
 

Best wishes, Stephen. 

 

 

You sound like us on Caribbean cruises. We live in Florida and done a number of cruises. Life can't be too bad when you say something like "OMG, St Maartin again? Oh geez, ok, if we have to.."

 

LOL

[Eli_6]

I would go on the cruise and see the various ports.  Having been to Rome before, I don't think you need 10 days to see Rome.  Frankly, I wouldn't even want to spend ten days in Rome. The "sites" are absolutely amazing, but overall I was let down with the city outside of the tourist sites.  I think you can see the major sites in 2-3 days.  

Edited May 12, 2022 by Eli_6

[MizMoon]

6 hours ago, EngIceDave said:

I realize that, but I hope to not spend/lose that much in the casino.

Many people spend a few thousand dollars on their cruise, I do as well, I just pay it a different way.

 

It does sound like a few days in Rome itself may be enough

 

Thanks

EnglceDave -- I think you've got a great plan.  You can do a lot with three days in Rome - maybe not in depth - I always say "I'm not doing a thesis" ; and, considering the length of the port calls, seems consistent.  About 10 years ago a group of 10 of us made our various ways to Rome arriving three days before our Celebrity round trip.  We had set up a private night tour first evening, full day tour with same driver/company the next day, and then some individual wandering around and on down to the ship with same driver.  Went to Vatican night/day, Forum, Steps, Trevi Fountain, Catacombs, several Plazas, Coliseum and many other wonderful spots.  We were not there to shop all the high end stores, but we did go to Murano for beautiful and inexpensive glass items - still had time for lunch and gelato breaks.  Everyone was happy and ready to go cruise - worked for us - we had some lead time and pre-planned/booked all our tours - no surprises.  Ah, Lisbon - will you be staying there a few days?   Enjoy!  

[EngIceDave]

6 minutes ago, MizMoon said:

EnglceDave -- I think you've got a great plan.  You can do a lot with three days in Rome - maybe not in depth - I always say "I'm not doing a thesis" ; and, considering the length of the port calls, seems consistent.  About 10 years ago a group of 10 of us made our various ways to Rome arriving three days before our Celebrity round trip.  We had set up a private night tour first evening, full day tour with same driver/company the next day, and then some individual wandering around and on down to the ship with same driver.  Went to Vatican night/day, Forum, Steps, Trevi Fountain, Catacombs, several Plazas, Coliseum and many other wonderful spots.  We were not there to shop all the high end stores, but we did go to Murano for beautiful and inexpensive glass items - still had time for lunch and gelato breaks.  Everyone was happy and ready to go cruise - worked for us - we had some lead time and pre-planned/booked all our tours - no surprises.  Ah, Lisbon - will you be staying there a few days?   Enjoy!  

If we do the cruise, yes, I built in two full days in Lisbon

AirBnB is like $95 EUR a night for a full nice apartment. 

 

[MizMoon]

Oh, this keeps getting better and better!  Yep - I was there many moons ago (the 70's) on a TWA Fly/Drive by myself.  Flew into Lisbon from LAX and back home a month later from Madrid.  Had NO set up plans at that time - got a room from TURISMO  at a Pensione in/near Fado District, parked the car for a few days and rode buses and streetcars and walked everywhere - even at night.   Good for you - what an adventure!  

[stephen@stoneyard.co.uk]

2 hours ago, EngIceDave said:

You sound like us on Caribbean cruises. We live in Florida and done a number of cruises. Life can't be too bad when you say something like "OMG, St Maartin again? Oh geez, ok, if we have to.."

 

LOL

It is funny how we see things differently. I have never been to the Caribbean so I would be amazed and trying to see it all.  The Caribbean seems so exotic to me. 

 

A few years back we had a long weekend in London and we barely left the hotel.  The Savoy was wonderful.  London was just London. I had previously lived less than two miles away and my old office was a hundred feet down the road. 
 

I am looking forward to doing a Caribbean cruise when I retire. I do not  fly so it will be about twenty eight nights from the United Kingdom

[EngIceDave]

Eh, Miami is Miami

 

Hot, humid, sand, sun, funny trees and salty water

[LatinaInTexas]

22 hours ago, EngIceDave said:

No, they can't make me and I'd spend more in the casino given the opportunity, I enjoy it. 

It's also why I get offers of $100pp 9-Day Med Cruises as well as casino offers to Las Vegas and more.

 

 

Have you ever not gotten big casino offers after a cruise? Curious because my last cruise in Feb I barely stepped foot in the casino and now I have casino offers for 10 day Europe from Barcelona for $100 pp in a balcony and 8 day Alaska for $100 pp in a balcony. Yet previous cruises where I did step foot in the casino I never got any offers.

[EngIceDave]

18 minutes ago, LatinaInTexas said:

Have you ever not gotten big casino offers after a cruise? Curious because my last cruise in Feb I barely stepped foot in the casino and now I have casino offers for 10 day Europe from Barcelona for $100 pp in a balcony and 8 day Alaska for $100 pp in a balcony. Yet previous cruises where I did step foot in the casino I never got any offers.

Norwegian has a partnership with Caesars, was it them?

They also partner with Atlantis in Nassau, Bahamas