Ultimate Slot Tournament Rules

[80sGal]

DH and I both keep getting emails for the various slots tournaments Carnival has coming up in 2023 and into 2024.   Most say $25K grand prize, but there are two that are advertised as 1 Million Dollars in prizes, with a grand prize of $500K.   Inquiring Minds want to know .... so I called and asked my naive questions but the Carnival Players Club rep actually said SHE didn't know the answers either, so I'm turning to the experts here!    So, for the $500K grand prize, is that REALLY coming from only the play that is on that particular sailing?   Not a culmination of prizes they've been giving out over the course of several cruises and months?   As is, someone walks away with Half a Mil?   Hmmmm ..... Okay, so even if that is or isn't true, where is the other $500K distributed?   To the other players in elimination rounds?   I also asked how does one get to be IN that tournament -- because I did a tournament a few years ago on Dream, and that was literally just a sign-up sheet and a small fee to play (maybe $25), I don't recall.   But it wasn't anything special that had been pre-advertised like this seems to be.    The rep did say that to be IN the tournament on that sailing, one had to book under the appropriate code from the VIFP codes that are for that tourney.   So, no one else can play?   And if so, how many players might there be?   100?   500?   1000?   And is there an additional fee to enter once on the ship?  Or does the booking promo code cover the entry?  These are things I'd like to know but Carnival can't seem to tell me -- even the casino.    The cruise isn't overpriced .... or at least not by much.   An Extended Balcony on Jubilee would be roughly $1100 per person for 7 days in July, which is rack rate, from what I can see for that time of the year, length of cruise and size of ship.   Yes, we can find balconies cheaper on a ship like Sunrise or Radiance, and we got a really good deal last year on Horizon, but we never get the "free cruises" that others seem to get, so it's not like we would be paying way over our typical price.   I'd love to know how the algorithm works to receive those good promos, because the best we get in casino offers are free drinks on us, and maybe some OBC.   Anyway, I digress.   The tournament .... anyone in the know about how it all works?  

 

 

[icft]

I don't know the answers to your questions but I wanted to let you know my experience with one lowly $100,000 tournament.

 

I won it by winning a regular cruise tournament - the kind you used to get free entry to as a Platinum or Diamond. The prize for that tournament was a free cruise for this $100,000 tournament and free entry to that larger tournament.

 

I do like to play the slots. But if you go on one of these tournament cruises don't plan on being able to play the slots much. Everyone on the ship is a slots nut and it is about impossible to find an open machine before midnight. I played the slots less on that cruise than on any other by far and it was miserable being stuck with whatever machine came open rather than being able to pick your machine.

 

I avoid tournament cruises. Unless you are very lucky and win a decent amount in the tournament it is not a fun cruise.

[Elaine5715]

1 hour ago, icft said:

I don't know the answers to your questions but I wanted to let you know my experience with one lowly $100,000 tournament.

 

I won it by winning a regular cruise tournament - the kind you used to get free entry to as a Platinum or Diamond. The prize for that tournament was a free cruise for this $100,000 tournament and free entry to that larger tournament.

 

I do like to play the slots. But if you go on one of these tournament cruises don't plan on being able to play the slots much. Everyone on the ship is a slots nut and it is about impossible to find an open machine before midnight. I played the slots less on that cruise than on any other by far and it was miserable being stuck with whatever machine came open rather than being able to pick your machine.

 

I avoid tournament cruises. Unless you are very lucky and win a decent amount in the tournament it is not a fun cruise.

I had an entry same way.  Was out in the first round and there was no extras associated with the tourney other than the endless announcements calling people to their turn.  

[txcruiser1234]

So, wife and I booked the Nov 5 2022 Mardi Gras sailing with one of the million dollar slot tourneys from an out-of-the-blue (we hadn't been on a cruise of any kind since 2016) email received way back on Sep 1 2021. Not much to go on regarding the tourney details...and I haven't seen any other details since...but this is how our particular booking originated.

 

Carnival's marketing lines from the mailer:

 

November 5, 2022

 

$500,000
Grand Prize

 

Mardi Gras™
from Port Canaveral
(Orlando), FL

Book by October 31, 2021.

 

You will need to provide your VIFP Club^® Number, ########, at time of booking.

 

It's our 50th birthday next year, and we're celebrating big with our first-ever guaranteed $1M tournament — including a $500,000 cash grand prize!

 

Plus, there will be cash and prizes for the 100 top-scoring guests.

 

But if you can't make our slot tournament, no worries — we have great birthday tournaments going on throughout 2022!

 

Just book a Carnival Player's Club^® offer for any tournament by October 31, 2021, and your seat is reserved.

[brownc424]

19 hours ago, icft said:

I don't know the answers to your questions but I wanted to let you know my experience with one lowly $100,000 tournament.

 

I won it by winning a regular cruise tournament - the kind you used to get free entry to as a Platinum or Diamond. The prize for that tournament was a free cruise for this $100,000 tournament and free entry to that larger tournament.

 

But what was the deal with the tournament, was the grand prize actually $100,000 in cash? Was it even a top cash prize, or something else and the $100,000 was just totally misleading?

[LuvCruiSun]

2 hours ago, brownc424 said:

But what was the deal with the tournament, was the grand prize actually $100,000 in cash? Was it even a top cash prize, or something else and the $100,000 was just totally misleading?

I was invited to one of these in May 2020 and of course it was cancelled. Top prize was $50,000. Here’s the prize schedule.

[icft]

2 hours ago, brownc424 said:

But what was the deal with the tournament, was the grand prize actually $100,000 in cash? Was it even a top cash prize, or something else and the $100,000 was just totally misleading?

My understanding was that the ultimate winner got $50,000 with the other $50,000 paid out to the "almost" winners. I feel confident they actually pay out the money. The PR disaster from false advertising they don't want.

 

The only close to shady part is calling it a $100,000 tournament. Lots of folks assume the grand prize is $100,000 when actually the total of all prizes in $100,000. But that is not really shady, just wording that requires close reading.

[Gennystravel]

From my understanding, for the $1million tournament, you need to book cabin that has the Casino Tournament Access (PZC) code.  They expect 1600 participants, so 1 person to walk away with $500,000, then the remaining $5OOK paid out amongst remaining???

 

 

Casino Tournament Access (PZC)

What You Get

Casino Tournament Seat (for up to 2 people). Terms apply.

• Drinks on Us! While playing in the casino for you and a companion. Terms apply.
• Reserve your cruise with a non refundable deposit of $99 per person
• Hurry, book now!

The Fine PrintOffer Code: PZC

Terms and Conditions

Guest 1:

$1,079.00

Guest 2:

$1,079.00

Taxes, fees & port expenses:

$298.40

Room Total:$2,456.40

 

Very different than my normal offers of a free balcony.  What I want to know is, can I purchase an entrance spot/seat separately to tournament?

[VIFP1987]

I participated in the million dollar slot tournament this past November on the MG. If I recall correctly, there were 2 or 3 rounds and then the final round. Everyone that had an entry played the first round. The Player’s that scored above a certain score moved onto the second/third round. The first place finisher in the final round won $500,000 and the remaining $500,000 was divided among I believe the top 100 players. I know that the person that came in 50th place won $50K in honor of Carnival’s birthday celebration. 

[MiffyLynx]

I just booked the upcoming million dollar tournament on the Celebration.  Have to book the casino tournament acess rate.  It was slightly higher than the regular price but comes with drinks on us and tournament entries for both passengers