Mexican Riviera Cruise info

So we are definitely going to the Mexican Riviera using Princess in late March.  We opted for the deluxe balcony, midship, with unobstructed view. We also splurged on the Premier package that includes unlimited drinks....yes, unlimited, not the 15 that the Plus package offered.  Now, we didn't get Premier for all the drinks, (and probably won't come close to drinking even 10....maybe), as there were a number of other things we liked.  Unlimited specialty dining (Steakhouse, Italian, and a few seafood restaurants), as well as unlimited casual dining (pizza place, Irish Pub, and a Gastropub) were part of this compared to just 2 casual dining opportunities for the Plus Package.

Both packages included crew appreciation (pre-paid tips), wi-fi, (although Plus only allowed one device to have wifi, while the Premier gave you 4 devices), fitness classes (unlimited with Premier, only 2 total with Plus), and both allow for free, unlimited room service.  I have lost almost 100 pounds in the past year, my wife has lost 40, so we were going to be working out anyway, so might as well enjoy a few of the classes.  We'll need to with all the food and drink options we'll get to experience. 

With Premier we get the Photo package, that comes with 3 free prints and free digital downloads of all the pics taken of us on the ship.  We also get unlimited premium desserts, while with Plus it was only two per day.   Will we have even two a day....who knows, but nice to know we can have more than two if we feel so inclined. And finally, Premier gives us reserved seating for all shows, not available on the Plus package.

Now, the Plus package is $60 per day, per person, while the Premier package is $90 per day, per person.  For us, we just liked the extras we got for the Premier package, and just specialty dining, which is $39 a meal/per person, and availability for internet for 4 devices, made it worth it for us. 

Will be interesting to see how the casino is aboard the ship, which we will definitely take advantage of when at sea.....as that's when it is actually open. 

It's going to be our 25th anniversary later this year, and we never did go a honeymoon before getting married, so this kills two birds with one stone for us.   

DON'T play in the casino! DON'T! As the casino doesn't open until the ship is beyond the three-mile limit, the regulatory agency overseeing the gambling is...uh...maritime law...or something. It's like an Injun casino, but worse. Good luck settling any disputes in your favor, for one thing!

But the real killer is that, aside from the games generally being the worst in the universe, there is massive anecdotal evidence of actual cheating going on, both with the casino's full knowledge and cooperation and with the casino oblivious to it (such as cheating dealers working on their own). One recent example is a dealer confessing that with the pit boss's full knowledge and encouragement, before the blackjack game opened, he simply took one of each rank and suit of face card out of the eight-deck shoe and set them aside. This removal of sixteen high cards made the count a minus 2 from the start...thus adding about 2% to the house's existing advantage. It was pretty much impossible, with nothing to compare it to, to determine that the 8-deck shoe had been transforrmed into a 7 2/3-deck shoe.

I've also heard of slot and VP machine gaffs, though once again, impossible to verify. Just be well aware that the casino NEVER operates under ANY shore-based regulatory authority or oversight. I suppose the FBI, or El Jefe's secret police, or somebody could theoretically board the ship and seize the machines and other equipment, but who's ever going to do that and piss off a huge source of income for the land-based authority (port taxes, etc.)?

Oh, and don't bother to think healthy when you're onboard. It's a losing battle, and might deflect you away from trying some really good food and/or drink. Do your penance when you get home.

Thanks for the warning, but we're going to give them some play anyway.  

And we're definitely going to enjoy the good food and drinks, but still get workouts in, as they have been part of our routine for the past year.  Not sure how many fitness classes we will get to fit in, but we know there will be plenty of walking, on the ship and on our excursions. 

My friend who cruises and recommended Princess, always plays.  She said the more one cruises, and of course by extension the more one plays in the casino, the comps increase exponentially.  Take that for what it is worth, but she is a regular at casinos and cruises but not what anyone would call a high roller, not even close.  Just regular participant.

Candy

That sounds like us, just low rollers having a good time. 

Heading out on our cruise today.  Will provide update on what the casino is like on the Discovery Princess.  

I'll just chime in that I recently returned from a HAL cruise on the Eurodam visiting the Southern Carribbean.  It became famous for the large amount of norovirus on the ship (gross).  I will confirm that the VP in the casino was horrid.  6/5 JOB.  Despite that, I sat down and played anyways.  I was watching a slot machine that was becoming an advantage play when on the fifth hand I held 2 to the royal and filled it in.  10 quarter single line machine hit for 2k.  Yeah!  :) 

I cashed this out and stopped playing.

Cruise gambling is mostly fine; I would definitely ask about the rules and decks used if wanting to play Blackjack though 🧐  A lot of cruise-goers gamble strategically to keep earning cruises with relatively minimal play and/or buy gift cards at a discount to load their accounts onboard and use that to gamble, earning comps and cash back from the churn (note that not all cruise lines have the option to fund a gaming account with gift cards, so do some serious research on that before jumping in 🧐).  One last note:  Can we not use actual slurs when referring to tribal casinos?  That bar is so low it's dug into the ground 🙃

Have a great time.Anyway you like.Happy Anniversary.