tcneal

On 8/3/2021 at 7:22 PM, JessyCruises said:

Thanks!  Are you able to answer about the limits on the Ultimate Holdem & Blackjack tables?

 

Thanks again

Jess

 

Hello Jess,

Not to hijack this great thread but I thought I could answer your question.  I just got off the Odyssey yesterday and the limits for Ultimate Holdem were mostly $5 during the day and $10 in the evenings.  Strangely, Blackjack was just the opposite most days the lowest was $15 and in the evenings you could find a $10 table.

Now back to the questions for Chris...

16 hours ago, tonyfsu21 said:

What are the security personnel really going to do though? You can start putting people on cruise ship jail for violations but at the end of the day whether anyone wants to believe it or not it’s all about money. Safety will be preached as a means to get people cruising again and back to making the money. Waiters and bartenders will not effectively enforce safety. 

I agree with you but I don't think it has to come down to locking people up.  My opinion is that it doesn't need to be a ship wide thing.   I think it could be very limited and targeted to certain areas like the casino at the tables, shows and productions, or maybe walking around the buffet.  If you don't have a mask, you don't get to sit down at tables or denied entrance into the theater.  It doesn't have to go too far beyond that.  In other places, distancing can be handled other ways.  In casinos, pit bosses could enforce like some places in Vegas are doing.   Security at the entrance to the theater, ice show could handle it.  They are there anyway.   I don't think you need someone walking around the ship checking everyone.

1 hour ago, Ampurp85 said:

@tonyfsu21 We have the same problem here, a tequila bar had just opened in my neighborhood before COVID. As soon as we were allowed outside dining they went crazy. Had live music last night, packed beyond regular capacity. Only 20% had on mask, even though signs mandated they wear them. Police was called and they are permanently shut down. I am sure its because residents called the police. There are people everywhere not following the rules....until they get caught. Lots of restaurants allow you to remove mask once you are seated since its supposed to be outside dining only. Bars have not opened up for us.

This is my fear for the cruise lines.  As I have said before, I don't think people will stay home.  I think people will decide to go and not to follow the rules.  Unfortunately, it will be another rule up to the workers to enforce.   As with other cases (chair hogs, babies in pools, smoking, etc.) it will not be enforced evenly.   Which, I don't blame the staff.  They are there to make sure everyone is having a good time, not to police.  If the cruise lines put a policy in place, I hope they invest in some sort of enforcement (and I have no clue what that would be) and not leave it to the waiters, bartenders, housekeeping, etc.

You are in the same area as me and I see the same thing.   When I go out to Home Depot or grocery stores, everyone has a mask on.  Dicks Sporting Goods was passing them out at the door.  And there are no issues.  But any social gathering, there is a big population of people who refuse to wear one.

5 hours ago, AGSLC5 said:

Lol actually no but not out of money yet. Our plan is to stay until we run out of money because don’t have to work this summer and no where else to go lol. We have discovered a new game we like. Face up Pai Gow Poker. It’s fun and I loose less money than in blackjack lol

I love ultimate texas hold'em but the money leaves your pocket a lot faster than blackjack.  I will have to try Pai Gow.

6 hours ago, AGSLC5 said:

Just wanted to update people. Been to Vegas a full week now and I am still here. People are not scared of the Virus here. People only wear a mask when forced to do so. The only casinos in the strip that are forcing people to wear a mask are Caesars properties. MLife has the plexiglass no mask, Wynn plexiglass no mask, Venetian no mask or plexiglass but staff wears mask, same at cosmopolitan.. I have played at them all and I feel perfectly safe and fine. They do enforce the table limits and do force people to stay 6 feet apart from tables who are not playing. The also clean the chips and change card decks often. Also every employee no matter what their job is has to wear a mask but as I said they don’t force anyone else. They also do temperature checks when you check into the hotel but they don’t do it when casino hopping but I think everyone is just sick of this and ready to let loose because it’s crowded And all dealers and pit bosses I talk to say we didn’t expect so many people and yet they came. 

Thanks!

I do hope everything continues to go smoothly.  All we need is things to skyrocket there and have someone point to this as a reason to delay.

12 hours ago, Andrew72681 said:

There’s also a much easier way to control table game crowding that everyone keeps missing. I ask floor managers all the time to change a limit on a table to keep the person who is splitting 10’s away. 
So what we might see is more tables that are a 25$ or 50$ minimum and that would certainly cut down on crowding. 

I like this.   One thing I have always been curious about is where they make the most money?    The $10 table that is packed or the $50 table with 1 or 2 people.   You could just count the money per seat but usually the people at the $10 tables are worst players, so the casino probably makes more money off of them.

20 hours ago, Ampurp85 said:

@tcneal Not to side track but I think the percentages it not <1%. Most pro-cruise articles have been getting their information from here and a few other boards. If you look at the comments under the articles, like 80% of people are not pro-cruise. They think floating petri-dish and focus on the three bad ships. Which leads into how much easier it might be for RCCI to safely accommodate the casino. I cannot say they will have plexiglass, that just seems wasteful. I would imagine favoritism to casino Royale members, social distancing and mask. Oasis at 60% occupancy, would allow for 3 or 4 people at a table. The focus would be on the regulars, not me, who might only spend a few hundred.

You are correct.   I was not implying that <1% are pro-cruise.  I have read the same 80-20 split.   I was stating that about 1% of people actually take time to post on boards.   This is a die-hard crowd.  I know many people who love cruising who have never posted anything and polls can't speak for those people.   I think you are right about Oasis occupancy.   I have the misfortune of always sailing at peak times in the past, so I only remember crowded casinos.   If they sail at capacity, there will be issues but reduced capacities might work.

I think RCCI will try to tick off the least amount of people.  The balance between the fair weather cruisers who need to believe that they are taking all the precautions they can.  And the loyal cruisers who might be offended by too many restrictions.  You can please your loyal base, but you don't grow.  But you can also alienate loyal followers.

12 hours ago, monctonguy said:

So....First off..it's a fact that a very small percentage of the US has gone on cruise vacations(or some really low number like that, it was posted here on the blog at some point)....the CEO of Royal even stated about how much room for growth there is. And yes, poll after poll after poll shows a lot of distrust and negative opinions about cruises BEFORE this ever happened. On top of that, I used facts from this site and FB sites and other cruise sites I am on regarding this issue of ppl not wanting to cruise with masks. There is a clear poll on this site for DIE HARD ROYAL cruises that says over half wont cruise with masks...so NO, I didn't exaggerate.

Secondly...telling ppl to go cry if you dont like it.....really?

 

And yes, I did go from the Casino experience to stating about wearing a mask the whole cruise..that is not a far jump..in fact most thoughts and comments and posts seem to think either masks will be required everywhere or nowhere...so if your stating masks in the casino will be what we see, then the same will probably be true for everywhere else.

 

Just cause you dont like or agree with my opinion/views/statements doesn't make me wrong or make you any more right than you think you are. Disagree sure, but dont try and belittle or be so condescending about it in the process. Thanks.

Fair enough.   I will try to respond without being condescending.   I started this thread because I wanted peoples opinion and many people answered and feel differently than me, which is OK.  IMO, yours was the only post who seemed to imply that we were crazy to sail under these conditions.   You could have just stated that you wouldn't.   I stated before, I'm giving my opinion and not speaking for anyone.   I would never even suggest that I speak for the "majority" of cruisers.  I believe that is what you did.  You have the right to your opinion, I just had a problem with you implying the majority agrees with you.   I am new to this site but I have been on multiple cruise sites for many years with a lot of passionate people.   But, I recognize we are in the minority of cruisers, not the majority.  Polls on FB and Forums are not an indication of the majority of people.   I concede that it might be an indication of the majority of people who posts on forums.

I admit maybe cry was a little harsh.  But, we all can either sail with whatever rules RCCL come up with or we can stay at home.  I love cruising too much to say I'm done becuase I am asked to where a mask.  It's just my opinion that people posting on boards will not stay at home, but I could be wrong.

And the last point about exaggerating.   Comparing being ask to wear a mask at a blackjack table when you are sitting next to someone closely for a long period of time to having to wear a mask in a tanning bed, IMO, is an exaggeration.  It's fine if you don't think so, we will have to agree to disagree.

17 hours ago, WAAAYTOOO said:

This is my major concern.  I could live with masks, but not with severe availability limitations.

I agree.  3 people at a table when there aren't a lot tables will be a problem.   And craps tables, which I play the most, can get pretty crowded.  If you take half of the spaces away, it's going to be big problem.  That's why the masks might be a better solution.  You can't police masks throughout the ship and it's probably not necessary outdoors.   But the one place it would be easier to enforce is sitting down at a table in the casino.   If someone doesn't want to wear the mask, then they don't play.

15 hours ago, monctonguy said:

Not according to the polls here and on other sites...unless everyone here is lying...and that's just from die hard cruisers...….so YES, the majority of people in the USA or Canada or World (whatever you want to insert here) wont be cruising especially if masks were to be required.

 

And no, ppl wont be crying about it.....so you dont need to keep your hopes up about that, but go ahead and tell the majority of ppl here to cry and find another vacation.

 

Good luck drinking, smoking, eating, swimming, getting a tan with a mask on..lmao..unless you enjoy spending all your time in a inside cabin watching TV...but that's not why I cruise nor why most ppl cruise.

Wow.  Way to exaggerate.  First, I don't think a few polls of people who visit these sites, which represents <1% of the people who cruise is enough to state that this represents the majority.  I don't know if the cruise lines will require a mask policy, but if they do, they have the right.  If anyone doesn't like it, you have the right to stay at home.  But my guess is that people will be flocking back whatever the policy is.   But I could be wrong.  I don't want to speak for the majority when I don't have a clue. 

Second, the premise of this thread was to get opinions on the "CASINO" and how they are going to handle distancing.   Not drinking, smoking, swimming, getting a tan or any other exaggeration that you stated.   Now, if wearing a mask while sitting at a slot machine or a table playing blackjack is stomping on your freedom, then please do stay at home.   We all have different reasons for cruising and again, I can't speak for most people.  But RCL will set the rules.   You can either live with them or not.

6 hours ago, tonyfsu21 said:

I am very curious how this casino ordeal will play out. Just picture a hot roulette table on an Oasis class ship right around 9:00pm and you can see that social distance is going to be tough. Personally I am not going to pull my mask off every time I want to take a sip of my drink. Make no mistake about it though, RC will figure this out as a TOP priority. Without the casino revenue they will be screwed. Too much money pours into that casino for them not to be thinking about resolution moving forward. 

That is what I was curious about.  If they go the route of just glass dividers and smaller tables, do they have enough square footage to accommodate everyone or will there be long waiting lines at each table.   This will seriously hurt their #1 revenue stream.  I'm not pushing my beliefs (I will be there either way) but I think they will lose less money if they require masks and lose the ~10% that will stay away because they don't want to wear a mask.

13 hours ago, monctonguy said:

 

It wouldn't be a true test...as majority of ppl probably wouldn't cruise if masks were required like that. But you solve both your issues, fewer ppl and fewer smokers. And if you cant take your mask off to smoke, you probably cant take it off to eat or drink(if your wearing a mask to save your life from Covid...lol)

 

Maybe Covid-19 will stay around forever and  you'll get your wish...masks in the casino...oh, and the whole ship...fun fun fun..

I totally disagree.  The majority of people?  When cruising starts back up, people will sail, masks or not.  Just look at the Vegas stories, some casinos are requiring masks some are not and they're doing just find.   Disney reservations are selling out quickly and they're requiring masks.  Honestly, if masks are required, I hope the people crying about it find another vacation that will let them be free.   I will be cruising either way.   

As for the smoking, it has never kept me out of a casino but I know people who will not go in because of it.  My guess is that they will gain just as many as they lose.

Great prices.  The best I have seen in years.   I had an OTW Cabana booked for our upcoming cruise for $649.   It just dropped to $383 and I rebooked.   I was debating if it was worth it at 649.   IMO, definitely worth it at $383.

6 hours ago, USFFrank said:

Not to start an argument with a chosen few, but I for one would like to see (and smell) no smoking and no vaping in the casinos.

This could be an opportunity to test a ban on smoking.   If they're going to require masks, which they could in the Casino, how can you smoke?   I would welcome it but my guess is that they don't want to tick more people off.  

On 6/6/2020 at 11:44 PM, Ampurp85 said:

I can see since the CDC restriction do not expiring until July, cruise ships taking notes. They will probably watch how Vegas, Disney and other restaurants and theme parks do...then plan their precautions around those. These place also have mandatory mask and lot of buffets/restaurants still closed. Yet the amount of people who flocked there has been pretty amazing. I also heard some casinos have implemented a electrostatic sprayer that mist disinfectant....they would be good for ships

Most lines plan to open with limit capacity just like Vegas, so I can see them limiting the tables and slots as well. They might have the crew members who will be constantly cleaning enforce the rules. Although I have only been on one RCCI ship, I have been on plenty of cruises, the casino is normally the least crowded place on the ship. Maybe that differs with RCCI, but I am sure they will be up for the task.

 

Yes, I was amazed by the amount of people also.  I read about the sprayers also as well as infrared monitors and onsite test kits to make sure you are infected and not just having a temperature. 

As for the cruise crowds on Royal, it depends.   Day time is pretty empty and crowd control would be simple.   Prime time in the evenings the casinos are pretty crowded, especially craps tables and other lower limit tables.  I could see that being an issue.  It has been the same on every RCCI ship that I have been on.

I have been wondering the same thing.  I have a Labadee Cabana booked and the price have dropped twice in the last few weeks.  I re-booked each time and now I have money for 3 cabanas outstanding.  I know I will get the money back but it's got me thinking about changing my re-booking strategy.   They will all hit the credit card in the same cycle, which is not good but I will eventually get the credits.

With Las Vegas opening up this weekend, I'm starting to wonder what will cruise casinos look like when sailing starts?   The few Vegas stories I saw with empty spaces between Slot Machines, tables with 3 people max and Plexiglass between spaces, Plexiglass at craps tables, etc.  Will they be able to do this on ships?  Most casinos in Vegas have enough tables and room to run this way, they just need more dealers.  With the crowding I see in ship casinos, it's going to be interesting if they try some of these safety precautions.  Or the could open without any changes?

It's not a big deal, I'll be happy to just sail.  It just got me thinking with the opening this weekend.  What do you all think?

Hi all,

I would like to get opinions on sailing in suites that do not have Royal Suite class benefits (Oasis and Quantum class)?  I'm curious about mainly Voyager and Freedom class ships.   I know all of the differences and what's listed on the website, like no Coastal Kitchen or pool deck layout .   I want to get any personal observations if you feel some things were lacking.   Do you feel the service was any different?  Older layout in the rooms?  We are looking at the Explorer and very bummed that it will not be Amplified, so we might make a change to Oasis, but really want to keep the S. Carib. itinerary.   So, if the suite experience is not a lot worse, we might be keep the Explorer.   But, I'm torn.   We usually sail for the ship and not the ports, so the ship is important to us.  But we really want to hit the ABCs this time.

Anything you can share would be appreciated.

I received a series of Cruise Planner cancellations today from the beginning of April.    The only thing I'm missing are the Port Fees and Taxes from the canceled Mar 22nd sailing.  I got the FCC, just not the refund.   Close to being all settled up.

2 hours ago, mook1525 said:

Well, Disney didn't announce anything.  that is just one analyst speculating...  no?

I have the read the article 3 times and there isn't anything in there that says Disney announced they are not reopening.   The title says "may not" and "Wall Street analyst says".  I'm not finding this a credible article.   If someone finds an announcement from Disney, can you please post?

We have not received our port fees and taxes yet.   It's been exactly 30 business days since we canceled.   Not 30 days since the end of the cruise.  Not sure what date they are using.

Luckily I caught the Beach Club at $79.   It's back up to $138.99 for my sailing.

10 minutes ago, Ampurp85 said:

@RBRSKI Not really an apropos analogy. While a ventilator seems like (and is) a complicated piece of machinery, there are blueprints and parts available. The ventilators will all be the same. All refunds are not.....as people paid with prior FCCs, gift cards, visa, certificates etc. One refund is simple, refunding millions of people and vendors not so much. Look at the CARE act; it is simply just depositing money into accounts that have banking info available....how many dead people received funds? How many people the wrong amount? It would make the most sense for RCCI to avoid any negative press, which means if they could get you the refunds faster they would. But it is not just RCCI, I am waiting for a refund on Carnival and my best friend from NCL and Disney. This is a cruise line problem.

I don't think this is an apropos analogy either.   I wouldn't compare a billion dollar corporation to the federal government (Anyone could have guessed the CARE act wasn't going to be smooth).   I agree with you though, this isn't just an RCL issue, it's across all cruise lines.  As someone that is familiar with software, this isn't that hard.  Refund to the method of payment.  There are blueprints for this also.  Many companies do it.  Southwest Airlines has refunded my money for certain things, points instantly returned to my account. They (cruise lines) chose to handle it manually.  Credit Cards are the easiest and should be automatic.  Re-issuing FCCs shouldn't be much more complicated.  Maybe a fraction of the transactions need to be manual.  Maybe this will be a wake-up call to change their system?  Or maybe not.

1 hour ago, Ogilthorpe said:

Depending on sail date, there are price drops currently in place. I only have visibility into a date in February 2021, but there are sales. An example: Chill Island cabanas at 698 down from 999. Not the lowest I've seen, but a decent deal.

I remember the day when the raised the Labadee Cabanas to $595 and everyone screamed that they wouldn't buy another Cabana.   Now, I wishing for $595.

16 minutes ago, Jolly Ogre said:

On my Oasis Dec 2020 cruise the Beverage package went down to $44/day but both adults have to get it so that is a pass.

As someone mentioned earlier, if you call and ask they will allow the second person to get the refreshment package.   It just might not work online.