Coral Princess Christmas 2009 - Craps and Blackjack

Was on the Coral for a 15 day cruise over the holidays. DW and |I were in the casino every night except for the one non-smoking night, and a few times in the afternoon and pre-dinner hours.

There was one craps table and not too many players - three or four regulars and a few casual players. Often only one half of the table was open (one dealer plus stick and box). Table had 5 dollar minimum, and DOUBLE ODDS. The dealers on this ship rotated working all the table games, some a little inexperienced at craps, but were helprd out by supervision. Most were good, and had no trouble with payoffs, and immediately recognized my betting pattern - often calling my come odds bet before I put it down. All in all, a reasonably good game.

Blackjack - three tables with 5, 10 and 25 minimums. The 5 dollar table was the only one where smoking was permitted and it attracted ALL the regulars, sone of whom did not smoke. CSM with six decks are used. Once, the machine broke down, not shuffling properly and finally not working at all. Whether or not you like the machines, they are the only game in town. Rules are the usual cruise ship rules - dealer hits soft 17, four splits, double after split, no surrender, blackjack pAays 3 to 2. Wheel of Madness was alive but I didn'pay attention to it or its payoffs.

Since DW and I pooled our money, it's a little hard to break out who did what at which games. She had one "golden" night at blackjack and we were comped a drink a couple of times. Overall we came out ahead a few hundred for the cruise.

Shalom from New York on the way home tomorrow.

Andy