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Poker Cruises?


bonita bugman
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Wow...I didn't even know there were other sponsors for poker cruises. I've always known about cardplayer cruises, and heard of another group called classic cruises but I never heard about the one you're going on. I just checked it out, and it sounds really cool. Just a heads up...card player does about 5 poker cruises every year. This is my first one, but what with the way poker has blown up in the past couple of years, I'm sure we'll hear more and more about it. Will let you know how my cruise turns out. They have 2 scheduled tournaments for this cruise, but there's one in the future that has a million guaranteed payout. I think you need to win a spot to even get on the cruise. Kathy Liebert won the same tournament last year.

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  • 6 months later...
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From Ocean Players Club website:

 

TEXAS HOLD’EM NOW ON MORE SHIPS!

 

Great news for poker fans!

 

The Ocean Players Club is introducing Texas Hold'em Poker on our member ships, featuring Low Limit Hold'Em.

 

Complimentary lessons are available for new players and on some select ships a fun poker tournament is held.

 

The Grand Princess was the first cruise ship to introduce Texas Hold'em Poker in 2004. More tables will be introduced on selected vessels during 2005.

 

TEXAS HOLD'EM POKER tables in action now:

 

GRAND PRINCESS

DIAMOND PRINCESS

SAPPHIRE PRINCESS

 

CARNIVAL PRIDE

CARNIVAL LEGEND

CARNIVAL FASCINATION

CARNIVAL IMAGINATION

CARNIVAL CONQUEST

CARNIVAL FANTASY

CARNIVAL DESTINY

 

ZUIDERDAM Holland America Line

 

TEXAS HOLD'EM POKER tables coming soon...

 

We are looking at the Sapphire in March!

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  • 4 weeks later...

Royal Caribbean has a texas holdem cruise for December 11th 2005, we were also on the Feb one, and this is the second, had a great time. does anyone know if there are any planned for 2006

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  • 3 months later...

Carnival Elation reciently added a single TX Holdem table. Unfortunately, there was no room in the casino so they put it right outside the entrance to the aft-most lounge on the prominade (in Gatsby's Great bar) which doubles as the Karioke room.

 

It was a 5/10 limit game. According to the dealer, the ship is going into drydock/refit before about right now and they are adding a "poker room" with three tables (for a variety of limits) and some sound proofing.

 

While the karioke could have been softer, it's hard to imagin the game being so.

 

Solak

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  • 6 months later...
Just got off Navigator of the Seas and they had 2 computer operated Texas Hold-em tables. They had about 2 or 3 one winner one table tournaments. It was very hard getting a cash game going but usually after 11:00pm a few started than more joined in.

 

And did you WIN?

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  • 1 month later...

Hi we are planning on going on the world poker showdown cruise in April, we were on their first two, one 2/05 and 12/05 both on the Mariner, my husband played, I didnt, the tournments start at 100 up to $2500, I think they had about 150 players or so, you can play in all of the tournments or just pick what you want, all tournments were played in the conference room on deck 2, the first year Chris Moneymaker was there, and last year Greg Raymour (?)

My husband really enjoyed it, made it to the final table a couple of times.

Does anyone know which cruise, has the ship all poker players, I think it was one of Holland America, but cant remember. I will be glad to answer any questions about the Mariner, great ship

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  • 1 month later...

Royal Caribbean now have at least one Texas Holdem table on ALL ships, with the dealers provided by the casino, in the same rotation system as the other table games in the Casino Royale.

 

Rake is an eye-watering 10% to a maximum of $10 per hand, with limits at $5/$10.

 

It may not be ideal, but it is better than nothing. I spoke to the manager of the Casino on Brilliance of the Seas last year (2006), and he informed me that he is proposing a poker room on the Brilliance, taking over the Sports Bar, with up to 10 tables on the go at any time, spreading more than just Holdem. He told me the idea is being looked upon favourably by the top level management, and the only stumbling block was the necessity of surveillance being installed for security. Apparently, the bosses don't seem too keen on paying for it..........

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  • 8 months later...
Does anyone know any poker cruise dates for 2008 or 2009?

Not sure of exact dates of future cruises but just got off of diamond Princess, the casino was great. They only have one holdem table but it was a new table with an electronic dealer. Each player has a screen in front of them to see your cards and make your calls or bets. It was great, no misdeals or waiting on card shuffling. The table was open during the days and evenings with mostly 1- 2 no limit games. They had a single tournament everyday at 11:00 am. $50.00 entry with payback of $450.00 to 1st, 2nd and 3rd. Had an evening tournament, with the prize being $450.00 to first place. On one day had six tournaments. The only problem was that there was only one table so only 10 people could enter each tournament a day. Had to be at the cashiers window when they opened to get a spot. Actually on most mornings had 6 or 8 people there a half hour or more before it opened to register. The casino manager, Tim, was great. He said they will be installing 4 more tables real soon. The new electronic tables were great. Easy to play on, on your screen it showed who bet how much, how much each player has and how much the current pot is. Fun to play on if you are ok with using electronics. A few of the older players did not like them, but overall most of the players really liked them.

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A 10% rake is huge!! While most land-based casinos operate around 3% rake, I guess the term "captive audience" really comes into play. "Live" dealer games usually put out between 20 to 25 hands an hour, online games can get as high as 50-60 hands per hour and I'm making a guess that "Poker Pro" electronic ones are in the 40/hph range. A $2-5 limit game averages $30-40 pots / $4/pot X 40 = $160 an hour, When you consider that the average poker player isn't winning all that many hands based on hourly play it sure cuts into your profit capabilities!

 

But let's face it ------ we're on a cruise to relax and have fun, right? If it's profit you're after, best stay at home and play.

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  • 4 weeks later...

March of 2005 I won the party poker cruise to Mexico. I won it playing no limit on line. The cruise was worth $13,500 including a $10K buy-in. Anyway, WPT was limit on the ship and I hated it. Of course I lost and was taken out the first day. Hate limit but loved the cruise:D

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:D

There are plenty of choices for a poker cruise.

Of course you can do a google search and see the displays.

But, you have to know what you are looking for, before you choose one.

There are large companies that have plenty of resources to market their cruises. They hold large events onboard and are very well run. However, you may get lost in the crowd as they do attract large numbers of players, plus many of the players make a living playing poker. But they can offer WPT or WSOP seats and large payouts.

Then there are smaller companies that cater to the 'casual' player. They usually have 50-100 players on each sailing. The games are professionally run and offer a real casino type poker room, yet they are more player friendly and as I said before, attract the home game player, the bar poker league player or the online player. Prizes are based on the number of players and your will find both 'live' poker tournaments as well as sit n go cash games. *(usually a $1-2 NL, a $2-5 NL and even a $5-10 NL)

Make certain the Poker Cruise you choose is with an established company. I have heard nightmare stories of 'self' deal games, dealers that are overly 'chummy' with a few friends that came as players and a few that only hold one elimination tournament during the cruise. If you get knocked out the first day... that's it for your poker play.

But if you do your research, you will have a great time on a Poker Cruise. How better to combine your two passions.... cruising and poker!

If you do decide to go on one, I personally would love to hear about your experience!

:D

DOC

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