We have heard many complaints about the casinos on board. Most of them address the assertion that too much space is taken up with slot machines and gambling tables, and that they are too noisy.

We would be interested in your comments.

We have cruised a good deal, and while we like the odd half hour spent in the casino after dinner, with a set twenty dollar limit on spending, we would have to say that we think the amount of space given over to the “casino” on a lot of cruise ships is wildly disproportionate. In our experience, the casino is never fully occupied, not even on special nights like those of the captain’s welcome party and farewell events. The areas are always deserted during the days at sea. It does seem a waste to have all this space given over to something that is not being used that much.

My own experience is that the casinos are busy, busy, busy late in the evening and the cruise lines probably make a tidy profit (which is why, like CruiseBirds, I limit myself to $20 a night for a bit of fun). I'd rather the cruise lines made a few dollars out of the casinos rather than upping the cost on my already over-priced whiskey sour.

And doesn’t that tell you the whole story about how much money the cruise line casinos make out of the saps that do go try their luck at the tables or the slot machines. Got to be a high pay off for them to devote that amount of space to activities that are not constantly in play. And yet, you folks will still head over there to tango with Lady Luck!

Oy Yoy!

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“He was, I believe, not in the least an ill-natured man: very much the opposite, I should say; but he would not suffer fools gladly.” George Bernard Shaw, “Pygmalion” (1912)

We hadn’t thought of that, Cruising Mike, but it does make sense of it.

OMG - don’t you make them stop having casinos on our cruise ships!!! I lOVE them!

I rest my case!

Oy Yoy!

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“He was, I believe, not in the least an ill-natured man: very much the opposite, I should say; but he would not suffer fools gladly.” George Bernard Shaw, “Pygmalion” (1912)

We love them too - when the three of us, the kute kats as we call ourselves cruise we head to the casino every night - not for long - just to have some fun - (we’re not saps, and we know we’re probably not going to win anything) and then we head off to the bars or the disco to hunt down the officers! Having the casino there is just part of the whole cruise.

Who am I to impose my moral views on cruise line casinos ... but this I DO know: that the lives of many thousands have been ruined because of a gambling addiction. The ship casinos are encouraging the disease. And don’t paint me as a spoilsport. If you’re cruising and you can enjoy the casino in moderation (the $20 maximum that several Prows Edge readers propose) then okay. But for every player who limits his/her losses to $20 there are a thousand who can’t.

I understand some cruise lines offer high-stake rollers special privileges. How do I get on the list? I can produce evidence of my losses. I dropped $44 on the Carnival Conquest last Spring and in December all of $38 on the Volendam. In the interest of openness I have to admit that the year before I made a small profit on the Carnival Destiny. Okay, cards on the table, it was a pretty hefty profit – $66. What privileges can I expect?