A High Roller’s Guide to Cruise Ship Poker

Since the 90s, casinos have been popular parts of commercial maritime adventures. In fact, up to 28% of the cruise’s revenue can come from onboard facilities like the casino floor. Among the different games available, poker tables are some of the most exciting. Some of the best cruise ships like the Cunard Queen Mary 2, Carnival Conquest, and Oasis of the Sea are well-known for their extravagant poker floors. The Norwegian Cruise Line even has dedicated poker tournaments, and poker stars like Chris Moneymaker have been known to take part in these tournaments.

The cruise industry has begun returning to full capacity as travel bans loosen and borders reopen in the first few months of the year. In anticipation of this, here’s a handy guide for serious poker players who want to become high rollers on the high seas:

Find out which poker is played onboard

Experienced poker players know there are many varieties of the game. Being that cruise ships operate on international waters, lines often offer different poker variations that not all players may be adept at. For instance, in cruise ships that sail mostly around the Americas, Texas Hold‘em will be the top game, while for European cruises there is a chance that Omaha may be more popular. To ensure that you’re playing without a disadvantage, it’s important that you research all the poker terms for the variation that will be played on your cruise. These can include UTG, which stands for “under the gun” in flop games like Omaha poker and refers to the position immediately left of the big blind, as well as GG, which is an expression meaning “good game” in poker. This way, you won’t be thrown off when more nuanced lingo comes up.

Prepare your bankroll early

Prepping your poker bankroll in cruise casinos requires a bit more foresight. First, casinos on cruise ships can only be accessed when the ship is sailing. Therefore, before you even join a game, make sure you’ve prepared payment options that align with your cruise operator. In some liners like the Holland America Cruises, you can pay in advance with a credit card. On the other hand, on Celebrity Cruises you must pay in cash or via your onboard cruise account. Second, as a high roller, you’ll be allowed to play on tables where you can exceed the maximum bets allowed—about $5,000. So, make sure to inquire about the buy-in and betting opportunities for high-stakes games since these aren’t usually as readily stated. Knowing this will help you determine how much you should have ready.

Arrange a poker table first

The availability of high-stakes poker tables varies across cruise lines. Among cruise ship operators who specialize in card games like Card Player Cruises and World Poker Tour cruise, there are usually high-stakes tables ready. However, since most other cruise liners offer poker as a more casual affair, you may have to ask the pit boss to arrange a high roller match for you. In many cases, like on the Royal Caribbean International, if there are enough high rollers present, the casino can prepare a special game for you. In certain casinos, you can even be invited into a more upscale area of the floor where you and your fellow high rollers will be given extra privacy and security.

Expect the gameplay and payout to be different

Most activities are scheduled around major cruise events like live performances. But as a high roller, the casino will be happy to compromise on a time and game length for your table. This is matters because you might not be in your best condition, given that the poker games might be played at a faster pace and held at odd hours. What likely won’t be changed, though, is the payout approach. On many cruises, only the top three players receive their payout. Plus, up to one-third of your cash prize can go to the house. This serves as a “cut” that they receive for every buy-in. This must be accounted for so you can estimate how much you’ll be making from the large sums you will be playing.

If you’re a high roller looking for a fresh poker experience, a cruise ship may be the change-up you’re looking for. Although it’s not too different from traditional poker, the maritime ambiance, exotic ports, and slightly tweaked gameplay will be sure to keep you on your toes. For more information on luxury cruise travel, please visit the blog here.