Bingo????

[dashadow]

Since it looks like a lot of the folks on this site seem to have a job where they can goof off as much as me maybe some one will be kind enough to cover the bingo basics on the carnival cruises, i think my wife would enjoy it but we dont know much about it--how much are the cards--how long are they good for--what can you win--what kind of crowd--how often do they play--what games do they do--any tips on proper bingo etiquette--anyone won big--adults only or kids too--that sort of stuff---thanks--Imagination in June

[melika091900]

Since it looks like a lot of the folks on this site seem to have a job where they can goof off as much as me maybe some one will be kind enough to cover the bingo basics on the carnival cruises, i think my wife would enjoy it but we dont know much about it--how much are the cards--how long are they good for--what can you win--what kind of crowd--how often do they play--what games do they do--any tips on proper bingo etiquette--anyone won big--adults only or kids too--that sort of stuff---thanks--Imagination in June

 

unfortunately bingo on any ship IMO is a rip off.. it is like 40$ for 4 games, and each amount isnt determined until they count all the buy ins...

weve played it on 1 trip.. and never again, to me it isnt worth it at all...

[Jane110]

unfortunately bingo on any ship IMO is a rip off.. it is like 40$ for 4 games, and each amount isnt determined until they count all the buy ins...

weve played it on 1 trip.. and never again, to me it isnt worth it at all...

 

I've never been on Carnival, but I agree that from a gambling point of view, it's a real rip-off. I'm sure most ships have the same routine. When you consider what they rake in vs what they pay out, a person has much, much better odds in the casino. Problem is that out of 200 players only about 5 will win anything....the rest get zip. It's an "all or nothing" proposition. In the casino, you have a decent chance.

 

That said, I think that many people enjoy it for the activity of it. Lots of people sitting around having fun. So, if you view the price in the same way as buying a ticket for an activity, you'll have a better time than if you buy-in in hopes of winning some money.

 

I enjoyed it on my first two cruises, but now, really just can't stand the same old tired "jokes" so I stay away from it. If I hear the "skinny legs" comment yet again for the number 11, I'll hurl my lunch! :D

[infoprof56]

I agree with the other posters, bingo is not a good deal on cruises. On the Carnival cruise we took bingo was like $20 for a single game. The prize was pretty low too considering the cost to play. IT is very different from playing bingo on land.

[lougee1043]

its very costly compared to playing on shore---on hal they have a snowball bingo game -- one game at each session- you must get bingo in 50 numbers or less or the game cash rolls over til the last nite last game where you play til someone wins --money cant be moved to the next cruise-- on my sea of cortes 2 people split a snowball jackpot of a little over 5000.00-----------------------want to guess who one of the people was---------------thats right moi----and i didnt even want to play =,my wife dragged me out of a bar when i was enjoying a single malt scotch

[CateW]

I play only on the last day when the Jackpot is big, just for the fun of it. Hey, someone's got to win. I actually did win $1,000 on the last day several years back although not the Jackpot. As a rule, I prefer the casino, where I have been very lucky.

[judyzoo]

its very costly compared to playing on shore---on hal they have a snowball bingo game -- one game at each session- you must get bingo in 50 numbers or less or the game cash rolls over til the last nite last game where you play til someone wins --money cant be moved to the next cruise-- on my sea of cortes 2 people split a snowball jackpot of a little over 5000.00-----------------------want to guess who one of the people was---------------thats right moi----and i didnt even want to play =,my wife dragged me out of a bar when i was enjoying a single malt scotch

 

Congrats!

 

I think they play the snowball game on most ships. On our last RCI cruise ONE person won the snowball pot of something like $5,375. That's nice.

[HERKIMER417]

My DW plays all the time, and I have played as well. The thing that gets me is that they play only 4 games.

 

The winners split about $110. I've been to regular church bingo's - they have more games ( by being creative and using the same cards ) they just split that $120 into winners pots of $50 and three for $20.

 

While the prize is smaller there are more winners - this isn't the Mega lottery - no one is retiring on the prize.

 

I think its the fun and participation that counts, and a better chance to get back your entry fee.

 

J

[critcatny]

Funny you should ask about Bingo on Carnival cruises...I was on a Carnival cruise last October and played the "Jackpot" Bingo ....winner gets a FREE CRUISE FOR 2....Well. after I got bingo, called bingo and went up to claim my free cruise...they found out that someone else also realized they had bingo...I "THOUGHT" that the prize might be split....a free cruise for 1 for each (ok I can deal with that)...but NOOOOOOO...they then did a "pick a number" and the closest one of the 2 of us would win the trip...well guess what...I lost. and went home with NOTHING!!!! A big rip off....I know that at most, if not all, bingo games I've been at, either the first to call bingo wins or the prize gets split....NEVER DID THEY TELL US THAT IF THERE WAS A TIE, THERE WOULD BE A TIE BREAKER!!! Cheap shop Carnival ! And then to top it off, after I got home, I wrote Carnival a letter and guess how they responded...."Sorry 'bout that, but we will give you a gift on your next cruise with Carnival." And to tell the truth, I'm actually booked again on a Carnival cruise (can't beat the prices) and my "GIFT" well it was a choice between a chocolate cruise ship, or a bottle of wine, or a photo coupon or drink coupons....Can't believe it...barely even worth the $20 I spent on the bingo card. I felt they really took advantage but who am I to fight it....Not worth the trouble. Carnival should've really handled this situation better. (other people on the cruise actually came to me after the bingo game and said "carnival really ripped you off. You should complain" which I did, but it didn't do any good.

[judyzoo]

At that game on the Triumph recently they did announce beforehand that there would be a tiebreaker if more than one person had bingo. Seems fine to me, as long as they tell you up front.

[Seal]

I played Bingo for the first time last October on a full transit cruise on the Coral Princess

 

It was Formal Night and we were walking to an elevator--when we could hear the speaker about Bingo for 2 games--one for $2,500 and one for a cruise for two

 

I didn't want to go, John talked me into it--my deal was if I played, we wouldn't go to the Captains Cocktail party

 

Long story short I won the second game and a cruise for two--We'll be taking it in the fall Quebec City to NYC

 

I've played on the last cruises we've been on--won a little--maybe enough to break even--I have been surprised how many men play--not men that were drug there by their wives, but on their own

 

For me it's been a good deal and fun

 

Nancy:)

[dashadow]

Thanks so much for the great info on the topic, I could take the game or leave it myself but despite all the great help guess what we'll do when we get on the boat................thats right, whatever my wife says.

[jhodg56010]

Two years ago I took my 3 generation family of 8 on a Caribbean cruise. My wife enjoys bingo and plays several times at a cost (on RCI) of $35 for a pack of sheets for 4 or 5 games. She let our granddaughter, age 11, play her cards with me at her side on the last day as the wife watched the slot tournament. The amazing 2nd to last drawing for the day worth $885 was caught in some photos that I posted on webshots. I had to collect the jackpot for Heather as a minor can play but not collect, and then I handed it to her and asked her to tell her mother. For a fun look at what can rarely happen click on Cruiseclues.com, then the top listing to get to their green homepage. Next look down the left hand column for Explorer and click on it. Then scroll down to Explorer of the Seas photos, and under that column scroll down to my listing : webshotsjhodg56010

Click on the photo and go to page 3. Check out photos #314,319,320.321,and 333. A caption is to the right of each photo. It payed their cabin bill for the week and a new bike. It was a fun day. The odds of winning are very small but quite a few people enjoy the games. Jim