The WPT has added another unique event to its ever-expanding portfolio of tournament offerings. Not content with taking over the best land-based casinos in the world, WPT Voyage is heading out to sea with the help of Virgin Voyages.
Poker tournaments on cruise ships are nothing new, but the WPT is upping the ante with a six-day festival in 2024. Packed into the six-day voyage will be a WPT main event, a WPT Prime, and selection of side events.
In total, the guaranteed prizepool is $1.5 million. However, the allure of sailing onboard a luxury cruise liner, in tandem with affordable satellites, should generate more interest than that. Naturally, there will be capacity restrictions in place. But, with 1,400 rooms and space for 80 poker tables, there will be plenty of action when WPT Voyage sets sail on March 31, 2024.
Party at sea with WPT Voyage
Playing poker is fun, but WPT Voyage is designed to be more than that. Parlaying the same party vibe players enjoyed during the 2022 WPT World Championship, the cruise will offer a mixture of dining, entertainment, and extracurricular activities.
The Virgin Voyages cruise ship, Valiant Lady, will leave Miami on March 31, 2024. From there, it will plot a course for Grand Cayman before dropping anchor in Bimini, Bahamas. There it will sit for a few days so players can enjoy a variety of experiences, including jet skiing, snorkeling, and an exclusive pool party at Bimini Beach Club.
Those who prefer to stay onboard have plenty of options outside of the poker room. Virgin Voyages’ Valiant Lady has more than 20 boutique restaurants, nightclubs, private karaoke rooms, and a tattoo parlor. Add to this plenty of outdoor space where you can catch some rays, and playing poker could almost be an afterthought. Of course, the organizers know this, which is why they’ve put together a strong line-up of events:
WPT Voyage Schedule
- $5,000 WPT Voyage main event with a $1 million guarantee
- $1,100 WPT Prime event with a $500,000 guarantee
- $25,000 High Roller
In addition to these marquee tournaments, WPT Voyage will feature a ladies event and mystery bounty.
New experiences for poker players
WPT CEO, Adam Pliska, said the partnership with Virgin Voyages plays into his company’s efforts to make live poker more attractive for players across the board.
“The WPT Voyage will elevate an already amazing onboard experience with world-class poker and entertainment, creating one of the most fun and sought after events on the calendar,” Pliska said in Tuesday’s press release.
The WPT has long been among the world’s leading tournament operators. However, the 2022 WPT World Championship redefined its position within the industry. As well as tournaments that surpassed all expectations, the series gave pros and qualifiers the chance to party in Las Vegas.
CardsChat attended the series and, from our perspective, it was a throwback to the early days of the poker boom. Pliska and his team are intent on parlaying this into more player-friendly events. WPT Voyage is part of this effort and, moreover, another way for players to enjoy a unique poker experience.
You can book tickets for WPT Voyage and its events at WPTVoyage.com. Alternatively, you could win your way onto the cruise by anteing up in satellites taking place inside the WPT at Sea Poker Room on Virgin Voyages’ Scarlet Lady.
