Casino Poker?

The wife and I are big fans of Texas Holdem, usually in the tournament format. Does the casino offer TH tournaments? If so, what are the usual buy-ins and do they fill quickly.

If no tourneys, is live TH play offered? If so, what are the usual stakes 3-6, 4-8?

I also note that there is a card room on some ships? Is this for the bridge, gin, pinocle crowd. Would the ship frown on a impromptu TH game in there, could you play for money, matchsticks ;).

This is our first cruise, going to Alaska on the Golden Princess, June 20. Looking forward to it. Thanks for any help.

Can't say for sure on Princess, but CCL had an electronic table (seats for 10). You play other real people, but the 'cards' and your betting is done via the screen in front of you. No dealer or chips. Didn't look into the buy-in.

I have seen small (maybe 4 person) impromptu games being played elsewhere. But I think stacks of chips or matchsticks would draw some attention.

This casino section is brand new, so maybe ask over in the Princess area too, while this section gains popularity.

I was on the Coral Princess and I am 99% certain they had a texas holdem electronic tables on the ship.

The wife and I are big fans of Texas Holdem, usually in the tournament format. Does the casino offer TH tournaments? If so, what are the usual buy-ins and do they fill quickly.

If no tourneys, is live TH play offered? If so, what are the usual stakes 3-6, 4-8?

I also note that there is a card room on some ships? Is this for the bridge, gin, pinocle crowd. Would the ship frown on a impromptu TH game in there, could you play for money, matchsticks ;).

This is our first cruise, going to Alaska on the Golden Princess, June 20. Looking forward to it. Thanks for any help.

Not sure of the buy ins, but all three ships I have been on there is no live dealer, you play against other cruisers, but no cards or chips. I believe they had a tourney on legend and know they did on the valor.

The other card room you mention is usually in the Library or right beside it, and yes its more for the bridge, gin, etc crowd

I've sailed on Princess 3 times. They have hold'em on the electronic poker pro tables. I prefer a live dealer, but the poker pro works okay for a cruise. The structure was either 3-6 or 1-2 NL on the Princess ships with a 10% rake ($6 max). They did offer a couple of sit-n-go tournaments on each of the cruies; the buy in was $55 and the top three places were paid.

Carnival uses Poker Pro table(s). No live dealer, but game moves faster without. Have only seen $1/2 blind structure, no tournaments. People at first may be adverse to the electronic format, but you get used to it quickly and its pretty easy to get around. Games were pretty live and fun, fill up quickly if you sit down with 2 or 3 people, and last all throughout the night.

We cruised on Coral Princess last October and they had the electronic tables. I actually liked them better than a live dealer as I find that the cruise ship dealers are not very experienced and I had to watch like a hawk as mistakes were common. The only issue with the electronic table is that the rake is much higher than in Vegas, but they have you held captive, and I am just glad to play poker on my vacation.

;)Does any one know if the Celebrity Solstice has this electronic table? It was great Fun on the Rc Mariner of the seas.:)

RCL had a THM tournament too.

I think almost every cruise line uses the electronic tables now...I personally hate the change. Something about having chips in front of you. I have found that most of the Texas Hold-em people feel the same and we always get our own game going for the days at sea. We usually play in the card room, buy our chips in the casino, and use them in our game. Never had a problem! Last cruise, one passenger brought chips and ran the bank.

Just got back from a cruise on Enchantment of the Seas. They had one Hold 'em table with a live dealer. They pushed the tournament but it looked like the participation was low. The table had a $100 buy in.