Check out our brand new Local Poker Communities! Get updates and interact with poker players in your area.
Visit the United States Poker Community | Visit the California Poker Community | Read more about the Launch of P5s Local

Poker on Cruise Ships

Reply to Thread
  1. VerticalSmile VerticalSmile is offline

    Katy, TX
    United States

    Posts: 32
    Joined: Feb 08

    Dec 16th, 2010 (12/16/2010 1:14pm)

    I will be taking a cruise over the holidays and was wondering about what kind of poker might be offered. I will be on the Carnival's Ecstasy out of Galveston, Texas.

    I heard they use a video table/dealer with live players, but was curious about the rake, stakes, etc....

    Thanks for any input!!
  2. iFish iFish is offline

    Cambridge, MA
    United States

    Posts: 225
    Joined: Apr 10

    Dec 16th, 2010 (12/16/2010 1:42pm) in reply to VerticalSmile

    Quit being a degen and enjoy vacation...
  3. HeHateThee HeHateThee is offline

    West Chester, PA
    United States

    Posts: 109
    Joined: Dec 08

    Dec 16th, 2010 (12/16/2010 1:46pm) in reply to iFish

    The games are incredibly juicy. The only downside is, the poker table is the last place you want to be on vacation.
  4. chs3rd chs3rd is online now

    United States

    Posts: 733
    Joined: Nov 09

    Dec 16th, 2010 (12/16/2010 2:21pm) in reply to HeHateThee

     
    Originally Posted by HeHateThee View Post

    The games are incredibly juicy. The only downside is, the poker table is the last place you want to be on vacation.

    I could have paid for any of my cruises with enough play. I hate the pokertek tables though.

    If I wanted to play electronically I would play online.
  5. gamble153 gamble153 is offline

    Jupiter, FL
    United States

    Posts: 1,179
    Joined: Oct 09

    Dec 16th, 2010 (12/16/2010 2:41pm) in reply to chs3rd

    I am not sure what cruise line it was, but my buddie went on one that left Fort Lauderdalr or Miami and the 1/2 NL game was 10% up to $25. He skipped the poker and enjoyed the vaca.
  6. tensevener tensevener is offline

    Newton, NJ
    United States

    Posts: 57
    Joined: Feb 08

    Dec 16th, 2010 (12/16/2010 5:51pm) in reply to gamble153

    The rake is out of control, I played last year and it was an uncapped 10% of the pot. They had a super turbo $100 rebuy tournament which was fun.
  7. intrepid007 intrepid007 is offline

    Edmonton
    Canada

    Posts: 176
    Joined: Aug 06

    Dec 16th, 2010 (12/16/2010 5:54pm) in reply to gamble153

    I was on a 15 day Panama cruise and played poker quite often. The play is very bad...but on this cruise ship...there was no maximum on the rake. It was 10%...so on a $700 pot (and yes at $1/$2...it can get that big) they took the full $70. Only played late at night after the shows.

    They ran poker tournaments (tried to anyway, I think about 3 went off in 15 days), but the rake was even worse in those.
  8. C_Bomb C_Bomb is offline

    Croydon
    Australia

    Posts: 755
    Joined: Jun 09

    Dec 17th, 2010 (12/17/2010 3:37am) in reply to iFish

     
    Originally Posted by iFish View Post

    Quit being a degen and enjoy vacation...

    Yeah, because everyone on this site grinds every day.

    If the guys wants to play, let him play
  9. s_my_d s_my_d is offline

    United States

    Posts: 63
    Joined: May 09

    Dec 17th, 2010 (12/17/2010 6:26am) in reply to C_Bomb

    i played on a carnival cruise out of galveston last february. complete donks that just about call anything with anything. lots of drunks at night obv. paid for half my vaca, only played like four sessions for 1-2 hrs each, but there were a few that played every day. loved the electronic table. up on the wall was also a flat screen of the table. spectators loved watching the action
    Edited By: s_my_d Dec 17th, 2010 at 06:29 AM
  10. scarface_79 scarface_79 is offline

    Posts: 3,626
    Joined: Dec 05

    Dec 17th, 2010 (12/17/2010 9:54am) in reply to s_my_d

    dont play table games or slots, uregulated cheats
     1
  11. FabulousTexan FabulousTexan is offline

    Ocala, FL
    United States

    Posts: 381
    Joined: Apr 06

    Dec 17th, 2010 (12/17/2010 2:25pm) in reply to scarface_79

    I've played poker on the cruises I've been on over the last 3 years.

    The first was Holland America. They offered $1/$2 Limit Cash and 2 $50 Single Table tourneys.

    Dealers were horrible to the point where they didn't even know the rules.

    For example, I was heads up with AQ and it got to showdown against A weak and the dealer went, "you both have a pair of Aces! Split pot!" I had to explain to the dealer I won with a better kicker and it took two minutes for him to comprehend.

    When someone called the dealer out after the dealer let a player retract a bet the dealer on it they would just go, "It's just a game for fun not serious." The first player then retracted his bet and stormed off the table and I can't say I blame him.

    Rake was high but not unreasonable. Everything is going to be overpriced on cruise ship so you have that mindset going in.

    Game was really soft and you'll do well playing A-B-C fundamental poker (think Harrington).

    I did promise never to complain about poker machines after the experiences with horrible cruise ship dealers.

    When we sailed Carnival (our cruise ships didn't die in the water) rake was between 8-10% but wasn't unreasonable.

    It was $1/$2 no limit and there were 3 people that really knew how to play and the rest were different levels of A) They kinda sorta knew how to play and B) "Oh, is this that poker thing I see on TV? This might be fun to try while pounding scotch!"

    If you're patient and wait for premium hands you'll get paid. I was up about $700 after about 4 hours (wife wanted to watch some shows with her friends and was happy not to have me tagging along).

    The down side after me and the other two guys that knew how to play busted the "let's have fun and throw money away" players we were playing 3-or-4 handed. You've got to be smart enough to get up when you realize that there is no longer an edge playing shorthanded against good players, especially with an elevated rake.

    Just understand that most players are there to gamble rather than play poker. Don't bluff as most people want action and will chase. Be patient and your premium hands will get paid off if you bet aggressively. Smile and laugh if you get sucked out on because you want to keep the guy there having fun because he'll give it back to you.
  12. that_pope that_pope is offline la la la...I'm so sexy

    Tempe, AZ
    United States

    Posts: 9,818
    Joined: Apr 05

    Dec 17th, 2010 (12/17/2010 5:12pm) in reply to FabulousTexan

    I've played on two in the last year.

    Played on a Carnival and Princess ships.

    Each had one table set up in the casino, and it offered 1/2 NL with a 10% rake up to $6 taken in $0.25 increments. Compared to live places that drop $4+2, this really isn't a horrible rake.

    They also have 'tourneys' scheduled at times, and they are very quick, usually done in an hour or so, never played one.

    The cash games are so so so soft. On my 3 day Carnival one, I played for 3-5 hours and won $300. On my 7 day Princess, I played somewhere between 10-15 hours and won $1500.

    People love to limp and love to call. Never try bluffing, only value all the time. Stick to value and win money.

    And the real reason these tables are extra soft, people don't have to have cash to play. They can charge it to their room on their cards like you do with the bars. There is something like a 5% transaction fee for this. So basically people don't have to get up and take the walk of shame to an ATM to get money, simply push a few buttons and auto rebuy. Free money!!!

    Not sure about the Carnival one, but the Princess one had NO rake 3 handed or heads up. Talk about heaven.
    Edited By: that_pope Dec 17th, 2010 at 05:13 PM
  13. Weapon X Weapon X is offline

    Long Beach, CA
    United States

    Posts: 183
    Joined: Jan 05

    Dec 17th, 2010 (12/17/2010 5:45pm) in reply to that_pope

    i always toss the bones waste a 100 nothing big u get one good roll early you paid ur vacation and leave it at that
  14. EDWIN BOYD EDWIN BOYD is offline

    Indore
    India

    Posts: 1
    Joined: Dec 10

    Dec 21st, 2010 (12/21/2010 5:40am) in reply to Weapon X

    They advertise sea days of non-stop Texas Hold-em tournaments. The organizers provide the cardroom manager and dealers. Like the casino, the poker room is only open when the ship is at sea.
Reply to Thread

Similar Threads