why no casinos?

[goofyme]

just got back from a family reunion that gathers every two years. one of the options was a cruise....probably around 20 adults and 12 children (6 below 10years of age when the next reunion takes place)......the adults would like to have some casino time but that rules out disney.....so two questions:

1) why does disney not have casinos on board....they serve alcohol...what is their reasoning...not family oriented, neither is booze

2) if we don't do disney, what cruise line would you recommend for kids

thanks for your opinions, comments, and suggestions

[tdailjr]

I BELEIVE TWO REASONS WHY THEY DONT HAVE A CASINO IS TO PROVIDE MORE ROOM FOR CHILDRENS PROGRAMING AND FOR LARGER STATEROOMS.

[Pugdog007]

I think the answer is that DCL promotes family values and a family-oriented atmosphere.

I don't think a frozen drink by the pool can possibly compare to a smoke-filled, keep-the-alcohol-coming-so we can take all their money atmosphere of a casino. It just isn't a good analogy.

[albiats]

Here's a link to another thread on the cruise board where they are discussing other cruise lines. They have casinos and children's programs in their discussion:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=211076

hth

[imgoingtodisney]

Thats the reason DH didnt want to go on a Disney cruise. However, this Nov we are cruising on the Disney Magic Eastern Carib with POINTS. There is gambling at St Marten so he will go off and do his thing and DS and I will do an excursion.
Once DVC is paid off Im sure DH will want to go on one of the other cruise lines.

[Mermaid02]

There is so much to do on DCL- I sure didn't miss a casino!

[goofysgal]

Gamblers can always spend the day at Atlantis with free casino access.

[Dave_from_Marietta]

There are a lot of cruise ships on the market. Disney has the only two that <i><b>don't</b></i> have casinos. Although they do turn away some customers who'd rather sail on a casino-equipped ship, I'm sure they more than make up for that with the customers they pick up who would prefer to sail on a casino-less ship. The Carnival Paradise is doing very well with their smoke-free ship. The Disney Magic and Disney Wonder are doing very well with their casino-free ships.

[albiats]

Dave - just a minor point -

The Carnival ship that is smoke free is the Paradise, not the Fantasy.

[Dave_from_Marietta]

You're right, Al. I edited my earlier post.

[smjj]

I have read somewhere that there are no casinos because Disney owns two professional sports teams and that is againist the law. However I have cruised on DCL twice and I did not miss them at all. They make up for it with plenty of nice restaurants and larger rooms as well as a whole deck devoted to kids.. The two other cruises we took that had casinos on them (RCCL) had so much smoke in them from the smokers you almost gagged walking thru.... smjj

[TheTexasKid]

Why? Very simple. People didn't want them on a Disney cruise ship. Before they built the "Disney Magic," they polled people as to whether they wanted a casino on the ship, and the overwhelming response was "No!" Which is something of a money loss for Disney, as a casino, on a cruise ship, brings in the money.
There is one advantage to not having a casino. The space that would have been taken up by a casino is used for the children's area. Most cruise ships have a space dedicated to a children's area, but, none of them have as much space as Disney does, because they have a casino, and Disney doesn't.
Of course, there is always bingo. At least there has been every time I've cruised on the "Disney Magic."
Enjoy your next Disney cruise.

[atigeg]

Actually, a long time ago we heard that Disney does not have casinos on its ships because the Walt Disney Company lobbied against legalizing gambling in FL (right now, all they have is casino boats there, not anything on land). Not long after, Disney announced its cruise ships, and it would have looked hypocritical to put in casinos after their opposition (supposedly there was space allocated for this but used for something else). Don't know if that's true or not, but it's the original story I heard way back when. Personally, I don't miss gambling one bit...too much else to do.
Barb
Visit the Platinum Castaway Club at: www.*****************

[DARWIN91]

I thought I would miss it a bit because we used to like to go to the casino a little while in the evening but I don't. BINGO does it for me! Bingo is fun and is sure draws a crowd by the end of the week when the jackpot increases.

[Piglet_Pooh99]

This is Disney we are talking about here. I can't imagine there being a casino on board.

[mlshields]

If I am not mistaken I believe that "American" owned ships cannot have casinos on board. Most cruise lines are owned by foreign countries and therefore they can have casinos. I know one cruise line in Hawaii which is "American" owned also does not have a casino on board.

Didn't miss it on our last cruise. :)

[iluvorlando]

I thought the Magic and Wonder are Bahama registry? I don't think there are any American ships anymore?

Someone please correct me if I am wrong.

Thanks!

[inkkognito]

Yes, they are registered in the Bahamas.
With the long hours required (among other reasons), it's not practical for cruise ships to be under American laws for overtime etc. That's also why you'll notice that almost all of the staff on cruise ships, particularly in the manual-labor jobs like housekeeping and diningroom servers, are not American. We're typically too spoiled to work at hard jobs for long hours at what we would consider to be low wages.
Barb
Visit the Platinum Castaway Club at: www.*****************

[albiats]

Originally posted by mlshields
If I am not mistaken I believe that "American" owned ships cannot have casinos on board. Most cruise lines are owned by foreign countries and therefore they can have casinos. I know one cruise line in Hawaii which is "American" owned also does not have a casino on board.

Didn't miss it on our last cruise. :)

I found a Website that discusses the laws concerning the cruise industry and casinos on American flagged ships. The Website is from the Tranportation Institute and here's a link to the page:
Casino Laws - American Flagged Ships (http://www.trans-inst.org/pass_cruise_ind.html)

Apparantly, there was a ban on casinos for American Flagged Vessels in 1950, but it was repealed in 1992.

So the legal reason for DCL not having Casinos is eliminated, besides, they are registered in the Bahamas.

Currently, my opinion as to why they don't have casinos is resting in the middle between Barb's answer that they had lobbied against casinos earlier in Florida and the one for general family attitude.

hth

[alexgrinton]

I agree with piglet_pooh this is Disney here. I Couldn't imagine disney with a casino on board! That would ruin the Disney atmosphere!

[randytenn]

If anyone on the 9/7/02 cruise is dying for the cruise ship casino experience, they can come to my room, drop quarters in my pocket, pull on my arm, and I will call them a loser!!!:D

No, no, no. Disney is not about gambling. It's about family fun.

[TnRobin]

iluvorlando,

you are correct that there are currently no American ships sailing the larger bodies of waters. United States Lines declared bankruptcy last year. Thier ships are still classified as American ships and they had another being built, but I do not believe they are currently sailing anywhere. (one of the requirements to be an American Ship is that it must be built in American. The US. Patriot received a special exemption from Congress to be classified as Ameircan) I do understand that there Delta Queen ships are back to cruising the Mississippi

[Fawn]

Randy!!! I can just see you standing there going "ca-chink, ca-chink" LOL Too much! :smooth:

Robin...there are some American ships still sailing the seas. I have a son on one right now...the USS Normandy!! ;)

[Ex-Imagineer]

If you have the itch to gamble on the Disney ship you can always go play B-I-N-G-O at the lounge. You can make some good money if there are enough people.

[Ex-Imagineer]

If you have the itch to gamble on the Disney ship you can always go play B-I-N-G-O at the lounge. You can make some good money if there is enough people playing. :smooth:

[trishy]

Randy - great reply - that's how I feel in Las Vegas!!! If I want to feel like a loser, I'll hop in the car and drive to Vegas. Bingo is enough gambling for me. Maybe the "Disney" crowd is predominantly non-gamblers?? When I cruised on the Princess, I didn't even step foot in the casino because of all the pollution and noise. Of course, maybe I just described Flounder's Reef (just a joke, folks)
;)

[Fawn]

There is only one downside to no gambling as far as I see. Prices on Disney are so much higher because they don't have all the nuts losing their money in the casinos! I'd rather have Disney just the way it is tho!

:earsgirl:

[lodgelady]

Very good randytenn!!:p I agree!!! Not having a casino lends an all- around more wholesome atmosphere which I applaud!!!

BTW, a drink or two enjoyed by responsible adults on a vacation does not in any way detract from an afore mentioned family-friendly vacation place. WDW has alcohol available everywhere but the MK, and it is the #1 family vacation destination in the USA.

[infobahn]

Ask yourself a question:

Would you want a casino in the middle of the Magic Kingdom if it lowered the price of park admission?

I wouldn't.