Poker Tables

[danzingnanzy01]

Is there much variation on what games are located in the casino ship-to-ship? On the Freedom last year, there was just one Texas Hold 'em Table (one of those electronic dealer-less robot tables, and I had to use my Sign & Sail, which I hadn't accounted for -- I got used to it, but I wasn't a fan). Are any of the fleet equipped with real Hold 'em tables? I'm sailing the Miracle next month, so any info pertaining to its casino is particularly helpful. I'm trying to determine how much money I'm planning on losing :).

[bubbles1209]

Is there much variation on what games are located in the casino ship-to-ship? On the Freedom last year, there was just one Texas Hold 'em Table (one of those electronic dealer-less robot tables, and I had to use my Sign & Sail, which I hadn't accounted for -- I got used to it, but I wasn't a fan). Are any of the fleet equipped with real Hold 'em tables? I'm sailing the Miracle next month, so any info pertaining to its casino is particularly helpful. I'm trying to determine how much money I'm planning on losing :).

 

I haven't seen a real Texas Hold'em table since we were on our 1st cruise on the Elation back in 2006. Then there was only 1, and after that cruise, all we've ever seen is the electronic table. :( I know they have 3 card poker, which is normally what we play, they have blackjack, and some other tables with different variations, roulette, of course, and a few other games, and lots of slots! Seems to me that with the amount of people that want a true Texas Hold'em table with a real live dealer that they would take the hint, make it happen, and do away with the electronic ones. When are you going on the Miracle, we'll be on her the week of Feb. 23rd..........can't wait! :D

[Frank12]

No real hold'em tables on CCL. :mad:

[yst347]

Not all ships have the electronic table either. :(

[mcwebber]

Is there much variation on what games are located in the casino ship-to-ship? On the Freedom last year, there was just one Texas Hold 'em Table (one of those electronic dealer-less robot tables, and I had to use my Sign & Sail, which I hadn't accounted for -- I got used to it, but I wasn't a fan). Are any of the fleet equipped with real Hold 'em tables? I'm sailing the Miracle next month, so any info pertaining to its casino is particularly helpful. I'm trying to determine how much money I'm planning on losing :).

I think they got rid of them all a couple of years ago. The casinos were often under-staffed and it made it difficult for them to have dealers for the poker tables. Carnival never made much money off the rake compared to other table games. Although they were guaranteed to make money off the pot, (unlike possibly loosing $thousands to a player at blackjack), the pots were never very big.

[CallDOC]

I used to book live poker groups on Carnival, brought 60 or so onboard for tourneys and cash games. I had an agreement with Carnival to do this and if it weren't for the other poker cruise operator taking advantage of Carnival, I would still have contract with Carnival. Due to this disrespect of Carnival, they chose to go with POKER PRO computer poker table. I HATE IT like many that have played it. I may as well play on UB! Oh well, this is the corporate 'beard' think.

:cool:

[bluesjack]

Just returned from Triumph where they had 1 electronic table. It took a little getting used to but I thought it was fine.

With the rake Carnival takes it helps that there is no dealer to tip and Hold em's rules can sometimes be confusing to beginners so there were no arguments about split pots and minimum raises

[danzingnanzy01]

When are you going on the Miracle, we'll be on her the week of Feb. 23rd..........can't wait! :D

 

I'm sailing March 11th...I can't wait either. I'm already looking for a fall itinerary, lol.

[mcwebber]

Just returned from Triumph where they had 1 electronic table. It took a little getting used to but I thought it was fine.

With the rake Carnival takes it helps that there is no dealer to tip and Hold em's rules can sometimes be confusing to beginners so there were no arguments about split pots and minimum raises

 

I've also noticed there are fewer drunks at the electronic table. The live dealer was a lot slower where the electronic table has a timer as I recall. I had to leave the live table a couple of times due to playing with drunks that the dealer wouldn't do anything about that made the game take forever.

[danzingnanzy01]

Just returned from Triumph where they had 1 electronic table. It took a little getting used to but I thought it was fine.

With the rake Carnival takes it helps that there is no dealer to tip and Hold em's rules can sometimes be confusing to beginners so there were no arguments about split pots and minimum raises

 

I see your point. I did find that I get really used to it even though it wasn't my preference, and the automatic features did help for a more efficient game, especially given the amount of totally hammered people at the table. Last year, our descent from Ft. Lauderdale was significantly delayed...I don't think we embarked until nearly 9 or so. I did a quick walk thru the casino, and was pretty bummed to only see the one table. I ended up posting up there, just waiting on someone to come play poker with me, lol. Eventually one dude showed up, and then another...it started to draw a lot of attention, because a lot of people (myself included), had never seen a table of its kind. In under 2 hours, people were crowded around us like we were at a WSoP championship, lol. Maybe if they just had a couple more tables...

[Dan-3eyzbbq]

Does anyone know if the Pride has one of these tables?

 

Also, I assume even though electronic, your still playing against the other players right? Can't see how else it would work.

[Joie]

I know there is a different way of paying or collecting your winnings, but cant remember, I played just a few hands when everyone decided to quit for the night.....I cashed out to my sign/sail card, then tried to use it in a slot and it didn't show anything....had to go to the cage for some reason....can someone explain the buyin and the cash-out better?

[danzingnanzy01]

Does anyone know if the Pride has one of these tables?

 

Also, I assume even though electronic, your still playing against the other players right? Can't see how else it would work.

 

Yes, you play against the other players. All the logistics of the game are in tact; all of the tangibles (cards, chips, dealer) are simulated. Functional, but not quite the same.

[mcwebber]

I know there is a different way of paying or collecting your winnings, but cant remember, I played just a few hands when everyone decided to quit for the night.....I cashed out to my sign/sail card, then tried to use it in a slot and it didn't show anything....had to go to the cage for some reason....can someone explain the buyin and the cash-out better?

 

They used to have a dedicated Poker Pro card you would put money on and use. I'm guessing they still keep that money separate in the system.

[misstopgun]

I haven't seen a real Texas Hold'em table since we were on our 1st cruise on the Elation back in 2006. Then there was only 1, and after that cruise, all we've ever seen is the electronic table. :( I know they have 3 card poker, which is normally what we play, they have blackjack, and some other tables with different variations, roulette, of course, and a few other games, and lots of slots! Seems to me that with the amount of people that want a true Texas Hold'em table with a real live dealer that they would take the hint, make it happen, and do away with the electronic ones. When are you going on the Miracle, we'll be on her the week of Feb. 23rd..........can't wait! :D

And don't forget Carribean Stud! Electronic or not, "Hold Em" tables always seem to be full. Unlike Vegas its the only game in town. As long as people settle for the electronic tables, I don't see them changing it to live dealers. Why would they?

[freddymale]

Is there much variation on what games are located in the casino ship-to-ship? On the Freedom last year, there was just one Texas Hold 'em Table (one of those electronic dealer-less robot tables, and I had to use my Sign & Sail, which I hadn't accounted for -- I got used to it, but I wasn't a fan). Are any of the fleet equipped with real Hold 'em tables? I'm sailing the Miracle next month, so any info pertaining to its casino is particularly helpful. I'm trying to determine how much money I'm planning on losing :).

 

 

I was on the miracle last oct , and it used the electronic table.

we ended up playing till 3 or 4 am on sea nights.

the casino was empty and we were the only 8 ppl in it

 

so no live dealers

[freddymale]

I know there is a different way of paying or collecting your winnings, but cant remember, I played just a few hands when everyone decided to quit for the night.....I cashed out to my sign/sail card, then tried to use it in a slot and it didn't show anything....had to go to the cage for some reason....can someone explain the buyin and the cash-out better?

 

 

what you do , you set up a players bank on your sail and sign card,you do this right at the table, you then can transfer funds from your sail and sign card over to your bank, this players bank is only used to play poker on the table.

to cash out your bank you have to goto the the casino cage and they can cash you out.

you have to cash out on or before the last night cage closes

 

hope this helps

[zgwortz]

The players bank is also used by the slot machines - so money you won there can be used at the poker table and vice versa. But it still needs to be manually cashed out at the cashier before the cruise ends or you lose any money left in the account. (You can cash it out earlier, too. Which is a good idea if you've won a lot early in the cruise.)

 

As far as I can tell, there's no way to transfer winnings from your player bank back to your sign and sail card, short of cashing the player bank out and going down to the purser's desk or something like that.

 

And to answer an earlier question, yes, there is a Poker Pro table on the Pride. I played on it for a while during my recent cruise on that ship. It's not bad once you get used to it. But people who first use it seem surprised at the house cut of the pot -- It's not obvious what it was when we were playing, but someone said something like 10% up to $6 (for a 1/2 game, at least...). Apparently it varies, too.

[Joie]

Hmmm, when I left the poker table and tried to use at slot machine it did not show any funds.....had to go to cage to get my monies.

I was a newbie so maybe I was doing something wrong..... :)

[NHL Philly Fan]

OK so how does this electronic dealer work? How do you electronically deal out cards to each person? Do they deal real cards electronically? If not how do you look at your cards with no one else being able to see them? This whole electronic dealer sound totally BS. Maybe I'll just get a cash game going in one of the cabins and bypass the whole house rake anyway...

[CharlesKru]

OK so how does this electronic dealer work? How do you electronically deal out cards to each person? Do they deal real cards electronically? If not how do you look at your cards with no one else being able to see them? This whole electronic dealer sound totally BS. Maybe I'll just get a cash game going in one of the cabins and bypass the whole house rake anyway...

 

Each seat at the table has its own display screen. There is also a big display in the middle.

 

Your screen will have your two hold cards, which you can shield and tap the screen to see ( so no one else can see them). Your screen also has your balance, betting options, and play options, along with settings.

 

The middle screen shows the community cards, and also shows the total value each person has within their bank. ( well loaded to the machine at the time you are playing). It also shows who the dealer is, and where the bet is at.

 

Everything is handled like the machine is the dealer, pushing for the required bet, check or fold...

 

Hope that helps.

 

One thing to keep in mind is that the last time I played, the house was set to take a 10% unlimited rake on every hand... this gets expensive fast, and the wealth of the table goes down pretty fast.

[bearsnut84]

How much are the blinds? Is it no limit or Pot limit? How much is a typical pot?

[CharlesKru]

How much are the blinds? Is it no limit or Pot limit? How much is a typical pot?

 

It is no limit...

 

I think it was 2-4 blinds... but I am not 100% sure on that, I have not played for a few cruises... I moved to Craps, which I think is more fun.

[mistycruiser]

The regular player's bank in the casino and the poker player's bank are 2 separate banks and both have to be cashed out with the cashier before they close the casino on the last night.

[coevan]

it's no limit and I do not play no limit games. There is always one jerk with a $600 bank who goes all in every other hand, not fun. The electronic game has no personality.