Won Free Cruise at Bingo!

[camper06]

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?

 

I won the cruise for 2 at bingo in 2010 (iirc). It was for a seven night caribbean cruise. The voucher did say maximum 1000 dollars and when I called they said if I used it for any other cruise (more than 7 days, upgraded cabin, not to the caribbean, etc), then the value is $1000. If I used it on a 7 day caribbean with an inside cabin, the cruise fare was free (still had to pay taxes and port charges). We used it on the Jewel out of NYC (bahamas cruise - not considered Caribbean) so we got the $1000 value.

[babygirl722]

I won the cruise for 2 at bingo in 2010 (iirc). It was for a seven night caribbean cruise. The voucher did say maximum 1000 dollars and when I called they said if I used it for any other cruise (more than 7 days, upgraded cabin, not to the caribbean, etc), then the value is $1000. If I used it on a 7 day caribbean with an inside cabin, the cruise fare was free (still had to pay taxes and port charges). We used it on the Jewel out of NYC (bahamas cruise - not considered Caribbean) so we got the $1000 value.

 

Well, this is good to hear. Another poster said she wasn't able to use it on anything but a Caribbean cruise. I will call them tomorrow and see what the story is. Thanks to everyone for your help!

[babygirl722]

Just spoke to NCL. The voucher is good for a free Caribbean cruise for 2 (we pay port fees and taxes) or $1,000 towards a non-Caribbean cruise. Sounds great to me!!!

[beachmonkey]

Just spoke to NCL. The voucher is good for a free Caribbean cruise for 2 (we pay port fees and taxes) or $1,000 towards a non-Caribbean cruise. Sounds great to me!!!

 

That is great news! I would be happy with $1,000 off any cruise, but this makes me feel better about how it is promoted.

 

Very happy for you. Please keep us informed of how you decide to use it!

[blindrid]

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!

 

Aw come on. Now we whine about getting a $1,000 off a cruise. There are plenty of cruise that offer an inside in the $400 pp range.

 

I suppose some would complain since it wasn't a suite!

[A1SusieQ]

Just spoke to NCL. The voucher is good for a free Caribbean cruise for 2 (we pay port fees and taxes) or $1,000 towards a non-Caribbean cruise. Sounds great to me!!!

 

 

Thanks for Updating.

 

Congrats on your $1,000.00 off!

[gelo7]

Congratulations.

[RetiredArmyCruiser]

That's awesome! I won $132 playing Bingo on our cruise on the Gem in 2011. I thought that was great, but now I'm really jealous.

[jdvmd]

Awesome! Come back and let us know what cruise you decide to go on!

[MelissaFreed]

ECongrats! I'm super jealous! We just cruised the 2 night out of NYC on the Jewel. To give you some perspective, I am the girl who gets wide eyed over the slot machines that make a lot of noise and lights up. Friday night was quite lively for us, since we are not used to adult time without our kids. We turned in sometime around 2am Saturday morning, and our room bill at the end of the weekend would show that we must have visited what seemed to be every bar on that ship...multiple times. When we woke up Saturday morning, my husband was still in bad shape and decided to sleep it off. I decided it was go big or go home time so I showered and headed for a mimosa, or 5, at the Spinnaker. Well, it was bingo time. I got sucked right in. Of course I did not win, but the activities staff seemed to be speaking directly to me when plugging the Deal or No Deal game that was upcoming. Didn't win anything at that either. Well the day would have been a total waste if I did not return for the second round of bingo, and the free cruise drawing. Again, nothing but a big L for me. In the end, I had fun, until I had to explain all the charges from my gaming at the end of the weekend to the hubby, who insisted all the charges must have been a mistake lol. Lesson learned for him: do not, under any circumstances, leave the wife alone on a bingo day.

 

Again, congrats!

Edited February 26, 2013 by MelissaFreed

[babygirl722]

ECongrats! I'm super jealous! We just cruised the 2 night out of NYC on the Jewel. To give you some perspective, I am the girl who gets wide eyed over the slot machines that make a lot of noise and lights up. Friday night was quite lively for us, since we are not used to adult time without our kids. We turned in sometime around 2am Saturday morning, and our room bill at the end of the weekend would show that we must have visited what seemed to be every bar on that ship...multiple times. When we woke up Saturday morning, my husband was still in bad shape and decided to sleep it off. I decided it was go big or go home time so I showered and headed for a mimosa, or 5, at the Spinnaker. Well, it was bingo time. I got sucked right in. Of course I did not win, but the activities staff seemed to be speaking directly to me when plugging the Deal or No Deal game that was upcoming. Didn't win anything at that either. Well the day would have been a total waste if I did not return for the second round of bingo, and the free cruise drawing. Again, nothing but a big L for me. In the end, I had fun, until I had to explain all the charges from my gaming at the end of the weekend to the hubby, who insisted all the charges must have been a mistake lol. Lesson learned for him: do not, under any circumstances, leave the wife alone on a bingo day.

 

Again, congrats!

 

Great story! You had me laughing from start to finish.

I can hardly believe that I won because a few years back I was one number away.

Will likely use it on the Breakaway next Feb break.

[Anchor Family]

Hi guys!

 

I know I am very late but since I got on this post because I also won the free cruise last week, I prefer to write down about the info we got so that future lookers will have the proper info up to date.

 

The Free Cruise is NOT a 1000$ voucher. It is a real Free Cruise in the Caribbean for 2 departing from any port in Florida.

The only thing is that there are some blackout dates such as Xmas and New Years sailings as well as some departures next April. It is also not applicable for the new NCL Bliss. And you must be on board for your free cruise at least one day before the 365 days period is over.

 

If you would choose NOT TO USE your Caribbean free ticket, you could DOWNGRADE your prize to a 1000$ voucher that you could use as a deposit on any other cruise from any other port.

 

Also, the free cruise does not entitle you to get any latitudes points. But hey, who really cares when you can sail the Caribbean during 7 days for free, right? ;)

 

As far as we are concerned, we are booking a cruise next february for a total value of 1800$, inside stateroom. We will then pay from our pocket a bare 300$ extra to upgrade to a balcony. But we come from Europe so we need to add the flight. It is easier for Americans I guess to travel to Florida.

 

I hope this information will help people. No matter what you read, just call the number on your prize certificate and they will clarify it for you.

[ColeThornton]

Hi guys!

 

I know I am very late but since I got on this post because I also won the free cruise last week, I prefer to write down about the info we got so that future lookers will have the proper info up to date.

 

The Free Cruise is NOT a 1000$ voucher. It is a real Free Cruise in the Caribbean for 2 departing from any port in Florida.

The only thing is that there are some blackout dates such as Xmas and New Years sailings as well as some departures next April. It is also not applicable for the new NCL Bliss. And you must be on board for your free cruise at least one day before the 365 days period is over.

 

If you would choose NOT TO USE your Caribbean free ticket, you could DOWNGRADE your prize to a 1000$ voucher that you could use as a deposit on any other cruise from any other port.

 

Also, the free cruise does not entitle you to get any latitudes points. But hey, who really cares when you can sail the Caribbean during 7 days for free, right? ;)

 

As far as we are concerned, we are booking a cruise next february for a total value of 1800$, inside stateroom. We will then pay from our pocket a bare 300$ extra to upgrade to a balcony. But we come from Europe so we need to add the flight. It is easier for Americans I guess to travel to Florida.

 

I hope this information will help people. No matter what you read, just call the number on your prize certificate and they will clarify it for you.

 

It's better to start a new thread than bump up a five year old thread that can have old and outdated information. That just confuses people.

 

Thanks.

[Envelope21]

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"

 

Yes. This isn't the first time NCL has had a very interesting definition of the word, "free".

[skeetns]

It's better to start a new thread than bump up a five year old thread that can have old and outdated information. That just confuses people.

 

Thanks.

I second that suggestion.

Was just starting page 2 of the discussion when I noticed the replies were several years out of date.

[realtorgranny]

We were with our friends on the Sun and they won the cruise. They had 1 year to use it, it had to be a Caribbean cruise and they were able to use the credit to book an aft balcony room on the Pearl. They were happy with that.

[attitudeadjustedsoon]

Wow things have changed. My wife won the free Bingo cruise on the Sea in 2001. Each quarter we were sent a list of about 2 dozen cruises we could claim. ( including a 12 day Baltic, a couple of 14 day plus Panama Canal options, and several Mediterranean options...etc etc )

 

9-11-01 occurred and "Cruising America" was the sales pitch. We went back to Alaska. We just paid taxes and wound up with the biggest interior cabin on the Sky. Upgrading was not an option. We received NO Latitudes points either.

Edited February 26, 2018 by attitudeadjustedsoon
lack of editing

[DMH15]

My friend won a free cruise on Carnival. It was the top suite. He had to pay fees, taxes and port charges. It was totally worth it.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

[MizDemeanor]

Congratulations!!! We have won jackpot Bingo twice, but never a 'free' cruise. Good for you!!!

[Anchor Family]

It's better to start a new thread than bump up a five year old thread that can have old and outdated information. That just confuses people.

 

Thanks.

 

Thanks Cole! I am not so well used with forums... I thought it best to keep all info in the same place. :D

[Alegeeter]

We won the"Free cruise" raffle last week.

The cruise staff advertises it as "Win a free cruise for 2 anywhere to the Caribbean or Bahamas"

 

The actual voucher says:

- A cruise for up to 5 days

- Maximum value $600 (it does not say whether it's total or per person) and excludes any X category

- Blackout dates include: Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years sailings; mid-March to the end of April; and mid-June to the end of August.

 

So basically, I think the only cruise that would meet all these requirements is a 3 day on the Sun or Sky on a non-holiday weekend.

[Maniacal Cruiser]

Never mind

[david_sobe]

We won the"Free cruise" raffle last week.

The cruise staff advertises it as "Win a free cruise for 2 anywhere to the Caribbean or Bahamas"

 

The actual voucher says:

- A cruise for up to 5 days

- Maximum value $600 (it does not say whether it's total or per person) and excludes any X category

- Blackout dates include: Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years sailings; mid-March to the end of April; and mid-June to the end of August.

 

So basically, I think the only cruise that would meet all these requirements is a 3 day on the Sun or Sky on a non-holiday weekend.

 

 

Check the 5 night cruises on Jade out of Miami. You can get an inside room or obstructed oceanview for that price.

[Alegeeter]

Thanks. Sadly, we are on a teacher's schedule, aka all the blackout dates. It'll likely go unused - which I'm guessing is NCL's preferred outcome. Either that or a 3 day weekend cruise to escape winter for a bit.

[cathi007]

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.

 

I can relate, as I am a teacher also (assuming you are in education). It's impossible to find anything "cheap" when schools are out. It is false advertising at its best. I will skip the bingo on my next cruise. (actually I hate bingo anyway, it's the casino that gets me). Good luck