Worst casino experience ever. Never again on Carnival.

Just came off 14th cruise. Have been cruising RCC last 4 yrs because of good experiences and big wins. I need to know what cruise lines are using shuffle machines at their BJ tables now and also, is RCC or NCL using paper slips in the slot machines or the nightmare that Carnival Miracle is using. (More on this later.) Playing BJ is our biggest enjoyment on the ship. We don't go to shows or bars. Our trip was ruined when we saw shuffle machines at the tables. I refuse to play with a shuffle machine. The machines just show their greed as if playing against 8 decks doesn't give them a good enough advantage. So, I decided to play slots instead of BJ. The steps you now have to go through just to play a slop machine was ridiculous. They don't use coins or paper slips. You have to use your room key every time you want to retrieve your balance on the machine. There are so many steps you have to go through every time you switch to a new machine it took any enjoyment out of playing. I don't mind loosing the money I set aside to gamble with as long as I have a good time playing. I consider it the cost of entertainment. If we win, it's a bonus. We save all of our change all year for our gambling allowance. We allow $100. each per day. We had $1400 left in our gambling allowance when we got off the ship. Not because we won, but because the casino was so dispppointing we didn't play much. Needless to say, I have used my left over money to book a cruise on RCC in Feb.

Very interesting. What you're saying is that your room key is now a gambling card? You just walk up to a slot machine, put in the card, put in your pass code and gamble away? That could be very dangerous. No cash in cash out? What fun is that? I want to see the pay slip with the dollars on it. That sucks.

Sorry you didn't enjoy the casino - I have never been on Carnival however, on NCL it's cash in, ticket out. Nothing to do with your cabin key.

Wow! Proves my point as to why folks need to start boycotting all blackjack games. If people don't play they will listen.

Just came off 14th cruise. Have been cruising RCC last 4 yrs because of good experiences and big wins. I need to know what cruise lines are using shuffle machines at their BJ tables now and also, is RCC or NCL using paper slips in the slot machines or the nightmare that Carnival Miracle is using. (More on this later.) Playing BJ is our biggest enjoyment on the ship. We don't go to shows or bars. Our trip was ruined when we saw shuffle machines at the tables. I refuse to play with a shuffle machine. The machines just show their greed as if playing against 8 decks doesn't give them a good enough advantage. So, I decided to play slots instead of BJ. The steps you now have to go through just to play a slop machine was ridiculous. They don't use coins or paper slips. You have to use your room key every time you want to retrieve your balance on the machine. There are so many steps you have to go through every time you switch to a new machine it took any enjoyment out of playing. I don't mind loosing the money I set aside to gamble with as long as I have a good time playing. I consider it the cost of entertainment. If we win, it's a bonus. We save all of our change all year for our gambling allowance. We allow $100. each per day. We had $1400 left in our gambling allowance when we got off the ship. Not because we won, but because the casino was so dispppointing we didn't play much. Needless to say, I have used my left over money to book a cruise on RCC in Feb.

HHHHHEEEEELLLLLLLLLLOOOOO pbuhle: Why don't you play craps? There are no shuffle machines. It is the only game in the Casino that pays true odds on some bets. Stay away from the others because it gives the House a big advantage. You could bet the Pass Line or the Don't Pass Line. You could play the Come or the Don't Come. You could make Place bets or Lay bets. Craps is truly a game of opposites.

If you don't count cards, the continuous shuffler actually reduces the house edge by .03%. The main advantage it gives the house is the fact that they wind up dealing more hands per hours. I don't understand why people get that upset about using the shuffler.

If you don't count cards, the continuous shuffler actually reduces the house edge by .03%. The main advantage it gives the house is the fact that they wind up dealing more hands per hours. I don't understand why people get that upset about using the shuffler.

Where did you see this figure?

Actually, to my way of looking at it, there is a difference. Agreed that with the machine, the count is zero on every hand. Without the machine, the count will go plus every so often, whether or not you are counting! That is where your runs will come from. So, you can expect fewer runs when playing with a machine.

Truth be told, I have not yet played with a machine in use... next week I will be in Princess, where I believe they are in use. I won't say in advance that I won't play... I'll see when I get there.

If you don't count cards, the continuous shuffler actually reduces the house edge by .03%. The main advantage it gives the house is the fact that they wind up dealing more hands per hours. I don't understand why people get that upset about using the shuffler.

I prefer a shoe because it gives a break in the action to hit the bathroom and I always count my chips in between shoes. Also even if you arent counting with a shoe if you are semi awake you can tell when 239842 low cards have played and not many high. Not so with a CSM

The room key thing for slots has been in use on Princess ships for some time now.

You set up your account using your room key, put money into your bank, and add or take from it as you wish to play the slot. Really only takes a few seconds after you set it up and do it once or twice.

I found it very convienent after you get used to it.... didn't help me win any better tho.

2 weeks ago on the Carnival Valor, I think the only continuous shuffler was at the "Fun 21" table, I believe blackjack was still using a cut card. I may have those reversed though.

That is where your runs will come from. So, you can expect fewer runs when playing with a machine.

Wrong -- your statement is an example of the gambler's fallacy. Runs come from series of randomly shuffled cards, and it makes no difference whether, between hands, the cards are being shuffled, sitting in the shoe, or being dunked in bacon grease.

http://wizardofodds.com/blackjack/appendix10.html

Silverscreen's statement is correct, depending on the number of decks being shuffled.

, or being dunked in bacon grease.

 

delicious

Could I just point out, counting into a 6 or 8 deck shoe is a total waste of time, casinos cut 1 1/2 to 2 decks of the back end of the shoe, there are just to many cards left unknown to even bother, now saying that, I don't like the CSM's just for the no break reason.

Just of the Glory Carnival. Had the same issues as the guy who started this thread. Problem with the card in out thing, is not the steps to get the money, but the fact that you are limited as to the amount you can get. You have to have a minimum of $10 to get money off the card. So if you get bord on a machine and have $8 and want to change machines you can't get the $8 unless you either go to the cashier or you put more money in the next machine. It was troublesome, but I played every day. I just made sure that I only put in a $5 or $10.

Never had a problem with the Players Bank on Carnival. Cash goes in, credits get saved to PB. Was able to use my miniscule amount on another machine.

The danger with the Players Bank is for the pax who forget their credits on the machine.

Our trip was ruined when we saw shuffle machines at the tables. I refuse to play with a shuffle machine. The machines just show their greed as if playing against 8 decks doesn't give them a good enough advantage.

In a BJ class that I took, we were taught that for 1-2 decks, you can do card counting. For 4-8 decks, you use the clumping method. Basically, high cards will stick together and low cards will stick together. This method works for both hand shuffling and the machine (SAM=stupid a-- machine).

Most casinos use the machine because it takes too long to shuffle 8 decks by hand. Also, most people will leave a table if the dealer has to shuffle multiple decks and they will stay at a table if the cards are continually shuffled.

I actually like the way Carnival and Princess has you use your room card. I don't have to carry around money, cashed out slips that often don't get accepted by the next machine are no longer an issue, in fact all I need now is my room card. It is confusing at first and many people get frustrated and confused and leave. But if you have an employee explain it to you it's very convenient. You even get $10 bonuses added to your account every so often. And you don't have to use up all the money you put in the machine. You can put it back into the account at any time you just have to know how to do it. I put $100 dollars into my account and try to make it last all day. I take that amount from machine to machine without a problem. I like not having to carry around change or cash or cash out slips. All I need is my room card. They give me comps based on my play right then and there like cash added to my account and free drinks. I guess we all see it differently. Some like it some don't. I'm not trying to be disagreeable, I just wanted to let some people know that it's not so bad and if you give it a chance and really understand how it works you might really like it like me. :)

My last cruise I played BJ and lost $4000 . I swear they take face cards out of the decks. The shuffle machines really killed me , I play in casinos and one shoe you can make a few grand.We love to gamble on the ship but I dont think theres a chance to really win.Maybe the only way is at the craps table

My last cruise I played BJ and lost $4000 . I swear they take face cards out of the decks. The shuffle machines really killed me , I play in casinos and one shoe you can make a few grand.We love to gamble on the ship but I dont think theres a chance to really win.Maybe the only way is at the craps table

It takes a real man to acknowledge they took a bath. I applaud you. Some folks will think they never lose and brag how much they win. I just got back from a trip and took a really hot steam bath like you. You can't win them all.

As for BJ-I really hate that game. Not only are the rules being changed to cheat the players, the players themselves drive me bananas to the point I want to slug them on deck and throw them overboard. I stopped playing the game in fear I would be arrested. LOL!

Anyway, I have won a lot of money in craps, and I mean a lot. But, at the same time there are times where I simply screw up and walk away wondering what the hell happened....It is the way of gambling. good luck next time.

..On our last cruise on the Fantasy; the Funpass card system was in use. Beth actually

LIKED it; didn't have to worry about carrying cash and for the first time in awhile..she left

the ship up about 100...better than a poke in the eye lol

I don't mind the auto shuffler; I was one of the ones that got antsy during that long 8 deck shuffle. I also was up a little when we disembarked.

Mitch

..On our last cruise on the Fantasy; the Funpass card system was in use. Beth actually

LIKED it; didn't have to worry about carrying cash and for the first time in awhile..she left

the ship up about 100...better than a poke in the eye lol

 

I don't mind the auto shuffler; I was one of the ones that got antsy during that long 8 deck shuffle. I also was up a little when we disembarked.

 

Mitch

BETH????????

Is that really you?????

:p

BETH????????

 

Is that really you?????

 

 

:p

LoL

They have enough edge without resorting to removing face cards, If in doubt, go in as soon as casino opens and all cards will be spread out face up so you and the dealer can check them before being shuffled. As for a chance of winning at BJ, it's possible, but usually a grind. 4 years ago I won 28k the first night in about four hours playing head to head. Couple weeks ago won 7k in a couple hours first night, just to lose it back in the next 2 days. BJ is a game of streaks, good and bad. when you get on a winning streak, bet BIG, so you can drop your bets down on losing streaks.

They have enough edge without resorting to removing face cards, If in doubt, go in as soon as casino opens and all cards will be spread out face up so you and the dealer can check them before being shuffled. As for a chance of winning at BJ, it's possible, but usually a grind. 4 years ago I won 28k the first night in about four hours playing head to head. Couple weeks ago won 7k in a couple hours first night, just to lose it back in the next 2 days. BJ is a game of streaks, good and bad. when you get on a winning streak, bet BIG, so you can drop your bets down on losing streaks.

I love my BlackJack; if I was up 7 grand; I would REALLY lighten up on play if not stop all together; but the previous poster is obviously in a different $$ league than me.

I can't imagine choosing a cruiseline based on the CASINO to begin with; but obviously I am not a serious gambler; still I spend one to two hours a day on the ship casino; mostly killing time between other events.

Mitch

In reference to the OP comments about the difficulty in using the cards, I just got off a ship (and remember the same thing happening on another cruise) where despite the announcer constantly reminding people they needed to transfer their winnings to their card, I saw plenty a machine that had balances left for the next person to play and/or load to their card, some pretty high amounts (in the hundreds of $$). The announcer specifically said if they did not download the balances, they were there for the next player to play, so it appears they do not consider it inappropriate for the next player to do so, fishy as it sounds. However, I clearly would not be happy if I were to leave such amounts on the machine instead of my card. Carnival needs to come up with a better way.

I also really like the cash on my card.....so much easier. Usually start out putting $20 in the machine....put room key in the slot and change machines by cashing out to the card anytime....any amount......much much faster than having to get slips or cash. Hey want do you mean comps of free drinks??? Never been offered that?