BINGO Poll

[ekerr19]

Ok, it's a slow day for me here...

Do you play? Twice a day?

Have you ever won?

Do you hate it? Or just hate the announcements?

[PrincessMelody]

I play if I can, if I am not busy with something else. I played 5 games on our 10 day cruise, and won 280.00 on the last day. I enjoy it.

Melody

[RevNeal]

If I'm on the ship with my mother, I'll play it with her. Otherwise, I don't normally bother. But ... that could always change! :)

[the2ofus]

I am lukewarm about bingo in the best of situations, but would never waste a cruise day playing bingo.

I don't care if it is available to others on the cruise all day, every day, just PLEASE stop interrupting my thoughts, reading, conversations and naps with an annoying, nagging announcement about BINGO. And no, that "gosh its going to be such fun" tone of voice by the announcer doesn't do a thing for me either.

Gosh, I'm really not a curmudgeon, I just like my peace and quiet. If I want to know what activities are going on, I will refer to the Daily Program.

[jhannah]

I've never played on board a ship ... and probably no more than three times in my life. There's too much more to do.

[Spot]

Have never played onboard but have plans to play next month on the Zuiderdam - something different. Can you tell me anything about playing onboard - is it only once per day, once per cruise, times, etc.
Have played at church on a number of occassions and have won my fair share of the time, I play 10+ cards at a time.

[cactuslady]

I think the die-hard Bingo players hardly need an announcement, and the constant announcements only tend to make the rest of us irritable.

Bingo is a fun activity for me -- if trivia, Scattergories or something else isn't going on -- as I'm an avid game player. I tend to enjoy it more when I know my Bingo money is going to support a good cause. Therefore, I like to play at our local Shriners Temple, where my DH often does the calling and I waitress. I don't mind paying my $20 or so to support an organization that provides free hospital care for kids. Winning on rare occasions is fun, but I think we all know which direction the main flow of money goes.

It's hard to believe that HAL, on the other hand, either needs that money or puts it to similar use.

[Sue's Mom]

Do you play?

Have you ever won?

Do you hate it? Or just hate the announcements?

I play very rarely and almost never at home. It's sometimes a fun thing to do on a "ship" day. I find any announcements irritating - whatever they are announcing.

Two years ago on our Alaska cruise, I played a few games. On the last day the jackpot had not been won and they announced an unscheduled game at 10pm that night in which the jackpot HAD to go. They would play until someone won it. I HAD to go. Something was dragging me there. My DH definitely does not, never, no-how, play bingo. As the game was just about half way through he joined me. Even he was getting just a teensy bit excited as I got down to two numbers. One of the last two was called, then a number I didn't have. I think I knew at this point. Then my last number was called - BINGO. $5,285! Just one question - was I pleased? :D :D :D

[geoherb]

We played a couple of times on our first cruises. Lately, the cost has become more than it's worth to us. It seems like the price for a card has gone up exponentially more than the jackpots have.

[ekerr19]

I play very rarely and almost never at home. It's sometimes a fun thing to do on a "ship" day. I find any announcements irritating - whatever they are announcing.

Two years ago on our Alaska cruise, I played a few games. On the last day the jackpot had not been won and they announced an unscheduled game at 10pm that night in which the jackpot HAD to go. They would play until someone won it. I HAD to go. Something was dragging me there. My DH definitely does not, never, no-how, play bingo. As the game was just about half way through he joined me. Even he was getting just a teensy bit excited as I got down to two numbers. One of the last two was called, then a number I didn't have. I think I knew at this point. Then my last number was called - BINGO. $5,285! Just one question - was I pleased? :D :D :D
Wow, that is awesome. Now I can say I "know" someone who has won the Snowball Jackpot bingo! :)

[ekerr19]

We played a couple of times on our first cruises. Lately, the cost has become more than it's worth to us. It seems like the price for a card has gone up exponentially more than the jackpots have.
On one of our cruises, we became totally addicted. Both DH & I were playing twice a day, $20 each person, each session. DH won twice - but barely broke even. I have never won. :(

I have good luck in the casino, however. I do better when I don't know what the heck I'm doing! I started playing this $.05 slot, Jackpot Party, and boy does that game like me! :D I've won a couple hundred dollars on our last few cruises playing a $.05 slot - not bad huh?

[jazzsea]

I realize that the crew makes money on the Bingo games and I'm in favor of a happy crew. However, I wish they would stop the harping over the PA system.

[ekerr19]

I realize that the crew makes money on the Bingo games and I'm in favor of a happy crew. However, I wish they would stop the harping over the PA system.
Perhaps a really stupid question - I didn't know the crew makes money on Bingo... I thought it all went towards the cash prizes?
Can you explain?

[Slinkiecat]

Isn't Bingo a kids' game? I used to play it when I was very young, but it got boring to me.

slinkie

[HeatherInFlorida]

Couldn't vote again on here! We play from time to time and definitely we do the Snowball! Wouldn't miss it. I won $50 on our last cruise and only played 3 times. One cruise our tablemates won $2000 in the Snowball game and that was more than their cruise cost!

I would play more if it was cheaper (like the good ole days;) ). The crew usually makes it a lot of fun.

[cruisinjudy]

I played once on a cruise, on Princess, three years ago. I won about $300. I figure my average at this point is excellent so why mess with it! I haven't played since!

[Krazy Kruizers]

Played Bingo several times on our first cruise - many years ago - Cunard Countess. Didn't win anything.

Not really lucky at that sort of thing.

Have never played since.

[iamirish]

I will normally play bingo - but not every time. It depends if we are in port or it is a day at sea. I will definitely play, if the "art auction” is at the same time.

I know it is a big profit maker for the cruise line, but it is still fun.

Tom

[Vicar]

I will play occasionally, usually on a sea day if there is nothing else going on.

Sometimes on a few ships the bingo game would be right before an event that I wanted to attend ,so if you didn't go to bingo first, you wouldn't get a seat for the thing you wanted to attend right after. So you play a little bingo and pass the time. :)

[ryansmemom]

I voted to make both the bingo and the announcements go away. On second thought, if they just eliminate the announcements I would be satisfied. I really don't want to deprive those who enjoy playing bingo their fun. I do dispise the intrusion of the annoying announcements.

I do not understand how the crew makes money on bingo. I assumed it was profitable for the cruise line. But the crew? I wish someone would explain that.

Linda

[Nasmas]

Perhaps a really stupid question - I didn't know the crew makes money on Bingo... I thought it all went towards the cash prizes?
Can you explain?
I've heard them say, "The ship takes a small portion off the top and the rest goes into the pot." I'm not sure how "small" the portion is but some of the pots are not very big. I won a coverall one day and only got $40. Some of the other games the prizes were $100+ so I really don't know how they figure it. I do think if the ship wasn't making money on it, they wouldn't do it.

[SharonN]

The only place I play Bingo is on a ship. We don't play all the time but usually manage a couple of games per cruise and find it a pleasant way to spend our time on a Sea day or after coming back from a tour in the morning. I can understand the announcements can be annoying though they did remind me on our cruise last March that it was time for the game to win the free cruise. Since I won that game and am using it for my Jan Westerdam cruise, guess I won't find them as annoying in the future!

[HeatherInFlorida]

I voted to make both the bingo and the announcements go away. On second thought, if they just eliminate the announcements I would be satisfied. I really don't want to deprive those who enjoy playing bingo their fun. I do dispise the intrusion of the annoying announcements.

I do not understand how the crew makes money on bingo. I assumed it was profitable for the cruise line. But the crew? I wish someone would explain that.

Linda
Linda, Celebrity does no announcements at all. It's really great. The real killer was on the Seawind Crown when they did announcements in 3 languages. They'd barely finish one and it would be time for another:D . Still, I loved that cruise.

[Roadguy]

When I was little , it was just a song and the name of a dog. Now, it is a regular cruise activity. I won $200 once. Already lookin forward to my next victory.Only 14 weeks till I get another chance to play!!

[Candy]

We only play for the free cruise or the giant Bingo on the last night. The daily games are too pricy.

[gsheth]

Last week (8/21-8/28) on the Oosterdam and during a great Alaska cruise sea day, my wife played Bingo for the first time in her life and won a cruise!

During the art auction, I also won a $600 piece of art by Itshak Tarkay.

You never know if you'll win unless you play.

G

[ASM]

I voted "have better things to do" but I certainly won't rule out playing. Maybe I'll try it ths time!:)

[Tricia724]

Many years ago when the cost was much less, I enjoyed the bingo games. The crew made it fun. At that time there was one bingo session about 4 PM. It was a nice chance to relax and have a drink when we came back from shore excursions. Back then, the cruiselines made it clear that ALL of the money collected was given away in prizes. I won several times and really had fun playing. Now that the cruiselines take a cut of the pot and the cost has gone up, it isn't worth it to me. But...they still get a chunk of my money in the casino, so I guess I'm not really ahead.

[FlorenceItaly]

I don't typically play bingo on a cruise due to the expense, and the fact, I am just not lucky. This past week there was a gentleman(a fellow solo cruiser, and whom I now call friend) who plays every bingo game. He won the big jackpot on the last night, $3400.00. I was so happy for him. It couldn't have happened to a nicer gentleman. It was his largest win. He has taken 19 cruises.

Marie

[HeatherInFlorida]

Many years ago when the cost was much less, I enjoyed the bingo games. The crew made it fun. At that time there was one bingo session about 4 PM. It was a nice chance to relax and have a drink when we came back from shore excursions. Back then, the cruiselines made it clear that ALL of the money collected was given away in prizes.
I remember that 4:00 Bingo ... we used to love that everyday! And so cheap ... a dollar or 2 a card. And like you say, they made it completely fun -- of course there weren't that many people and we all got to know each other. Thanks for that memory:)