Caribbean cruise VP update

[Minn. Fatz]

On Mrs. Minn's and my last cruise, to Alaska in 2008, I was able to find one machine on the MS Volendam with Ks or better Joker Poker with an EV over 100%. This situation has apparently been corrected, at least on the MS Zuiderdam where we just cruised to the Panama Canal and back. None of the games returned much over 95% not counting the progressive jackpot which someone hit on the last sea day for over $1400 (not I). If the Seaport Casino in Oranjestad, Aruba was any example, dry land odds weren't much better, only about 96%.As for table poker, the Zuiderdam has done away with the dealer and installed a Poker Pro automated 10-seat table laying $1-$2 no-limit Hold 'Em and taking a rake of 15%. On one hand reported to me, two players each dealt a pair of Aces preflop wound up splitting $4 between them while the table raked off $6. Needless to say I did not indulge, but did play four of the five $60 tournament, cashing in two and so keeping my shipboard casino losses to an acceptable level.