"If I bet $25 on a hand of blackjack and lose, obviously I lose the chips. If I win, do I retain the $25 in promotion chips and get $25 in real chips? Or do they take the $25 promotional and give me $50 in real chips?"
They do not replace your promo chips with real ones, ever. Only your winnings are paid in real chips. The ONLY way to get rid of the promo chips is to lose them. They are not very up front with this rule, even when directly asked. Only buy these chips if you plan to eventually lose that amount in bets over the course of the cruise.
