Card Player Cruises Ready for Alaska in September
There are people who play poker. There are people who enjoy cruises. Linda Johnson and Jan Fisher are two of those people who combine their passions in Card Player Cruises. So, too, are their business partners, Tina and Mark Napolitano. But like with so many things, the pandemic forced them to stop running Card Player Cruises in early 2020, albeit temporarily.
As 2021 delivered vaccines, thereby reducing the number of positive Covid-19 cases, hospitalizations, and deaths, hope sprung anew that cruises could resume this year.
Several months ago, the Card Player Cruises team announced a 2022 schedule, confident that cruises will be able to run as normal by next year. But they held out hope that two cruises still on the calendar for 2021 would be able to run as planned. One was a September cruise along the Alaska coast and the other a Caribbean cruise in November.
The latest information indicates those cruises are, indeed, going to happen as scheduled.
Alaska is a Go with a Caveat
The Card Player Cruises team excitedly confirms that the Alaska cruise set for this September is official. Royal Caribbean confirmed that the ship – Ovation of the Seas – will sail. The only caveat is that there will be no poker on it.
As most people have figured out during the pandemic – if they didn’t know it before – poker is a difficult game in which to ensure a sanitary, germ-free experience. Players and the dealer must touch cards and chips. Germs spread. Poker rooms have been the last parts of most casinos to reopen since the pandemic, and they remain a challenge for sanitization protocols.
When Royal Caribbean gave the go-ahead for cruises this year, poker was an unknown part of the package. And as Card Player Cruises had to acknowledge, the Alaska cruise in September will not include poker games.
The team decided to host the cruise anyway, in an effort to reunite many in the poker community and follow through with the natural wonders that the Alaska cruise offers on its own.
The new itinerary for the Alaska Glacier Cruise on the Ovation of the Seas ship is as follows:
-September 3: Docked in Seattle, Washington
-September 4: Cruising
-September 5: Cruising through Inside Passage, docking in Juneau
-September 6: Cruising and docking in Skagway
-September 7: Cruising and docking in Sitka
-September 8: Cruising through Endicott Arm and Dawes Glacier
-September 9: Cruising
-September 10: Docking in Seattle
There are lots of excursions available on Card Player Cruises Sept 3-10 Alaska cruise. White water rafting, glacier hiking, fishing, dog mushing, salmon bakes, flightseeing, scenic train trip, etc. Call 888-999-4880 to book this incredible trip and bring your family and friends.
— Linda Johnson (@FirstLadyPoker) June 4, 2021
Typically, this type of cruise would offer beginner poker lessons, as well as a range of cash games when the ship is at sea. There seems to be a chance that Royal Caribbean could change its plan and open the poker room, but at this time, the word is no.
All passengers aged 12 and older will need to present verification that they received all pertinent doses of a Covid-19 vaccine at least 14 days prior to the departure date.
Caribbean Cruise on for November
With the obvious disclaimer that anything may happen in the months leading to November 2021, Royal Caribbean belies that the 7-Night Eastern Caribbean Cruise will sail. At this time, it plans to be a poker cruise, though the poker schedule has yet to be announced.
This one will sail on the Oasis of the Seas and travel as follows:
-November 7: Docked in Miami, Florida
-November 8: Docking in Perfect Day Cococay, Bahamas
-November 9: Cruising
-November 10: Docking in Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas
-November 11: Docking in Philipsburg, St. Maarten
-November 12: Cruising
-November 13: Cruising
-November 14: Docking in Miami
Expanding 2022 Schedule
As the excitement builds at Card Player Cruises, organizers already added a Mexican Riviera Cruise in the past few weeks that will sail in March 2022. The entire next year is packed with opportunities to travel around the North American region.
This is now the current 2022 schedule:
-7-Night Eastern Caribbean Cruise: January 22-29 on Symphony of the Seas
-7-Night Mexican Riviera Cruise: March 18-25 on Navigator of the Seas
-7-Night Western Caribbean Cruise: April 3-10 on Liberty of the Seas
-10-Night Hawaii Cruise: April 25 – May 5 on Ovation of the Seas
-7-Night Alaska Cruise: August 29 – September 5 on Quantum of the Seas
-5-Night Bermuda Cruise: October 8-13 on Adventure of the Seas
-9-Night Canada/New England Cruise: October 13-22 on Adventure of the Seas
-8-Night Southern Caribbean Cruise: October 29 – November 6 on Explorer of the Seas
All cruises are part of the Royal Caribbean line.
Cruisers should know that every ship will open its poker room when at sea. On those cruise days, the poker room will open at 9am, closing during first-seating dinner but then reopening for players until 3am or 4am. However, only players who book their trips through Card Player Cruises will be able to play poker on the ship. But poker buy-ins are not included in the cruise fare.
Most often, players can choose from No Limit Hold’em tables from $1/$3 to $2/$5 Limit Hold’em from $2/$4 to $4/$8 Omaha-8 at $4/$8, and mixed games at $4/$8. Other games and higher stakes may run if enough players request those games.
Each poker cruise also offers at least 7-10 tournaments per cruise, on average. Buy-ins typically start as low as $80.
Poker players need only be 18 to play. New players can attend poker lessons and seminars with Johnson and Fisher as the instructors. And the managers enforce a strict no-abuse policy to ensure a safe and friendly playing environment.
Are Vaccinations Required?
The answer to this question seems to be changing with some frequency of late.
In May, Royal Caribbean said it would mandate proof of vaccination for all cruisers aged 16 and over. However, the rule received significant pushback from the likes of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. So, as of June 4, players may be asked if they received a Covid-19 vaccination, but proof of it will not be required to cruise from many locations.
It appears that cruisers must show proof of vaccination to depart from Seattle and the Bahamas at this time.
This may change, so check with Card Player Cruises for the most up-do-date requirements and cruise options.
