Texas Hold em and Craps

[Cruisersince2000]

We are looking at sailing on the Apex or Ascent January 2025. I need to verify if they have a live craps table and a live (not digital)Texas hold ‘em table.

[Galaxy2004]

They did on our 12/10/23 sailing. We don't play but both tables were lively in the evening and I recall advertisements for Texas hold-em tournaments.

[Cruisersince2000]

Were there dealers or just tables with electronic screen?

[Galaxy2004]

Dealers. No electronic screens.

[Butterfly0822]

There is one poker table on Apex -- the cash game starts around 9pm. First come, first served. Just grab a seat and wait for a dealer to come unlock the box. (You can get chips at the table - $500 max buyin last spring.)

 

One of the two dealers was pretty weak, the other guy was okay and kept the game going pretty well. You'll have a mix of players -- fish and whales, too. 

 

Even with the high rake, the games are very beatable if you know how to play. 

 

The tournaments throughout the day are structured to be short so they are shove fests. The real money is in the nightly cash game. 

[Andrewgary]

Butterfly0822 hit it right on the head about the poker table.

As for craps there is one table that usually has a $10 minimum. The problem is they only allow double odds or more behind the pass line if you bet at least $25 on the pass. If you play $10 you're only allowed single odds. Gotta pay close attention to the payouts as the dealers are often inexperienced and the boxman might not notice any mistakes. 

Edited January 26 by Andrewgary

[jennmaybe]

How about ultimate Texas hold’em on Reflection?  Live dealers? 

[LaCal]

10 hours ago, jennmaybe said:

How about ultimate Texas hold’em on Reflection?  Live dealers? 

Yes 

[Nado44]

Apex and Ascent both have a live craps table.

 

Both ships also have live Texas Hold 'em tables. A table usually starts/opens up at around 9:00-9:30 most evenings. I believe a minimum of 5 players are needed for a game to start. $5/$7 blinds. ~10% rake.

 

There are also live Texas Hold 'em tournaments in the afternoon on sea days. Tournament Buy-in I believe is $60 USD.

 

There is also an Ultimate Texas Hold 'em table on both ships. Minimums will be either $10 or $15 USD. ($5 minimum on the older ships). A second table will open up when there is demand.

[S18278C]

On 1/26/2024 at 12:41 PM, Andrewgary said:

Butterfly0822 hit it right on the head about the poker table.

As for craps there is one table that usually has a $10 minimum. The problem is they only allow double odds or more behind the pass line if you bet at least $25 on the pass. If you play $10 you're only allowed single odds. Gotta pay close attention to the payouts as the dealers are often inexperienced and the boxman might not notice any mistakes. 

Cruise Celebrity 3 times a year and play craps each time. Always been double odds on my $10 pass line bet. That's not great but twice as good as the single odds you mention.

[Allhans Ondeck]

Just got off Apex. It was single odds on a $10 bet. They will let you bump the established bet to $25 and get more odds. 

[Andrewgary]

18 hours ago, S18278C said:

Cruise Celebrity 3 times a year and play craps each time. Always been double odds on my $10 pass line bet. That's not great but twice as good as the single odds you mention.

 

I even spoke to the boxman and casino host to politely say "Come on, dude" and was met with a smile and a "Not our decision, above our pay grade". No way I'm playing $25 on the pass unless I'm on a hot roll so I mostly stuck with single odds.  
Very aggravating.

And don't get me started on the rake they take on the poker game, it's larcenous.