Cruisin for Poker Fun

It seems like the latest trend in popular poker tournaments if to put them afloat. Poker cruises have a lot of appeal, and a number of poker rooms are going out of their way to arrange for their events to be on board a luxury cruise ship, but what about the poker games you find on a cruise you are already planning? Carnival Cruise line has gotten smart and organized poker tournaments to coincide with a number of their 2008 cruises.

The 2008 Wild Winners Tournament series isn't just poker – slots and blackjack are included – but poker tournaments are what we are after, right? The "World's Leading Cruise Lines" (according to their PR) is running their events on 10 different Fun Ship cruises going from now through October. The newest ship – a 3,006-passenger monster called Carnival Splendor  -- will host the grand final event in November.

All first place winners – blackjack, slots, poker – of the preliminary events get a free cruise for the final event in November (itself worth playing for).

For some reason the poker tourney is left out of the $2,500 cash prize, but oh well. Should you go all the way and win the poker side of things in November, you have yourself a $10,000 ticket to the 2009 World Series of Poker main event.

Sure that seems like a long way away, but in November it will feel right around the corner.

Check out Carnival Cruise lines for details on the events!

(Editor's Note: And check out Paddy Power Poker for a fantastic sign up bonus, and win a seat to the Irish Open!)