Wheel of Fortune

[g683002]

Would like to hear about experiences with the new Wheel of Fortune game show. Is it worth buying cards?

[zqvol]

Only you can decide if it worth it.

[Guindalf]

My opinion is no, it's not worth it, but someone else who won will say otherwise.

 

We found the show to be terrible and couldn't wait for it to be over. It's designed as a money-maker, pure and simple, just like Bingo, Deal Or No Deal and the pull-apart cards. The odds of winning are insanely low. Each round saw the highest point scorer get a water bottle and the overall highest points earner 'won' a $500 Effy gift card and the on-stage winner got to keep their game winnings in OBC, amounting to $465. I don't know for sure, but I'll bet it was non-refundable and, as it was day 6, they didn't have a lot of time left to spend it! When you consider the on-board markups, they were not really getting a lot. By that token, they sold a lot of cards, ranging from $25 for two, up to $50 for 10, so the whole thing really did come across like a money-making scheme.

 

As for entertainment value, there was little or none. I guess a more enigmatic Cruise DIrector (we had Roberto) would have improved the experience, but halfway through, my DW apologised to me for making me sit through it!

[Candy Apple 12]

I agree with @Guindalf that it’s a money grab. In addition, it is considered gambling so you cannot use your NCLH non-refundable stockholder OBC to purchase the “cards” which is done through a website on your phone. If you do plan to go, make sure your phone is charged. You do not have to use your internet minutes to play. 

[JGmf]

Well, I'm sure a lot of people like it.  Me? Sound horrible.

[Distinctive-Destinations]

Unless I get to meet Vanna, pass.

[BirdTravels]

13 minutes ago, Distinctive-Destinations said:

Unless I get to meet Vanna, pass.

Need to meet Ryan

[yakcruiser]

1 hour ago, Guindalf said:

 Each round saw the highest point scorer get a water bottle and the overall highest points earner 'won' a $500 Effy gift card

I would take the water bottle.

[Oakman58]

1 hour ago, Guindalf said:

My opinion is no, it's not worth it, but someone else who won will say otherwise.

 

As for entertainment value, there was little or none. I guess a more enigmatic Cruise DIrector (we had Roberto) would have improved the experience, but halfway through, my DW apologised to me for making me sit through it!

 

I think great cruise directors are becoming a thing of the past on all cruise lines.

[UKstages]

i'm not a contemporary cruiser, but i'd like to play this just so i can support my woodland preserve. when it came to be my turn, i'd declare my intent by proclaiming loudly "i'd like to buy an owl, please."

[Wayward Son]

1 hour ago, Distinctive-Destinations said:

Unless I get to meet Vanna, pass.

 

Oh my. Does anyone still have that issue of PlyBy in a box in their basement?

 

Asking for a friend.  😂

 

[uneamie]

So they are now getting away with not giving us a "free show" to replace the one they took away and giving us another thing to pay for that holds little to no entertainment value if you don't buy into it....and in the end having you walk out saying to yourself "why did I do this?" LOL I did go to the Price is Right on the Prima and the Deal or No Deal....it passed the time and I spent some money but I would have rather watched a good show instead. I think the cruise lines are making up for lost money during Covid. 

[mking8288]

Frankly, saw it once onboard the Prima last year and enough ... DW might "bring" her sister and niece to "watch" it next month with zero "buy-in"   Isn't this, a friend asked, sort of like the new Bingo in disguise onboard.  Well, I dunno what to tell ya ... no wonder they aren't pushing Bingo anymore.  Anyone else that cruise in those earlier NCL days, recalled "Gina" from the CD staff that would cheerfully announced it's "Bingo" time with her sweet voice.  

 

Me, think, personally, feel free to do whatever, it is freestyle cruising afterall ... something for everyone to do, and not to - rather retreat to our private balcony with a beverage in hand (an ice cold coffee will do, overpriced latte isn't necessary) or alcohol-free beer will do ... or head for the gym to burn some calories off instead.  Maybe, better off go straight to the casino and make a donation, with the house edge/odds of winning big ... or, open that Kindle or iPad.  To each her/his own, I suppose.  

Edited March 16 by mking8288

[dexddd]

4 hours ago, mking8288 said:

Frankly, saw it once onboard the Prima last year and enough ... DW might "bring" her sister and niece to "watch" it next month with zero "buy-in"   Isn't this, a friend asked, sort of like the new Bingo in disguise onboard.  Well, I dunno what to tell ya ... no wonder they aren't pushing Bingo anymore.  Anyone else that cruise in those earlier NCL days, recalled "Gina" from the CD staff that would cheerfully announced it's "Bingo" time with her sweet voice.  

 

Me, think, personally, feel free to do whatever, it is freestyle cruising afterall ... something for everyone to do, and not to - rather retreat to our private balcony with a beverage in hand (an ice cold coffee will do, overpriced latte isn't necessary) or alcohol-free beer will do ... or head for the gym to burn some calories off instead.  Maybe, better off go straight to the casino and make a donation, with the house edge/odds of winning big ... or, open that Kindle or iPad.  To each her/his own, I suppose.  

First word of your post has to bring up FDR.  I'm not sure if he was involved in Wheel at Sea.

[Oakman58]

Daily activities aren't what they used to be, especially on NCL, but also the other cruise lines.  My wife and I enjoy the trivia games and not much else.  Our favorite daytime activity has become people watching.  We find a place on the ship with high people traffic (hopefully near an open bar) and then make fun of how they look, how they dress, etc. as they walk by.  Shallow I know, but it is fun.

[ready2cruzagain]

10 minutes ago, Oakman58 said:

Daily activities aren't what they used to be, especially on NCL, but also the other cruise lines.  My wife and I enjoy the trivia games and not much else.  Our favorite daytime activity has become people watching.  We find a place on the ship with high people traffic (hopefully near an open bar) and then make fun of how they look, how they dress, etc. as they walk by.  Shallow I know, but it is fun.

OMG and here I thought we were the only ones that do that! In January it was hilarious on the Epic to sit between Spinnaker and Maltings and watch the people turn right at the curve and go into Wasabi and Teppenyaki and would have to turn around and find their way out. Yes, it was lame but it was hilarious to watch. Definitely better than sitting in O'Sheehans and listening to a movie from below at the atrium blaring or Deal or No Deal.

[PartyPlannerLady]

20 hours ago, Guindalf said:

My opinion is no, it's not worth it, but someone else who won will say otherwise.

 

We found the show to be terrible and couldn't wait for it to be over. It's designed as a money-maker, pure and simple, just like Bingo, Deal Or No Deal and the pull-apart cards. The odds of winning are insanely low. Each round saw the highest point scorer get a water bottle and the overall highest points earner 'won' a $500 Effy gift card and the on-stage winner got to keep their game winnings in OBC, amounting to $465. I don't know for sure, but I'll bet it was non-refundable and, as it was day 6, they didn't have a lot of time left to spend it! When you consider the on-board markups, they were not really getting a lot. By that token, they sold a lot of cards, ranging from $25 for two, up to $50 for 10, so the whole thing really did come across like a money-making scheme.

 

As for entertainment value, there was little or none. I guess a more enigmatic Cruise DIrector (we had Roberto) would have improved the experience, but halfway through, my DW apologised to me for making me sit through it!

 

Sounds more like the Wheel Of The Unfortunate to me! 🙂

[CruiseMH]

As long as enough people are so "stupid" to let themselves get ripped off the cruise lines(in this specific case NCL) will keep doing these shows.

If no one would attend them or take part then they wouldn`t exist and NCL would have to think about some real and free entertainment.

 

[UKstages]

NCL is very interested in post-cruise sentiment. they conduct surveys and have an entire department set up to evaluate customer feedback, from feedback submitted both on and off the ship. the most important metric is customer's "intent to return," their interest in cruising again with NCL... when those scores fall, NCL pays attention... to the fleet overall as well as individual ships.

 

so, yes, certainly, if nobody went to the shows and the audiences remained scarce, that would be an indication that they have a dud on their hands... if that information gets reported back to corproate, which it may not.

 

anyway, that's not realistic. people are on vacation, they want entertainment and they're going to go to the shows. if you want to protest, then don't buy a game card (WOF or D or ND) and make sure you rate these shows very low in surveys and onboard comment cards. you're not complaining; you're providing valuable feedback NCL genuinely wants and needs to take course correction and improve.

[mking8288]

6 hours ago, dexddd said:

First word of your post has to bring up FDR.  I'm not sure if he was involved in Wheel at Sea.

Ohhhhh ... yes, that wasn't intentional but rather indirectly, subconsciously perhaps.  Why not blame FDR along since Dirty Harry was one of the protege under Frankie's wings during his tenure.  I figure, no harm done to try to inject a bit of humor and fun into these "controversial" discussions lately. 

 

Lately, those NCL "Inner Circle" online surveys have been very focused & specific, asking for feedbacks, ratings & comments about these and other similar onboard activities, i.e. a long list of Asian menu items, not offered before or now, and what if.  

 

Operations team onboard might not fully report and relay back the success, and lack thereof in these "slick" game shows, but if they aren't hitting their net revenue targets ... eventually, finance at HQ will drill down & begin asking for explanations.  

[Distinctive-Destinations]

10 hours ago, ready2cruzagain said:

OMG and here I thought we were the only ones that do that! In January it was hilarious on the Epic to sit between Spinnaker and Maltings and watch the people turn right at the curve and go into Wasabi and Teppenyaki and would have to turn around and find their way out. Yes, it was lame but it was hilarious to watch. Definitely better than sitting in O'Sheehans and listening to a movie from below at the atrium blaring or Deal or No Deal.

We did exactly this also. Probably sat in the same pair of chairs.

 

 

[RocketMan275]

1 hour ago, CruiseMH said:

As long as enough people are so "stupid" to let themselves get ripped off the cruise lines(in this specific case NCL) will keep doing these shows.

If no one would attend them or take part then they wouldn`t exist and NCL would have to think about some real and free entertainment.

 

Not everyone likes the 'real and free entertainment'.  We would never go to one of the shows in the theater, Sid's or the Commedy show.  

We do like Bingo and my wife loves "Wheel of Fortune'.

[Wayward Son]

3 minutes ago, RocketMan275 said:

We would never go to one of the shows in the theater, Sid's or the Commedy show.  

 

I would say you are an outlier. Like, not even on the chart.

 

[RocketMan275]

11 minutes ago, Wayward Son said:

 

I would say you are an outlier. Like, not even on the chart.

 

The percentages of passengers attending the 'real and free entertainment' says otherwise.  Nor do we waste time at the pool.

Edited March 16 by RocketMan275

[vacation44]

We did not go the The Wheel of Fortune last month on the Encore.   We will not go in June on the Joy.