WON a Free cruise ! on Rccl.

[UNV-IT!!!]

Has anyone won a cruise in bingo?

[Seaworthy01]

Well, for you I hope it is legit:)

 

We DID win a free cruise with RCCL, but it was by playing bingo on the Explorer last Feb. We are sailing in January from San Juan on the Adventure.

 

So it does happen:D

 

Has anyone won a cruise in bingo?

 

 

Dalton5 Did.

[goose30]

We won a "free" cruise from a local travel agent. We did have to pay the taxes though. So a $2,500 cruise only cost a little over $100 in taxes. While it was not 100% free, it was still pretty close :D

 

Don't forget the income tax on the $2,500. The government always gets their piece.

[SeagoingMom]

A FREE cruise is FREE. You did not win a free cruise as you are paying all government fees and taxes. Friend of mine fell for one of those and even gave them their credit card number to pay for incidentals. The final outcome was not pretty. Beware.!!!!!

I am afraid that all sweepstakes require the winner to pay taxes on the winnings -- income tax at least, if not sales tax, too. This is why one should take the tax burden of "winning" a prize into consideration before one enters a contest. If you win, for example, a $4000 cruise, you will have to add the value of the prize into your "income" to report to the IRS, and pay taxes accordingly. Some huge sweepstakes like the HGTV "win a home" ones, give you a bunch of money along with the house, just to help you pay the taxes -- but you are also paying income taxes on the money you win to pay the taxes! And winning a large prize can bump one into a higher tax bracket than one may be used to.

 

The other issue is having to pay taxes on the valuation of the cruise that the company puts on the prize, as opposed to what you might actually choose to pay to take a cruise. Basically you are going to be responsible to pay sales and income taxes on the "brochure rate" of the cruise, not the actual cost you might have incurred if you chose a cruise at a price you preferred. I believe if you can prove that the actual value of the cruise is less than the "brochure" price (by showing what the going price is for that particular cruise -- what other people are paying) you may be allowed by the IRS to value the cruise at that price and pay less tax.

 

This does not take into consideration port fees, which may or may not be included in a "free" cruise...

 

I see that while I was composing this familygoboston posted similar info...)

[ZoeyVictoria]

Has anyone won a cruise in bingo?

 

I did! I started with a $5 lottery scratch off ticket, kept winning and buying more tickets, and eventually turned that $5 into $500. Used it towards a $554 Carnival 3-night cruise, paid $20 to play bingo, and won a 5-night cruise.

[reedl]

...snip...

We will find out Thursday night. I think I might have jump the gun on the cruise, However I can sit for 2 hours if it means 7 days on the cruise.

...snip...

Please let us know tomorrow if this is legit or not. Some questions though:

1) Does it actually say Royal Caribbean?

2) Does it specify the length of the cruise?

3) Is there an expiration date?

[retird]

I am afraid that all sweepstakes require the winner to pay taxes on the winnings -- income tax at least, if not sales tax, too. This is why one should take the tax burden of "winning" a prize into consideration before one enters a contest. If you win, for example, a $4000 cruise, you will have to add the value of the prize into your "income" to report to the IRS, and pay taxes accordingly. Some huge sweepstakes like the HGTV "win a home" ones, give you a bunch of money along with the house, just to help you pay the taxes -- but you are also paying income taxes on the money you win to pay the taxes! And winning a large prize can bump one into a higher tax bracket than one may be used to.

 

The other issue is having to pay taxes on the valuation of the cruise that the company puts on the prize, as opposed to what you might actually choose to pay to take a cruise. Basically you are going to be responsible to pay sales and income taxes on the "brochure rate" of the cruise, not the actual cost you might have incurred if you chose a cruise at a price you preferred. I believe if you can prove that the actual value of the cruise is less than the "brochure" price (by showing what the going price is for that particular cruise -- what other people are paying) you may be allowed by the IRS to value the cruise at that price and pay less tax.

 

This does not take into consideration port fees, which may or may not be included in a "free" cruise...

 

I see that while I was composing this familygoboston posted similar info...)

 

 

I guess I was approaching it from a Canadian point of view. We do not have to pay any form of tax on a winning. We do not have gift taxes nor inheritance taxes.

[Esmerelda]

I won a cruise back in 2008. It was an essay contest that I had entered about 6 months prior to the phone call. I had to write about my most memorable 'travel experience'. I won out of nearly 10,000 entries. I was quite thrilled even though at first I thought it was a scam. I piped up when I realized it was the editor for "Chicken Soup for the Soul" in California. My story was published into the book titled "Travel Soup for the Soul". It was quite an honor. Unfortunately, as you can see in my signature, the cruise didn't go so great but I was still honored never the less.

 

I wish the OP the best!:)

[Esmerelda]

Congrats on your win. I do hope it is legit. Some give-a-ways are totally legit but previously I had my doubts about things like that. A few years ago I entered a contest from an email from Princess for a free cruise and I won. However, it was a contest to nominate someone who deserved a get-a-way & I nominated the man that had been my nephews bone marrow donor. I was super excited when Princess called to tell me that my nomination had been selected. I then got to call & tell the donor that he had a free cruise. He went & had a wonderful time. I have never met the donor face to face but I owe him much more than a cruise for saving my nephews life. The stipulations were much like the ones the OP listed.

Hope everthing checks out & you are able to go on your cruise & come back to post about it.

 

Beachdreaming, I gotta say that I get very frustrated some days at this site because people can be so cruel and snippy about whatever the topic is. I go weeks without even reading on here. Your post just brought a tear to my eye. That was a wonderful thing for you to do and a wonderful thing that the donor did. I'm so glad your nephew is doing better.

 

As a matter of fact, this is the best post I've read on here in months.

:D

[sdear]

It does happen.......but I am sure I paid for this somewhere along the way :cool::eek::D:D

 

Dear Susan,

 

We're thrilled to extend you an exclusive invitation to join us onboard Oasis of the Seas® or Allure of the Seas® for one of our $15,000 Slot Tournaments. You'll enjoy spectacular entertainment, multi-course fine dining and if you're lucky, all the excitement of winning your share of $15,000!

 

THIS EXCLUSIVE OFFER INCLUDES:

 

•Complimentary Balcony Stateroom Accommodations•One complimentary tournament entry•Invitation to the Welcome Aboard Cocktail Party for you and a guest•Complimentary drinks for Club Royale® members while gaming in the casino

[DevonianCruiser]

Wow I didn't know you have to pay taxes on winning a cruise!

 

We don't in the UK on anything like that - that must be the ONLY thing that the UK is cheaper for. Everything here including fuel is mega bucks.

 

I hope the cruise won turns out to be genuine, it does sound a bit time share though. I've won the poker cruise on December 7th and been given a balcony cabin as they ran out of ocean views which was the prize :-)

[Lorey2007]

Well, for you I hope it is legit:)

 

We DID win a free cruise with RCCL, but it was by playing bingo on the Explorer last Feb. We are sailing in January from San Juan on the Adventure.

 

So it does happen:D

 

I won the "win a Cruise" at bingo on the first day of our cruise on Adventure in 2012 I was totally shocked. We did have to track down the Bingo host to get my certificate and it took all week but I finally got it on the last cruise day! We did a upgrade to a JS and had to pay the taxes the bingo prize saved us about $1900 which was a good deal. Also no income taxes because it was won in international waters at sea. We sailed on Allure this past February and had a wonderful time.

[WeRockChalkKU]

Beachdreaming, I gotta say that I get very frustrated some days at this site because people can be so cruel and snippy about whatever the topic is. I go weeks without even reading on here. Your post just brought a tear to my eye. That was a wonderful thing for you to do and a wonderful thing that the donor did. I'm so glad your nephew is doing better.

 

As a matter of fact, this is the best post I've read on here in months.

:D

 

Thanks - I wasn't sure I should post it. Glad it brought out a good feeling. I was sceptical that companies actually gave out the prizes that they listed. When I entered, I didn't even think about what I was typing, I just typed my feelings and hit send. I didn't even keep a copy of what I typed because I never thought I'd hear from Princess. It was a wonderful surprise.

[SeagoingMom]

I guess I was approaching it from a Canadian point of view. We do not have to pay any form of tax on a winning. We do not have gift taxes nor inheritance taxes.

Well, I did not know that! What do you know about immigration laws regarding US citizens moving up there??? :rolleyes::)

[DevonianCruiser]

Wow no inheritance tax!! That's great. In the UK the first £325,000 is IHT free per person (so £650,000 if you're married) and anything above that is taxed straight at 40%. It's obscene really. They were going to raise it to £1,000,000 a few years ago but the recession took care of that !

[Dalton5]

I won the "win a Cruise" at bingo on the first day of our cruise on Adventure in 2012 I was totally shocked. We did have to track down the Bingo host to get my certificate and it took all week but I finally got it on the last cruise day! We did a upgrade to a JS and had to pay the taxes the bingo prize saved us about $1900 which was a good deal. Also no income taxes because it was won in international waters at sea. We sailed on Allure this past February and had a wonderful time.

It's an awesome feeling, isn't it? We upgraded to a balcony (never had one before).

Glad we didn't have to track down our certificate. Our bingo host gave it to us right after the game:)

I can guarantee you that we will be playing again. Hope lightning can strike twice:p

[retird]

Well, I did not know that! What do you know about immigration laws regarding US citizens moving up there??? :rolleyes::)

 

 

Lets see, you are an RCI cruiser and you are a member in good standing of Cruise Critic, so I am sure we could work something out. Have a wonderful day...:)

[BillOh]

Hello to all! We won a free cruise on RCCL. The fine print is any Caribbean cruise, Balcony, level, must leave from a U.S. port, must pay all government fee, taxes. May pay a upgrade fee for higher level Cat.

My question is which ship should we try? Was thinking Allure or Qasis. We have been on Rccl once. We have been on NCL for at least 20 cruises. We prefer aft. Cabins and the Allure or Oasis does not have aft. Cabins.

 

I'm coming to this late, but when does it expire? I see your in NJ, maybe you could look at the new ship coming there in about a year.

[Irene7]

Careful it might be a scam or time share trick.

 

If it is the same post card that I received last week - the fine print states you must give them 90 mins of your time, then it is the same time share scam that I received. I threw mine in the trash. I have also heard that this card was recently sent out to a large number of people since the beginning of Sept.

[Shippy]

.....at the end of the year when we got a tax (w2 ?) statement.

It was for the FULL BROCHURE price that no one actually pays !

[The Big Booper]

1099s are always at the full price.

 

To counter this, you have to get the fair market value of your cruise which is the actual price people paid for the trip. This must be documented in writing and filed along with the return and a schedule showing how you adjusted the value of the prize from the 1099 down to the value you are showing on the return.

 

Your return is now not an amateur return and should be prepared by a CPA or like who is experienced in this stuff.

 

You want the lowest possible value, the Tuesday special would be ideal, but that would have required immediate planning.

 

<edit> But this happened years ago so that is a moot point. But others should keep that in mind.

[Gilpet]

That's wonderful news - have a great cruise :):):)

 

Gill

[SeagoingMom]

Lets see, you are an RCI cruiser and you are a member in good standing of Cruise Critic, so I am sure we could work something out. Have a wonderful day...:)

Rats! I thought I could make it -- but I don't qualify: not an RCI cruiser. Just a lurker, biding my time 'til the right RCI cruise comes along...

 

(And whether I am in good standing on Cruise Critic might be debated by some...:rolleyes:)