The Second Annual Card Player Cruises land-based event, The Maho Beach Poker Classic, will be held at Casino Royale as part of the Card Player Poker Tour
By Diana Cox

Sun, sand, salt water, and poker.
Card Player Cruises, in conjunction with Card Player Poker Tour, will combine the quintessential Caribbean elements with high-action poker once again during the second annual land-based St. Maarten Maho Beach Poker Classic at Casino Royale.

Play begins May 6, 2016 with a rapid-fire succession of tournaments at 1:20 p.m., 6 p.m., and 9 p.m., including a standard $125 no-limit hold’em tournament, a $135 bounty tournament, and a $255 mega-satellite into the main event.

Mega satellites to the $1,100 no- limit hold’em $100,000 guarantee main event will take place each day from May 6 to May 13. The main event will feature two day ones May 13 and 14 and a final day May 15.

The inaugural CPPT Maho Beach Poker Classic in May 2015 was an outstanding success. The international stop amassed a $207,000 prize pool, drew 138 entries, and awarded $37,950 to winner Enrici Christophe.

Where
St. Maarten, a roughly 33 square mile Dutch/French Caribbean island situated between the waters of the Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean sea, is a beach-lover’s paradise. Visitors enjoy year round water sports and outdoor activities, duty-free shopping, culinary delights, and lively nightlife.

With tourism being the main industry throughout the island, there is never a shortage of things for travelers and explorers to do and see.

Stay
After arriving at Princess Juliana International Airport, guests head to the all-inclusive Sonesta Maho Beach Resort just a short stroll away from the famous Maho Beach, a world renowned swatch of sea and sand known for its views of airplanes cutting down through blue sky over the top of beach-goers and landing at the nearby airport. Prices start at $145 per person for the resort’s limitless, all-inclusive meals, drinks and alcohol packages. The resort features a kids’ club and scheduled activity programs, making it a true destination within a destination for the entire family.

Located conveniently on the Island’s southwest shore in the cen ter of Maho Village, the hotel grounds feature a large pool area complete with swim-up bar, cascading waterfalls, a kids pool, five restaurants and bars, a spa, fitness center, and tennis courts.

Guests who book through Card Player Cruises are treated to a weekly beach dinner party, weekly managers cocktail parties, guest day-passes to the casino and spa with complimen- tary use of the resorts facilities, and all-inclusive meals and drinks pro- gram and nightly outdoor movies for kids and adults.

Upgrades for a premier Island guest room start at $170 per person and Deluxe Suites begin at $195 per person. Guests can also choose to stay at the Sonesta Ocean Point Resort for $235 per person.

Play
Just a few steps away from the resort lobby lies the largest casino on the island. Guests have to only cross the street to get to Casino Royale’s main doors and enter into 21,000 square feet of gaming possi- bilities. Casino Royale is home to 21 tables featuring American and French roulette, craps, Blackjack, three- card poker, Let it Ride, Caribbean Poker and Texas hold’em. Beyond the tables, patrons will find over 410 slot machines ranging from classic games to video slots.

Card Player Poker Tour Card Player Poker Tour tournament action beings May 6 with a $125 no-limit hold’em tournament, setting off a series of 19 tournaments, including the marquee event, the $1,100 no-limit hold’em $100,000 guarantee main event. The series also features ten main event satellites throughout the preliminary days. The three-day main event begins May 13 and will conclude May 15 with the crowning of yet another CPPT Champion.

For more information or to book, call Card Player Cruises at 1-888-999- 4880