What to expect when playing Blackjack on cruise ships
Diverse dealer interactions
Experiences with Blackjack dealers on cruise ships can vary widely. Some players find cruise ship dealers less engaging and helpful compared to their counterparts in Las Vegas, where and fellow players are often more supportive to novices.
On cruises, it's not uncommon to encounter less interaction at the tables, making challenging for new players to learn the game and perfect their strategies. However, others have had positive experiences, especially on lines like Rhapsody, where even unfriendly dealers can be replaced upon receiving player complaints.
Game rules and quality
When it comes to game rules, cruise ship Blackjack often employs variations that are less favorable to players. For example, many ships operate with 6:5 payouts on Blackjack and do not allow surrender, unlike the more generous 3:2 payouts found in many land-based casinos.
Some players have also noted that the quality of dealing can be inconsistent, with frequent mistakes that sometimes benefit the player but can also detract from the overall experience.
Table options and shuffling methods
From my own experience, I've noticed that ships in the Princess fleet often use continuous shuffle machines, which can really change the dynamics of the game. I've seen table minimums vary quite a bit too. The higher-stakes tables, like those with $50 minimums, generally offer better odds. On the other hand, the lower minimum tables, such as $5 or $6, usually come with the less favorable 6:5 payouts.
Varied experiences across cruise lines
Cruise lines operate in blackjack in a different way. For example, at least 1 table that has a $25 minimum applies at the Carnival ships and it also provides 3:2 payout odds on Blackjacks whereas the lower minimum edge tables offer the less favorable 6:5 payout.
The onboard tables are single deck and standard shoe with continuous shuffler for blackjack which is good to have. But the table maximum can sometimes be too costly for everyone to afford. The same situation persists for the minimum for AG’s.
On the other hand, Royal Caribbean ships tend to have a healthier mix of $25 tables and standard odds on some of their ships.
Blackjack tables on Celebrity Ascent
How to play blackjack on cruise ships
To begin with the changes, it is critical to comprehend the foundational principles that pertain to Blackjack:
- The aim in this game is to have the hand of a value as near to 21 as possible without going over and surpassing the dealer.
- Number cards represent their face value,10 for face cards and A include 1 or 11.
- There are 2 cards dealt out to each player in the beginning, after that they can either “hit” (which adds another card) or “stand” (keep their present hand).
- The limitation is at least 17 for the dealer, who then would be required to draw a card or more.
Differences on a cruise ship
There are some of the rules which remain constant, that aside, here are some of the differences which you would note when you engage in playing blackjack on a cruise.
Setting and atmosphere
It gets better and quite interesting as cruise ship casinos happen to be a bit cozier than large physical casinos or rather highly populated resorts. Such a feature softens the whole environment allowing for a more engaging atmosphere.
Operational hours
Rarely does a land-based casino not operate at all time, but cruise ship casinos on the other hand only have their doors wide open as long as they are not in internal waters. As such, they tend to get closed whenever the vessel is docked or is in territorial waters.
House rules and game variations
Crusie Enhancements like BetMax have become so common that they’ve flashed concealed cards. It is essential to note that these enhancements can significantly change the dynamic of the game. Many physical casinos share parallels with such aspects as a multi-deck game of blackjack as cruise ships tend to have a similar nature.
First time in cruise ship casinos? be careful, as you might be expected to lose more than what you are supposed to win. Some cruise ships casinos require a dealer to stand on a soft hand value of 17, which is not a given in many other land based casinos.
Surrendering might not be available on some cruise ships which can severely limit your strategies. It is advised to not rely on allowing this option as land based casinos are typically more versatile with it.
Bet limits
Reduced minimum bets: It is acceptable to say that a large number of cruise ship casinos offer tables with lowered minimum bets in order to cater for a wider market of players with varying financial capabilities.
I have personally witnessed instances where the minimum bet is as low as three dollars per hand. although now a day, the minimum bet is most likely $5 or even $10 on most cruise ships.
During my cruising trips across Asia, I observe the minimum limits at blackjack tables to be quite elevated. This is probably because cruising Asians are heavy gamblers.
High-limit tables are mostly available on all cruise lines for those who prefer higher stakes.
Regulatory differences between casinos at seas vs land-based casinos
Like I’ve mentioned before a cruise casino manages a distinct set of rules than that of a terrestrial casino especially when we gauge it with a set of rules for the US.
The age requirement for entry into cruise casinos is 18. Although, there are some exclusions to this norm. For example: Princess Cruises and MSC Cruises have age requirements set at 21 years for gambling.