I don't normally gamble a lot on a cruise vacation, but this time we did!
We got a group of our friends and family together (20) final count and went on a carnival cruise out of baltimore. The casino was open before we hit international waters (while still in the bay). I played some VP, mostly DDB and got killed. The bright spot was, Let it Ride. While I didn't make a bunch of money, it didn't kill me either. Sharon on the other hand did well, and earned a slight profit over all at the game.
Will800, wouldn't have liked this cruise much, as the BJ rules they really played with, but they changed the name of the game, Funship 21, or face up BJ. Funship 21, they remove all the queens, and face up BJ only pays even money for a BJ. I stayed clear of both games. You had to step up to $10 table to play regular BJ, and the funny thing, they got the least play and closed early every night.
All in all, it was a good week at sea.
We did visit one casino in Freeport Bahama's, but it was just a walk through. VP had same paytables or better then a Harrahs property. No gimmick BJ games there either. Time was limited on this island, so we didn't have a chance to give it a whirl.
Other then gaming, the snorkeling was good and the beer cold.
Lee-PA

Thanks for that info, Lee!

I have a friend in LV who took a cruise with his wife and did some gambling while aboard ship. The problem was that back then he was considered to be a 'whale' in LV and he was very lucky in the ship's casino.

Lucky enough to make it close early one evening and completely locked up the following day.

I took a cruise from Hawaii to California one week and half way across the Pacific - the propeller fell off!

Some guy in a sea going uniform walked around the deck all day saying, "Luckily we got two!" ..... So a day or so late we limped into SF Bay and a rousing cheer went up as the shadow of the Golden Gate spread over our one-propped boat.

Believe it or not will, Thats a main reason I own a 2 prop boat. If on fails, I can still get back to port on one!

The limits on all the card games where set low, Max bet, $200.

That cruise gaming doesn't sound like that much fun. It sounds like a cross between Harrah's and Bob Stupak.

Since you left out of Baltimore, were you relegated to indoor activities until you got down south?

I'm glad you had good friends and family with you.

JMT, yeah,funny thing is I stuck to let it ride and some VP. A buddy of mine never noticed no queens in the funship 21 game and he played it all week!

70's out of Baltimore, so the weather was good.

Lee, do you have any idea how your friend did in that 'no queens' game? And what did they offer as the carrot to play it.

That is one heck of a disadvantage for the player.

I beleive the carrot was it was a $5 table, not 10 like the real BJ games where!

I don't know of anyone getting hurt too bad on any of the gambling. But you know how that goes, people brag about the wins, but are very quiet about how much they lost!

Thanks, Lee. The carrot here in LV is usually always the lower minimum tables also.