Is Bingo Coming Back

[trippe1075]

We booked an 8 day Caribbean route on Reflection in Feb. 2024. We were hoping that Bingo will make a comeback on Celebrity ships. We recently sailed on Edge and Summit. We always write a review asking for Bingo to come back as an activity.

 

Does anyone have info on the return of Bongo! 

[omeinv]

It's very unlikely to return, as the Deal or No Deal seems to be a bigger draw.

 

Harris

Denver, CO

Edited March 14, 2023 by omeinv

[D. B.]

The Casino likes D or No D a lot more than Bingo. As for it being a bigger Draw I don't believe that But it is a bigger money maker for the Casino.

I noticed on Mille a few weeks ago that Now they no longer Show on the screen the Names of those (who bought cards) and have one or 2  Matches  or more. The host just says Go to the Casino Cashier After 7 PM and show your Sea Pass Card and they will Tell you if you have won any Match Play $$.

    The whole point is to get You to go to the Casino.

[AstoriaPreppy]

13 hours ago, trippe1075 said:

We booked an 8 day Caribbean route on Reflection in Feb. 2024. We were hoping that Bingo will make a comeback on Celebrity ships. We recently sailed on Edge and Summit. We always write a review asking for Bingo to come back as an activity.

 

Does anyone have info on the return of Bongo! 

 

Cruise lines *love* Deal or No Deal because it's both a revenue source, and ostensibly an additional entertainment offering for the line. There were very few people who would show up at bingo just to watch... Deal or No Deal offers watchability even for those not playing. 

[DCPIV]

I've seen no signs of bingo returning.

[cruisequeen4ever]

I love both, and I don’t see why they can’t offer both. Princess and Carnival do. 

[davekathy]

My Magic 8 Ball says, "cannot predict now". 🎱

[Arizona Wildcat]

7 minutes ago, cruisequeen4ever said:

I love both, and I don’t see why they can’t offer both. Princess and Carnival do. 

Not on Emerald Princess at Christmas.   Just Deal.

Princess did save us $$ since they have smoking in the casino we did not go in.

[Shami]

We just got off Emerald Princess March 3rd and they had both Deal or No Deal and Bingo.

[phoenix_dream]

Bingo generally appeals to an older crowd and Celebrity does not want to market to an older crowd.  Case closed. My opinion. 

[D. B.]

9 hours ago, AstoriaPreppy said:

 

Cruise lines *love* Deal or No Deal because it's both a revenue source, and ostensibly an additional entertainment offering for the line. There were very few people who would show up at bingo just to watch... Deal or No Deal offers watchability even for those not playing. 

Yes to Watching D or No D. Last cruise we watched someone end up with .01 Cents and the second player got $34.00. The big $ amounts went off the board in the first few case openings.

[PH2]

3 hours ago, phoenix_dream said:

Bingo generally appeals to an older crowd and Celebrity does not want to market to an older crowd.  Case closed. My opinion. 

 

We did a Carnival cruise last month and they had 3 or 4 bingo sessions on a 6 night cruise. Not sure they cater to an older crowd.

[RenieRaider]

I Call Bingo at an Assisted Living Residence and was looking forward to playing Bingo myself. No Bingo on the Edge. Now your telling me no Bingo on Summit? That 10 night Repo with 6 days at sea they will HOPFULLY will throw in a couple of Bingo games. The best part of cruising is Cruising and doing all the things the ship has to offer when out at sea.

 

Edited March 16, 2023 by RenieRaider
typo

[Gracie115]

Never played bingo on a ship...but would like someone to explain how Deal or no Deal works on a ship if someone would take the time to explain.

[Honolulu Blue]

1 hour ago, RenieRaider said:

I Call Bingo at an Assisted Living Residence and was looking forward to playing Bingo myself. No Bingo on the Edge. Now your telling me no Bingo on Summit? That 10 night Repo with 6 days at sea they will HOPFULLY will throw in a couple of Bingo games. The best part of cruising is Cruising and doing all the things the ship has to offer when out at sea.

I've been on Millie and the Summit since the restart and haven't seen bingo on either.  Based on that and others who have posted in this thread, I don't see it coming back anytime soon on the Summit or any other Celebrity ship.

 

If you really want to play bingo while you're cruising, you do have a couple of options that I can see:

 

• Bring your bingo equipment from home and call it for the friends you make before and/or during the cruise.  It helps if you have a big cabin.  If no money changes hands, you can try to find some empty or unused space to hold some games (I modestly suggest the OVC between lunch and dinner, though that's not the only suitable place).  If money does change hands, you're going to have to be discreet, because the casino doesn't like competition. 😗
• Get some Internet access and play it online.  I'm sure you can find something suitable in whatever store your phone/tablet supports.  It's best to download it before you get to the cruise ship.

[D. B.]

4 hours ago, RenieRaider said:

I Call Bingo at an Assisted Living Residence and was looking forward to playing Bingo myself. No Bingo on the Edge. Now your telling me no Bingo on Summit? That 10 night Repo with 6 days at sea they will HOPFULLY will throw in a couple of Bingo games. The best part of cruising is Cruising and doing all the things the ship has to offer when out at sea.

 

Sorry but No More Bingo on X ships.

 We first found D or No D on the Edge in 2019. It was in a Dark nightclub setting and was loud and confusing.

  It must have been a Money Maker for the Casino (They own the concessions for gambling) as it then showed up on all X ships soon after that.

   I have participated in it a few times and was chosen on 2 different Ships to be the one who opens the cases. Both times the Big $ prize amounts went away in the first 2 rounds and in Both games I ended up with small winnings.

 Now we just watch others play and use the money we would have wasted on something else.

 Too bad as I really liked Bingo!

 As for Bingo only appealing to coffin dodgers (?) I find on other cruise lines there seem to be participants of all ages.

 

[trippe1075]

Thanks for the responses. I always attended Bingo and it was a big draw. Maybe they will change their minds.

Happy Sailings!

[RenieRaider]

On 3/16/2023 at 11:48 AM, Honolulu Blue said:

 

.......If you really want to play bingo while you're cruising, you do have a couple of options that I can see:

 

• Bring your bingo equipment from home and call it for the friends you make before and/or during the cruise. ...

Actually, I DO have everything we would need to play (I do Bingo on Tour Buses),  But I want to PLAY!

Thank for your ideas though  

[RenieRaider]

I hear the Norwegian Pearl has the new Hot game,  DEAL or NO Deal, AND Bingo too!!

Woo Hoo!

[jsmariner]

I don't play Bingo, so I'm not quite sure what this is. But I was on the entertainment section of X's website earlier today to get a glimpse of what might be on offer for our upcoming Equinox cruise this June. This YouTube video was in that section and it looks like it was posted 8 months ago.

 

 

[rodndonna]

Just off the Millennium and in the Casino someone asked about Bingo returning - the staff member said that the company that was running it for X went bankrupt, but there are plan to bring it back.

 

It surprised me as I assumed it was run under the Casino business (I think this is the case on CCL as you get Casino playing credits when you play Bingo)

[NorthStarStateCruiser]

10 hours ago, jsmariner said:

I don't play Bingo, so I'm not quite sure what this is. But I was on the entertainment section of X's website earlier today to get a glimpse of what might be on offer for our upcoming Equinox cruise this June. This YouTube video was in that section and it looks like it was posted 8 months ago.

 

 

Thanks for posting this!  It looks interesting.  I'm curious to see how they are going to deploy it on their very clunky app.

[miched]

Deal or No Deal is more entertaining than Bingo.   It also gives everyone a chance to win something instead of 1 person.  

 

Happy cruising 🌊🚢🇺🇸🌅

[davekathy]

1 hour ago, miched said:

Deal or No Deal is more entertaining than Bingo.   It also gives everyone a chance to win something instead of 1 person.  

 

Happy cruising 🌊🚢🇺🇸🌅

Agree. A lot more entertaining. Apex Club was packed. 

[Cap_D]

On Apex in April 2023, the Camp at Sea staff ran a family bingo game in the Destination Gateway space.  Prizes were swag, and not cash.  It was packed, any family member that wanted a board got one, and there were multiple rounds.  There were many winners.  It was very enjoyable, and a nice way to get out of the sun for a bit.  Staff are terrific with kids.  And, it's neat to see how the space is multipurpose.  This was one of a few family activities, plus the Jessica Jane Magic Show (big props to her, and she should be booked as much as she wants) and other acts that were great for kids of all ages.  Cruisers without kids don't be alarmed, we observed well behaved kids and families throughout the cruise.  

 

Meanwhile, I was unable to quickly learn or explain to others in our group how Deal or No Deal works, and many cruisers will not have seen it.  The glitz doesn't make up for inaccessibility in my view.