casino on board (should there be)? (please comment too!)

[Amberle3]

I guess I have a different view on the "family" aspect of casinos. Here the gambling age is 18, and in nearby Minnesota it's 19. I grew up going to bingo with my grandmother. Before I was old enough for the casinos I'd play cards (blackjack, gin rummy) with her at home. Once I was old enough to go to the casinos it was a family outing - me, my mother, my grandmother. Not suggesting that they should let kids into the casinos mind you, and before I was of age I never set foot in one. But if I'm at a casino, there's either a family member or my fiance with me.

As for the stress and anxiety aspect, I can tell you that some people get very, very stressed with bingo. The pain of being ONE NUMBER AWAY for call after call after call - argh! I think that's why there are 2 words that you hear most frequently at regular bingo halls - one is Bingo, the other has one letter less.

Personally I don't think that a casino would necessarily have to break the theming or the family-friendliness of the cruise. They already have an adults-only section, they could (on newly designed ships) expand that area and put the casino there. That way there's no chance of the kids walking past it at all, they don't even need to know it's there.

I think they can theme it to Pirates of the Caribbean. Dim the lights a little so that it's kinda dusky, have lots of palm fronds and the natural look to the tables etc. Twinkle lights. Tropical music. Costumes for the CMs. Lower the volume a little on the machines so they're not blaring, that would be nice. I think a properly themed casino could be a LOT of fun, and if anyone at all knows how to do theming right it's Disney. And anything that will increase revenues for DCL so they can lower the prices to be more in line with other cruise lines is a good thing, as long as it doesn't detract from the overall experience. I think a nicely separated, properly themed casino wouldn't need to detract at all.

And for those who associate casinos with flashing neon and half-naked women dancing on tables, that isn't even indicative of half of Las Vegas these days. Believe it or not you can find class in a Las Vegas casino (Venetian, Monte Carlo, Mirage, Bellagio etc). And there's a whole slew of casinos outside of Nevada that do quite well with no strippers, no dancing girls, and in some cases no liquor.

 

[herrbeeb]

there is no ? in my mind that a casino would sustantially impact the family atmosphere if a disney cruise. it would attract the non-kids crowd and given the size and configuration of the existing ships disney would have to reallocate resources, ie, space, staff, etc. away from the more family oriented activities.

a disney themed casino night might be fun. no cash, just prizes.

as for gambling being a sin. i must have missed that day in sunday school.

 

[crisi]

My issue is the limited space on board. Where would you put it? What would you be willing to give up? I can't think of anything on board I'd be willing to give up to make room for slot machines and blackjack tables. Or perhaps rather, I can think of things I'd give up, but not things that we could all agree on (I'd trade the Spa for blackjack tables - how about Palo?)

Even a game night will involve storing the "stuff" that goes along with it.

 

[RKB]

I think that it would be fine to have a casino on board. This would be another entertainment option and an money maker for DCL to hopefully keep down cruising costs. Most people who would go to the casino would be just vacationers wanting to have fun - I would think hard core gamblers would be very rare - especially gamblers booking on DCL to go to the casino. I thought the Pirates of the Carribean theme idea was great! I am just trying to think of where the casino would fit space-wise. I am sure that it could be worked out if Disney wanted to make room for a casino.

 

[thiscloud]

it's interesting everyone's take on it, and i hope no one on either side of the debate gets offended. i started the poll to get opinions, and i think it's going well.

when i lived in connecticut, i lived near two casinos, foxwoods and mohegan sun. maybe since they're on indian reservations and haven't developed the shady reputation of vegas, but very few people had problems with it aside from increase in traffic and other more pragmatic concerns.

mohegan sun is a gorgeous casino, lots of dark woods, arts and crafts like motifs, like the grand californian. i'd think if disney ever did a casino, it would be classy.

i picture more casinos in monaco with men in tuxes and women in cocktail dresses playing baccarat rather than strippers in neon light. it could be an extension of the formal night for adults, if it were just a casino-themed night at one of the adult clubs.

 

[DMS_cruisers04]

My personal opinion: sure, why not? We happen to enjoy cruising on CARNIVAL , which most here view as the Anti-Cruise. A floating sin-fest. Casinos, alcohol and neon-lights. The horror. And on those ships I've been on, we've never had to walk through the casino to get anywhere, however I can't speak for other lines.
And I'm not sure how not having a casino onboard helps to promote a more family atomsphere and togetherness, when you still have adult-only areas and kids clubs that create family seperation.
Exactly how is a casino night, different from an actual casino? It's still gambling.
As far as space, I think we're hypothetically speaking of on the new ships when, and if, they are launched. And of course, they wouldn't move staff, just hire more. It's not like a cabin steward would be allowed to deal blackjack.

thiscloud, but we can't get people to dress appropriately for dinner, there is no way you'd get them to dress up to play baccarat.

And why does everybody think there are strippers in Vegas casinos?

 

[Lori00789]

I think a casino is a nice option for the adults that enjoy that type of thing. Everyone who goes on the disney cruise is not a family with young children, it is for people of all ages. I would rather take my 18 year old to a casino then a bar. I live in MN and the casinos in my area don't serve alcohol to the gamblers. I don't see obnoxious gamblers in the casino but I have seen obnoxious drunks in other places. I find it interesting that people will drink alcohol, or put their children in daycare during a family vacation, think that gambling is a SIN and has no place on a family vacation.

 

[goingbacksoon]

As some people have said, if casinos bring in more revenue to keep cruising fare down, they why not? I remember as a child going on the "Big Red Boat", and having to walk through the casino with my grandparents to get places. That wasn't cool.

The idea would probably be to make it a nice place to be, a sort of multi-use area. Have some internet terminals, some comfy chairs, a coffee (and regular) bar, but also some slots and card tables, and an oceanview.

Gamenight is already slightly in place, with the bingo and the mouseketeer game. To expand those offerrings like that set up in the Promenade lounge would be cool too.

goingbacksoon

 

[kennancat]

I would also not want to see a casino onboard. DH and I are childfree, and I like that not having a casino forces Disney to come up with alternative entertainment for adults. DH and I just aren't into drinking, gambling, etc. and even if we never have kids, we appreciate the purer atmosphere.

 

[Miss Jasmine]

I like that DCL does not have a casino, and I wouldn't want one on board just because I don't need another thing to try and squeeze into my schedule.

With that said, SIN??!!??!! There is a lot Disney already has that could be considered as sin by some people. Bingo is gambling. There is alcohol on board. There are pools and some people may wear skimpy bathing suits. Plus there is possible gluttoney from all the food. Not to mention perhaps too much materialism (look at the $$$ of DCL cruise). Anyway, to each his or her own.

 

[HooKooDooKu]

I wouldn't mind a casino on board.

As a note on the subject, according to a Disney Project Manager I had the pleasure of sharing a dinning table with several years ago, he indicated that the original plans called for the Prominade Lounge to be a casino. The Prominate Lounge (still named that I believe) is what has eventually become the Internet Cafe (keeping in mind that DCL predates the popularity of the Internet).

 

[invaderzim]

We say a resounding NO NO NO to a casino on board ANY DCL.
The reason being that is why we don't sail on the other cruise lines. Who needs angry and drunk gamblers running around! If you want casinos, take another cruise line or go to Las Vegas, but please -- leave us at least one line of ships without them!

 

[Zandy595]

invaderzim ~ I totally agree!

 

[Mboothby]

I like playin' the slots as much as the next person, but in mind mind, that ringing, chinging sounds would cheapen what Disney has worked so hard to do in brining back the luxury of the old Grand Dames of the day such as Titanic, Lusitania and the Queen Mary. The very first cruise I went on was Carnival (I won't even GO into THAT experience). When I boarded, my jaw dropped at all the neon and the sound of ca-chinging slot machines and I thought to myself..."Reno at sea" If I want that sort of vacation, I'll go to Vegas. If I want class and luxury...Disney Cruise does it for me.