tonyfsu21

20 hours ago, TexanTwoStep said:

I hate to be "that guy", but there is no strategy with any slots or electronic games.

Your fate is sealed once you hit the button or pull the arm.  A chip called a random number generator decides if you won, how much you won and all the literal bells and whistles are to keep your attention.

But I agree with what Matt said, if you want to learn how to make a specific amount, just ask the casino host, they will GLADLY help you part with your money.

 

Signed,

 

A sore casino loser

This is true. I only “fast spin” which basically amounts to dumping a heap into a machine and pressing the button as fast as a slot tournament. It absolutely does not matter as the reels don’t have time to physically give the illusion of a spin. IMHO it’s more exciting this way as I have zero patience. Attached are some highlights from Symphony last week (+$13k):

On 9/23/2023 at 9:00 AM, letscruise said:

I spent time in the casino on our recent cruise watching my spouse play video poker.  I really would have loved to spend time playing the slot machines, but don't know how to play and am too intimidated to practice with real money (or ask anyone - everyone seems so serious!!).  I tried reading the descriptions on the machine, but that wasn't helpful to me.  So, my question is - how do I learn to play?  I did put $20 in a machine and "accidentally" lost it all on one play because I had no idea what I was doing and must have hit max bet.  I have attended a couple of slot pulls, so I do kind of understand how that game works (I think it was Wheel or Fortune), but don't really understand the other games that people look so knowledgable playing.  

Does anyone have recommendations for slots (and the name of the game) that I can see if there is a "how to play" YouTube video or other recommendation so I can get a little smarter?  Starter slot suggestion?   How did you learn?  

Thanks!  

The best recommendation IMHO is to figure out what you want from gambling and the casino. The slots are very user friendly and require little to no effort to play. If you are looking for status to get discounts, “free drinks” exc then a hefty bankroll is a must.  

I have no skin in the drink package game between diamond + drinks and “free” casino drinks (I pay for the rest). I would add that cash tipping the bartender will normally get you what you want and most likely with no scrutiny at all. 

Just now, WAAAYTOOO said:

The bad news..,,on many ships the video poker machines are disappearing.  

Yes, I think I counted 6 between smoking and non smoking casinos on Symphony (it’s possible I had too many beers and missed some). 

6 minutes ago, Geezer Of The Seas said:

On Wonder last April, we observed the Bionic Bar, video'd a "bartender" in action but never ordered a drink from the Bionic Bar; not when a couple of bartenders in the Trellis Bar were showing their appreciation for our appreciation of them. 

Rising Tide is another venue that left me thinking "what's the point"?

+1 re: rising tide. It’s pretty interesting to look at and I guess you could call it a legacy design element of the Oasis class but still a one & done. 

I’m actually most excited to see which Mod or @Matt opts to go down one of the multiple interior deck slides we discovered on the deck plans first! 

Labadee/ Nellie’s Beach. It’s best to get there as early as possible to get your pick of the chairs and the location you prefer. 

3 hours ago, loki007 said:

Just got off 6 nights aboard Odyssey of the Seas and thought the Bionic Bar seemed like a huge waste of space. Kinda cool to get one drink from it but never had anyone sitting and enjoying the space like other bars. I definitely prefer the Champagne Bar that they have been getting rid of a replacing with Bionic on some ships. Just an observation. 

I think this is the general consensus regarding the bionic bar. IMHO it’s a one and done experience and a total waste of valuable space. 

We did the Golden Eagle Catamaran snorkeling tour this week while in St Maartin and it was a very great experience. The crew was so professional and accommodating. I highly recommend you give this a try if you want to see SM by boat and do some snorkeling and a beach break. The beach stop we did was a small cove adjacent to Maho beach with crystal clear water and white sand (perfection). If you have kids they really do a great job feeding the small reef fish and will actually take kids on rides in the dingy boat they keep connected to the catamaran. The crew had small sandwiches for lunch and endless ice cold local beer and rum punch for the adults. I have been on many catamarans around the islands and this tour ranks up there with the best of them. If I had one complaint it would be the shore excursion staff onshore was very disorganized and seemed to be very flustered. It was extremely hot and some direction from the RC excursion staff would have been a nice touch. My youngest gives it 2 thumbs up and she’s quite the critique.  

On 4/30/2022 at 7:42 PM, TheRick said:

I have just discovered Kraken thanks to this message board. What are some of the must have cocktails with Kraken that I must try?

Pina Colada is perfection w/ Kraken!

#1 is drunk adults in the pool getting belligerent when they undoubtedly get splashed by children playing. Very annoying. 

5 hours ago, RobbieD said:

I’ve raised this to a few people and opinions are mixed - just on a 7 nighter Anthem cruise and we’ve already had two nights in the MDR where the staff do their appreciation parade and announcements. It stops the evening dead. Service grinds to a halt, and it’s usually before dessert has been served, so it takes a few minutes to wind things back up again. I am aware by some reactions during the event that people really love it, but do we really need two or (I fear again tonight) a third? I appreciate the staff and display it through additional gratuities, but I think I’d rather see this tradition come to an end. 

+1. Enough with the nonsense and allow the staff to focus on the service. I can’t imagine the staff is thrilled to grind the MDR delicate dance to a halt and perform like this is a circus. 

8 hours ago, VillainsGin said:

 

No one compete with me! i put in a max strength big for a large balcony room for ICON OTS. I'd rather pay extra than groan/regret staying in a infinite balcony cabin.

 

Wish me luck!

You have a better chance of winning the Powerball twice! Good luck. 

7 hours ago, Mike farrone said:

When will I find out if I won my Royal up bid for a better room. 

I have been notified at the pier of a RU win in the past. As others have said, the bidding process is basically an exercise of the hands because you are pretty much wasting your time these days. Chances of winning = .000001%

6 hours ago, Carlos A. said:

And Ponce it's on the other side of the island from San Juan and about 100 miles away. 

Yep, not gonna see Icon until March….

8 hours ago, TheMaxRebo said:

We are staying in one of th family infinite balcony rooms on the Feb 17th sailing so I can let you know how it is after that lol 

We booked the same room for March and I am already regretting the decision. We should have just stayed with a standard balcony. 

We are scheduled to visit PR tomorrow and I’m thinking we may catch a glimpse of Icon being outfitted? I believe she is currently in port. 

2 hours ago, PeloAl said:

I’ve wanted to do this several times but I hate confrontation and would worry that the family will come back and start screaming or something 

YOLO

The chair hogs are out in full force this week on Symphony. It’s really bad. I don’t bother with the formalities any longer, if I see unoccupied chairs with towels and there are no other available options then they are mine. I haven’t had any issues because these are hog chairs. It is important to note the staff does not have the resources to police this issue so this is the way I am handling it for my family. 

15 minutes ago, ScottD said:

Get in that elevator, open that little roof hatch SLOWLY, so he slides over and reach up and grab him! Lol...some poor kid probably dropped it

Haha. I know those roof hatches really well. Salley Hall: Florida State University circa 1996, we were riding on top of the elevators constantly. Perhaps we should have been studying? 

I think the duck hiding game has officially moved to the next level on Symphony. Yellow ducky spotted on top of the elevator (deck 14). 

On 12/31/2023 at 9:05 AM, WAAAYTOOO said:

Interesting new onboard cut-back.  This has changed since last week !

Last week, when you arrived at your dining table (no matter which venue you were using), there would be a metal container with a few pats of butter.  Now, the number of pats present has been dwindling noticeably even before now...but as of this week, that container of butter is now completely missing when you sit down.  I noticed yesterday (our first day of our second B2B leg) that the waiter would ask you if you wanted/needed butter but I didn't really realize until this morning that butter would no longer be provided without you having to ask for it.  Our waiter at breakfast this morning confirmed that the new edict came "from the shore side" that butter would not be provided automatically and that if you wanted butter you would have to ask for it.  Our wonderful waiter asked us if we wanted butter so we didn't have to beg for it, but she said that they are no longer allowed to put butter out, proactively.

While our waiter said that this was a fleet-wide edict, my guess is that it may take a while for it to be fully implemented or perhaps some ships will defy this ridiculous micro-management policy entirely....but it seems as if it is meant to be a fleet-wide change.  Rather silly and it will undoubtedly place extra work on the [already overworked] wait staff to have to go and retrieve butter from the kitchen when, inevitably, passengers will want it. 

Perhaps butter is more precious than I previously recognized !

The cut back methodology at RC is hilarious. The decision to hold back the butter tray is the best one yet! 

3 hours ago, Natbron6 said:

Anyone that has been on Allure of the séase lately. I leave on Jan 15 for my trip and my favorita casino slot is Rich Little Piggies. Does anyone know if the Allure of the seas has this slot machine??

I’m pretty sure it does. The company upgrades machines in port often. Rich Little Piggies is a popular money maker. Check YouTube casino walk through of Allure to verify. 

12 minutes ago, Lovetocruise2002 said:

Another random find that I never saw before. These were in both bathrooms.

I saw these for the first time on Wonder in Nov. I can actually hear Danny from Harr Travel praising the upgraded Malin + Goetz bathroom amenities in one of his suite reviews.

11 minutes ago, Lovetocruise2002 said:

On our way to the port now. We ordered a Lyft and it arrived a few minutes early. This method is way more relaxing. 

Have an amazing cruise!