Onboard with Paul: The Making of the Singapore Board Game Cruise

What’s it like organizing Singapore’s first and only board game cruise? We chat with Paul Ho to find out!

Q: Please give the readers a short introduction about yourself and your company. What is your “origin” story, and how did you come about starting this business?

Hi all, my name’s Paul and I'm the founder of Paul’s Tabletop, the community behind the Singapore Board Game Cruise. My journey into this niche really began with my own deep love for board games – a passion that started back in my childhood. In those days, there were only Risk, Cluedo, and the dreaded Monopoly. So when Settler’s Cafe first introduced modern board games to Singapore, I was instantly hooked. 

I started hosting weekly board game sessions at my place a few years back using Telegram and the community has steadily grown since then. We now organise about 8 sessions a month in 3 different locations around the West. We also host special events like board game auctions and overseas retreats!   

The 'origin story' for the cruise itself actually came from a member who was “too introverted” to join our regular retreats and suggested we do a cruise instead. This idea, combined with the success of Dice Tower Cruise, inspired me to contact Royal Caribbean and kick things off. Thankfully, our local RCC office was very intrigued by the idea and has supported us greatly in launching the Singapore Board Game Cruise.

Q: What’s the most rewarding part of running a board game-focused cruise? Why do you think the experience resonates well with passengers?

The most rewarding part is witnessing diverse groups of people come together to share our love for colourful cardboard. It's truly magical to see strangers become friends over a shared game, or to watch a family bond as they strategize together. The atmosphere onboard is really vibrant – a mix of intense focus, chill vibes, and roaring laughter. There is a deep sense of unspoken camaraderie that emerges, and it is so precious and fulfilling to be part of.

I believe the experience resonates because it offers a perfect escape. In our busy lives, dedicated time for hobbies and meaningful social interaction can be hard to come by. The cruise removes all those distractions. You're in an environment where everyone shares your passion, you have access to a huge library of games, and there's no pressure beyond deciding what game to play next. It's an immersive bubble of fun, discovery, and camaraderie that people crave. It’s not like any other holiday, it’s a shared adventure into the world of tabletop gaming, creating memories that last long after disembarking.

Q: What are some memorable moments from past events that have stood out to you?

I think one of the funniest things that emerged on the last cruise was everyone’s obsession with playing “The Gang”. The Gang is a fun co-op card game based on ranking poker hands and it was the most played game by far. Every session ended with some form of hilarious scolding and fun teasing. 

There were also countless memorable moments from the Blood on the Clocktower sessions. Moses Simon, our very own BOTC chairman, is an excellent host, and his sessions are intensely fun, nerve-wracking and always end with some nonsense from the players. 

Other memorable moments happened outside of gaming, on the shores of Phuket and Penang. Much of the group disembarked for a big seafood lunch and there was much talking, sharing and laughing over a sumptuous meal.

Q:  What are some of the biggest challenges you face when organising an event like the Singapore Board Game Cruise, especially in terms of logistics and planning?

The two biggest challenges, by far, are managing people and providing the games library. People, especially in large groups, are hard to gather and coordinate.

Firstly, getting people to sign up for such a niche and unique event presents its own set of challenges. It requires targeted communication to the board game community and those who might be keen on a gaming vacation. 

Secondly, the entire onboarding journey, starting with sign-ups, requires painstaking coordination. This involves not just marketing effectively to the right audience, but also managing bookings, deposits, and room allocations for a large group. We often need to accommodate specific requests, match solo travelers, handle various cabin types and pricing tiers, all while coordinating with RCC’s reservation system. It's a tiresome dance of data management and customer service to ensure everyone’s happy.

Lastly, the most challenging feat logistically is literally bringing hundreds of diverse board games on board. We're talking about everything from small card games (The Gang, Scout) all the way to massive multi box strategic epics (Twilight Imperium, Too Many Bones) and everything in between! 

Q: What exciting plans or new features can attendees look forward to in upcoming events?

One thrilling new feature we're introducing is Jubensha (剧本杀) murder mystery sessions, specifically tailored and translated into English. We've seen the incredible surge in popularity of these immersive, story-driven deduction games, and we believe they're a perfect fit for the intimate and engaging atmosphere of the Singapore Board Game Cruise. 

Imagine stepping into a captivating mystery or a dramatic narrative with your fellow passengers, playing out a unique character role, and uncovering secrets over several hours, all while at sea. It's a fantastic way to deepen social bonds and experience a truly unique form of tabletop storytelling.

What makes this particularly special is that high-quality English Jubensha experiences are incredibly rare and often quite expensive to access. So, offering these unique, curated sessions represents a significant value proposition for our members!

Q: How do you facilitate player matching for different games? Is there a system to help guests find others with similar gaming interests or skill levels?

Unlike many structured events, our cruise is designed to be incredibly free-form, with very little official program. We believe this autonomy is key to the relaxed, immersive experience we offer. Members are free to enjoy all the cruise facilities, disembark at destinations, and most importantly, play games at their own time and pace.

Because of this philosophy, player matching isn't dictated by a rigid schedule. Instead, we empower our gamers to organize sessions organically.

One of the most effective tools we use is the communal whiteboard in the gaming hall - our analog, low-tech, but incredibly effective hub. Anyone looking for players for a specific game, or even a particular type of game (e.g., 'heavy strategy,' 'party games'), can simply write it on the board. They'll note the game, the desired number of players, and a time/location. It's a highly visual and dynamic system that allows spontaneous groups to form throughout the day and night. It's fantastic for impromptu sessions and seeing what's currently in play.

Another tool we use is a dedicated Telegram group chat. This is for those who prefer a digital approach or want to plan further ahead. We create an active Telegram group chat specifically for the cruise, where members connect before and during the event. They can announce game preferences, pitch specific titles they want to play, share their skill levels, and coordinate meet-ups. It's an efficient way for people to find others with similar gaming interests or to gauge interest in a longer, more complex game. Note, the cruise has limited Wi-Fi capabilities and not everyone will have access to Telegram while sailing, so most big games should be arranged before the cruise.

Lastly, as the main organizer, I do take note of solo sign-ups and personally ensure they are well taken care of and have relevant groups to join. We don’t leave anyone behind and do our best to welcome all to the fold. 

Between these systems, our community does an amazing job of self-organizing. It fosters a very friendly and proactive environment where members quickly find their gaming tribe, whether they're looking for casual card games or an epic 6-hour strategy slog. It's a testament to the collaborative spirit of board gamers themselves.

Q:  Do you offer any games that are exclusive to the Singapore Board Game Cruise? If so, could you share a brief description of these games?

True exclusivity is almost impossible in the board game world but we do have many veteran gamers going with comprehensive collections that’ll probably include some rare or hard to find titles. 

We also have a partnership with Geekster and CL will try his best to provide the latest Spiel games for our members to try. 

One key game highlight is Twilight Imperium 4 with all codices and expansions. TI4 is a notoriously difficult game to table due to its size and commitment requirement. SBGC will feature a special TI4 table with the latest expansion Thunder’s Edge.

Q:   What is the community like on the Singapore Board Game Cruise? Do many attendees return, and how do you foster this sense of repeat engagement?

The community is the heart and soul of the event – it's incredibly passionate, welcoming, and diverse with just the right amount of crazy. We see everyone from seasoned gaming veterans, beginners in their discovery phase, social deduction fanatics, DnD groups, hardcore euro and 18xx players, casual gamers and even whole families. 

What strikes you is the genuine enthusiasm for tabletop gaming. The on board atmosphere is like a vibrant, ever-expanding gathering of friends, even if many are meeting for the first time. There's an infectious eagerness to teach, learn, play, strategize and to share laughs over nonsense moments. It’s an inclusive space where everyone feels they belong.

We have about 30% repeat attendees for next year’s cruise. The biggest hurdle towards repeat engagement is price, some members find it too expensive to go for back-to-back cruises, opting instead for once every 2 years.  

How we foster repeat engagement:

Crafting Unforgettable Experiences - Our primary focus is always on delivering a top-notch experience. This includes our free form structure, large and curated game selection, awesome game gurus, and giving people the space to just explore and connect. When people have a genuinely fantastic and seamless time, they naturally want to relive it.

Building an Active Board Game Community - the cruise is simply one of the major events our members can join. The main focus is still the community itself. We hold regular sessions, events, auctions, retreats and provide a space for buying/selling and hobby discussion. People who join the cruise get invited to this larger community and tend to stay on. So when the next cruise happens we have a large pool of regulars who are already keen. 

Gathering and Taking Feedback Seriously - We actively solicit detailed feedback after every cruise. This isn't just a formality; we genuinely use this input to shape future events. Whether it's bringing in new games, refining our process and schedule, or exploring new activities like Jubensha, we strive to make our returning community feel heard and valued.

Q: Where can we find out more about this event?

Visit https://singaporeboardgamecruise.com/ to learn more!