anyone won a free cruise at bingo?

[uncleguitar]

On our last cruise my 11 yr old son won a free 7 night cruise for 2 that has to be used within a year..i have tried repeatedly to call the number i was give (mailbox always full) and even emailed twice in the last 3 days with no response..all i want to do is add my children the the cruise which would require another room...has anyone had any luck with this in the past? I am wondering if they hope you will give up it it requires too much work! ThX

[Evelyn9597]

Yes, I was very lucky to have won a 7-night cruise whilst playing Bingo on Independence last year.

 

I usually got a response from the CompCruises people, via Email, within a couple of days or so. So don't give up yet!

 

Unfortunately, we weren't able to take the cruise because of the additional costs involved (adding extra guests and the high cost airfare from the UK being the main stumbling blocks:(). Also, I couldn't really find anything that slotted easily in to my children's school holidays.

[marci22]

Yes, I was very lucky to have won a 7-night cruise whilst playing Bingo on Independence last year.

Unfortunately, we weren't able to take the cruise because of the additional costs involved (adding extra guests and the high cost airfare from the UK being the main stumbling blocks:(). Also, I couldn't really find anything that slotted easily in to my children's school holidays.

 

That was the April 3 cruise? I remember you saying you might not be able to go. Sorry it didn't work out :(

[uncleguitar]

Thank you..i will wait and hopefully someone will answer my email...that is too bad about losing your cruise...i assume they would not allow you to transfer it to anyone else...

by the time we pay for 5 airfares and another room it will definitely add up! But still very excited to win!

[ryano]

Thank you..i will wait and hopefully someone will answer my email...that is too bad about losing your cruise...i assume they would not allow you to transfer it to anyone else...

by the time we pay for 5 airfares and another room it will definitely add up! But still very excited to win!

 

Not that I will ever win one but if you dont mind me asking, are these "free" cruises truly "free" or do you have to still pay the taxes and port charges that are normally associate with all cruises?

 

And Im sure they will send out a 1099 around tax season next year and that this free cruise has to be reported as income?

 

I would LOVE to win a 7 night cruise either way! Congrats!

[uncleguitar]

basically the room (and food) is free but taxes and gratuities and port charges are my responsiblilty...so it is still great!:) my same son also won $500 playing the same game of Bingo! They don't give you cash they apply it to your onboard expenses...

[ryano]

basically the room (and food) is free but taxes and gratuities and port charges are my responsiblilty...so it is still great!:) my same son also won $500 playing the same game of Bingo! They don't give you cash they apply it to your onboard expenses...

 

Wow! you should have him pick some lottery numbers! :D:p Congrats!

[snownyet]

I won a free cruise @ bingo on HAL a few years ago, it was for 7 days inside cabin, taxes extra. We upgraded to a balcony for $199 each and it turned out to be probably the best vacation we've had.. Very thrilling to win too, especially since I dont care much for bingo and was talked into going. Ironically an inconsiderate man had quickly jumped in line ahead of me to get his card, so it should have been him than won. Just goes to show that sometimes it does pay to be patient...lol

[jandiart]

My brother-in Law and I pooled our money for bingo. We won a cruise for 2 on the Liberty of the Seas. We are taking it in December and have booked a second room with our TA. We have to pay the government fees--Not the port charge-- and they only charged us $30 each (for 2) to upgrade to a balcony cabin. Even though each couple will be paying for one person it is a big win for us.

[Canusa02]

Not that I will ever win one but if you dont mind me asking, are these "free" cruises truly "free" or do you have to still pay the taxes and port charges that are normally associate with all cruises?

 

And Im sure they will send out a 1099 around tax season next year and that this free cruise has to be reported as income?

 

I would LOVE to win a 7 night cruise either way! Congrats!

 

My wife won the Owner's Suite on the Navigator a few years ago, and we didn't have to declare it as income. It's not like a bonus at work.

[Canusa02]

I won a free cruise @ bingo on HAL a few years ago, it was for 7 days inside cabin, taxes extra. We upgraded to a balcony for $199 each and it turned out to be probably the best vacation we've had.. Very thrilling to win too, especially since I dont care much for bingo and was talked into going. Ironically an inconsiderate man had quickly jumped in line ahead of me to get his card, so it should have been him than won. Just goes to show that sometimes it does pay to be patient...lol

 

The end result of this makes me :D:D:D!!!

[granger]

I won a cruise in a slot tournament and had difficulty getting through to the phone number provided. I eventually phone RCL direct and explained my problem, they were very helpful and within a few hours I received a call from the casino booking department, perhaps you could do the same.

[ZoeyVictoria]

In 2007 I bought a $5 scratch-off lottery ticket and won $10 - bought a $10 ticket and won $20 - bought a $20 ticket and won $500. We applied the $500 to a $554 Carnival cruise, paid $20 for one bingo card on-board and won a free 5-day cruise. Two cruises - total investment $79.00. Wish I could do that at will, but it has never happened again :D We did have to pay taxes and port fees, but it was a minimal amount. We had a wonderful time, and now play bingo on every cruise.

[Choochala]

Damn - I'm gonna play me some Bingo next cruise :p

[uncleguitar]

so i guess people really do win alot at bingo...always thought these things were fixed! I will wait another day then call Royal Carib and see how far i get...

we did play another round of bingo and won nothing (thats what we get for being greedy:))

[addicted2]

basically the room (and food) is free but taxes and gratuities and port charges are my responsiblilty...so it is still great!:) my same son also won $500 playing the same game of Bingo! They don't give you cash they apply it to your onboard expenses...

 

Have one many Bingo games onboard and you can have them give you cash if you want. The most embarrassing was winning three games in one bingo session on the Liberty a couple years ago. I think I ended up with seven bingo shirts. I also won the jackpot of $2300.00 on our first cruise on the Monarch back in 2006. Never one the free cruise but I haven't given up trying.

[LilMermaid]

I actually just won a 7 day cruise at Bingo a couple weeks ago on our March 5th Liberty of the Seas cruise! When they checked the card on the big screen up front and said it was a winning card, all the blood rushed out of my head and I almost fainted :) Anyway, I have one year to take a 7 day Caribbean cruise on any ship except the Allure since she is in her inaugural year. So I am going to book Oasis. My as well get the most bang from their buck!! I've been on the phone with RCI and was told that to book I have to send the certificate in (while keeping a copy) and they will call me to make final arrangements. They will give me either an inside or outside room in certain specified categories. We can upgrade for a fee but won't. We just pay the taxes.

 

Oh, and I won on a paper card instead of those high priced machines. I always say that someone has to win!

[uncleguitar]

I actually just won a 7 day cruise at Bingo a couple weeks ago on our March 5th Liberty of the Seas cruise! When they checked the card on the big screen up front and said it was a winning card, all the blood rushed out of my head and I almost fainted :) Anyway, I have one year to take a 7 day Caribbean cruise on any ship except the Allure since she is in her inaugural year. So I am going to book Oasis. My as well get the most bang from their buck!! I've been on the phone with RCI and was told that to book I have to send the certificate in (while keeping a copy) and they will call me to make final arrangements. They will give me either an inside or outside room in certain specified categories. We can upgrade for a fee but won't. We just pay the taxes.

 

Oh, and I won on a paper card instead of those high priced machines. I always say that someone has to win!

Congratulations.! Everyone who won at Bingo seemed to be playing the machine instead of the cards so it is nice to know they both win...

[snownyet]

so i guess people really do win alot at bingo...always thought these things were fixed! I will wait another day then call Royal Carib and see how far i get...

we did play another round of bingo and won nothing (thats what we get for being greedy:))

 

 

I dont think you have to go directly through Royal. My win on Royal Caribbean but when it was time to book our free cruise we did it though a travel agent and had no problems at all.

[Evelyn9597]

Ironically an inconsiderate man had quickly jumped in line ahead of me to get his card, so it should have been him than won. Just goes to show that sometimes it does pay to be patient...lol

 

A very similar thing happened to me. I was in a HUGE line with my daughter to buy tickets and the woman directly in front of us flounced off because she got impatient. Therefore, the winning ticket would have belonged to her:p:D.

 

When I saw her around the ship, I was SO tempted to say something but managed to resist being smug;).

[BillOh]

. I always say that someone has to win!

 

Unless like they have done on some cruises, "To win the free cruise you must have a bingo before X number of balls have dropped", then the price changes to $250. It was an insanely low number, you almost had to have 2/3 of the numbers that they called in order to complete the card on time.

[temple1]

A very similar thing happened to me. I was in a HUGE line with my daughter to buy tickets and the woman directly in front of us flounced off because she got impatient. Therefore, the winning ticket would have belonged to her:p:D.

 

When I saw her around the ship, I was SO tempted to say something but managed to resist being smug;).

 

I don't know if I could have resisted - or at least look over while in ear shot and say something about so glad the person ahead of me in line walked away so I won the cruise. :D

 

I will usually play Bingo once on a cruise. On our first Enchantment cruise I won a 5 night cruise. And the OP is correct - the initial contact with the free cruise person is tough - but once contact is made they are great to work with.

 

Funny thing - I haven't played Bingo since!

[SpartyOn813]

I actually just won a 7 day cruise at Bingo a couple weeks ago on our March 5th Liberty of the Seas cruise! When they checked the card on the big screen up front and said it was a winning card, all the blood rushed out of my head and I almost fainted :) Anyway, I have one year to take a 7 day Caribbean cruise on any ship except the Allure since she is in her inaugural year. So I am going to book Oasis. My as well get the most bang from their buck!! I've been on the phone with RCI and was told that to book I have to send the certificate in (while keeping a copy) and they will call me to make final arrangements. They will give me either an inside or outside room in certain specified categories. We can upgrade for a fee but won't. We just pay the taxes.

 

Oh, and I won on a paper card instead of those high priced machines. I always say that someone has to win!

 

I was on that same cruise with you and played Bingo as well and saw you win!! Congrats!! I won the scalp massage the last day...better than a poke in the eye right?! haha!

[temple1]

When they checked the card on the big screen up front and said it was a winning card, all the blood rushed out of my head and I almost fainted :)

 

That is the biggest rush when they have the remaining players stand and people start sitting down; standing there and waiting for someone to yell BINGO at any second! :eek:

 

Then there is the second guessing yourself and the anticipated embarassment if you made an error. :o

 

Gosh, that was fun, perhaps I'll play again this summer.

[LilMermaid]

I was on that same cruise with you and played Bingo as well and saw you win!! Congrats!! I won the scalp massage the last day...better than a poke in the eye right?! haha!

 

Thank you! I remember seeing you win the scalp massage on the last day! Did you get to use it?? I actually won a foot massage from the spa right before I won the cruise. I could only use it though while the ship was in port and we only had one more port day. Hmmmmm, Labadee or foot massage......:D

 

Funny story - my husband didn't see me win the cruise (or foot massage!) because he was in the cabin napping. I went upstairs, went into the room and excitedly said "I won I won"! Then I handed him the certificate for the free foot massage. "Very funny", he says. A couple minutes later I say, "oh, by the way, I also won this". I dropped the certificate for the free cruise on his chest, but he doesn't believe me! Not until I start jumping up and down and yelling that I really did win the free cruise did he believe me :p.

On the last night we were going into our cabin and the people next door asked if I was the one who won the free cruise. I said yes, and were they there to see me? They said no, but they heard me screaming in the room. OOOOPS!