88 DAYS TO GO . . .

      TUESDAY JANUARY 25, 2011

      TODAY'S TOPIC IS GAMBLING AND YOUR DISNEY CRUISE.  I COME FROM ATLANTIC CITY WHERE IT'S GAMBLING 24 HRS A DAY, SO I DON'T HAVE THE SAME NEED FOR IT WHEN I GET AWAY AS SO MANY FROM OTHER PARTS OF THE U.S. DO.  NOW DISNEY DOESN'T HAVE GAMBLING ON THEIR CRUISE SHIPS, AND THERE ARE QUITE A FEW THAT REALLY FREAK OUT ABOUT THAT.  BUT REALLY, THESE ARE FAMILY ORIENTED SHIPS.  SHOULD IT BE THAT BIG OF A SURPRISE?  PLUS, MOST OF THE PORTS, OR AT LEAST ONE ON YOUR ITINERARY MOST LIKELY WILL HAVE A CASINO OF THEIR OWN.  NASSAU, BAHAMAS HAS AN OLDER, SMALLER CRYSTAL PALACE CASINO (http://www.crystalpalacevacations.com/) AS WELL AS THE NEWER, BIGGER ATLANTIS CASINO RESORT (http://www.atlantiscasino.com/).  ATLANTIS IS A STATE OF THE ART CASINO, AS WELL AS HAVING A HUGE AQUARIUM, WATER PARK AND MULTIPLE SHOPS AND RESTAURANTS IN AND A PART OF IT.  SO THE 8 HRS OR SO YOU HAVE TO BE IN NASSAU SHOULD QUENCH YOUR GAMBLING THIRST.  ALTHOUGH PEOPLE DO WIN, KEEP IN MIND THE REASON CASINOS CONTINUE TO INCREASE THEIR PROFITS IS BECAUSE PLAYERS ARE LOSING . . . MORE AND MORE.  THE SAME REASON THAT PAWN SHOPS POP UP ALL AROUND CASINOS . . . TO GET YOUR MONEY.
      IF NOT, YOU'LL HAVE TO SETTLE FOR THE BINGO THAT IS PLAYED ON BOARD ON YOUR CRUISE AND IT'S FAMOUS "B-11" (WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=EVLN0FEBFFW).  PLUS ON A DISNEY CRUISE, KIDS CAN PLAY TOO.  YOU HAVE TO BE 18 TO CLAIM WINNINGS, BUT THEY'LL PROBABLY ENJOY THE EXCITEMENT.  BINGO IS HELD ONCE A DAY USUALLY IN ONE OF THE LOUNGES AND A SPECIAL "SNOWBALL" JACKPOT ROLLS OVER EACH DAY UNTIL IT IS WON.  CARDS WERE RUNNING ABOUT $20 FOR A SINGLE PACK (3 CARDS, ONE PER GAME), $30 FOR A VALUE PACK (6 CARDS, 2 PER GAME), AND ELECTRONIC CARD PADS PLAY FOR YOU AND CAN PROVIDE MORE CARDS FOR A BETTER VALUE (THEY WERE $50 - $100 PER SESSION).  WHILE THE ODDS ARE LONG AGAINST YOU, THEY ARE HIGHER EARLIER IN YOUR CRUISE WHILE FEWER PEOPLE ARE PLAYING.  AS THE CUMULATIVE JACKPOT GROWS SO DO THE CROWDS.  WHILE THE THRILL OF WINNING THE BIG ONE GOES UP, THE ODDS OF WINNING GO DOWN.  SO JUST LIKE A CASINO, MOST PEOPLE START "CHASING IT".  WHICH MEANS PLAYING OR SPENDING EVEN MORE IN HOPES OF MAKING UP WHAT YOU'VE ALREADY LOST.  AND AS YOU LOOK AT THE PRICES, YOU CAN SEE HOW YOU COULD GO THROUGH SOME SERIOUS MONEY OVER THE COURSE OF SEVERAL DAYS.  IF YOU'RE SMART AND PLAY JUST FOR FUN AND RIDE THE ODDS, YOU MAY JUST GET LUCKY AND HAVE A GREAT TIME TOO, EVEN IF YOU DON'T WIN!
     SEE YA REAL SOON!   ºOº