Bridge playing

[Tsunami74]

My husband used to enjoy playing bridge on sea days. Hopefully, we are sailing soon.  Does anyone know if it is currently offered?

[PhD-iva]

I am also hopeful there will be bridge get togethers. I played bridge (poorly) every sea day except one on an Oceania TA last fall. Great fun and I made many new friends!

[GOARMY]

TS:

 

Depending on what you term "current"--yes.  Last October-November Explorer TA from Barcelona to Miami.  Many sea days, which are ideal for organized Bridge play from beginner to advanced.  Apparently, two top Bridge Instructors were onboard to oversee activities which began in mid-morning; continued throughout the day; and into the evening.  There were, of course, short breaks for such other activities, like food and beverage. 

 

We sailed at about 60% of max passenger capacity.  (COVID-related) 

 

Would estimate about 30% of our fellow cruisers were onboard due to lure of Bridge.  Pleasant group of folks.  Interesting to hear their "side-bar" conversations from a nearby table during dinner.  This, from a former Bridge player.  

 

Stay safe.  

 

GOARMY!

 

 

[rkaratsu]

At least on the most recent Explorer sailing, I saw in the Passages newsletter that pretty much each day there seemed to be a bridge get together.  (Now if anyone anyone showed up I wouldn't know since I don't play bridge.  But I do know that whenever there was a sea day, there was a Texas Hold 'Em tournament!)

[ChatKat in Ca.]

There are ACBL Sanctioned Bridge Cruises that do not allow players who have not booked through the agency to play.  They play and have lectures and classes onboard as a private group.

 

They used to have classes with ACBL teachers onboard. They also have non hosted "Party Bridge" games

[Ladys Mom]

When we were on the Splendor last November and December, Athens to Miami, there was bridge instruction every sea day in the morning, and organized bridge games in the afternoon.

[Tsunami74]

Thank you!

We will be on the Splendor on Monday with a few sea days, and my husband will appreciate having the organized bridge available.  

[Granite543]

23 hours ago, rkaratsu said:

At least on the most recent Explorer sailing, I saw in the Passages newsletter that pretty much each day there seemed to be a bridge get together.  (Now if anyone anyone showed up I wouldn't know since I don't play bridge.  But I do know that whenever there was a sea day, there was a Texas Hold 'Em tournament!)

I'm on the Navigator April 1st and there are no sea days, but I really hope they have a Texas hold em tournament one night anyway!

[rkaratsu]

On 3/5/2022 at 9:53 PM, Granite543 said:

I'm on the Navigator April 1st and there are no sea days, but I really hope they have a Texas hold em tournament one night anyway!

If you are interested in a Texas Hold 'Em tournament, talk to the casino manager.  (As an aside, there really is no money in offering poker since the  house "rake" is just 10% of the buy ins from each player. The casino makes more $$$ on *one* hand of blackjack than a two hour+ poker tournament. They don't want to tie up a blackjack table for poker. But since this is Regent, it would hurt to ask anyway!)

[daetchief]

On Mariner there was a Texas Hold'm tournament scheduled most sea days. [Heck, every sea day - I mean, nearly Every Day!😝 ]  The problem was getting at least 5 players.   It seemed that that sould have been easy, but it wasn't.  Even waiting/delaying the start 15-30 minutes for the late comers many times the Casino Manager canceled the tournament.

[Granite543]

32 minutes ago, daetchief said:

On Mariner there was a Texas Hold'm tournament scheduled most sea days. [Heck, every sea day - I mean, nearly Every Day!😝 ]  The problem was getting at least 5 players.   It seemed that that sould have been easy, but it wasn't.  Even waiting/delaying the start 15-30 minutes for the late comers many times the Casino Manager canceled the tournament.

Oh boy...and the Navigator is a smaller ship. Well I do have an advantage: me and both my suite mates would participate,  so that's 3 already! 😀

[Hearthosesteeldrumsplayin]

On our Nov-Dec 21 Splendor TA there was bridge instruction in morning and play (duplicate) in the afternoon, as Ladys Mom said.  When we were speaking with the instructor, it seemed like TAs or cruises with lots of sea days usually offered this on RSSC.  Itineraries that were port intensive, like the Mediterranean tended not to offer bridge.  We went a few days an enjoyed it.  They divided up the class into beginners, intermediate, and advanced.  Our instructor was ABCL certified (?), but we didn't have to have anything to participate.

We have a Med cruise for next year, and I would love more bridge classes, but doubt there will be any, since port intensive.