If you take a cruise on the Carnival, expect it to include poker as part of its overall gaming amenities. The electronic tables have replaced the traditional dealers which creates quite a fascinating environment for players that enjoy playing poker in a ground-based casino. If you plan on playing poker while cruising with carnival, here is what to expect for.
Electronic cash games
Cruise ships such as the Carnival Magic hold poker tables for their guests, and one such featured game is the 1/2 No-Limit Hold’em and along with it comes a wide range of buy-ins ranging from $20 up to $1,000. The electronic setup ensures the flow of the game is unimpeded without any hindrances, as transactions are carried out via cruise cash accounts.
Rake structure
Gambling players should know how to rank in any form of betting and so talking about the Carnival’s table games, they do implement a 15% rake with a limit end of $10 per pot. Yes, such rates may be on the expensive side compared to the many casinos around, but these help cover costs of providing the relevant infrastructure. Thus raking does come into the game, as higher rates influence the general profitability.
Tournament play: Sit-and-Go format
Most of the poker tournaments played in the cruise ships, are of sit-and-go which will commence after the minimum number of players is reached, and if such a game is held, a $150 buy in is the common currency. There can be many forms of this, the most common one credits the winner with $600 then as more contestants register the winnings continue to increase, turning the winning cause up to 10 people so as the house hopes for.
Skill levels and strategy
It so happens that the participants at the poker tables of Carnival are quite varied and mainly include more of the casual players. But this could be good news for any professional who aims to seek the gaps. You will rarely come across strong participants and hence I believe with good discipline and strategy crafted by you would achieve success in spite of the casinos rake being higher than normal.
Experiences from other cruisers
The experience of other poker players would give you a basic insight of the things you should expect at the carnival. The general consensus gathered indicates that the soft competition proved to be a plus as a high number of people spoke on the unpleasant experience with fishing. One seasoned player complimented the 1/2 no limit Hold’em for having players more on the inexperienced side which helped soften the rake sufficiently to render a profit against Carnival’s Services.
In a sit and go tournament however, one of the players’ conditions to compete was assured by the $150 buy-in and high rake reducing them to a casual setting. Even though the expected conditions of a winner takes it all tournament were turned upside down, the idea of boosting the prize pool per player encouraged them more than enough to keep playing.
One game that passengers seem to enjoy, outside the cruise, is poker. A group of passengers recalled having casual poker games in the lounge while using the casino chips. Everyone was able to join in without feeling too much pressure, with rotation in the dealers, along with the poker sessions, where everyone was able to have fun in a social setting, that many found enjoyable as compared to formal arrangements.
The poker players cruisers however still do have an issue, with regards to the 15% rake, many passengers seem to have an issue with it claiming it to be exorbitant, but in comparison to other competitors like royal Caribbean, where the games are more formal and structured, as well as more competitive and aggressive, many say the relaxed atmosphere is easier and more enjoyable in various ways.
Informal and alternative play
Additionally, the big chance of any major disruptions is usually small, if explained ahead of time the unorthodox informal poker games that many passengers play can easily get the okay from crew. These unmarked poker games encourage participants to use their imagination as well as bond with one another.
Comparison with other cruise lines
Between Royal Caribbean and Carnival cruise lines, Royal Caribbean has been more formal, however it is also important to know that there are specific differences between these lines, for example from what I noticed, other lines usually start their games later in the night as compared to carnival which tends to start its games at around 7 PM.