Norwegian Cruise steps up casino program to rival Royal Caribbean
The cruise line does not call out its rival, but continues to elevate the cruise casino experience for its passengers.
Norwegian Cruise Line is known for offering a rewarding cruise casino program that offers a lot of benefits and excitement for cruise passengers who want to “go all in” at sea.
Dealing winning hands for passengers in a cruise ship casino takes skill, and on Norwegian Cruise Line, casino dealers are even backed by innovative technology that ensures precision and improves the playing experience for passengers.
Related: Norwegian Cruise Line passengers share crucial cruise insight
In the cruise line’s latest “Meet the Crew” video, Norwegian Cruise Line President David Herrera shares a behind-the-scenes look at just how that works. He joins a blackjack dealer to explore what it takes to work in the casino aboard the cruise line’s brand-new ship Norwegian Aqua.
As he meets staff members on the cruise casino floor and learns how to deal blackjack and craps, he shares insights into some of the Norwegian cruise casino program’s latest enhancements and perks for passengers.
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Norwegian Cruise Line President shares cruise casino program insights
Transcript:
David Herrera: Welcome to Meet the Crew, where we show you how Norwegian's fleet stays in perfect shape while making sure every guest is experiencing their best vacation on board.
I am David Herrera, and I'm going behind the scenes with the crew members who make every sailing spectacular. Please join me as we Meet the Crew.
Hi everybody, this is David Herrera at Norwegian Cruise Line with another exciting episode of Meet the Crew.
And today, we're right here on Norwegian Aqua, and we're going to spend some time learning about our casino program. We're going to learn how to make money, and we're going to do this all while we meet our amazing crew.
And with me today, I'm very happy to have Mr. Gareth Jones, who is our fleet casino manager.
Gareth Jones: Welcome on board, sir.
David Herrera: Thank you, sir. How are you, sir?
Gareth Jones: Very well, thank you very much. Yourself?
David Herrera: I am fantastic. I am ready to make some coin, baby. I'm ready to make some paper.
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Norwegian Cruise Line’s newest ship features an expanded casino
David Herrera: Gareth has been with the company for 20 years and has managed the casino on every single ship in the NCL fleet. So he knows all the right people who are going to show me everything about the games and the business.
David Herrera: How many people are there in the casino staff on a ship this size?
Gareth Jones: Just in the casino on the Aqua, there's now 60.
David Herrera: Really?
Gareth Jones: I think it's time for you to go and learn blackjack.
David Herrera: Oh, I know how to play blackjack, sir.
Gareth Jones: Play or deal?
David Herrera: I have no idea how to deal.
Gareth Jones: I'm going to now introduce you to Anano. Anano is one of our dealers.
So Anano, please meet Anano.
David Herrera: Hey, Anano. What's up?
Anano Khopheria: Only like this. Then I'm going to explain to you why.
David Herrera: Oh, OK. All right, Anano. You don't want to shake my hand. Why not?
Anano Khopheria: Welcome. We have to show always clean hands. So, whenever you touch the cash, whenever you touch the chips, you have to show clean hands.
David Herrera: Up and down.
David Herrera: Turns out clean hands isn't just about hygiene. It's about policy that keeps every chip accounted for and eliminates any sleight-of-hand tricks.
NCL President learns to deal blackjack
Anano Khopheria: This is a blackjack. It's 21. Every picture bet is 10.
David Herrera: Yep. Know that.
Anano Khopheria: Yeah. So, we need a 21.
David Herrera: Show me how to deal a blackjack hand.
Anano Khopheria: So here, usually the minimum is $50, but usually we have a minimum of 10 and 15 tables.
David Herrera: Okay. 10, 15, and up to 50. Okay. Minimum. Okay. Got it.
Anano Khopheria: Yeah. Minimum.
David Herrera: And the max is 2,500.
Anano Khopheria: 2,500. Yes.
David Herrera: Perfect.
David Herrera: 11.
Anano Khopheria: 11.
David Herrera: Double down, kid.
Anano Khopheria: 11.
David Herrera: Double down.
Anano Khopheria: Yes. Against nine.
David Herrera: Yep. Here we go.
Anano Khopheria: You get only one card.
David Herrera: I love it. Paint it.
Anano Khopheria: Are you ready?
David Herrera: Paint it.
Anano Khopheria: OK. 15. Not bad.
David Herrera: No, that's not good.
Anano Khopheria: Let's see what I have. 14.
David Herrera: Ooh. Big, big card. Big card.
Anano Khopheria: Too many. Perfect. You won.
David Herrera: So, I won.
Anano Khopheria: Yes. You won double.
David Herrera: The house lost. Are you happy as a dealer?
Anano Khopheria: No, I'm happy.
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Classic casino games get a high-tech boost on Norwegian cruise ships
David Herrera: To eliminate human error and outsmart any clever moves, cutting-edge technology has been introduced to classic casino games.
Take this table, for example. There's more to it than meets the eye.
Anano Khopheria: So, whatever you bet here, I can see here and there.
David Herrera: How do you do that?
Anano Khopheria: It's a technology.
David Herrera: Beneath the surface, advanced sensors track every bet in real time, making sure every hand is dealt with total precision.
Anano Khopheria: You bet $100, and our system shows that David is betting $100. So, we have another sensor here. Every time I pull the card, it's counting your hands and giving you points.
David Herrera: Every chip, every transaction, every movement involving money is tracked in real time, especially the vault, where all cash is stored.
This table is smarter than I thought it was.
Originally from the country of Georgia, Anano brings a global perspective and a lot of personality to the casino floor.
David Herrera: So, when you were growing up in school, what languages did you learn?
Anano Khopheria: So, I learned Russian, I learned English, and later on, I learned Turkish, too.
Related: An early look at Norwegian Aqua, the cruise line's newest ship
Craps is another popular casino game on Norwegian cruise ships
David Herrera: Now you're going to show me the craps game, right?
Anano Khopheria: Yes, please.
David Herrera: Okay, I see that we're not the only people at the craps table.
Anano Khopheria: Yes, we have guests.
David Herrera: Who are these guests?
Anano Khopheria: Jim and Theo.
David Herrera: Oh, Jim Abbas. I know him. He's the senior vice president of onboard revenue. Hey, Jim. Oh, look. Oh! You can't do that. Got you. Hey, Theo.
Theo: Theo.
David Herrera: What are you doing here, Theo, sir?
Theo: I'm the casino manager on board Norwegian Aqua.
David Herrera: Fantastic. Okay, let's get started.
A real game of craps takes a full team at the table to run it properly, and now I'm a part of it.
Theo: So, you have the stickman.
David Herrera: I'm sorry, say that again. What's my title?
Theo: Stickman.
David Herrera: Exactly. Who else is here?
Theo: The baseman right here, they are in charge of paying. You control them. The boxman, he's in charge, overall in command here.
David Herrera: I thought the stickman was in charge. Here we go.
Jim Abbas: All right, come on, nine.
David Herrera: What am I supposed to do here, Jim?
Jim Abbas: We're going to put you to work here, so.
David Herrera: All right, let's do it.
Jim Abbas: I will throw.
David Herrera: Double two.
Anano Khopheria: Four.
David Herrera: Four hard.
Jim Abbas: Two twos.
David Herrera: Nine. Niner. Nie. Nieven. How do you say nine in Georgian?
Anano Khopheria: Tskhra.
David Herrera: What?
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Norwegian Cruise Line’s casino program keeps getting better
David Herrera: It might look like just fun and games, and it is, but the team also works hard to give guests the winning experience. There's real innovation behind every roll of the dice. From new tech to new experiences, the casino is constantly evolving.
Jim Abbas: Over the last 17 years, we've completely revitalized the casino programs. We do partner with hundreds of casinos around the world, bringing their guests on board so they can have a wonderful vacation. You know, think of instead of going off to Las Vegas and seeing, you know, an Italian-looking casino, they can actually go to Italy.
David Herrera: Gareth has been with the company for 20 years. Running a casino at sea comes with its own set of rules. Every country has different regulations, which is why the casino typically opens once we are in international waters.
Theo: Days at sea we go all day long, and then we close just before reaching ports.
Jim Abbas: There are a couple of locations — for example, in Alaska — where we pay a tax in order to open in their territorial waters.
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Some Norwegian cruise casino tables track your play to offer perks
David Herrera: Regulations may vary, but the goal stays the same, delivering an experience guests will love. Some tables like this one are even equipped with sensors that track your play and add perks to your account. And with Norwegian's best-in-class rewards program, the more you play, the more benefits you get.
David Herrera: Good job on the table, but now it's time to color out. Thank you, gentlemen.
Anano Khopheria: Wait, wait. I have something for you.
David Herrera: Ah, I earned this one.
Anano Khopheria: I promote you as a dealer.
David Herrera: Wow.
Anano Khopheria: Yes.
David Herrera: You're promoting me as a dealer. Are you allowed to do that? Technically, are you allowed to? It doesn't matter.
David Herrera: Yeah. Wow.
Anano Khopheria: Perfect.
David Herrera: All right, everybody. That was a lot of fun. I want to thank Anano, Jim, Gareth, and Theo. I learned a lot about being a dealer, and I learned even more about the amazing casino offerings that we have here on Norwegian Cruise Line.
I hope you guys had a good time. I look forward to seeing you again soon. Have a great day, everybody.
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