Poker on Carnival

[SunnydayKim]

I know that Carnival has the electronic tables with no dealers. Are the games set up to play ONLY with people who are at the tables? Or, are they linked up to others on other Carnival ships?

 

Has anyone played at these tables? Last year, no one was ever at the table... we are hoping that will be different on our Carnival Legend cruise in less than two weeks.

 

Thanks for any input.

 

Kim

[cruiser_new]

I know that Carnival has the electronic tables with no dealers. Are the games set up to play ONLY with people who are at the tables? Or, are they linked up to others on other Carnival ships?

 

Has anyone played at these tables? Last year, no one was ever at the table... we are hoping that will be different on our Carnival Legend cruise in less than two weeks.

 

Thanks for any input.

 

Kim

 

Kim,

 

I can't answer your question because this will be my first cruise, but I hope you win enough at poker for a SECOND honeymoon. No, I am not a stalker...I just recognized you from our roll call. Good luck with the wedding.

[Yo Eleven]

How's this? This is the closest I can find. You may wanna shoot CCL an email with your question. Let us know what you find out. Thanks.

 

http://www.bookccl.com/irman/bookccl/sections/Casinos_OPC.html

[jetwet1]

They are set up to play only with people at that table.

 

They have a 10% rake!

 

You can ask for the game to be changed, depending on who is working they will change it.

[Cyberhwk]

What with a 10% rake and the fact you don't even have actual cards or chips, am I the only one that thinks that doesn't even sound FUN. :(

[Yo Eleven]

What with a 10% rake and the fact you don't even have actual cards or chips, am I the only one that thinks that doesn't even sound FUN.

No you aren't!

 

TEN PERCENT RAKE????? WHAT???????

 

THAT IS ABSURD! How in the world can you expect to beat this in the long run? Good grief, a 5% uncapped rate is difficult as it is to beat. Sheesh.

 

Are there any benefits for paying such a ridiculous rake? Do you get free drinks? How about some food and snacks? Lap dances? Are you supposed to tip the dealers?

 

That's messed up big time. Insanity at it's best.

[Cyberhwk]

I think the point is they don't care if the game is beatable. The advantages of a captive audience (literally). And a 10% rake isn't unusual around here but for the fact that they ALWAYS cap it at 3 or 4 dollars.

 

They HAVE card dealers on the boat. Are you telling me they couldn't use one of them to deal a poker game? Is it a space thing?

 

I can't imagine anyone is all that social sittng at a computerized table. Everyone might as well be sitting in their cabins playing.

[Largon]

There is a cap on the rake. The rake is 10% capped at either $6 or $7 (I have seen both in reports). I hope that there are at least some games on Carnival Freedom 7/26.

[Cyberhwk]

There is a cap on the rake. The rake is 10% capped at either $6 or $7 (I have seen both in reports). I hope that there are at least some games on Carnival Freedom 7/26.

Really? Not doubting you, I've just heard otherwise.

[Largon]

No problem. I've been trying to figure this out too. Here's a link to a trip report on a poker forum from someone who was on a Carnival cruise last week.

 

http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/27/brick-mortar/carnival-cruise-pokerpro-tr-529245/

[Cyberhwk]

Oh NICE! I hope it's like that on Princess when I get there this coming Sunday.

[gogetter]

Hello,

 

The game and/or table is called a PokerPro(google it). When you sit down you get your own little screen .

 

I have played poker on the Legend and the Triumph. At the time, Legend had 2 tables and Triumph only one. What you have to do is go to the casino cage and put whatever $$$ amount on a card. You then use that card at the table. Let's say you put 200 on the card. You insert it at the table and then it gives you an option of certain $$ amounts to play at that session.

 

Sure there is no dealer or chips. However the players are all still there and you can interact with them. After all everyone is on a cruise and generally pretty happy.

 

One time, there was no one at the table so i got a drink and went and sat down. Probably within 5-10 minutes there were enough players to play.

 

Hope this helps!

[VistaRio]

There is a cap on the rake. The rake is 10% capped at either $6 or $7 (I have seen both in reports). I hope that there are at least some games on Carnival Freedom 7/26.

 

In addition, with no dealers, there are no tips being taken off the table.

 

I agree, the rake is too high for a proper poker game, but it is not out of line with the "rake" of everything else on a cruise ship (liquor, spa treatments, excursions, etc. etc.)

[aoneil01]

How do you get money into the pokerpro machine? I planned on using cash in the casino, but it appears you need to use a card?

 

If a card is needed, how do you choose how much to buy-in for?

 

Maybe it is easier once you see the machine, but I'm a bit confused trying to picture how to use this.

 

Also, how do you cover your cards? The screen appears to face straight up, so can't others see what you have?

 

Thanks for any tips guys. I love to play poker, and am cruising the Carnival Pride next week, so I'd like to have some advice on how to use the machine so I can actually concentrate on playing poker instead of the machine

[bobbyfk]

How do you get money into the pokerpro machine? I planned on using cash in the casino, but it appears you need to use a card? you bring your cash to the cage and they give you a pokerpro card for use in the poker only, when you want to cashout totally you bring the card back to the cage

 

If a card is needed, how do you choose how much to buy-in for?

you can buy in for whatever amount you want on the pokerpro card but as for the table it depends on the game

Maybe it is easier once you see the machine, but I'm a bit confused trying to picture how to use this.

 

Also, how do you cover your cards? The screen appears to face straight up, so can't others see what you have?

correct..you cover your cards with your hand in a cup like motion..its actually better to use the tip of your pokerpro card to cover your cards

Thanks for any tips guys. I love to play poker, and am cruising the Carnival Pride next week, so I'd like to have some advice on how to use the machine so I can actually concentrate on playing poker instead of the machine

answers are in bold above;)

[bobbyfk]

I agree...rake is WAY too much...talked with the casino manager last year on the Miracel..he said basically because its not like you can go to another casino..they have no compaction if the middle in the middle of the ocean

[Bases5]

I was wondering what are the chance's for them to put a

Poker Amateur table in.:eek:

Its a game that works automatically, You put your money in and watch the computer play for you. It could be a very fast game. Maybe it could be 60 hands a hour, Think of the rake then.:confused:

 

Someone said you might as well be in your cabin. Don't put that past them. Interactive Poker form or cabin charged to your sail and sign card.:cool:

[Silverscreencruiser]

I agree...rake is WAY too much...talked with the casino manager last year on the Miracel..he said basically because its not like you can go to another casino..they have no compaction if the middle in the middle of the ocean

 

It's the same with the poker game as anything else in the casino. People go to Vegas, Atlantic City, and Indian casinos to gamble and usually they know a little about it before they go.

 

Most people go on cruises for other reasons and a lot of them wander into a casino to try it out... the same way they wander into all the bars on the ship. My daughter had never gambled in her life before the recent cruise she took, but she felt she had to contribute her $20 to the slot machines.

 

These people don't know what a good or a bad rake is. They've never played in a land based casino, and a lot of them play rarely at home. They give it a try. It's a captive audience, and it only takes 5-6 people out of the 3000 on the cruise (and some of them will win something), to make it worth the ship's while.

[aaronk56]

Was on the Miracle in June. Game was always 1-2 no limit, $200 max buy-in. Rake was 10% up to a max of $7.00. While this is high, it isn't outrageous when compared to a lot of land based casinos. Most of these places are 10% up to a max of $4.00, but a number of places also then take a $1.00 drop for a jackpot bringing the total take to $5.00. When you add in a tip for the dealer, usually a minimum of $1.00 and often more for a big pot (it is your choice however), the differences aren't that great.

 

The game was so incredibly soft that it is beatable despite the rake. One big downside is that the rake is never reduced so if you play shorthanded you end up paying a large amount. This can make it tough to start a game as people tend not to sit down unless they see people playing. I was on the cruise with my son and the two of us would often sit down at the empty table and just complete the small blind and check it down, (there was no rake since the pot was only $4.00. We would just sit there doing that until a few other people came over. We usually got a game going in less than 5 minutes when we did that. If nobody sat down, the table would stay empty for hours.

[retnuh281]

It's been two years since my last Carnival cruise, and before the electronic version. There was a table set up every evening, but not in the casino. It was back by a bar on the same deck as the casino and clubs and there was a dedicated dealer.

Note to self...........Do not play if you have been drinking all day and expect to bluff. There are players that stay in regarless, despite what you may or may not have. My fault all the same.

Excuse me sir, thats my ass, can you hand it to me?

[TexasBelle]

I was on the Conquest last week and played in the casino. You use your S&S card for both the slots and PokerPro, but they are two different accounts (actually 3 if you count the S&S). I know - weird. The setup for both is the same too. I played slots for a few days, then went to play poker. I transferred all my winnings from the slots to the poker account and then joined in the game ($50 min buy in - $1/$2 blinds). There was only one poker table on the Conquest and it was usually full.

 

I read somewhere to load your card at the slots is free, but at the cashier's cage it will cost you, 3% I think. I charged $10 from my S&S to the slots account to play without any charge at all.

 

I did pretty good. Ended up bringing home $214 more than I spent.

[bobbyfk]

I read somewhere to load your card at the slots is free, but at the cashier's cage it will cost you, 3% I think. I charged $10 from my S&S to the slots account to play without any charge at all.

other way around...if you load on poker pro/slots they charge you the 3%

[TexasBelle]

other way around...if you load on poker pro/slots they charge you the 3%

I just looked at my statement. I didn't get charged the 3% and I loaded at both the slots and pokerpro.

[Kapnnem0]

Just to close a loop from a while back.

 

They HAVE card dealers on the boat. Are you telling me they couldn't use one of them to deal a poker game? Is it a space thing?

 

 

As with all cruise decisions, it's purely a revenue decision. Dealers cost money. Computers don't. But more importantly, the PokerPro machines deal much faster than real dealers....much faster. Remember - no shuffling, no spreading cards, no small talk with players, no figuring out the winner, no counting chips, and no disputes...ever. I would guess that PokerPro deals at least twice as many hands per hour as the fastest dealer. And at 10% rake...twice as many hands is twice as much revenue for the cruise line. Almost all cruise lines that have poker are going with PokerPro now. That in itself should tell something.

[goldenrod]

I hate those dam machines they should throw them overboard, I have played them a couple of times but won't again. Now I only play Blackjack, if they replace those dealers with some dam machine you'll never get me in the Casino again. I hope someone in Carnival management reads this thread.