Casino question

[skeeter195]

Can someone tell me what the Hold Em game is in the Casino. I just saw that they have 1 table posted on the NCL site for the Sun. Is it a live poker game, tournament? What are the stakes if it is live? I have my trip comped already through the Casino but I would rather play poker than table games.

[rex_b]

From what I saw it was live at night. $100 by in. I didn't read any of the other specs.

[yazoosail]

Hi Skeeter-- Asked the same ? about the Dawn. Apparently, it's a cash game 5-10$ limit hold-em. Minimum $100.00 buy-in, but no-one stated the rake. I called casinos at sea but the guy I spoke to was no expert and the rake sounded exhorbitant (5% with no cap). Maybe someone who recently played can give better info. Who needs ports when poker's available. good Luck!!!-- Yazoo

[Elaine515]

Do they play Texas Hold Em on the Spirit also? If thats the case, I'll never see my husband or brother in law!!!

[skeeter195]

Thanks for the info. I wonder if they will up the stakes if everyone is willing. Myself and three others who are going on the Sun 1/15/05 regulary play 10-20 to 30-60.

 

Oh well I guess the 6 hours of sleep per night I normally get on cruises will be cut down to 2-3, what a shame. So much to do, so little time.

[sclauss]

I just got off the Dawn and I did play Hold Em. They have a sign up sheet since the one table fills up nightly. The action usually doesn't start until after the late show (about 9 or 10pm).

 

The table is $2.50 & $5.00 blinds. There is a $100 buy in but you can quit at any time.

 

I cleaned up! It was my first time playing (other than watching it on TV) and since my betting was so eratic, nobody could figure out if I was bluffing or not! I had a lot of fun.

 

Sharon

[cruising_kenboy]

We were on the Sea last week, and it had a $2/$4 table and a $3/$6 table, with $40 and $60 needed to start. This means big blind was $2 and after the 6th card the openers were $4 on the 2/4 table. You could leave anytime.

 

House rake was 10%. It was fun, you got to know the people later in the week. I had 4 aces once!!

[houtexme]

Ken: How did you get rated for your plan on your recent trip on the Sea. I asked to be rated and was given a small cardboard card that I put on slot machine, but I honestly couldn't tell how in the world they were going to know I was playing.

 

I won quite a few jackpots and so I had to sign for hand payouts, but as far as I can tell, that is the only record that I was ever there.

 

I would like to be semi-comped on a cruise through the Casino arm of NCL but don't know quite how that is done.

 

Can you help?

[DavidNDC]

It sounds like Texas Hold 'Em has now spread from the Dawn to the Sun and to the Sea. Is it on the Spirit yet? Anyone know? I read that the Spirit has a larger casino than most ships, so I wouldn't be surprised if they have it now.

[cruising_kenboy]

The first night when I cashed in they gave me the card, I was number 7. Each time I broke a big bill at a table the pit boss would acknowledge me.

 

My sister said the pit boss told her at the end that she'd get 18% off her next cruise for her play, and she got a generic letter towards the end of the cruise thanking her for playing. I didn't get a letter.

 

I don't have much hope for it, I had read here that they are just getting that rolling.

[cruisinghubby]

I was with Ken on the Sea last week, and as he could say, he saw me play a LOT of poker.. two tables, 2/4 and a 5/10 but the higher game wouldn't start until it dropped to 3/6. A nasty 10% rake with a $5 max - on both tables. Guaranteed $1 rake per hand. Awful, rakes were rounded up instead of down... (In every casino I've played at, if the pot is $46, the rake would be only $4 (rounded down), on the Sea, $46 was rounded up to a $5 rake. The worst I saw was on the 2/4 game. Everyone folded to the big blind before the flop came down (I guess they don't chop the blinds there). So, $3 total in the pot (small blind plus big blind). The dealer took a dollar out of that for the rake, then gave the $2 back to the big blind. 33% rake.. mmm, they don't mention that in the casino brochures.. :rolleyes: My comment card was covered with my opinion on how the card games were run :mad: .. As for the play, I couldn't complain, I came out $775 ahead for the week on poker alone, and $125 more from dice.. :D

[skeeter195]

The comps are in 2 basic levels as far as future cruises go. The Casino rate which is the 18% and the full comp rate which is a cabin for your party. For the full comp rate you have to play 4 hours a day and your average bet has to be $100. So 28 hours with an average bet of $100 will get you a $2000 room. Also you will get free drinks while playing and some of your ship charges paid for.

 

Unfortunately these comps are way behind the land based casinos. I get comped, but that is just a bonus to the cruise itself.

 

That 10% rake is crazy!!

[Elaine515]

Do they do anything for the "little" bettors? I usually play an average of $10. a hand but do play quite a bit while cruising. At minimum, 4-5 hours every night and more if time allows.

 

I know that on Carnival they do little "gifts" for both the little and the big bettors. Although its nothing great, its kind of fun to get something at the end of the cruise, kind of like the kid who goes to camp!!!

 

BTW, does NCL give the kids a "goodie bag" of sort if they attend Camp???

 

Elaine :)