Texas Hold 'Em on Explorer of the Seas questions

You'd be surprised how hard this information is to find. Guess there aren't that many people who love hold em and cruising enough to post about both, but I figured I'd give it a try.

I emailed customer support for RCI but the person that responded failed to answer all of these questions, so I turn to the customers! :)

1. Any tournaments?

2. If so, frequency, buy in, number of players?

3. Cash game stakes and min / max buy ins?

4. cash game rake?

5. Cash game activity level?

If anyone actually knows the answers to these I will be eternally grateful! :D

I do know they have some tourney's, but don't know the answer to any of the other questions. I'm pretty sure it's "affordable"--after all, most folks on a cruise have NO gambling experience.

You'd be surprised how hard this information is to find. Guess there aren't that many people who love hold em and cruising enough to post about both, but I figured I'd give it a try.

 

I emailed customer support for RCI but the person that responded failed to answer all of these questions, so I turn to the customers! :)

 

1. Any tournaments?

2. If so, frequency, buy in, number of players?

3. Cash game stakes and min / max buy ins?

4. cash game rake?

5. Cash game activity level?

 

If anyone actually knows the answers to these I will be eternally grateful! :D

There are regular Texas Holdem Tournaments on Royal Caribbean's ships.

One of our tablemates won a free cruise for the BIG game in December 09.

Apparently the best RCCL cruisers from 2009 will be playing against each other then!

Our table mate won a pot of money as well as the free cruise. This was on Mariner of th4e Seas going Around the Horn last January-February 09.

He is NOT on the boards to my knowledge.

l

As I recall there needed to be a full table in the tournaments to have the cruises as a prize.

However, I can't answer the rest of your questions - I am not a poker player. Sorry.

I think maybe if you post this in the cruise casino board, more people will know the answer ..

but I do plan on signing up for the hold 'em tourney on Mariner .. I was told I just have to sign up with the casino cashier when I board the ship.

Here is the info on Texas Hold'Em on RC web

http://www.royalcaribbean.com/findacruise/experience/html.do;jsessionid=0000U0XiK1ljA_T3EKpALZ5eg6i:13hldio7n?exCode=612

Tournaments

Details

Try your luck in one of our Blackjack, Texas Hold 'Em or Slots tournaments offered on most of our cruises. Entry fee is $20 USD for the Blackjack and Slots tournaments, and $50 USD for the Texas Hold 'Em tournament. See the casino cashier on your ship for information on entering the tournaments.

Royal Poker Tour

From now until March 2010 all sailing's four days and longer on all Royal Caribbean International ships will offer a Texas Hold-em Poker qualifying tournament*. The tournament is offered based on sufficient demand and available operating time. Winners of each satellite tournament will receive a free cruise** for two people, and one entry into the Final Royal Poker Tournament onboard Oasis of the Seas on December 13, 2010 with an estimated prize pool of $100,000.

For more information about the Royal Poker Tour email us at royalpokertour@rccl.com.

To enroll in the tournament, guests must go the Casino Cash Desk once onboard.

* A minimum number of entries is required in order for the tournament winner to be awarded the free cruise and qualify for the final event. Minimum varies by ship. Tournament entry fees vary per ship. Tournament end date subject to change.

** Free cruise does not include airfare, gratuities, fuel surcharges, transfers, taxes or fees.

You'd be surprised how hard this information is to find. Guess there aren't that many people who love hold em and cruising enough to post about both, but I figured I'd give it a try.

 

I emailed customer support for RCI but the person that responded failed to answer all of these questions, so I turn to the customers! :)

 

1. Any tournaments?

2. If so, frequency, buy in, number of players?

3. Cash game stakes and min / max buy ins?

4. cash game rake?

5. Cash game activity level?

 

If anyone actually knows the answers to these I will be eternally grateful! :D

On the Freedom and Independence:

1&2. Yes. There were two afternoons (sea days) when there were tournaments. Usually the buy-in was anywhere from $50-100. 10 players. You needed to sign up beforehand as there is only one table.

3&4. They have the electronic Poker Pro tables. The game was either $2-$5 or $3-$6 No Limit, with a heavy rake, something like 10%, $15 max. Buy in was $50 minimum, maximum was the equivalent to the highest stake on the table.

5. Not sure what this question means. The three cruises I played, the type of players varied. One was tight, one was VERY loose.

only played the tournament, but it is a video game. Staff will say just like internet poker.

Tournament structure was very agressive with a short stack. Play is aggressive as you will be blinded out if you don't push for marginal hands.

peronsally I hate the machine. Keeps me outta the casino and at the pool more.

Five dollar craps is cool though.

You'd be surprised how hard this information is to find. Guess there aren't that many people who love hold em and cruising enough to post about both, but I figured I'd give it a try.

 

I emailed customer support for RCI but the person that responded failed to answer all of these questions, so I turn to the customers! :)

 

1. Any tournaments?

2. If so, frequency, buy in, number of players?

3. Cash game stakes and min / max buy ins?

4. cash game rake?

5. Cash game activity level?

 

If anyone actually knows the answers to these I will be eternally grateful! :D

When I was on the Explorer last October they had the company wide tourney that you could win a free cruise and play for $100,000 (I think).

Cost was $60 to buy in. There was a minimum number required in the tourney to be eligible for the free cruise. Cash prizes were also available.

There were lots of satellite tourneys to get into the final on the last day. You just signed up for the one you wanted to play in. I think there were 8 players in each one.

There were cash games each night. Really tough to get a seat at one sometimes. There was a sign up sheet if the table was full.

Pretty sure buy in was $100 and stakes were $1 - $2.

Rake was a ridiculous 10% of the pot on the automated hold um machine