Cruise ships

Jim T · #1 08-23-2005, 04:28 PM

Are there any cruise ships on the Eastern seaboard that offer real poker? I was all set to book a Royal Caribbean cruise that said that it offered "poker", but luckily I called to see which games they had. "Caribbean Stud" doesn't count as poker IMHO.

joeboe2001 · #2 08-23-2005, 05:42 PM

I took a RC cruise out of Baltimore in June and experienced the same dissappointment.

It seems like they are missing a big opportunity--but they may have security concerns. I am not sure, but I think they have to have cameras on every table, so it might not be such an easy thing to set up cash tournaments in the DR between meals.

People tend to sit at holdem tables for hours at a time, and space is very limited on cruise ships.

If nothing else, you would think they would have lessons and "fun" tournaments (that would not require security) as entertainment options.

ChipsAhoya · #3 08-23-2005, 07:12 PM

My friend's family just got back from a cruise on the Grand Princess on Princess cruise lines, and he said there was a poker area roped off in the casino that spread 3/6 (I think 5/10, too) and had nightly tournaments. That was in the Mediterranean, but they have many cruises in the Caribbean too that leave from Ft. Lauderdale or Puerto Rico. I know that at least the Golden Princess and Star Princess have the same ship layout, so they might have poker now too, although I'm not for sure... The Princess cruises are top notch, though, both of our families have immensely enjoyed the trips we've taken on them...

have a nice day,
ChipsAhoya

Rasputin · #4 08-23-2005, 07:54 PM

I'm going on a norwegian cruise on the Majesty out of Boston, and folks have told me that there is a holdem table on board.

They also said that the players have been getting better because of all the poker on TV.

I'm just wondering if I can win enough to pay for the whole cruise.

youtalkfunny · #5 08-24-2005, 12:34 AM

At the risk of repeating myself, contact CardPlayer Cruises, and enjoy a poker cruise that offers more than one game/limit/tournament/competent dealer.

[ QUOTE ]
...the players have been getting better because of all the poker on TV.

[/ QUOTE ]

That's funny.

MicroBob · #6 08-24-2005, 03:02 AM

[ QUOTE ]
contact CardPlayer Cruises, and enjoy a poker cruise that offers more than one game/limit/tournament/competent dealer.

[/ QUOTE ]

yup. cardplayer does it right.
pretty good dealers. well run.

any 'normal' cruise with 2 poker tables in the back is NOT the same at all.

theres some other group besides cardplayer but i forget their name. been told that they are good too.

bobdibble · #7 08-24-2005, 03:32 AM

What limits do they spread? Are there any that have 20/40 and higher?

MicroBob · #8 08-24-2005, 03:42 AM

I only went on the PPM IV cruise. They had about 60 tables in there and spread everything....but it was a $10k buy-in tourney so there was some money on board (not as much as you might think though since 90% of the players were online qualifiers).

I suspect the action was higher on the PPM cruise than the other cardplayer cruises....but on the boat I was on there was plenty of 10/20 and 20/40 all over the place.
Above that I don't really pay attention anyway.

There were some people who just bought the cruise-package and NOT the tourney entry. Had dinner with a couple of 100/200 players who were wearing jackets from the Commerce in LA.

I would be surprised if they didn't have 20/40 on the other cruises though. They're pretty damn popular these days and obviously people who take these cruise are coming to play cards.
I doubt they're all in it for 3/6 or 6/12 (although they spread those as well).

I reiterate that the dealers that Cardplayer uses are quite good. And I don't always say that (the dealers at the WSOP were mostly below-average for example).
Just wanted to clear up my previous compliment about them because it was really much more than 'surprisingly...the dealers didn't suck.' not even close.

Rasputin · #9 08-24-2005, 11:05 AM

[ QUOTE ]

[ QUOTE ]
...the players have been getting better because of all the poker on TV.

[/ QUOTE ]

That's funny.

[/ QUOTE ]

I was heartily amused.

My wife and cousin wanted to get a cruise that went out of Boston otherwise I think I may have pushed for a cardplayer cruise. It would be nice to do one of those once in a while.