There will be an estimated $7.5 million in action during Holland America's MV Oosterdam's March 19 sailing from San Diego on a high stakes cruise for the 750 players who make the field in the Party Poker Million IV tournament, to be held aboard the ship.
Online poker players at Partypoker compete to win a seat at the ocean-going tables, and the playoff's big winner will walk away from the cruise with almost $2 million, says Mark Tenner, president of Las Vegas-based Card Player Cruises.
PartyPoker.com, launched four years ago, has become the world's largest online multi-player poker room in a hugely competitive, booming sector. It is licensed and regulated by the Kahnawake Gaming Commission, in Quebec, Canada.
Players can earn a spot in PartyPoker.com Million IV by competing in preliminary tournaments on the site. According to Tenner, of the more than 25,000 players who compete, the 750 who qualify in the online prelims will each receive a $12,600 package, which includes the buy-in to the finals and the Oosterdam cruise for two and spending cash.