Casino/Blackjack Question On The Explorer

Since it's been over 4 years since I have sailed on any RCI ships, I have a Casino question for the Blackjack players.

Are they still manually shuffling or are they using the automatic shuffling machines?

Thanks in advance.

Since it's been over 4 years since I have sailed on any RCI ships, I have a Casino question for the Blackjack players.

 

Are they still manually shuffling or are they using the automatic shuffling machines?

 

Thanks in advance.

I think had automatic shufflers at most (but not all) tables when I was on Explorer last December. Been on a few ships over the past few years so I may be mistaken. Hopefully I will see you at the tables in a few weeks as blackjack is my game.

Mike

Not sure about Explorer but on Jewel last March they were still shuffling manually.

I think had automatic shufflers at most (but not all) tables when I was on Explorer last December. Been on a few ships over the past few years so I may be mistaken. Hopefully I will see you at the tables in a few weeks as blackjack is my game.

 

Mike

Sounds like a plan Mike. I enjoy nothing more than sitting at the Blackjack table for a few hours at night. Too bad the casino will be closed while we are in port. If they aren't shuffling manually, I probably won't play.

I think they are still manually shuffling.

It's been a few months since we sailed. But I believe that on 7 night and longer cruises they still deal out of a shoe. On the 3 and 4 nighters it's all constant shuffling machines. Except for single deck.

I believe most tables use a shuffling machine but some deal out of a shoe.

The constant shuffle machines where they put the cards back into the machine every hand are almost impossible to beat.

The shuffle machines that just shuffle, then the dealer deals from the deck (single deck) or a shoe. Seem allright.

But remember they use 8 decks at the regular tables.

The single deck is allright if you have a full table (they deal 2 hands). But you can't double down after a split, and black jack pays less.

Machines pay 3/2 blackjack, single deck only 6/5

It's been a few months since we sailed. But I believe that on 7 night and longer cruises they still deal out of a shoe. On the 3 and 4 nighters it's all constant shuffling machines. Except for single deck.

I believe most tables use a shuffling machine but some deal out of a shoe.

The constant shuffle machines where they put the cards back into the machine every hand are almost impossible to beat.

The shuffle machines that just shuffle, then the dealer deals from the deck (single deck) or a shoe. Seem allright.

But remember they use 8 decks at the regular tables.

The single deck is allright if you have a full table (they deal 2 hands). But you can't double down after a split, and black jack pays less.

The constant shuffle machines were what I was really curious about. I hate those, but I understand why they use them. I haven't by any sense of the word perfected my card counting skills, but enjoy making the attempt...........lol.

Back in 2008 on board the Liberty I won the Blackjack tournament. That was pretty fun. But after buying dinner for everyone at Chops and lots of drinks, it was all gone pretty fast. If I recall, 1st price was $490 or something in that vicinity. Plus a trophy and a few casino tee shirts.

My wife was moving some things around on a shelf awhile back and knocked my Blackjack trophy to the ground, breaking it into 2 pieces. Guess I will have to try and win another one....lol.

The best part of the win was watching my brother sit on the sidelines while he watched me play. He likes to brag about his blackjack skills, but he got knocked out in the second or third round :)

The constant shuffle machines were what I was really curious about. I hate those, but I understand why they use them. I haven't by any sense of the word perfected my card counting skills, but enjoy making the attempt...........lol.

 

Back in 2008 on board the Liberty I won the Blackjack tournament. That was pretty fun. But after buying dinner for everyone at Chops and lots of drinks, it was all gone pretty fast. If I recall, 1st price was $490 or something in that vicinity. Plus a trophy and a few casino tee shirts.

 

My wife was moving some things around on a shelf awhile back and knocked my Blackjack trophy to the ground, breaking it into 2 pieces. Guess I will have to try and win another one....lol.

Try the single deck table if there are 5 or more players, and you are in 3rd base. You get to look at a lot of cards.

Try the single deck table if there are 5 or more players, and you are in 3rd base. You get to look at a lot of cards.

I'll check it out, thanks. For some reason I always feel much more comfortable sitting in home plate.

I wonder if they still have the three 7's game at the Blackjack table.

If you were dealt two 7's and then your next card was a third 7 (assuming you took a hit), you were entered into a contest at midnight.

So at midnight, all the players that had 3 consecutive 7's during a certain timeframe came back at midnight for a contest.

The contest was that they had a spinning wheel with various different prizes marked on the wheel. You had to throw a beanbag that had velcro on it at the wheel. The velcro was only on one side of the beanbag. If your beanbag stuck, you won that prize. An if I recall, you had 3 attempts to win a prize. I ended up with more casino Tee-shirts...........lol. But it was fun and it forced my wife to stay up until midnight to cheer me on.

I've never seen that contest. On most of the ships I've been on they use the multi-deck shoe but hand shuffle. On the higher minimum game, they still paid 3/2 and hand shuffled a single deck.

I've switched to craps full time as I can't stand people complaining when a newbie splits 10's or over draws. If you sit at first base, no one remembers how you played your hand.

I've never seen that contest. On most of the ships I've been on they use the multi-deck shoe but hand shuffle. On the higher minimum game, they still paid 3/2 and hand shuffled a single deck.

 

I've switched to craps full time as I can't stand people complaining when a newbie splits 10's or over draws. If you sit at first base, no one remembers how you played your hand.

Their is nothing wrong with newbies. Everybody has to learn the game somehow. I just don't suggest you learn how to play when their is money on the table......lol.

If I recall, they use to give lessons in the casino on how to play the various different table games.

I've never played craps, but I would like to learn. I only Blackjack, and sometimes Caribbean Stud poker when I am in the mood for a slower type of game.

I don't care how others play their blackjack hands, some people become very vocal.

Craps is the easiest game in the casino. Try it, doesn't matter how others play their money. Blackjack is somewhat boring and sometimes takes forever to grind out a win since the odds are so even when played with the correct strategy.

I don't care how others play their blackjack hands, some people become very vocal.

 

Craps is the easiest game in the casino. Try it, doesn't matter how others play their money. Blackjack is somewhat boring and sometimes takes forever to grind out a win since the odds are so even when played with the correct strategy.

Yeap, some Blackjack players get very vocal. You hit the nail right on the head when you mentioned "Played with the correct strategy".

I never say anything to anyone about the way they play their hand unless they ask for help. But if I am at a table with people who don't know the correct strategy, I'll just get up and come back at another time. After a while you get to know the players. But I also do love the newbies who sit down and ask for help when they are not sure of the right move.

I will read up on craps and learn about the game. I have a cruise at the end of September on the Explorer, so maybe I will give it a whirl.

Their is nothing wrong with newbies. Everybody has to learn the game somehow. I just don't suggest you learn how to play when their is money on the table......lol.

 

If I recall, they use to give lessons in the casino on how to play the various different table games.

 

I've never played craps, but I would like to learn. I only Blackjack, and sometimes Caribbean Stud poker when I am in the mood for a slower type of game.

I am willing to suggest to someone they reconsider their move and the dealer will usually hold the card until they say yes or no but I am of the belief that one persons bad move only hurts their chances to increase the amount they win, it doesn't affect me since there are 8 decks out there. JMOHO, much more in life to worry about then bad play although I do get annoyed if they try to defend a bad play (splitting 10's or not splitting 8's vs a dealers 6, lol) but I never allow it to upset me to the point I cant play. I have left a table when people are so hammered they cant speak clearly...

Mike

Mike

I don't give stock tips or advice nor help with blackjack hands. Typically the dealer will tell them "what the book says" if asked.

You're all talking about Blackjack but I was lucky enough to win the Poker tournament on Explorer back in March, which means I get to go on the Oasis in December to play again :-)

I try and find a minimum $25 table so generally must people know how to play a bit. I find most the the new players head for the blackjack table with the wheel thingy so I avoid that one.

Anything the casino offers you like that, or insurance etc is a bad bet :-)

I don't care how others play their blackjack hands, some people become very vocal.

 

Craps is the easiest game in the casino. Try it, doesn't matter how others play their money. Blackjack is somewhat boring and sometimes takes forever to grind out a win since the odds are so even when played with the correct strategy.

I also enjoy craps but seems like not many on the ship play. I usually just play the pass line, then back it up and occasionally play opposing numbers (6, 8 or 5, 9, or 4, 10). Seems like the ships dont give the same odds on the numbers that casino's give, only 2x max vs 5x (in a casino) but still good odds vs other games.

Mike

Mike

I am willing to suggest to someone they reconsider their move and the dealer will usually hold the card until they say yes or no but I am of the belief that one persons bad move only hurts their chances to increase the amount they win, it doesn't affect me since there are 8 decks out there. JMOHO, much more in life to worry about then bad play although I do get annoyed if they try to defend a bad play (splitting 10's or not splitting 8's vs a dealers 6, lol) but I never allow it to upset me to the point I cant play. I have left a table when people are so hammered they cant speak clearly...

 

Mike

 

Mike

You mean your not suppose to split face cards? :)

I also enjoy craps but seems like not many on the ship play. I usually just play the pass line, then back it up and occasionally play opposing numbers (6, 8 or 5, 9, or 4, 10). Seems like the ships dont give the same odds on the numbers that casino's give, only 2x max vs 5x (in a casino) but still good odds vs other games.

 

Mike

 

Mike

Maybe you can teach me how to play craps? Any plans for the 1st night? We have reservations at Portofino, but after that I am free.

I've played blackjack for 25 years I think and generally play to the rules. Occasionally I get a gut feeling to do something I shouldn't. Can't think off hand but maybe like stick on 16 when dealer is showing a 7 - might have done that once every dozen times say.

What I don't ever feel like doing is splitting 8's when the dearer has a 10 say. I do it against my better judgement sometimes. I've read the 'rules' loads of times over the years but potentially doubling the stake of a bad bet doesn't sit easy :-)

I've played blackjack for 25 years I think and generally play to the rules. Occasionally I get a gut feeling to do something I shouldn't. Can't think off hand but maybe like stick on 16 when dealer is showing a 7 - might have done that once every dozen times say.

 

What I don't ever feel like doing is splitting 8's when the dearer has a 10 say. I do it against my better judgement sometimes. I've read the 'rules' loads of times over the years but potentially doubling the stake of a bad bet doesn't sit easy :-)

I love when I split 8's and it turns into a major battle. For example, the next card is another 8 and you split it again. Then your next card is a 2 and you double down on that one..........and so on and so on. I love hands like that.

Maybe you can teach me how to play craps? Any plans for the 1st night? We have reservations at Portofino, but after that I am free.

We will also go to Portofino the first night to spend our BOGOF coupon. We usually don't go to the show on the first night so I should be in the casino around 8-9pm. We are traveling with my wife's three sisters and their husbands so not sure how the free time will be but I usually am always in the casino each night that it is open. I am by no means an expert on craps but I will usually play for an hour or so if they have the $5 bets. I definitely will be at the BJ table also. Here is a good overview of craps http://wizardofodds.com/games/craps/ there are also some youtube videos but I have not looked at them

Mike

I love when I split 8's and it turns into a major battle. For example, the next card is another 8 and you split it again. Then your next card is a 2 and you double down on that one..........and so on and so on. I love hands like that.

I agree, that's when the heart starts to pump faster.