Poker anyone?

[boomerSexyK]

My wife and I are booked this November for an Eastern Carib. onboard the Zuiderdam. Primary reason we booked this was so I could play some poker while my wife sunbathes. We've cruised Celebrity before, but they don't have poker in their casino, hence we're 1st-timer for HAL. Any other poker players out there with experience playing on HAL? Is the poker set up in the casino or do they use one of the meeting rooms? Does it run the same as casino hours? Is it difficult getting a seat at one of only 2 tables?

[Randyk47]

I had heard, or read, that the Zuiderdam was experimenting with a Texas Hold'm table....though not sure it's in the casino.....but there was no poker in the casino on the Volendam a month ago. OK...yes...there was Caribbean and 3-Card poker tables in the casino but those are normal casino games. I wandered past the card room a number of times to see if anybody might have a "private" game going but I never saw one. :(

[MikeT718]

We are on the O'Dam in less then 2 weeks what are the limits for the poker on board?? I really did not know that they had poker on board but I am glad to hear it:D

[S.S.Oceanlover]

My wife and I are booked this November for an Eastern Carib. onboard the Zuiderdam. Primary reason we booked this was so I could play some poker while my wife sunbathes. We've cruised Celebrity before, but they don't have poker in their casino, hence we're 1st-timer for HAL. Any other poker players out there with experience playing on HAL? Is the poker set up in the casino or do they use one of the meeting rooms? Does it run the same as casino hours? Is it difficult getting a seat at one of only 2 tables?

 

The only poker besides 3 card and caribbean on the Zuiderdamlast summer was Texas holdem. It was not in the casino but in a room just outside the dining room.

 

It didn't start until about 8pm. 1 table about 10 players. If you don't get there early the odds of getting a seat are slim. Once the game stats not many people get up. There is usually a sign up sheet in the room during the day.

 

Bill

[Randyk47]

I should have also mentioned that I talked to the casino manager on the Volendam about a regular poker table. He allowed that they're being "bugged" to open one or more but he was pretty honest about not being too excited about it and actually mentioned that if we wanted to play Hold'm or Omaha on a cruise go on one of the charters. He went on to say that it takes, in his words, "a lot of manpower". I think what he was really saying was there's not much return on investment for them as they only get the rake from a regular poker table which is way, way under the house advantage with 3-Card or Caribbean poker tables.

[boomerSexyK]

Thanx for the interest in the OP. We booked thru GAM Travel out of Montreal Quebec, cause they specialize in poker cruises...tournament and otherwise. I sent them an email inquiring about Hold 'em Poker on cruises and while Princess seems to led the way in this area (the Grand has 4 "regular" poker tables) we had mentioned that we had sailed Celebrity before and the TA suggested the Zuiderdam ( more inline with our previous cruising experience). We have been told that the Zuiderdam has 2 Hold 'Em tables on a regular basis as well as other Vista class ships. Was hoping to get some info from some HAL customers who have experienced the live poker tables onboard. Wife and I generally play the casino tables, her specialty is 3-Card I like Blackjack and Spanish 21. But we are both Hold 'Em players live and online. Looking forward to settling down for a couple of hours of "bluffing" LOL

[S.S.Oceanlover]

I should have also mentioned that I talked to the casino manager on the Volendam about a regular poker table. He allowed that they're being "bugged" to open one or more but he was pretty honest about not being too excited about it and actually mentioned that if we wanted to play Hold'm or Omaha on a cruise go on one of the charters. He went on to say that it takes, in his words, "a lot of manpower". I think what he was really saying was there's not much return on investment for them as they only get the rake from a regular poker table which is way, way under the house advantage with 3-Card or Caribbean poker tables.

 

If I remember correctly the house got 10% of the pot, but not more than $25 per hand. Probably averaged about 8-10 hands per hour so the max they could make was $200 -$250 per hour.

 

Bill

[boomerSexyK]

bump...))