Cruise ship poker (2 Viewers)

GIANTDustySquid

GIANTDustySquid

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So my girlfriend booked our vacation for this year. We are cruising April 8th from Fort Lauderdale

https://www.celebritycruises.com/sp...geID=SI07E142&sDT=2018-04-08&cCD=CO&aCB=false

We were on the same ship last year. (Celebrity Silhouette) And we loved it. The food was amazing, and the premium drink package was awesome too. It was our first cruise, so I'm sure there are many other great options, but this was perfect for us so we booked er up again for this year.

The casino is pretty nice! Lots of slots, lots of table games. Only one poker table.
There were some quick turbo sit and go's on the days we were at sea. I think there were 2 $60 tourneys per day, when the ship was at sea. You had to buy-in as soon as the casino opened or you probably couldn't get a seat at this 10-max game.
The tournament never lasted more than 70 minutes for 10 players. Blinds were pretty insane! But what a treat either way, to be able to sit and play cards, and order drinks.

One thing that sucked, there was a $2/$5 cash game advertised for every night, but there wasn't a game all week. The first or second night, I sat down at the empty table and waited. A couple more people came and sat, and a few stopped by to ask if there would be a game and said they would stop by later. The staff did say they would provide a dealer if there were players, but they never really sat one there to encourage anyone to sit. People had other things to do on their cruise than sit and wait at an empty table.
I asked a dealer from the tournament if that was normal. He said he had been on the ship like 12 weeks and this was the only week that there wasn't a full table every night! PFFT rattle me.

Anyway I hope this year is different!!

Has anyone had any experience with poker on cruise ships?

Has anyone else been on the Celebrity Silhouette?

Anyone wanna join me for a week of steady buzz on and tourist poker?
 
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We did a Mediterranean cruise on the Celebrity Constellation last year. They had nightly tournaments, but I only played in one simply because I was there to spend time with my wife (20th Anniversary). It was a video table, but it wasn't too bad. Play wasn't horrible. They had chips for other games (craps, etc)...looked like Chipcos...but I didn't get any.
 
whats a video table? lol thats cool. The two 1-hour long tournaments in the afternoon were perfect for me. She could always find something to do and didn't mind me playing. She always ends up in bed early, so i'm hoping for a late night cash game this year

also, what did you think of the ship, and the food? have you cruised with other cruise lines and how would you compare it? and can anyone recommend a specific cruise line that is good for getting some cards in?
 
About 5 years ago I was on the Oasis. 1 electronic table going every night. Good company but slow play. They had 1 super turbo MTT at the blackjack tables during the week which I didn't do.

There are some previous threads here about poker on cruises.

I am doing another cruise (Royal Caribbean Liberty of the readout of Glaveston) in a few weeks. Would like to play some live. I'll report back afterwards.
 
Played on Norwegian a few years back. Aside from their rake killing you, they always had games going. Their turbo tournies are great too.
 
GIANTDustySquid said:
whats a video table?
Click to expand...

Basically an electronic table with digital cards and chip totals. You had to cover the cards on the table with your hands (like you were peeking) for them to flip over to see.

I think it was this one, or one like it: http://www.pokertek.com/pokerpro/
Table_Card_Flip.jpg


GIANTDustySquid said:
also, what did you think of the ship, and the food? have you cruised with other cruise lines and how would you compare it? and can anyone recommend a specific cruise line that is good for getting some cards in?
Click to expand...

We really liked it, but it's the only cruise we've ever done, so I can't compare it to anything. Get the upgraded drink package unless you really like Corona. We didn't eat much in the cafeteria...lots of food, but it wasn't anything to write home about, and we normally ate on-shore during excursions, but the evening meals in the dining hall were excellent. We normally had the same wait staff and sommelier every night, which made it easier as they knew our preferences by the 3rd night.
 
CdnBeerLover said:
Basically an electronic table with digital cards and chip totals. You had to cover the cards on the table with your hands (like you were peeking) for them to flip over to see.

I think it was this one, or one like it: http://www.pokertek.com/pokerpro/
Table_Card_Flip.jpg




We really liked it, but it's the only cruise we've ever done, so I can't compare it to anything. Get the upgraded drink package unless you really like Corona. We didn't eat much in the cafeteria...lots of food, but it wasn't anything to write home about, and we normally ate on-shore during excursions, but the evening meals in the dining hall were excellent. We normally had the same wait staff and sommelier every night, which made it easier as they knew our preferences by the 3rd night.
Click to expand...
yeah i can agree with all of that. those tables are interesting. hope i never have to use one lol
 
I've cruised on Carnival probably 7 or 8 times and Norwegian 4. Carnival has had electronic poker on every cruise. One of them nobody played, the table was always empty. The other 7 times no problem getting a game going. The rake was 10% with a max of $5 per pot. I didn't mind the electronic game, it kept the game moving as many of the players were drunk. The last night of the last cruise I cashed out over 3k ahead.

Norwegian had live dealers on the 4 I took with them, but the rake was insane. So much that I didn't bother playing. Not 100% sure but I believe it was 10% capped at $15 per pot. No thanks.

I love cruising, it's got all my vices - food, booze, gambol, and cigar smoking. Living in Texas the wife and I will take several a year out of Houston. Get the players card, tip well, and you'll quickly get the free drink card. We get offers from Carnival for free or dirt cheep cruises all the time now. It's my favorite form of vacation, a cheap and easy get a way from work and kids. Have fun!
 
Gambling on a cruise line is significantly lower EV than playing on land much less playing in a no rake home game. The table games have "minor" changes that add several percent to the house edge. It is hard / impossible to know about the odds on the slot machines, but you can look at the wall of winners and see how sparse the winners are and how little they won. The last time my wife played bingo, the house was taking in excess of 70% of the entry fees - it was so bad that you could win one of the early games and still not cover the cost of entering the five-six game session.

I have been on a number of cruises on Royal Caribbean and a couple of Norwegian runs. The tournament poker games were hugely fast blind structures but a fun way to fill an hour or so. The cash games were 10% rake up to $15, $2/$5 blinds with most players buying in for $100 a pop once maybe twice. The rake slaughtered the game quickly, it rare the games lasted more than two or three hours and often didn't run. If the game was running short handed, the situation was even more brutal making it hard to rationally start up a game four handed and hope to add-on players as they stopped by. I never saw any private poker games.

One exception. I was on a Mexican Riviera cruise run by Royal Caribbean. Also on the cruise were several dozen high roller black jack players from the Monte Carlo being comped by the hotel for their loyalty { losses }. You can imagine how big the whales must be to rate a week long free cruise away from the hotel. First night out the black jack players found out the ship pays 6 for 5 on a black jack rather than 3 for 2 and instantly flee the table games. They see a poker table and all sit down - when you are normally playing $500 or more per hand of black jack, a $500 max poker table is the kiddie table. I ended up making enough at the card table to pay for my cruise, shore excursions, my wife's spa extravaganza and everything else.

Bottom line is the poker table on the ship borders on certain losses due to the high rake, shorter tables and shallow buy-ins. You will need to be in just the right place / time / situation for the poker table to be better than breakeven. If you are just looking for fun, go ahead and blow a couple of hundred bucks. If you are thinking the poker table might pay for your trip, you are most likely exceptionally mistaken.

But you ARE there mostly to have fun aren't you? -=- DrStrange
 
Played 1/2 video poker on carnival. 10% up to 5 not bad... But raking $1 on a bb walk? That’s criminal.
 
GIANTDustySquid said:
whats a video table? lol thats cool. The two 1-hour long tournaments in the afternoon were perfect for me. She could always find something to do and didn't mind me playing. She always ends up in bed early, so i'm hoping for a late night cash game this year

also, what did you think of the ship, and the food? have you cruised with other cruise lines and how would you compare it? and can anyone recommend a specific cruise line that is good for getting some cards in?
Click to expand...


cardplayercruises.com

They partner up with WPT, Heartland, Poker Night in America, etc.... and they have dedicated tables and tournaments just for people that sign up through them. They take all the conference rom space on the third deck and fill it with tables. Usually a tournament a day, a main event, and lots - lots - of cash games at night. Usually a poker celebrity or two (Robert Williamson, Eli Elizera, Jeff Schumann have been on in the past ones I've been on). Its run by Linda Johnson and Jan Fisher, who are both respected and known woman players. They bring in dealers from all over, and they are top notch dealers.

The hurdle of having to sign up for a cruise takes care of a lot of riff raff, although it does tend to raise the average age of the poker players to about 50. No hoody's, no sunglasses, no stall for an hour bullshit, and most of these people are set in life so the cash games can get pretty big.

The cruise ship has all the regular stuff for your wife, and most people on the ship don't even know this is going on downstairs.

I forgot one other thing - if your a baseball nut you'd like the fact that Orel Hershiser plays on these a bunch. I been on three when he was there, both him and his wife play. He hilarious, and always a good time. He's usually there until closing time, and a blast to play with, always cutting up and having a good time with everyone at the table.
 
ekricket said:
cardplayercruises.com

They partner up with WPT, Heartland, Poker Night in America, etc.... and they have dedicated tables and tournaments just for people that sign up through them. They take all the conference rom space on the third deck and fill it with tables. Usually a tournament a day, a main event, and lots - lots - of cash games at night. Usually a poker celebrity or two (Robert Williamson, Eli Elizera, Jeff Schumann have been on in the past ones I've been on). Its run by Linda Johnson and Jan Fisher, who are both respected and known woman players. They bring in dealers from all over, and they are top notch dealers.

The hurdle of having to sign up for a cruise takes care of a lot of riff raff, although it does tend to raise the average age of the poker players to about 50. No hoody's, no sunglasses, no stall for an hour bullshit, and most of these people are set in life so the cash games can get pretty big.

The cruise ship has all the regular stuff for your wife, and most people on the ship don't even know this is going on downstairs.

I forgot one other thing - if your a baseball nut you'd like the fact that Orel Hershiser plays on these a bunch. I been on three when he was there, both him and his wife play. He hilarious, and always a good time. He's usually there until closing time, and a blast to play with, always cutting up and having a good time with everyone at the table.
Click to expand...
thats awesome! thanks for this
 
I played at a video table on my Alaskan cruise a few years back. There was another guy probably in his 50s that knew what he was doing and playing pretty well, we had a silent understanding to stay out of each other's way. I just finished reading Ed Miller's new poker book (at the time) The Course, and implemented some of that theory into my play. I made off like a bandit in that game over the course of a week. Bought myself and the wife some pretty pricey souvenirs thanks to my time there. Got myself a scrimshaw hunting knife!
 
I took a Mediterranean cruise last April on Norwegian. I played poker a couple times, once during a cash game and once for the daily tournament. Cash game rake was bad, but the tournament was the absolute worst turbo with jet fuel plus a shot of nitro setup I've ever seen. I asked about the info, they handed me this card and I should have just walked out, but hey I'm captive in a casino, why not.

c2DQzm9.jpg


They made it worse because there were 10 players, but "TD" wanted to be ready to take late entries (which there were none of) so we played 5 handed at two tables for the first 20 minutes or so. I busted a guy on the second hand and he didn't rebuy. I think he just said F this I'm out. I think only one guy rebought before I busted in 5th about 45 minutes in and said "NO WAY" I'm rebuying for at this point a stack of 5bb.

Kind of sucked in that there were guys there that would have probably played more, but we all knew the structure was so piss poor no one wanted to play.
 
ekricket said:
cardplayercruises.com

They partner up with WPT, Heartland, Poker Night in America, etc.... and they have dedicated tables and tournaments just for people that sign up through them. They take all the conference rom space on the third deck and fill it with tables. Usually a tournament a day, a main event, and lots - lots - of cash games at night. Usually a poker celebrity or two (Robert Williamson, Eli Elizera, Jeff Schumann have been on in the past ones I've been on). Its run by Linda Johnson and Jan Fisher, who are both respected and known woman players. They bring in dealers from all over, and they are top notch dealers.

The hurdle of having to sign up for a cruise takes care of a lot of riff raff, although it does tend to raise the average age of the poker players to about 50. No hoody's, no sunglasses, no stall for an hour bullshit, and most of these people are set in life so the cash games can get pretty big.

The cruise ship has all the regular stuff for your wife, and most people on the ship don't even know this is going on downstairs.

I forgot one other thing - if your a baseball nut you'd like the fact that Orel Hershiser plays on these a bunch. I been on three when he was there, both him and his wife play. He hilarious, and always a good time. He's usually there until closing time, and a blast to play with, always cutting up and having a good time with everyone at the table.
Click to expand...


Hey one more thing - the rake on these games is minimal - the button posts a dollar. That's it.
 
As previously promised here is my report on the Royal Carribeans' Liberty of the Seas poker scene. It is a 7 day cruise out of Galveston.

Casino - I was glad to see a real table, and not the electronic version. 1 table, no auto shuffler. Of course it was in the smokey casino but the one table was at the side of the room away from most smokers. It was in descent condition.

Tourney chips - were horrible... solid black, white, red, and green, with the value embossed on them. And so old I don't know what they were. I didn't inspect them much because the tournament was a super turbo (more on that later).

Cash chips - I believe the chips were the basic ceramic. The blue $1s were fairly new and in descent shape (pic below). The red $5s were in real bad shape. They all were faded to various degrees, from a light red to "is that a red chip?". On some of them, you couldn't even see the writing. The green $25 and the black $100 were in ok shape, but considerably aged. The best thing you could say about them was that they were easy to shuffle due to the well rounded edges.

Tourneys - They ran 2 super turbos a day if out at sea. If you won the 1 table tourney, that merely qualified you for the final table on the last day. If you won that, you won a cruise for 2. No mention of cash for 2nd, 3rd, etc. 10 minute blinds increases, major jumps like 200/400 to 400/800 early on. Initial buy-in was $100, and there were multiple opportunities for add-ons in the 1st 40 minutes. Here's the best (worst) part. You only got 1K in chips, and the blinds started at 25/50! With no auto shuffler, and 10 minute blinds, it might make it 1 orbit around before the blinds was raised. If you didn't get any cards early on, you were done. I think there were 7 finalists. So let's suppose, conservatively, that on average that there was 1 add-on per person, and there were 7 people at each tournament, and that happened 7 times, that would be $150 x 7 people x 7 tournaments. That would be a total of $7350. A typical cruise for 2 is probably around $2K-4K, so they did pretty well. I played once and that was enough. Couldn't match any cards when I finally got something higher than an 8, so I didn't last long.

Cash - was a 2/5 game, with 1 straddle for 10, no sb/bb chop allowed, buyins from 100-500. It had the standard ridiculous cruise rake of 10% up to $15. It would only start between 10pm and 11pm every night depending on when players would show up until 1am or 2am or when we got down to 4 handed. While I wish I could have played longer sessions, it was probably a good thing there was limited time with the insane rake. Dealers were competent (and mostly from Romainia, anybody know why that is?). Despite the rake, this game was interesting and fun. I was initially alarmed to play 2/5 since I've only played 1/2 so the 1st night I only bought in for 100 which was a mistake. The play was all over the place, skill wise and hands played. There were some "regs", who were mostly solid players and not sharks, we got to know each other throughout the week, and I encouraged the many gawkers to take an empty seat, which many did! One guy I encouraged to sit down, who didn't even know what a straight was for sure flopped 2 flushes, a straight, and a boat in 30 minutes, doubled up and left....grrrr. We got it back the following night though. :)

Bottom Line: They pushed the tourneys hard, but made no mention to the cash games. I felt with a little publicity, having a 1/2 game and investing a little more into the equipment, we could have had full tables earlier and longer, and they would have made more money. Clearly, they don't want to encourage live poker but they must feel they have to do something because it is somewhat popular.


libertychip.jpg
 
The folks sprung for a cruise for themselves and all the kids and grandkids so 11 of us ship out next month. Majesty of the Seas, under casino it lists slots, roulette, blackjack, etc but no mention of poker so I’m just hoping they have anything.
 
Ronoh said:
The folks sprung for a cruise for themselves and all the kids and grandkids so 11 of us ship out next month. Majesty of the Seas, under casino it lists slots, roulette, blackjack, etc but no mention of poker so I’m just hoping they have anything.
Click to expand...

Report back if you can. I'd like to know what is normal on Royal Carribean ships. Even though it is generally negative EV, I still enjoyed the live cash games. I played an electronic game last time with people and it wasn't the same.
 
SixSpeedFury said:
Bleh. You would think that they would have decent chips. At least Norwegian had Paulsons
Click to expand...

They clearly invested the least amount possible. Even the dealer button was in bad shape. Considering its only used a few hours a day, it had to be several years old. For crying out loud, how much does a stinkin dealer button cost?
 
Yeah I also played on the video table tournaments on a Celebrity cruise. Mostly tournament games going on during sea days. You have to sign up. Good fun, my first introduction to playing for $. I presume that the casino saves by not having to use a dealer.

Up to 10 players, top 2 placings are in the money.

I like the (voluntary opt-in) custom of splitting the prize money 50/50, since the heads up play has a little more luck involved IMHO.
 
I just booked a cruise and started thinking about what poker on cruises looks like these days? Live? Electronic? None? Still lame?
 
dkersey said:
I just booked a cruise and started thinking about what poker on cruises looks like these days? Live? Electronic? None? Still lame?
Click to expand...
I've cruised on both Royal and Norwegian and Norwegian wins at poker by a country mile, hands down. Paulson chips (with some plastic $1s in the mix) and they almost always get players to play in the cash games. On Royal they don't really care about the cash games, only the tournament because it's promotional. I had to literally beg the TD to announce a cash game on Royal to no avail.
 

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