Cruise Ship Table Limits

I will be taking a cruise on the Crystal Serenity in late 2014 and, having never been on a cruise, I was hoping that someone would be willing to shed some light on the betting limits I can expect to encounter in the casino. Obviously if anyone has gambled recently on a Crystal ship that would be ideal, but just in general can anyone speak to minimum bets on cruise ships? I know that the rules are generally lousy, but I play baccarat (where they can't monkey with the odds very elegantly), and craps (where the worste they can really do is short pay the field, which I don't play, or offer double odds). What are the odds I can find a $10 or even $5 craps table in a luxury cruise line casino?

Most ships will offer $5 to $500 for BJ. It's not likely you'll find better than double odds on craps and there's a good chance you won't find a Baccarat table at all. I've not been on Crystal but I've been on over 500 cruises on 6 different lines and that's more or less what you can expect.

Here's a link to some Crystal onboard casino information:

Crystal Casinos

Thanks, that is cool. I was not expecting $5 minimums but good to see it. I am suprised that mini bacc is only by request as it is a Japanese owned cruise line and they have a Nobu restaurant on board so I expect a decent Asian contingent on board.

The casino is still likely to be rather small and not a major profit center for the floating hotel. Remember, there will be only ONE casino on board and if you don't like it there, the staff will be very happy to suggest that you walk to their nearest competitor. Still, it should be fun just don't expect bargains.

Quote: FleaStiff

The casino is still likely to be rather small and not a major profit center for the floating hotel. Remember, there will be only ONE casino on board and if you don't like it there, the staff will be very happy to suggest that you walk to their nearest competitor. Still, it should be fun just don't expect bargains.

Absolutely. I was just hoping that there would be a place where I could mess around and play low stakes craps for an hour most days and $5 craps is perfect. Pass line, single odds, $6 each 6 and 8 for a total exposure of less than $25. Not looking for serious gambling on the boat, just a chance to get my gambling juices flowing and have fun.

Quote: bigfoot66

... and craps (where the worste they can really do is short pay the field, which I don't play, or offer double odds). What are the odds I can find a $10 or even $5 craps table in a luxury cruise line casino?

In 2011 I took a cruise on Royal Caribbean. The craps table was a $5 minimum, $100 maximum. But double odds? Only on formal night. Other nights, it was SINGLE odds!

This past May, Norwegian Cruise Lines Epic had $5 craps with 3-4-5x odds; don't recall the maximum. BJ was 5-3000. PGP was 25-5000, but no bonus bet. 3CP was 2 5 tables, 1 10 dollar table. Roulette was 5 min. UTH was 5 min. Never been on Crystal, but I would think you could make a phone call and find out.

I wonder if cruise ships sweat the money. Are they
known for 86ing?

Quote: EvenBob

I wonder if cruise ships sweat the money. Are they
known for 86ing?

They make you walk the plank.

Quote: EvenBob

I wonder if cruise ships sweat the money. Are they
known for 86ing?

In some cases it is a sub-contractor, not the cruise line itself.

Quote: EvenBob

I wonder if cruise ships sweat the money. Are they
known for 86ing?

It was in the early 80s on a day cruise out of Ft. Myers. I don't know if it was the Big "M" back then. Flea? I pulverized them playing blackjack against the sloppiest dealer I've ever seen in my life. They replaced the dealer with a supervisor who was almost as sloppy. They finally told me I was done for the trip but they didn't make a big deal about it.

I pretended to be drunk but used no playing cover. Read some of the worst plays threads and multiply that by several times to see how ridiculously I was playing. The rules were terrible and I actually stopped counting and flat bet the table max which wasn't that high.

I suspected collusion between the dealers and another player at the table. It's only speculation but something was off. Back then there was no way I was going to leave a table like that. Today I might be a little more cautious.

From another thread

Quote: TwoFeathersATL

Hey Raleigh!
Could you maybe write a little more detailed summary about the rules, mins/max, shufflers etc on RC and Holland cruises? Yes, you can detail the craps conditions as well ;-) I haven't seen any write ups on Holland, BTW. Thx
Actually wouldn't mind hearing your impressions on how the two lines compared outside of the casino as well. Do I remember you going on a Norwegian as partly comped deal thru Caesars, or was that a couple other guys?

If you are going on a cruise to play in a casino, hands down Norwegian is the way to go, as far as I am concerned. Definitely craps game is better, and in general, they just run their casino better than the other lines I have been on (Carnaval, Holland, Royal, Celebrity). Two comp'd cruises, one on Royal and one on Norwegian. The Norwegian Getaway had 2 craps tables, and both had a lot of play. Truth be told, by the time you pay the port fees and taxes, the comp'd cruises don't get you a whole lot.

Holland casino was mediocre, at best. Craps game only ran from 9 PM to 12 midnight, even on sea days. Single odds. They had 4 BJ tables (all hand shuffle 6D, H17, NS) two were 3:2 and two were 6:5. Only 2 tables were ever open, one of 3:2 and one of 6:5. Min bet on 3:2 was $10, Max was $300. Min on 6:5 was $5, not sure on the max. Holland also had one each of roulette, UTH, Let it ride, and 3CP. Any 3 would be open, but never all of them. It was very apparent they were running with fewer dealers, and many times the supervisor would deal craps. The clientele on Holland is VERY OLD. There were A LOT of wheelchairs and walkers on the ship. God Bless them, I hope I have the energy to do a cruise when I start having mobility issues.

Royal (Legend of the Seas) had a smoking table game section, and a non-smoking section about 50' away. A mix of shufflers and hand shuffled games. $10 mins, not sure on max. 6D games. They had a Double deck game for $25, but it was never open. Perhaps it was on request only? Don't recall what other games they had. One craps table in each section, Double odds.

Thx RC.
I just did a week on Norwegian, and have some insight as well.
I'll try to add some details tomorrow.

Quote: TwoFeathersATL

Thx RC.
I just did a week on Norwegian, and have some insight as well.
I'll try to add some details tomorrow.

Someone is expecting me to review Norwegian. Lol.

One weird thing on norwegian. The low limit tables were set at $6. They want you to play 5 on bet and 1 on side bet. I just played 6 as my bet.

Quote: jjjoooggg

Someone is expecting me to review Norwegian. Lol.

Hours later, I just finally caught that joke....
I' slow.....;-(

Quote: TwoFeathersATL

Hours later, I just finally caught that joke....
I' slow.....;-(

You shouldn't be talking to yourself.

Its time consuming to log out and in.

Quote: jjjoooggg

You shouldn't be talking to yourself.

Its time consuming to log out and in.

Jjjoooggg is on a roll, made point.
Get your bets in...might be now or never...

Cruises to nowhere, in Florida, used to sweat the money bit time. They had single odds on craps and $500.usd limit(line bets and odds). I don't recall the center bets limits. One good roll and their bank was wiped thin and they had to call for a fill. Not a phone call mind you, just holler across the floor to the manager/owner, delaying the game and causing an inspection of the dice etc.. It was the worst on the Gulf Coast near St. Pete at Johns Pass, but things could also get nasty at Ferdinand Beach and the short lived Mayport boats.(barge converted, not a real cruise style ship)

Norwegian comments later.

Victory? Is that right? cruises out of Jacksonville and Port Canaveral.
Don't remember the craps set-up. Generally take the boys down to Daytona for a week in the surf in late May, early June. I sneak away for a night sometimes to play playback on these 4-5 hour cruises. This year, Canaveral, had 5 min, 500 max, 3:2, H17, No RSA, No surrender.
Amazingly, the $10 tables had exact same rules, same max, $500.
If you get a few blacks ahead, they will go a little nuts.
It was funny, was also a bit sad.
I thought they might throw me overboard ;-)
86'd at Sea is the term maybe.

Quote: TwoFeathersATL

Norwegian comments later.

Victory? Is that right? cruises out of Jacksonville and Port Canaveral.
Don't remember the craps set-up. Generally take the boys down to Daytona for a week in the surf in late May, early June. I sneak away for a night sometimes to play playback on these 4-5 hour cruises. This year, Canaveral, had 5 min, 500 max, 3:2, H17, No RSA, No surrender.
Amazingly, the $10 tables had exact same rules, same max, $500.
If you get a few blacks ahead, they will go a little nuts.
It was funny, was also a bit sad.
I thought they might throw me overboard ;-)
86'd at Sea is the term maybe.

Victory is correct. 3-4-5x. $5 min. think it's $500 max.

Best I've done with them was win about $800. They were happy for me.