Casino on new ships?

[jiminyC_fan]

We are adult cruisers cruising without children. My vote would be NO for a casino on a DCL ship. If a person "needs" gambling for entertainment then perhaps a family oriented ship isn't for them. We took the first PC cruise and never once got bored. They offer so much to keep a person busy. DCL isn't known for being a boozing party gambling cruiseline. That is the draw for us and I hope it stays that way.

 

[only1mouse]

Does anyone know if there is a casino on the new Disney ships.

Hope not! I think this would be so unlike Disney.

 

[BobandLee]

As I stated before, if I had a vote it would be no.

Having said that, one of the recurring arguments against a casino is that it is "unlike Disney". Remember though, Walt was against alcohol and there seems to plenty of that onboard.

 

[5lilfish]

We are adult cruisers cruising without children. My vote would be NO for a casino on a DCL ship. If a person "needs" gambling for entertainment then perhaps a family oriented ship isn't for them. We took the first PC cruise and never once got bored. They offer so much to keep a person busy. DCL isn't known for being a boozing party gambling cruiseline. That is the draw for us and I hope it stays that way.

I have to disagree with this.

I do not "need" gambling, but I do enjoy it. Considering that I have 5 children, I don't see why the fact that I enjoy throwing a $10 bill into a slot maching, means that I should reconsider taking a family vacation.

I'm glad you never got bored. I wouldn't say that I was bored, but I did find that there was a lack of entertainment options (that I was interested in...we don't drink and we aren't into night clubs) in the evening. As I said, the casino isn't a sticking point for me, but I wouldn't be against it. If it was there, we'd use it.

Jess

 

[sopandbass]

I agree that at first glance it seems a casino wouldn't go with the Disney image. But, to be blunt, neither does an underage pop star with a 20-year-old live-in boyfriend who runs around in his underwear (although I'm sure he does that to rehearse his modeling skills) or any of the assortment of Disney starlets who've gone off the deep end. And little girls are suppose to have these Disney personalities as role models? Walt must be rolling. So, that being said, why would anyone be shocked if a casino ended up on a Disney ship?

 

[MagicalPins]

Just my thoughts here, everyone keeps tossing around the word Family. Most of the time when people say it here, it seems Family = Kids. It was always my opinion that Family = Everyone. Kids, teens, adults, grandparents, ect. From my experience, there does appear to be a lack of entertainment for adults compared to everything that offered for kids.

If Disney did have a casino on one of their ships, I would be willing to pay more of a premium for the expanded offerings for the one group of the Family that doesn't have as much.

I’m not sure why people are so sensitive about this subject because Disney already offers gambling on their ships. Just not in a casino form. Bingo. Very odd with people saying they wouldn’t cruise with Disney any more if they offered that. The truth is the are already offering it, it would just be expanding what they currently do.

I would love to see it on the ships. I know Disney would be able to do it the correct way, but I don't we will ever see it.

 

[Khazid]

Just my opinion, so weigh it as such.

I am a semi-professional card player that already spends 25-35 hours a week at the tables. I can tell you from personal experience that Bingo just does not compare to the personality types that an active cruise casino will attract.

When I go on vacation I don't even want to think about structures, betting patterns, reading, odds calculations, etc. I want to enjoy activities that will take me away from the rooms I already spend a lot of time in.

While many "floating" casino's may seem attractive to a lot of cruisers, I leave that to the cruise lines that offer it. I look forward to DCL because I know for a fact I won't have to walk through a room that has slots, table games, and my main attraction poker. It would just be too difficult to not flip the switch and go right to work.

So while the word family is tossed around quite a bit in this thread, and I have tried to avoid posting my opinion up to this point, but I really do feel that DCL should stay away from traditional casino games. If they added it, I for one would avoid it as much as I avoid Vegas and Atlantic city while on vacation.

As a conclusion, I hope DCL sticts to what it has done so far and limit the games of chance to just Bingo and focus it's efforts on expanding other areas of entertainment more suitable for it's image.

ok...Rant OFF.

 

[Mickeyhugger]

Just my thoughts here, everyone keeps tossing around the word Family. Most of the time when people say it here, it seems Family = Kids. It was always my opinion that Family = Everyone. Kids, teens, adults, grandparents, ect. From my experience, there does appear to be a lack of entertainment for adults compared to everything that offered for kids.

If Disney did have a casino on one of their ships, I would be willing to pay more of a premium for the expanded offerings for the one group of the Family that doesn't have as much.

I’m not sure why people are so sensitive about this subject because Disney already offers gambling on their ships. Just not in a casino form. Bingo. Very odd with people saying they wouldn’t cruise with Disney any more if they offered that. The truth is the are already offering it, it would just be expanding what they currently do.

I would love to see it on the ships. I know Disney would be able to do it the correct way, but I don't we will ever see it.

exactly

 

[AlexandNessa]

Just my thoughts here, everyone keeps tossing around the word Family. Most of the time when people say it here, it seems Family = Kids. It was always my opinion that Family = Everyone. Kids, teens, adults, grandparents, ect. From my experience, there does appear to be a lack of entertainment for adults compared to everything that offered for kids.

If Disney did have a casino on one of their ships, I would be willing to pay more of a premium for the expanded offerings for the one group of the Family that doesn't have as much.

I’m not sure why people are so sensitive about this subject because Disney already offers gambling on their ships. Just not in a casino form. Bingo. Very odd with people saying they wouldn’t cruise with Disney any more if they offered that. The truth is the are already offering it, it would just be expanding what they currently do.

I would love to see it on the ships. I know Disney would be able to do it the correct way, but I don't we will ever see it.

Thank you. It is hard for some to remember on this board that "family" doesn't always include children. Or even young children at that. After all, when we are announced on the ship, DCL calls me and my husband a "family."

Besides, even if they did include casinos on the new ships, what would make the casino any different than the other adults-only sections of the ship? Does anyone here REALLY think that anyone under 18 would be allowed in the casinos? IMO, it wouldn't be unlike the Quiet Cove, the Spa, or Palo.

I don't care either way. We've been on ships with casinos, and we don't use them beyond putting a quarter or dollar in a machine as we pass through. But I would not care in the least if they were on the new ships. After all, aren't the new ships 50% bigger? There's got to be some extra space in there without sacrificing something. I agree with other posters that kids have plenty to do, what's something else for the adults who chose to partake? Everything doesn't always have to be about the kids, does it?

I do have to say, I would get a kick out of seeing how Disney would do a casino. Would bet they would do it with class, and not the bright-lights/loud bell Vegas-style casinos on other ships.

 

[lbgraves]

Just my opinion, so weigh it as such.

I am a semi-professional card player that already spends 25-35 hours a week at the tables. I can tell you from personal experience that Bingo just does not compare to the personality types that an active cruise casino will attract.

When I go on vacation I don't even want to think about structures, betting patterns, reading, odds calculations, etc. I want to enjoy activities that will take me away from the rooms I already spend a lot of time in.

While many "floating" casino's may seem attractive to a lot of cruisers, I leave that to the cruise lines that offer it. I look forward to DCL because I know for a fact I won't have to walk through a room that has slots, table games, and my main attraction poker. It would just be too difficult to not flip the switch and go right to work.

So while the word family is tossed around quite a bit in this thread, and I have tried to avoid posting my opinion up to this point, but I really do feel that DCL should stay away from traditional casino games. If they added it, I for one would avoid it as much as I avoid Vegas and Atlantic city while on vacation.

As a conclusion, I hope DCL sticts to what it has done so far and limit the games of chance to just Bingo and focus it's efforts on expanding other areas of entertainment more suitable for it's image.

ok...Rant OFF.

Your post doesn't come across as a rant at all...quite the opposite. It is interesting to get the perspective of someone who does gamble regularly and to hear that they actually do not want a casino on DCL's ships either. Thanks for sharing!

 

[5lilfish]

Just my opinion, so weigh it as such.

I am a semi-professional card player that already spends 25-35 hours a week at the tables. I can tell you from personal experience that Bingo just does not compare to the personality types that an active cruise casino will attract.

When I go on vacation I don't even want to think about structures, betting patterns, reading, odds calculations, etc. I want to enjoy activities that will take me away from the rooms I already spend a lot of time in.

While many "floating" casino's may seem attractive to a lot of cruisers, I leave that to the cruise lines that offer it. I look forward to DCL because I know for a fact I won't have to walk through a room that has slots, table games, and my main attraction poker. It would just be too difficult to not flip the switch and go right to work.

So while the word family is tossed around quite a bit in this thread, and I have tried to avoid posting my opinion up to this point, but I really do feel that DCL should stay away from traditional casino games. If they added it, I for one would avoid it as much as I avoid Vegas and Atlantic city while on vacation.

As a conclusion, I hope DCL sticts to what it has done so far and limit the games of chance to just Bingo and focus it's efforts on expanding other areas of entertainment more suitable for it's image.

ok...Rant OFF.

Have you seen some of the cruise BINGO players? They dish out between $30-$150 every day to play BINGO and many of them are at every session. On the other cruise lines with Casinos, I didn't spend that much. It's very possible to go and enjoy the penny slot machines with a $10 bill. Sure there are people that go overboard but you could say that about the bars onboard too. Just because I can stop with one drink and others can't doesn't mean that DCL ishouldn't offer alcoholic beverages. They also sell cigars and offer smoking area. Those are addictions too and I guess you could argue that they take away from the family attmosphere. I've said it a few times here, but my kids have been on 3 cruises that had casinos and I don't think they ever noticed them. You don't have to walk through them to get anywhere.

I can see why you would avoid a Casino onboard. It's your job and most people go on vacation to get away from work. My husband sure doesn't look to spend his vacation doing his work, but I think it's safe to say that most people onboard don't gamble for a living.


Jess

 

[5lilfish]

Just my thoughts here, everyone keeps tossing around the word Family. Most of the time when people say it here, it seems Family = Kids. It was always my opinion that Family = Everyone. Kids, teens, adults, grandparents, ect. From my experience, there does appear to be a lack of entertainment for adults compared to everything that offered for kids.QUOTE]


My family does include 5 children. We think cruising is the best family vacation for us because it provides a great balance of family time and adult time. I'd love to see more offered for the adults at night. I would be fine if DCL does not have a casino on the new ships, but if they did have one, DH and I would use it.

Jess

 

[tvguy]

I suspect if Disney does put casinos on the new ships, they will do it the same way they did the kids clubs on the current ships. Our kids had no interest in the clubs, we never sought them out and we never even saw them because of how they are located.

 

[disneychic]

I don't mind either way, however I don't see it happening.

 

[Roveer]

They serve alcohol at all parks except the Magic Kingdom. EPCOT serves just about everything from Margarita's to Wine.

I am told that it was Walts wish that no alcohol be served in the parks. This applied to MK at the time and has been kept in force ever since. Other parks are different but MK is dry.

At first I thought on the new ships since they are so much bigger, that a casino wouldn't be a problem, but I've come to change my mind. When I really think about it Disney means a lot of things to me, NOT having a casino is one of them. Dont' get me wrong, I've been to LV every year for the past 14 years. I love my casinos as much as anyone, but on this topic, my vote would be to leave them off the new boats. Not judging anyone, as I would be judging myself, but if I had a vote. That's how I'd use it.

 

[ceeyore]

While on the Med cruise in 2007 Jim Magalpin (sorry if the name is spelled wrong) stated there would be no casinos on the new ships. If there is anyone out there that remembers him stating something else please let me know. This topic was discussed during the Cay Club cocktail party. He stated that Disney cruise lines were meant to be family oriented and that is why they are choosing not to include casinos on the new ships.

 

[dursin]

I suspect if Disney does put casinos on the new ships, they will do it the same way they did the kids clubs on the current ships. Our kids had no interest in the clubs, we never sought them out and we never even saw them because of how they are located.

Exactly. I would trust DCL to do it right if it came to a casino and locate it such that you wouldn't even know it was there unless you sought it out. Can't imagine anyone would be so uptight that they would be bothered by that.

 

[maryisme]

Here are my 2 cents to add .

I really don't equate a casino with tarnishing my "family vacation" on a disney ship or any ship for that matter. Sure, it is not geared towards family but it is not supposed to be. It's like anything else, it is an option, spend time there or don't.

Afterall, bars are plentiful, easily accessible and alcoholic drinks are allowed (as far as I know - correct me if I'm wrong) in the pool area where many of us gather as a family. I have been on 8 disney cruises and have seen my share of adults who had a few too many. They weren't intolerable situations and I doubt my DDs even noticed but I definitely did.

Inappropriate/drunk behavior bothers me more than a casino any day.

 

[andrews_dad]

Too bad that there is not casinos aboard the new ships. We hit Orlando as often as we do Vegas. I'd love to have a little of each in the same spot. I know that we are the minority and most Diz pros do not like to count cards at the blackjack table and bluff at the poker tables like my wife and I do!

 

[Arizona Rita]

From Tom McAlpin, prior President of DCL, the new ships will definetely not have a casino. This was asked by another cruiser during a Castaway Club meeting on the first Mediterranean cruise in 2007, which Mr. McAlpin was on. Obviously I don't know if anything has changed in the past 2 years, but at that time, it was a definite no.

We were also on that cruise and I also remember Tom saying that. Lets hope the new guy will keep it that way too!