Won Free Cruise at Bingo!

[babygirl722]

Just off the Gem and won the free cruise for 2 at the Bingo raffle. Actually, it's not really a free cruise, as the voucher states it's good for a maximum of $1000 toward an inside cabin. Voucher also says that it's for a Caribbean Cruise but also states it's good on any cruise.

 

Was wondering if anyone else has won and how the whole process works?

[A1SusieQ]

I don't know how it works but I assume you call NCL when you are ready to book and they credit the $1,000.00 towards your cruise.

 

But WOW, that is false advertisement.

 

They should really call it : $1,000.00 off your next cruise as opposed to "free cruise"

[roe2ship]

Just off the Gem and won the free cruise for 2 at the Bingo raffle. Actually, it's not really a free cruise, as the voucher states it's good for a maximum of $1000 toward an inside cabin. Voucher also says that it's for a Caribbean Cruise but also states it's good on any cruise.

 

Was wondering if anyone else has won and how the whole process works?

Congratulations!:D We always go to bingo...but no luck.

 

I don't know how it works but I assume you call NCL when you are ready to book and they credit the $1,000.00 towards your cruise.

 

But WOW, that is false advertisement.

 

They should really call it : $1,000.00 off your next cruise as opposed to "free cruise"

Wow is right! I am very surprised to hear it's a 1,000.00 voucher. Depending on time of year and ship, that money doesn't even cover one person for an inside cabin.:rolleyes:

[minabruuke]

Just off the Gem and won the free cruise for 2 at the Bingo raffle. Actually, it's not really a free cruise, as the voucher states it's good for a maximum of $1000 toward an inside cabin. Voucher also says that it's for a Caribbean Cruise but also states it's good on any cruise.

 

Was wondering if anyone else has won and how the whole process works?

 

 

Congratulations! I would be so excited, but I'm going to settle for being very excited for you.

 

I suppose there are rare occasions when you might be able to find a sailing where it is around a $1000 before tax for two inside but that is hard to find and if you have a work schedule that restricts when you can go it would be even harder to find. I would have expected restrictions but I also would have expected the free cruise to at least cover the lowest category cabin for two. I would understand restrictions that prevented holiday sailings for example.

 

Still $1000 is a very nice deposit for your next cruise and I really hope that you can find the perfect sailing to use it on.

 

Do you know if you can choose to use the $1000 towards a higher level cabin?

[babygirl722]

It is totally false advertising!! I'm not sure how they get away with it but I'll take the $1000 off. Since you have to book through NCL, I bet it's $1000 off a full fare cabin too PLUS you have to pay port taxes and fees. In the end, I bet it doesn't save me much. Oh well, you live and learn!

[minabruuke]

It is totally false advertising!! I'm not sure how they get away with it but I'll take the $1000 off. Since you have to book through NCL, I bet it's $1000 off a full fare cabin too PLUS you have to pay port taxes and fees. In the end, I bet it doesn't save me much. Oh well, you live and learn!

 

How long do they give you to use it?

[babygirl722]

Yes, $1000 is a nice deposit so I am happy about it, don't get me wrong. We have a year to use it. I only travel during school breaks so in no way will I find a cruise for 2 at that price, but that's just fine. I will likely book the Breakaway for next Feb President's week if they will allow me to.

[tntwolf07]

My and I were able to book the Epic in December for $499P/P/ With taxes it came to $1224. You should be able to find a cruise for under $1k for two.

[NCLcruiserGem]

I won that bingo free cruise on the Gem in December 2010. $1000 voucher for inside cabin, had to be a cruise to caribbean out of florida (we only leave out of New York), and had to be used within one year. Needless to say, it went unused (and not transferrable) Seeing as how my next cruise I've spent $8000 for a suite, $1000 off an inside cabin held zero appeal to me. But it sure was fun winning!

[Rhea58]

This is some great info. I travel solo, book an inside BUT since I live on

LI only go out of NY.

 

If one has to book air, & then a hotel (since it's winter & weather can

change) plus dinner, breakfast & transfers the $1,000 gets eaten up

quite a bit.

 

Now I have a reason not to drop so much $$ on bingo!

[frediver]

5yrs. ago it was a real Free Cruise, the only qualification was space available and even that was waved after we tried to book a couple different cruises and could not get space.

Time was growing short and a Free Cruise wasn't if they did not give us a cabin.

What I am saying is you likely do have wiggle room.

[Love2travel4]

I am with TNTWOLF on this one...you can definately find a very nice cruise for under $1,000. Granted you might not be used to an inside room...but heck...it could be free! I have never paid more than $1,000 for any cruise except my B2B...yes,I do get inside rooms because we ate never, ever in them. Keep an eye out for good flight deals. My next cruise...Manchester to Tampa for $136! 12 day cruise...$754 pp...with taxes! Just takes some planning and research!

[babygirl722]

I am with TNTWOLF on this one...you can definately find a very nice cruise for under $1,000. Granted you might not be used to an inside room...but heck...it could be free! I have never paid more than $1,000 for any cruise except my B2B...yes,I do get inside rooms because we ate never, ever in them. Keep an eye out for good flight deals. My next cruise...Manchester to Tampa for $136! 12 day cruise...$754 pp...with taxes! Just takes some planning and research!

 

All great deals but since I can only travel during school breaks, I can assure you that $1000 will likely cover 1/2 the cost of the cabin. All the lines inflate the prices during these time.

[Love2travel4]

All great deals but since I can only travel during school breaks, I can assure you that $1000 will likely cover 1/2 the cost of the cabin. All the lines inflate the prices during these time.

 

This is your cruise, so yes, it has to be to your liking. But....there are some cruises out there for under $1,000.00 (inside rooms) during vacation weeks. This April may be cutting it too close, but here are examples for 2014

 

NCL Dawn out of Tampa: 7 day Caribbean week of Feb 23, 2014: $449 + tax

April 20, 2014: $459 + tax

 

NCL Jewel out of New Orleans ( I would love to cruise out of there! Check out the city for a few days!): 7 day Caribbean week of Feb 23, 2014: $619 + tax

 

NCL Epic out of Miami: 7 day Caribbean Feb 23 & April 20 2014 $729 + tax

 

Regardless of what you choose, congratulations and I hope you enjoy the $1,000 somehow!!!

[DMH15]

My friend who was seated next to me on Carnival Ecstacy won their free cruise in bingo. It was their best cabin and he went and said it was awesome. Wow, NCL. No wonder I rarely go to NCL bingo but loved Carnival's and Celebrity's!!!

[VillaHappy]

Yes, $1000 is a nice deposit so I am happy about it, don't get me wrong. We have a year to use it. I only travel during school breaks so in no way will I find a cruise for 2 at that price, but that's just fine. I will likely book the Breakaway for next Feb President's week if they will allow me to.

 

I hope they let you....and I hope the upgrade fairy even gets involved somehow! Congratulations on your win :D

[IWORK2CRUISE]

I did not know that the NCL "free" cruise was not actually free.

On our last Gem cruise the woman who won showed no real excitement and then stated that she was on the cruise because she won it at bingo on her last cruise!

I was most fortunate to win a free cruise at bingo on RCCL (I was so excited, I almost passed out) and we got to submit three dates and ships that would be "best available inside or ocean view" for caribbean cruises. They also did not include the New Jersey departures.

We had an amazing forward ocean view on Oasis and did not pay anything additional other than gratuities.

 

AND, I don't like the bingo machines. I always play on the paper boards.

[ladybugpug]

I did not know that the NCL "free" cruise was not actually free.

On our last Gem cruise the woman who won showed no real excitement and then stated that she was on the cruise because she won it at bingo on her last cruise!

I was most fortunate to win a free cruise at bingo on RCCL (I was so excited, I almost passed out) and we got to submit three dates and ships that would be "best available inside or ocean view" for caribbean cruises. They also did not include the New Jersey departures.

We had an amazing forward ocean view on Oasis and did not pay anything additional other than gratuities.

 

AND, I don't like the bingo machines. I always play on the paper boards.

 

I have heard before that the "free" cruises are anything but: and it sounds like this is the case. Booking at full price, paying port fees, airfare to Florida. Definitely no savings for me if I would ever win. Which I wouldn't because I dont play bingo lol.

[babygirl722]

I did not know that the NCL "free" cruise was not actually free.

On our last Gem cruise the woman who won showed no real excitement and then stated that she was on the cruise because she won it at bingo on her last cruise!

I was most fortunate to win a free cruise at bingo on RCCL (I was so excited, I almost passed out) and we got to submit three dates and ships that would be "best available inside or ocean view" for caribbean cruises. They also did not include the New Jersey departures.

We had an amazing forward ocean view on Oasis and did not pay anything additional other than gratuities.

 

AND, I don't like the bingo machines. I always play on the paper boards.

 

I think I was on your last Gem cruise! There were 2 people standing at the end, me and a woman who was on her free cruise and she won again.

[FEckeT]

Just off the Gem and won the free cruise for 2 at the Bingo raffle. Actually, it's not really a free cruise, as the voucher states it's good for a maximum of $1000 toward an inside cabin. Voucher also says that it's for a Caribbean Cruise but also states it's good on any cruise.

 

Was wondering if anyone else has won and how the whole process works?

 

Congratulations!

 

Glad to be informed, I am not a bingo lover (maybe because I never win) but this gives me more reason to stay in the casino and away from bingo :eek:

 

Our first NCL cruise in May, 2010 to the Bahamas on the Jewel out of NEW YORK, the couple in the cabin next to us had won their cruise at bingo.

 

They were from Canada, had two young children (2 and 5 maybe) and had booked the AFT Balcony on Deck 10 next to ours. I think she told me that they paid the difference in price from an inside to balcony.

 

This was back when an AFT balcony (B1) was no different than a mid-ship balcony, the next year NCL made it a category by itself.

 

I also know they drove to the pier from Canada. They were on our roll call and in our meet and greet, so we were very friendly with them over the railing of our balcony and when we ran into each other on the ship.

 

They had booked almost last minute when they noticed a Deck 10 Aft Balcony became available.

 

We were on that cruise because my DH won it from Harrah's (it too stated free cruise for 2 - until I called and found out all the details). That too was for an inside cabin on deck 10 or 11 (don't remember exactly or if it just had an inside category for those decks). We paid the $400 per person upgrade charge to move to a balcony. Even without upgrading our "free" cruise would have cost us around $700 total for an inside cabin to cover the port charges and/or non commissionable fees anyway. So we felt for $750 each for 7 days on a cruise ship in an aft balcony was well worth it.

 

We have sailed every year on NCL since then.

 

Maybe you should call NCL to see exactly what is available for you to upgrade to and for how much. Should be worth the time it takes for you to make a phone call and remember, if you do not like the answer you get, call back a 2nd or even a 3rd time. I know that sometimes you get a different answer from different people.

 

I would bet that NCL would make something available to you from New York during the time you can sail.

 

Happy Sailing!

 

:D :)

 

PS: Please let us know how you make out :confused:

Edited February 24, 2013 by FEckeT
typo

[cruzndiz]

Wow, that is some interesting news about the "free" cruise.... on Carnival it absolutely was a free cruise and the only thing you had to pay for was if you wanted to upgrade to balcony for example and taxes. Of course, that bingo session filled the entire theater so I am sure they got their money for the cruise prize up front and then some!

 

On my recent NCL cruise the bingo was held in Dazzles and wasn't nearly so crowded -- maybe everyone has learned :p

[roe2ship]

This is your cruise, so yes, it has to be to your liking. But....there are some cruises out there for under $1,000.00 (inside rooms) during vacation weeks. This April may be cutting it too close, but here are examples for 2014

 

NCL Dawn out of Tampa: 7 day Caribbean week of Feb 23, 2014: $449 + tax

April 20, 2014: $459 + tax

 

NCL Jewel out of New Orleans ( I would love to cruise out of there! Check out the city for a few days!): 7 day Caribbean week of Feb 23, 2014: $619 + tax

 

NCL Epic out of Miami: 7 day Caribbean Feb 23 & April 20 2014 $729 + tax

 

Regardless of what you choose, congratulations and I hope you enjoy the $1,000 somehow!!!

Even the cheapest cruise you listed is still more than the 1,000.00 when you add in taxes and fees. Bottom line, the winnings should not be advertised as a free cruise for two. To be more realistic the winnings should have been advertised as “a free cruise for two on a 3 day Sky cruise” I would bet that is really the only ship anytime of the year that you can take a cruise on up to the vouchers amount.

 

I'm glad to know this now as I may not spend so much money on bingo either on NCL.

[frediver]

When it is all said and done you won a $1000.00 be happy.

Unless it is restricting you to only an inside cabin and Only

when they have space available IMO you are Still $1000.00

ahead. If you have the option of using that $1K like a cruise credit

you can still have your free cruise or use it to upgrade the

cruise you otherwise select.

You Won, enjoy it!

[babygirl722]

When it is all said and done you won a $1000.00 be happy.

Unless it is restricting you to only an inside cabin and Only

when they have space available IMO you are Still $1000.00

ahead. If you have the option of using that $1K like a cruise credit

you can still have your free cruise or use it to upgrade the

cruise you otherwise select.

You Won, enjoy it!

 

The voucher says it is restricted to an inside with a maximum value of $1000. I'll learn more once I give them a call this week. Trust me, I'm happy to have won, I just hope I can use it!! However, it does bother me a bit that it is advertised as a free cruise for 2, as it truly is not.

[babygirl722]

This is your cruise, so yes, it has to be to your liking. But....there are some cruises out there for under $1,000.00 (inside rooms) during vacation weeks. This April may be cutting it too close, but here are examples for 2014

 

NCL Dawn out of Tampa: 7 day Caribbean week of Feb 23, 2014: $449 + tax

April 20, 2014: $459 + tax

 

NCL Jewel out of New Orleans ( I would love to cruise out of there! Check out the city for a few days!): 7 day Caribbean week of Feb 23, 2014: $619 + tax

 

NCL Epic out of Miami: 7 day Caribbean Feb 23 & April 20 2014 $729 + tax

 

Regardless of what you choose, congratulations and I hope you enjoy the $1,000 somehow!!!

 

 

These are all great deals but sadly, none are during my children's school break. Find me something for the week before each of these dates and I'll be in business!!!