High Seas Hold
'Em
Classic Gaming Cruises adds the perfect touch to a dream
vacation
By Melissa Cook
Since well
before the advent of airplane tourism, cruises have been considered
the ultimate vacation, particularly for society’s creme de la creme.
However, today’s cruises are not the snobby affairs that they were
in the 1920s. Yes, you still travel in luxury to exotic locations. You’re
treated to the highest levels of customer service. You’re fed a
staggering array of food around the clock. But on today’s cruises,
you can truly customize your experience. In a sense, the cruise itself
is the vacation, as opposed to a posh means to get you to your destination.
If you like
to party hard, there are a multitude of bars and lounges, each providing
their own atmosphere and brand of live entertainment. Want to gamble?
There’s a casino. Shop? Plenty of onboard, duty-free boutiques.
Are you the physical type? There’s swimming, a full-service gym,
tennis, shuffleboard and special classes taught by fitness experts.
Are you on
the cruise for adventure? At each port of call, you can choose from
excursions ranging from guided hiking, biking and rafting trips to leisurely
sightseeing tours by bus, train, plane, or trolley. Each outing is arranged
on board by a knowledgeable staff who take care of the details so you
don’t have to. Or you can strike out on your own, exploring the
ports of call at your own pace.
Interested
in your destination’s history? You can join in on seminars and
learn all about its culture and people before you dock.
Or
perhaps none of this appeals to you. Maybe trivia games and sing-alongs
aren’t your thing. You don’t want to play bingo or blackjack,
and the idea of physical exertion while on vacation sounds like an oxymoron.
That pretty
much describes me. I’m not one to drink, and wild horses couldn’t
drag me to a gym. I live in Las Vegas, so lounge shows and video poker
with abysmal pay schedules (try 6/5 Jacks or Better!) don’t excite
me. Even the food isn’t much of an enticement to me. After all,
I’m from the city that has raised the buffet to an art form.
My definition
of a dream vacation is one of pure peace and relaxation. Unstructured
free time to do whatever I feel like doing at that moment. I want to
be pampered. I want to be catered to. For entertainment, I want a friendly,
casual atmosphere where I feel welcomed and can just be myself. And
more than anything, I want to see something that will regenerate my
spirit.
I found it
all when I signed up for a seven-day Classic Poker Cruise through Alaska’s
Inside Passage on board Holland America’s M.S. Veendam.
Classic Gaming Cruises are coordinated by Poker Digest, a national magazine dedicated
to aficionados of the game. Each year, they set out to destinations
ranging from Mexico to the Caribbean to Alaska. The prices, cruise lines
and lengths of voyages vary, but the promise of first-rate poker remains
constant. Booking a cruise through them is like booking through any
travel agent—they receive special rates and handle all the details.
You, in turn, receive all the benefits of a cruise with the additional
bonus of live action gaming, separate from the ship’s tight casino.
The
adventure began the very first day. I was joined on the cruise by my
mother, who, unlike me, doesn’t play poker at all. She was going
to define her own dream vacation while I indulged in some low-limit
stud. As we boarded the Veendam, a line of stewards greeted us. Our
carry on luggage was cheerfully taken by our own steward, and we were
led to our cabin. Here, we found an invitation to a “Welcome Aboard”
cocktail party, hosted by the Poker Cruise coordinators. It was the
perfect opportunity to meet my fellow players, people with whom I would
soon develop an undeniable sense of camaraderie. The chatty, casual
mixer set the tone for the rest of the voyage.
I admit, I
wasn’t sure what to expect from this poker crowd. I was afraid
I’d encounter a group of hard-core players, similar to those I’ve
seen in The Mirage and Bellagio rooms. I anticipated sharks—seasoned
pros who ate the occasional player for lunch. What I discovered, instead,
were some of the friendliest people you’d ever want to meet. They
represented all ages, playing levels, and backgrounds. And I was especially
pleased by the number of women in the group. This wasn’t a “good
ol’ boys” network. Some knew each other from previous poker
cruises. Others were playing the game for the very first time. And all
of us had one thing in common: We were here to have some fun.
The Ship
Side
Mom and I
had never been on a cruise before, so simply boarding the ship was a
brand new experience for us. I had long dreamt of cruising to Alaska,
the Land of the Midnight Sun and America’s final frontier. In my
mind, I had envisioned what it must be like to be lulled to sleep by
the sound of waves against the ship and to wake up to an ever-changing
view. I was eager to see the mountains, glaciers, and endless green
forests. I couldn’t wait to know what it felt like to look out
and see nothing but water. And the chance to see wildlife—eagles
and whales, dolphins and seals—in their own environments kept my
eyes on the horizon, and my binoculars close at hand.
But nothing
I had imagined could compare to the reality.
Our
cabin was a mini-suite, complete with a whirlpool tub, a seating area,
an in-room safe, mini-bar, and, most importantly, a private balcony.
Though more expensive than a standard inside or outside cabin, I can’t
insist strongly enough that you save for the upgrade. That little balcony,
with its lounge and chair, was a source of lifetime memories. From here,
bundled in blankets and sipping hot cocoa, we spotted the sprays of
Orcas swimming beneath the surface. We passed a seal and her pup reclining
on floating piece of ice. We spied a bald eagle on the shore, his intense
gaze surveying the landscape. We ordered room service and ate our lunch
with view of towering, rugged mountains, their peaks blanketed in virgin
snow. We witnessed an enormous wall of ice calve from an ethereal-blue
glacier and crash into the sea. And, on the last full day of our journey,
our breakfast was accompanied by nearly 100 dolphins that jumped and
danced in the ship’s wake directly off our balcony.
Our peaceful
hours on the balcony were enhanced by the fact that we were traveling
during the “White Nights” of the Northern Hemisphere. We set
sail on the eve of the Summer Solstice, the longest day of the year,
and were treated to roughly 22 hours of light. It’s an amazing
thing if you’ve never experienced it. At around 9 p.m., the sky
fades to that magical moment of twilight, just before the sun dips completely
below the horizon. Then time freezes, the moment lasting for nearly
three hours. Had the ship offered nothing else, simply drinking in the
majesty of Alaska’s sights would have exceeded every notion I had
ever entertained of a cruise.
But cruises
offer more than scenery, and though I admit much of it was not enough
to lure me from my spectacular post, it was nice to know the diversions
were available if I wanted them.
In addition
to nightly entertainment in the lounges and showroom, the ship was equipped
with a full-service spa, progressive bingo, a reading room filled with
books and magazines, and a movie theater which showed recent Hollywood
hits. On any given night, you could, if you desired, join in a ship
version of Team Trivia in the Ocean Bar, have a sing-along in the Piano
Bar, be serenaded by a string quartet in the Explorers Lounge, dance
in the Crow’s Nest, or indulge in “Cigars under the Stars”
at the Dolphin Bar.
In the casino,
blackjack and craps were available at $5 minimums, and $1 roulette was
offered. Or you could opt for the slots. Mostly, there were the old
favorite reel slots in quarter and dollar denominations, though there
were a couple of Reel ’Em In machines and a Jackpot Party in dimes.
As for video poker, well, as I mentioned, you’d do better to look
elsewhere. As they’ve got a captive audience, there really isn’t
an incentive to offer loose slots or decent pay schedules, so don’t
expect to find Vegas-style machines on board.
Dinner
in the elegant Rotterdam Dining Room included five courses, with an
impressive variety of appetizers and entrees served at one of two seatings.
The menu changed nightly, with selections ranging from pan roasted five-spice
duck breast served with a delectable raspberry sauce to Beef Wellington.
Naturally,
an endless array of food was presented around the clock—on the
Lido Deck, through room service, in the lounges, on decks, and in the
dining rooms. I confess, it was at times hit and miss. Some meals, such
as the formal farewell dinner of lobster and (what else?) Baked Alaska,
were outstanding. Others, particularly those found in the Lido buffet,
were a disappointment. But the sheer quantity and variety ensured that,
if you went hungry for any period of time, you had only yourself to
blame.
Yet for all
the entertainment offerings, I discovered that on-board activities are
a funny thing. Many of them are designed with mingling in mind. Unless
you’re traveling with several family members, you’re going
to find yourself seated for dinner at a table with strangers. On the
up-side, everyone on board is just plain happy. On several occasions,
people I’d never seen before suddenly turned to me and exclaimed,
“Can you believe it? Isn’t it incredible?” I never passed
a person in the hall without exchanging a friendly “hello.”
It was a warm feeling—a combined sense of wonder and excitement
that permeated the ship.
But I’m
not a terribly social person. I tend to get shy in forced social situations,
and I often feel awkward when attempting to make small talk. Luckily,
I knew the people we dined with. But the thought of playing Name That
Tune with complete strangers held no appeal for me. Neither could I
imagine spending every night listening to classical music in the more
formal lounge, lovely though it was. And had I turned to the casino
for my nightly entertainment, well, as a slot player, chances are real
good I’d have gone bankrupt before we hit our first port.
What I wanted
was someplace to relax, have some laughs, spend a few hours, and maybe
win a little money.
Enter the
poker room.
The
River Meets the Sea
Though the
atmosphere of the room may be more casual than the rest of the ship,
the service provided by the Classic Gaming Cruises’ staff was as
flawless as Holland America’s. From the supervisors to the dealers,
a top-notch crew had been culled from across the states. Bob Thompson,
whose reputation in the ranks of poker is legendary and whose experience
includes the famous World Series of Poker held annually at Binion’s
Horseshoe in Vegas, was on board to coordinate the five tournaments
held over the seven-day cruise. Gene Timble expertly managed the room,
while Ginney Fahey and Phil Field served as hosts and cruise coordinators.
Meanwhile, Hap “The Tension Terminator” Field offered players
complimentary neck and shoulder massages.
All
games at all levels were spread. If there were enough players, a table
was opened. Though serious $20-$40 and higher Hold ’Em and Omaha
games lasted well into the night, there was never a long wait for $1-5
Stud or $4-$8 Hold ’Em. A high-hand contest gave players a chance
to win prizes throughout the voyage, and tickets earned with every evening
jackpot were entered into a drawing for a lovely porcelain statue of
an American Bald Eagle. And, as if there wasn’t enough food on
board, the room was constantly stocked with sandwiches, pizza, desserts
and coffee. A full-service bar was also available, though alcohol—as
elsewhere on board—did carry a charge.
Though
the games moved along at a comfortably fast pace, “newbies”
had nothing to fear. Poker lessons were offered during the day, and
both players and dealers were more than patient with the beginners—a
welcome change of attitude from most of the poker rooms I’ve played
in. No matter what the pot, I never saw tempers flare or cards tossed.
I felt so comfortable, I ventured away from the stud table and sat down
at Hold ’Em, a game I’m generally too intimidated to play
in a casino environment.
The room could
best be described as a private club. Any time I entered, I was greeted
by name by both the staff and the players. With approximately 1,400
passengers on board, the poker room felt like a warm respite from the
rest of the ship—a special place devoted solely to us players.
More so than even in the local casino cardrooms, this room and its staff
were committed to putting the players first.
This impressive
eagle made the perfect souvenir for a lucky poker player.
|
In fact, the
players even got to turn the tables on the dealers—something you’d
never see in a regular room. Midway through the cruise, a “Dealers
Tournament” was held. For this, players signed up to get in the
box and deal. The result was hysterical. It’s not as easy pitching
those cards as you might think!
From a pure
gambling perspective, there are some distinct advantages to playing
with the same people every night. You get to know their betting styles,
whether or not they have a tendency to bluff, and when to take a raise
as a sure sign to fold.
Better
still, you get to know them. The tables offered a chance to make friends
in a natural, rather than orchestrated, manner. As gaming isn’t
allowed when the ship is docked, many of the players met up to explore
the tiny tourism and canning towns of Juneau, Skagway and Ketchikan.
Another Classic Poker Cruise staff member, David, was armed on and off
shore with a digital camera, snapping candid shots of players in the
dining room, in the towns, and, of course, at the tables. He’ll
be posting the shots on the Internet, where they will be available for
order.
By the end
of the cruise, people were hugging and exchanging e-mail addresses.
Many had already signed up for the next poker cruise, scheduled for
November 3-13. This one, sailing on Holland America’s newest ship,
the Zaandam, is a 10-night cruise to the Southern Caribbean, stopping
in St. Kitts, Martinique, Trinidad, Dominica, the U.S. Virgin Islands,
and the Bahamas.
Bon
Voyage!
After my experience
on board the Veendam, I must say that I’m hooked. Cruising appeals
to every aspect I look for in a vacation. Never have I felt such serenity,
such inspiring awe for what Mother Nature can accomplish, and such freedom
to do either everything or nothing at all.
But I can
also say that I’m ruined for good. I just couldn’t imagine
not having that private balcony, even if it means I’ll have to
save for years before I venture out to sea again. It was worth that
much to me.
Likewise,
I wouldn’t want to cruise without poker as part of the experience.
For what Mother Nature couldn’t provide, Classic Gaming Cruises
did in spades. l
For more information on
Classic Gaming Cruises and upcoming events, call (702) 740-2273 or visit
their website at www.pokerdigest.com.
