Go Back to Old Fashioned Bingo

[lady red head]

Was on the Adventure of the Seas this past March 2019. I was looking forward to playing Bingo.  To my astonishment, the game was now mostly played on I pads!  Hated it!  I am willing to bet attendance has dropped drastically.  Not only is it more expensive, it was over in about 45 minutes.  Please, please, RC, bring back the old fashioned way of playing Bingo.  We have a cruise coming up next Fall, and I would like to look forward to playing on good old paper.

[BunnyHutt]

Yes!! My husband and I won $750

on our honeymoon cruise back in 2003 and were so looking forward to playing Bingo with our kids when we sailed on Adventure in 2017. We were mind blown by the prices and disappointed by the electronic version. Whether true or not, it gives the illusion that the computer determines the winner before the game even starts. 

 

I don’t care if the cash prizes are smaller, they should bring back old Bingo and at a more reasonable price. People play for

the fun, money won is just an added bonus. Not nearly as fun if you’re dropping $100 for a couple of “cards”. 

[azbaby8062]

I agree with both of your posts. Not the same anymore.

[hallux]

Even worse was when they started using the "machines" (not iPads then) as an advanced way to play, but it was along side the paper method so anyone playing on paper just had no chance at winning...

[Waterluv]

Totally agree, i’d much rather get my highlight dabber out and my 3 card pack for $25 (and no more) and have a good time time. This overpriced new wave bingo sucks!! 😜😳

[SamTimeDining]

O-69!

[lazydayz]

Totally agree.  I stopped playing on Royal ships because of those two factors. 

[PhoenixCruiser]

We stopped playing when the machines started and when they started taking a huge cut. Same with slots and cards tournaments.

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk

[HOSKI]

My daughter won $431 on the Allure today at Bingo.  She loves Bingo anyway she can play.  A lot of people still play.  Yesterday they could not get into the room to play in the afternoon it was so full.  Hubby does complain about the price and we only go when our daughter is with us to play.  She is 19.

[Bailey & Sophie]

1 hour ago, HOSKI said:

My daughter won $431 on the Allure today at Bingo.  She loves Bingo anyway she can play.  A lot of people still play.  Yesterday they could not get into the room to play in the afternoon it was so full.  Hubby does complain about the price and we only go when our daughter is with us to play.  She is 19.

I am just curious...how much did it cost her to win? I've heard bingo is quite expensive.

[Coralc]

We don't play anymore. 

[holiday-shrek]

10 hours ago, lady red head said:

Was on the Adventure of the Seas this past March 2019. I was looking forward to playing Bingo.  To my astonishment, the game was now mostly played on I pads!  Hated it!  I am willing to bet attendance has dropped drastically.  Not only is it more expensive, it was over in about 45 minutes.  Please, please, RC, bring back the old fashioned way of playing Bingo.  We have a cruise coming up next Fall, and I would like to look forward to playing on good old paper.

Not going to happen - sorry!

[Iamcruzin]

Our group played bingo for the first time ever on a cruise. I was shocked at the cost. Naturally the people with the tablets always won with one person winning the first two games. I just don't even understand the point of the tablet. You are not even playing the game as the tablet does all of the work. They are making a lot of money with those tablets. $70 and the payout was only $100. It's never going back. Just be thankful they still use the traditional cards.

[sellwingri]

Some ships no longer offer the machines.  I apologize that I don’t know specifically which  ships don’t offer them.  I used to play all the time until they started with the “machines”.  I stayed away for a couple of years until I was talking to an Activities Director who told me they stopped offering them on her ship.  It may have been Explorer but I’m not certain.

 

My husband and I now play once every cruise.  Seems like the vast majority of players now stay away from the machines.  It’s not playing if a machine does it.  Might as well go to the casino and buy a lottery ticket.

[HOSKI]

6 hours ago, Bailey & Sophie said:

I am just curious...how much did it cost her to win? I've heard bingo is quite expensive.

I think $89.

[queenfrostine22]

We played on the Freedom years ago and it was great. The games were long and fun. The cost was high but, it was a good way to spend a decent amount of time on a sea day.  Played the next year on Oasis and it was as stated in previous posts, the cost was very high, the tablets kept breaking down and we were in and out in less than 45 minutes.  That was the last time we played. No longer worth the time and money for us. ( honestly, just plain NOT fun)

I also wish they would go back to just paper. It felt more inclusive to anyone who wanted to play and less complicated for those who are not tablet savvy.

How about more games with lesser prizes? 

Or along with some cash prizes,  more fun prizes, such as drink plans, dinners at specialty restaurants, casino credits, credits to shop in the stores, arcade credits for the kids etc.

Make cruise bingo GREAT again!

 

 

[gatour]

Over the years, I have partaked of bingo.  It was a way to burn some time in an enjoyable way for an hour or two with a decent cost.  Then a few years ago where we either on the Freedom or perhaps Oasis.  We decided to do bingo where they had just started using the machines/tablets and you had to "rent" them.  When I received the receipt, I almost chocked on the amount $300-$400 that was charged, but I bit my tongue.

 

Fast forward to last year, when we were on another cruise.  My wife suggested we play bingo again .  I then told her about much that previous bingo session cost.  She quickly said, "I agree, the entertainment/pay out equation does not work out."

[biomedbob]

We used to play when it was fun to pass a rainy day.  Fun activity folks doing the calling.  Recently had a friend who won early on and used her winnings to rent several "machines".  Lost her ass.  I don't trust any electronics involved in what is supposed to be a game of "chance".

[Vlgg731]

They have priced me out.  I'd rather play free trivia even if the prizes are kind of cheesy

 

[Iamcruzin]

45 minutes ago, biomedbob said:

We used to play when it was fun to pass a rainy day.  Fun activity folks doing the calling.  Recently had a friend who won early on and used her winnings to rent several "machines".  Lost her ass.  I don't trust any electronics involved in what is supposed to be a game of "chance".

Wish I lost my Ass but it always seems bigger when we get home. Must be the salt air 😉

[ShillyShally]

Bingo used to be a highlight of a trip, won a few times which kept me coming back, but now these machines make me not want to anymore.  I spent more overall on Bingo doing it multiple times when it was cheaper to play - this past cruise I played once to do it and realized I didn't have the same enjoyment anymore at the cost outlay!

[Cru1s1ng2009]

No worth it anymore. I haven't played it on board in years because the cost keeps going up and the winning payout goes down. Didn't even know about the machines.

[hotsauce126]

On 6/23/2019 at 10:48 AM, queenfrostine22 said:

We played on the Freedom years ago and it was great. The games were long and fun. The cost was high but, it was a good way to spend a decent amount of time on a sea day.  Played the next year on Oasis and it was as stated in previous posts, the cost was very high, the tablets kept breaking down and we were in and out in less than 45 minutes.  That was the last time we played. No longer worth the time and money for us. ( honestly, just plain NOT fun)

I also wish they would go back to just paper. It felt more inclusive to anyone who wanted to play and less complicated for those who are not tablet savvy.

How about more games with lesser prizes? 

Or along with some cash prizes,  more fun prizes, such as drink plans, dinners at specialty restaurants, casino credits, credits to shop in the stores, arcade credits for the kids etc.

Make cruise bingo GREAT again!

 

 

Honestly in 2019 there's no excuse to not be "savvy" enough to use a tablet

[suesnake2002]

I love bingo. I go once a week at home. And yes I play on the ships. 

Back in the day they could fill the theater, with just paper. The last bingo prize would be 10k. This was about the early 2000, on voyager of the seas out of bayonne. I also remember the first game they gave away an unsold suite. 

Now a days it is being held in on air, south pacific lounge. Smaller venues. The big prize at the end is a free cruise, at a very low price.( definately not a 10k cruise)

Im the only one to play, dh considers it a form of torture. I do not go to every game, too much $$$  i have noticed the tablets win. So i purchase one, usually the package is $69. You get a tablet and a sheet of papers. And I've one twice out of 3 cruises. Winning just helps with the cost of bingo. The best bingos are the first and last one of a cruise. The first always has a big draw and then bigger prizes. And the last for a free cruise. 

[BeancounterUSA]

Have yet to see a cogent post in this thread about the value proposition of playing Bingo.  Several posts are also confusing the tablet and the term "machines".  They are not the same things.  Tablets are an option for playing and machines is a reference to the old ping pong ball method or the new electronic method depending on who is commenting.

 

First of all, by its very nature, Bingo is a negative expectation game.  There is only 1 winner per game (unless there is a tie in which case the spot is split) regardless of the number of people.  Therefore, almost everyone in the room will lose, and very few will win during a session.  The amount won by the winner is based on the number of players and whether it is game 1 of 3 (lowest $), game 2 of 3(medium $) or the last game (highest $) of the session.  You do NOT have to buy the package that includes the tablet.  There are two other options for purchasing cards that you can mark yourself, and if you buy the package with the tablet you get paper cards in addition to the tablet to mark on your own.  The tablet option is priced to give you more chances (24 on each tablet) per $.  The card only option has fewer chances but a higher price per chance and a lower overall cost.

 

It takes almost no skill to use the tablet.  After every ball it arranges the 24 cards in order of the fewest numbers needed to win.  If it gets to 1 number needed it will generate a musical tone so you can stand up and get booed.  If you win it will tell you in an unmistakable way.  Can't tell you how many times (pre-tablet) there was a Bongo (someone who claims a win but made a mistake) in the "old" days.

 

It's really that simple.  When you boil it all down, you look at the overall price for each package, the price of the number of cards (chances)/$, and what is best for you, individually, to enjoy your 1 or so in which you have a small chance to win and will most likely lose.  If you don't want to play, don't play.   If you play, do it in such a way, with your package choice, where you will have fun even if(when) you lose.  /rant