Casinos gone?

[LNugent]

It looks like A&K eliminated casinos on Crystal. Bummer. 

[naplessailor]

Disappointing for sure. Not a big gambler but will definitely be a factor in deciding to try the new Crystal.  I consider it “entertainment “.  But, there are other luxury lines out there that still have a casino.

[History&Wine]

Bummer for some. Hurrah! for me.  I hope the replacement is something great! 

[bayonejoe]

.Hurrah for me also.

French restaurant in its place?

[ctjon]

Not certain yet as has been said in other threads.  The space is still there but they may not have finished negotiating with a vendor to run the casinos

[cruisr]

If you look at your $500.00 open booking deposit it actually says on it that the shipboard credit can not be used in the casino.  I think they will have one.

[vistaman]

IMHO  a cruise line depending heavily on US pax cannot risk to sail without a casino

aside of expedition ships Hapag lloyd , Ponant and Saga  do not have a casino.

 

[ryndam]

6 minutes ago, vistaman said:

IMHO  a cruise line depending heavily on US pax cannot risk to sail without a casino

aside of expedition ships Hapag lloyd , Ponant and Saga  do not have a casino.

 

 

Disney Cruise Line does very well without onboard casinos. Windstar Cruises also do not have onboard casinos.

[Texas Tillie]

The casino on the Silver Muse (596 passengers) was teeny-tiny. Think it was run by Russians, well, the girls working there had distinct Slavic accents.

 

Patty

[parallax]

We have aways enjoyed going to a casino a couple of nights during the cruise.  Some of the entertainment does not interest me; it is the equivalent of a bad 70's variety show.  I hope they add one. 

[hypercafe]

29 minutes ago, vistaman said:

IMHO  a cruise line depending heavily on US pax cannot risk to sail without a casino

aside of expedition ships Hapag lloyd , Ponant and Saga  do not have a casino.

 

Viking ocean does not one and is doing very well. I bet Crystal is trying to get someone to run one but maybe the old Crystal stiffed the industry.

[ryndam]

28 minutes ago, hypercafe said:

I bet Crystal is trying to get someone to run one but maybe the old Crystal stiffed the industry.

 

After the Genting take-over, the onboard casino operations were run/staffed by Resorts World, a Genting owned/affiliated company.

Edited February 7, 2023 by ryndam

[KenzSailing]

1 hour ago, ryndam said:

 

Disney Cruise Line does very well without onboard casinos. Windstar Cruises also do not have onboard casinos.

Viking seems to be doing OK.

[BWIVince]

1 hour ago, hypercafe said:

Viking ocean does not one and is doing very well. I bet Crystal is trying to get someone to run one but maybe the old Crystal stiffed the industry.

 

As Rob mentioned they were run in-house...  If Genting feels stiffed, well...

 

Finding a vendor to operate just two small ships at this point is problematic -- most of the vendors have revenue threshold guarantees that Crystal would be unlikely to hit with their passenger load, demographic, and hours the casinos are operated monthly.  This was the main reason Crystal couldn't get another vendor when Caesar's exited the cruise vendor segment -- and the dynamics were a lot more friendly to the situation back then.

 

Vince

[Keith1010]

I suspect the Casino is gone. 

 

The good news is for many people they will save some money.

Regardless of what anyone thinks pro or con the new owner made the decision and people either agree or disagree, keep their business with Crystal or leave. It's no different than any other change past, present or future.

 

Keith

[Roland4]

1 hour ago, Keith1010 said:

I suspect the Casino is gone. 

 

The good news is for many people they will save some money.

Regardless of what anyone thinks pro or con the new owner made the decision and people either agree or disagree, keep their business with Crystal or leave. It's no different than any other change past, present or future.

 

Keith

Wouldn't bother me as, other than passing through, the only time we spent significant time in the casino was when it was our lifeboat station! Having said that, I am not sure what they can use the space for. More shops? Another lounge? I know some have mentioned another restaurant, but that space is nowhere near the galley area, and with cabins above and the ship's offices and medical centre below, that would require serious alterations!

[KenzSailing]

3 hours ago, BWIVince said:

 

As Rob mentioned they were run in-house...  If Genting feels stiffed, well...

 

Finding a vendor to operate just two small ships at this point is problematic -- most of the vendors have revenue threshold guarantees that Crystal would be unlikely to hit with their passenger load, demographic, and hours the casinos are operated monthly.  This was the main reason Crystal couldn't get another vendor when Caesar's exited the cruise vendor segment -- and the dynamics were a lot more friendly to the situation back then.

 

Vince

 

Life imitates art:

 

 

[BWIVince]

7 hours ago, Roland4 said:

Wouldn't bother me as, other than passing through, the only time we spent significant time in the casino was when it was our lifeboat station! Having said that, I am not sure what they can use the space for. More shops? Another lounge? I know some have mentioned another restaurant, but that space is nowhere near the galley area, and with cabins above and the ship's offices and medical centre below, that would require serious alterations!

Totally agree…. The location complicates the options. Clearly Crystal doesn’t see a clear path through that yet either, or something would have been marked on the deck plans.

 

Vince

[vistaman]

On 2/7/2023 at 9:12 PM, Texas Tillie said:

The casino on the Silver Muse (596 passengers) was teeny-tiny. Think it was run by Russians, well, the girls working there had distinct Slavic accents.

 

Patty

on SS the casino was alwys staffed by eastern europeans 

[Cruiseswithfamilyornot]

I hope they keep a casino.   They could make it somewhat smaller   But we shall see.  Do you know that it’s gone @Keith1010or just speculation? 

[Keith1010]

3 minutes ago, Cruiseswithfamilyornot said:

I hope they keep a casino.   They could make it somewhat smaller   But we shall see.  Do you know that it’s gone @Keith1010or just speculation? 

This is one that since I am not100% certain on I prefer to wait until we see the final deck plan knowing that there is always a chance things could change until final plans are announced.

 

Keith

[BWIVince]

For fun yesterday I was trying to think of what I would do with the space on Symphony, and for some reason I didn’t come up with a new concept or service, as much as a reshuffling of spaces to enhance existing services.  
 

To be clear this is fan-fiction, not in any way a serious suggestion or prediction.  Just having some fun for discussion sake.

 

The on-the-cheap thought was to move the library into that space and expand it, making it a kind of interactive destination center in addition, as some other lines have done.  It could also have comfortable seating for people to sit and read.  (I would love for it to have the bookstore component like Cunard with maritime books and such, but alas that’s not consistent with Crystal’s brand.). The destination component could be a cross-brand opportunity with A&K, to help showcase their expertise globally.  Moving a library next to a night club seems a little problematic, but I think the staggered hours would mitigate most of that issue. Most importantly, this would help free up some space to return to retail, where the second-generation library currently is.

 

The elaborate and crazy-expensive thought was to move the Bridge Lounge into the casino space, and completely expand and reallocate the specialty dining spaces aft on Deck 6. Essentially the space currently occupied by the Asian venue, the Italian venue, the galley and the Bridge Lounge would be completely reapportioned, allowing for an expanded galley and two slightly larger venues with a bit more seating.  Both would remain connected directly with the galley, but each would retain their own entrances port and starboard like they have now.  In theory this isn’t as needed because of the lowered occupancy, but the concept changes proposed so far are reducing the dinner venue capacity more than the occupancy, so it remains to be seen how this impacts demand on those two specialty venues.

 

Just having some fun…

 

Vince

[FlyerTalker]

On 2/7/2023 at 2:55 PM, BWIVince said:

This was the main reason Crystal couldn't get another vendor when Caesar's exited the cruise vendor segment

 

Always wondered what happened to the statue of Caesar that was in casino on Symphony as you walked in.  And the one of Neptune from the former pool area then occupied by Silk.

 

Lawn ornaments in Gregg Michel's back yard?

 

And FWIW, the old Neptune pool and statue are supposedly the reason why the grill next to it was named "Trident".

 

[BWIVince]

18 minutes ago, FlyerTalker said:

 

Always wondered what happened to the statue of Caesar that was in casino on Symphony as you walked in.  And the one of Neptune from the former pool area then occupied by Silk.

 

Lawn ornaments in Gregg Michel's back yard?

 

And FWIW, the old Neptune pool and statue are supposedly the reason why the grill next to it was named "Trident".

 

They were indeed! (Neptune theme)

 

Urban legend has it those things were all sold off for whatever they could get, but I have no way to verify that.  That could in theory still be Gregg Michel for $1.  😁  

 

The bridge over the “stream” in Jade Garden is another one of those retired features people talk about being in someone’s collection somewhere as well.

 

Vince

[donaldsc]

No casino is not a problem to me.  That means more money for those of us on land.  I don't see the attraction of shipboard casinos as nobody in the entire US lives further than a few miles from an indian run casinos.  A tiny bit of exaggeration I know but at least if you lose money at an indian owned casino you support indians and not cruise companies.

 

DON