On a cruise line for a week trip report.... (1 Viewer)

[bonesnjnts]

On the trip of a lifetime, my 87 year old dad, and 2 of my sons, the older ones, who are 33 and 31.
Almost played with AK Chip in Anchorage but some really fast motorcyles drained the home game of players so its on to the next chance to play cards on this trip.
Wondering about the poker here on the ship and wandered down to the casino.
There's 1 table, roped off.
Spent some time talking to a former dealer and now on the floor. Said the cash game runs every night. The game is 2/5.
Min buy-in is 100- do not know the max.

That's a big game for me.
Our home game is .25/50.
There are some tournaments during the week- 1 is a satellite to getting a free cruise and seat on the cruise line big tournament.

Thinking about taking a shot at the game. Well, to be on the boat and not play, I am not ready for that.

 

[DrStrange]

Be mindful of the rake. Every cruise I played poker came with a 10% / $15 max rake. It takes a remarkable situation where a player can overcome that big a rake. The typical player is going to buy in for $100 to $300, so every dollar going in the pot is subject to the rake.

That isn't to say don't play. Do what is fun but treat it like any other game in a casino. The house has a major edge that you can't overcome. You still can win but you should expect to lose. Manage your "fun money" accordingly.

DrStrange

PS I did once sail on a cruise where poker was profitable. The Monte Carlo had booked dozens of spots for its high roller blackjack patrons as a promotional prize. These players were powerfully offended at the 6:5 blackjack odds and decided not to play blackjack on the ship. But there was a poker game - and for people who normally bet $100+ on every hand of cards - the risks were modest. I ended up paying for everything on the trip from the poker table. I won every session, posting the highest win rate of any game I every played in. It was great fun!

 

[bonesnjnts]

Be mindful of the rake. Every cruise I played poker came with a 10% / $15 max rake. It takes a remarkable situation where a player can overcome that big a rake. The typical player is going to buy in for $100 to $300, so every dollar going in the pot is subject to the rake.

That isn't to say don't play. Do what is fun but treat it like any other game in a casino. The house has a major edge that you can't overcome. You still can win but you should expect to lose. Manage your "fun money" accordingly.

DrStrange

PS I did once sail on a cruise where poker was profitable. The Monte Carlo had booked dozens of spots for its high roller blackjack patrons as a promotional prize. These players were powerfully offended at the 6:5 blackjack odds and decided not to play blackjack on the ship. But there was a poker game - and for people who normally bet $100+ on every hand of cards - the risks were modest. I ended up paying for everything on the trip from the poker table. I won every session, posting the highest win rate of any game I every played in. It was great fun!

lame early report--
fell out and didnt go down to poker room last night but today is $100 satellite tournament- 1 winner takes all for seat to norwegian cruise line $200,000 in december.

 

[DrStrange]

Play in tourny knowing the blinds are so fast it will be luck as much as anything. My last time out I proved that 77 < 82o for all my chips in what was basically a flip for first place.

 

[jiratic]

Anyone have any experience harvesting chips from a cruise line? I'm guessing the cashier wouldn't just hand you a rack of one's and you'd have to pocket them while playing.

 

[Forty4]

Anyone have any experience harvesting chips from a cruise line? I'm guessing the cashier wouldn't just hand you a rack of one's and you'd have to pocket them while playing.

When I was on the last one the dealer said he didn't care and if I wanted a rack or two of $.50's I could just go around and buy them up. They were Icon not Paulson or they would have had a hard time opening the casino on the next sailing trip.