The exact cost of a HAL cruise

[BrianC-80]

A throwaway remark by a crew member on last week's cruise revealed something interesting.

 

We were doing the usual win a cruise bingo on the last sea day (one day, darn it, that cruise will be mine!) and the numbers were quite low. We were told that 20 people (well cards sold) were required for the game to go ahead - and there were only 18 of us. One of the crew members remarked that at 17 players, HAL would make a $4 profit on the cruise given away.

 

So, it was an interior cabin aboard a Caribbean or Mexican 7 night cruise.

 

17 players x $20 = $340 - $4 = $336 ($48 per day).

 

Just thought it was an interesting factoid. :)

[sail7seas]

Don't necessarily be sure that is absolutely accurate.

They may mean well and think what they said is true but sometimes the crew gets things of that sort a little 'wrong'. They do not know for sure the value of the cruise as we all know the prices go up and they go down.

 

 

[KirkNC]

A throwaway remark by a crew member on last week's cruise revealed something interesting.

 

We were doing the usual win a cruise bingo on the last sea day (one day, darn it, that cruise will be mine!) and the numbers were quite low. We were told that 20 people (well cards sold) were required for the game to go ahead - and there were only 18 of us. One of the crew members remarked that at 17 players, HAL would make a $4 profit on the cruise given away.

 

So, it was an interior cabin aboard a Caribbean or Mexican 7 night cruise.

 

17 players x $20 = $340 - $4 = $336 ($48 per day).

 

Just thought it was an interesting factoid. :)

 

I wonder how they would factor in onboard spending, specialty restaurants, drinks, shore excursions, tips, gambling etc. I would bet the "typical person" might cover the cost just with those items.

[Krazy Kruizers]

The free cruise that people win at Bingo is for only the inside cabin. Nothing else is included. No alcohol, no shore excursions, no Hotel Service Charge, no extra tips, no speciality restaurants, no casino, etc.

So it isn't costing HAL a lot when a cabin is won at Bingo.

HAL is counting on those winners to spend a bundle on everything else.

[dobbsie]

I won a cruise playing bingo on the Prinsendam. It is basically worth $800. I applied it toward our cruise on the Rotterdam in April. Covered our hotel service charge as well as bingo and some time in the casino.

[Hflors]

I won a cruise playing bingo on the Prinsendam. It is basically worth $800. I applied it toward our cruise on the Rotterdam in April. Covered our hotel service charge as well as bingo and some time in the casino.

 

Did you need to claim it on your taxes?

[dobbsie]

Did you need to claim it on your taxes?

 

No, at least not yet. I have a friend who won a large bingo jackpot and did have to pay taxes. I won the cruise on Jan. 3, 2013, so it's possible I will receive the required docs from HAL for taxes. :eek:

[RuthC]

Did you need to claim it on your taxes?

If you're from the US you have to claim it on your Federal Income Tax form.

The smart thing to do is to get quotes from several travel agents who sell the same cruise. You may get a quote that's less than HAL values the cruise at, and can then claim the lower amount---paying less money on it.

[KirkNC]

No, at least not yet. I have a friend who won a large bingo jackpot and did have to pay taxes. I won the cruise on Jan. 3, 2013, so it's possible I will receive the required docs from HAL for taxes. :eek:

 

Ah yes, HAl giveth and the IRS takeith away. :mad:

[Typhoon1]

They would give you the cabin. The cruise lines make their money on your onboard spending.

 

Cabin cost is a very small part of the revenue.

[wander]

This post reminds me of an experience on a cruise ship (NOT HAL) on a ship about the size of the Prinsendam, so small by today's standards. We sailed two months after 9/11. For the first week of the cruise (a 30ish day cruise) the ship was really empty. There were more crew than passengers. We then picked-up a large contingent from the UK.

 

Anyhow, at a question and answer session the Captain was asked how many passengers it required to "break even" on the cruise. He said, only ONE, IF they were willing to pay $81,000 per day. (Remember, this was 10+ yrs ago and a smaller cruise ship.)

[mr green]

A throwaway remark by a crew member on last week's cruise revealed something interesting.

 

We were doing the usual win a cruise bingo on the last sea day (one day, darn it, that cruise will be mine!) and the numbers were quite low. We were told that 20 people (well cards sold) were required for the game to go ahead - and there were only 18 of us. One of the crew members remarked that at 17 players, HAL would make a $4 profit on the cruise given away.

 

So, it was an interior cabin aboard a Caribbean or Mexican 7 night cruise.

 

17 players x $20 = $340 - $4 = $336 ($48 per day).

 

Just thought it was an interesting factoid. :)

 

This makes me wonder.

'Would there be any CUT OFF NUMBER for tickets sold above the 20 person number?'

There are usually a few regulations on 'dry land' regarding this type of event.

 

john

[seapointer]

I won the cruise bingo a few years ago. Yes, it was for an inside cabin for 2 on a Caribbean or Mexican cruise, and it could be upgraded by paying the difference in price, based on regular published rates. We did upgrade to a verandah so it ended up as basically a 2 for 1 cruise. The only other restriction was a blackout during Christmas and New Years.

[sail7seas]

No, at least not yet. I have a friend who won a large bingo jackpot and did have to pay taxes. I won the cruise on Jan. 3, 2013, so it's possible I will receive the required docs from HAL for taxes. :eek:

 

 

It is possible you will receive a Form 1099 for declaring the winning on your 2013 tax return.

 

When you won, did you complete a simple name/address sort of form for HAL?

 

 

[FoxyTerrier]

It is possible you will receive a Form 1099 for declaring the winning on your 2013 tax return.

 

When you won, did you complete a simple name/address sort of form for HAL?

 

 

 

My 18 year old son won the Win a cruise lottery while on his high school graduation cruise back in 2006.

 

He never got anything from HAL after the fact. They gave him a certificate while we were still on board that we later had to fax to our Travel Agent.

 

We also never filed anything with the IRS as he had no income that year.

 

Also, when it came time to cash it in, he was told he was too young to cruise on HAL. Which really annoyed me as they happily took his 18 year old money. To use the cruise DH and I had to book a near-by cabin and put one of us in our cabin and the other in the "free" cabin. Needless to say his free cruise cost us about ~$3000.

[dobbsie]

It is possible you will receive a Form 1099 for declaring the winning on your 2013 tax return.

 

When you won, did you complete a simple name/address sort of form for HAL?

 

 

 

The Cruise Certificate form includes name and address as well as phone number. I'm looking forward to receiving the Form 1099 and what they list as the value. It was fun to win the cruise, and even more fun to use it. :D

[liketraveling]

I won a the cruise lottery that was good for a 7 day Mexican Riveria or 7 day carribean. The first thing I got was a 1099 form.

 

I used it as a credit towards another cruise.

 

In the end I ended up paying more for the cruise and got to pay income tax on it.

 

If you win one of these, use what it is for or your free cruise will be very expensive.

 

I don't think you get a 1099 for win a cruise bingo because the amount is different than for a lottery. If others have had different experiences feel free to correct me.

 

This was my experience!

 

 

When redeeming the certificate, I never got consistent information.

[Boytjie]

Somehow I recall $1,600 as being the limit above which forms need to filed for taxes.

[Infi]

DD won a free cruise in 2011 at bingo on the Eurodam. Immediately after winning, she had to go to the purser and fill out forms, provide her passport, etc. She received a certificate for redeeming the cruise and a tax form for gambling winnings. If I remember correctly, we were told US citizens had to declare the winnings and Canadians did not.

[indokiwi]

DD won a free cruise in 2011 at bingo on the Eurodam. Immediately after winning, she had to go to the purser and fill out forms, provide her passport, etc. She received a certificate for redeeming the cruise and a tax form for gambling winnings. If I remember correctly, we were told US citizens had to declare the winnings and Canadians did not.

 

A member of our party won the cruise lottery recently - the one that is drawn right before the final bingo. She had to go to the Purser's Office and supply a proof of address and proof of citizenship (passport and driver's license). I went as her witness which was also required (:confused:). The purser told us that a lot has changed with the IRS in terms of winnings in the last 2 years. If you won the Cruise Bingo (the one right after the CD's talk on the last day) and you are an American Citizen, you will jut receive the certificate and all is well. - HAL does not report these winnings to the IRS. If you win the Lottery though and are an American citizen, it WILL be reported, as Lottery winnings over $500 are taxable. Apparently Bingo winnings have a different ceiling ($1200 or similar). I am sure that this is all searchable on the IRS website, but I tend to stay away from that organization as much as possible. :p

 

So, at least that proves one thing - HAL considers the cruise to be worth more than $500 but less than $1200 :D

[callmehalia]

So, at least that proves one thing - HAL considers the cruise to be worth more than $500 but less than $1200 :D

 

I think the value for that sort of thing is based on a recent selling price (or perhaps even brochure), where as the cost to HAL is, of course, considerably less.