Counting on Cruises
It has been my experience that cruise ships are generally oblivious to counters. I have been on several of these floating resorts that have made no attempt whatsoever to discourage blatant card-casers. I have often stood around the tables, jumping in and out of games with bets of any size, or simply asking to be dealt out for a hand or two when the counts have dropped below zero all without drawing any heat whatsoever from floor personnel.
I recall once noticing a reasonably big winner who was obviously counting the cards, playing head to head with a dealer at a $25 table. He was using correct BS, simply ranging his betting units without exception in direct proportion to the TC, and wagering the minimum whenever it went to zero or below. I had never before (nor have I since) seen such unabashed card-casing audacity. With the pit boss smiling and watching the whole thing, I was truly amazed at his overt boldness. It crossed my mind that I could be witnessing a skimming operation in progress.
Finally, when the TC climbed to +10 near the end of the shoe, I casually slipped a single green chip into the empty box at first base. The counter immediately became quite indignant and asked me if I would mind waiting for the next shoe. Playing dumb, I asked, “Why?” He then protested that he was on a “hot streak,” and if I came into the game now it could throw off his luck. Innocently, I looked over to the pit boss and asked her if this was a private table, or if anyone could play here. She explained that the guy wanted the remaining cards in the shoe all for himself. “So, I have to play at another table?” I persisted. “No, it’s entirely up to you, sir. It’s just that you might get some of the cards that this gentleman was counting on,” she replied. Those were her veiy words! In the end, I played the box anyway, in spite of the man’s protestations, and pushed with a 20, while he lost two black chips with a 19. I think we both pushed again with 20s before the shuffle: In any case, the poor guy was so infuriated that I had “stolen his cards,” he stormed away, leaving me with the table all to myself. Unfortunately, I couldn’t continue to enjoy such ideal counting conditions, because the table minimum was too high for me at that time. The pit boss must have known that the other guy was a counter, but I doubt if she suspected me in the least. Apparently, it would not have made the slightest bit of difference to her anyway.
The point of this anecdote is that cruise ship personnel often appear either to be totally ignorant of telltale counting traits or to be disregarding them completely. Since the former is highly unlikely, they have probably been instructed to do the latter. General surveillance on shipboard is usually minimal or nonexistent. Although a few of the larger ships have two-way mirrors through which casino personnel can watch the action, I know of none at present that have hidden cameras, as most land-based operations do. Onboard casinos are generally too small to warrant such an expense.
Cruise lines can afford to ignore counters for a variety of reasons. Their somewhat restrictive rules are usually enough to protect them. Poor playing conditions such as very narrow table limits (some as poor as $25 to $200), dealers hitting soft 17s, not offering the surrender option, using only shoes with shallowly placed shuffle-cards, allowing just one extra split on any pair, and ensuring crowded tables by restricting the hours that the casino is open are usually enough protective measures to ward off the serious or professional blackjack players. After all, a conscientious counter would not want to risk being barred from the only action available; then he would have nothing to do for the rest of the cruise but eat and lie in the sun like the other passengers. In Vegas or Atlantic City, if you happen to be barred, there are always dozens of other good places to practice your skills. Not so when trapped aboard a ship. And why spend money for a cruise anyway, if your primary purpose is to make money? (Unless your significant other or spouse, like mine, enjoys the fine dining, the security, the exotic ports of call, etc.)
To summarize, most cruise companies are far more interested in keeping their passengers happy and entertained, in order to win their repeat business, than they are in losing a few dollars to the odd card-sharp now and then.
