Casino slots on Celebrity Eclipse or RCL Freedom/Harmony

Ready to book a cruise on Eclipse or Freedom/Harmony. Love the slot play. Last Celebrity cruise (Refection 2014) the casino slots were horrible. In fact by day 3 there was no one in the casino at all. Eclipse would be my first choice for all things outside of casino but if there is no fun in the casino I would rather not go. Any recommendations would be appreciated. Need someone who has been there done that!

I know two people who waste/loose/spend so many thousands of dollars in the casino that Celebrity and RCCL gives them their cruises for almost nothing... :rolleyes:

If that sounds like a good deal, jump right in! ;)

The casino is a big part of cruising for me. I am in the casino for several hours every day, my wife as well. I play BJ mainly and occasionally slots, my wife is strictly slots.

We take a certain amount of money for gambling and divide that amount by the number of days in the cruise and designate that amount as our daily gambling cash.

We have never spent all of our gambling cash over the coarse of a cruise and have come back with winnings several times. Granted we have lost more than we've won but that is how casinos stay open.

I love to spend some time in the casino on the slots, especially on cruises with a lot of sea days. I do not expect the same payout as Las Vegas or even our local casinos, but that being said, it seems to me that the payout percentage is getting ridiculous. I don't expect to always win - but I expect to win sometimes here and there. On my last several cruises with Celebrity that has not been the case (and I mean no small jackpots here and there - nothing!). In fact, I also noticed that by day 3, there was barely anyone playing the slots, day or night. This was even true on Elegant Chic night, which traditionally is usually packed with people (at least it used to be when it was still formal night). To me, that says something. Taking a cruise starting Friday - we'll see if I change my opinion. Sadly, I doubt it.

In any casino no one comes out ahead with slot machines at least if you play long enough.

Blackjack has far better odds.

Was on the Eclipse last year. I enjoyed the casino. I'm mostly a craps player but I remember the slots paid OK. My gf won a few times. The tables payed out well, I came home with a few 100$$ that trip.

Ready to book a cruise on Eclipse or Freedom/Harmony. Love the slot play. Last Celebrity cruise (Refection 2014) the casino slots were horrible. In fact by day 3 there was no one in the casino at all. Eclipse would be my first choice for all things outside of casino but if there is no fun in the casino I would rather not go. Any recommendations would be appreciated. Need someone who has been there done that!

one MAJOR difference between RCI and X for casinos is that RCI allows smoking in their casinos and X does not.

Steve

Our roll call groups ran slot pulls on both of my Eclipse sailings. Each had roughly 40 people kicking in $10 each for starting pools of $400. Both times they assigned us $1 wheel of fortune machines. After the first round of betting my 2014 group's balance was down to about $230, a loss of 57%. THE APRIL 2016 GROUP ONLY COLLECTED $96!!!!! That's a 76% loss. We did later hit a couple of small jackpots but nothing higher than $50.

Needless to say, I don't play the slots aboard ship any more.

However, Eclipse is still my favorite ship.

In any casino no one comes out ahead with slot machines at least if you play long enough.

 

Blackjack has far better odds.

You are absolutely correct. Those of us who like to play them consider it 'entertainment value'. But it is not entertaining if you never, ever even hit a small jackpot along the way. That is how my last few sailings have gone. I want to get teased here and there while I ultimately (usually) end up in the red. I don't like sitting at a machine that feels like a vacuum cleaner just sucking up my money with no fun along the way. In past years, I would have cruises where I won, and some where I lost but at least I had fun in the process. Lately, not so much:(

I think everyone realizes that you are going to lose more than you win when playing in a casino. Just like betting on horses, football, baseball, etc. gambling is not going to make anyone rich. Play for fun or don't play at all. In 2014 I hit a jackpot $1819 and $400. Last cruise my husband hit a jackpot over $1,000

We continue to play, but we enjoy playing and we have a budget.

Ready to book a cruise on Eclipse or Freedom/Harmony. Love the slot play. Last Celebrity cruise (Refection 2014) the casino slots were horrible. In fact by day 3 there was no one in the casino at all. Eclipse would be my first choice for all things outside of casino but if there is no fun in the casino I would rather not go. Any recommendations would be appreciated. Need someone who has been there done that!

They are all there to take your $$$ , it does not matter the ship since they are not regulated.

I understand the law of numbers and don't expect to walk away from a Casino with spare money :mad:.

However, I want to get some entertainment value for the money I set aside to spend time in the casino with, i.e. winning sometimes to be able to continue playing for a while.

This was absolutely not the case during the last couple of cruises on X (Silhouette, Equinox, Connie). The machines just swallowed the money and I was out so quickly that I did not even bother to go anymore after about the middle of the cruises. This meant that in the end effect I spent less money in the casinos on these last cruises than I did in the past. So came out ahead after all :confused: :rolleyes:

Thank you all for your replies. Like most slot players I'm not expecting to win a big jackpot I just want to have a little fun. Michidome I appreciate you letting me know what I thought would be the case: X casino slots are tight. Obviously they haven't changed since 2014.

KAD-

I'm in the casino every night and even on Sea days for entertainment. You just have to know that it's called gambling not winning! Some slots will never give you a pay out large enough for you to cover your investment. And don't forget there is no competition- you can't go to another casino on board.

I've won some nice jackpots in the past and had lots of fun with the atmosphere in the casino. If the slots aren't paying, I go play craps. It's always a party there.

Good luck to you & enjoy yourself.

KAD-

I'm in the casino every night and even on Sea days for entertainment. You just have to know that it's called gambling not winning! Some slots will never give you a pay out large enough for you to cover your investment. And don't forget there is no competition- you can't go to another casino on board.

I've won some nice jackpots in the past and had lots of fun with the atmosphere in the casino. If the slots aren't paying, I go play craps. It's always a party there.

Good luck to you & enjoy yourself.

How bout that win Saturday? The streak is over! #GBO #VFL #Team120

Anyway, my wife is all about slots, but shes been venturing out lately. She had a couple good runs at Harrah's Cherokee, but started playing 3 card and loves it more!

I'm a cards player and roulette. I find no entertainment in slots, ans it looks like I won't be missing anything in January.

Bluneostang-

Yea, a new winning streak has started & we're so glad. Don't have a stang just a 370Z!

I've done pretty good at Cherokee and my DH is a table player like you, never plays the slots.

Now if you hit a large enough slot jackpot, X will report it to the IRS and you get to pay taxes on it. Oh well, I guess I'd rather have the hand pay. Looking forward to

Reflection in Nov. for one.

We were on the Summit this past August. The fellow next tpo my mother won $21,200 on the penny machine (playing max bet). My mom won about $1400 the first night and steadily a hundred here and there throughout the cruise. I won a couple nights (and then promptly donated it back :) )

The one thing I did notice was that the volume of the machines was turned way down. Not just the personal control volume on individual machines. Even trying to turn the volume up, left the sound very muted.

Also, bar service was practically non-existent.

Fish Lover-

The trick for good service is to give at least one server a $20 at the beginning of the cruise and they will take care of you every night for the rest of the trip!