I won! Or did I?

[phoenix1181]

I entered a slot tournament to kill some time & won a cruise. Second place won $150 & probably made out better.

 

This non transferable cruise is for me & a guest on the Navigator, November 6, 2010. It's a 5 day Western Caribbean itinerary. Also included is entry in a slot tournament with a large grand prize. (nice but since I can't plan on winning, not much of an incentive)

 

Does anyone have any additional information that will help me make a decision? What kind of cabin? Is it just transportation and personal expenses I'll have to pay or do I also pay taxes & port charges? What about taxes on the prize itself? How much will that set me back?

 

If I was close to the port it wouldn't be an issue but I'm not sure I want to spend money to find myself in a Q category cabin selling for $299 pp.

 

TIA.............................d

[jillyfish]

Sounds like you will have to find out the details and let us know!! ;)

 

Can't wait to hear how it works out.

[Havingfun2010]

I'm sure it's not completely free, but IT IS A CRUISE!!!!

[steponboard]

Call the sponsor of the contest or RCL, they are ones who can answer your questions, then let us know.

[cruisedudemaly]

I believe it will be only cruise fare for 2. You will have to pay port charges & taxes and transportation to port (airfare). As far as cabin category, they should have told you that when you won, so you will have to contact RCCL for specific details on that.

 

I know this because I "tied" for win a cruise bingo, then had a playoff and lost, so I asked what it would have included if I won!.

 

However, it's a cruise and a very nice ship! Hopefully, you can make the date you won!

[Texas2steppers]

Phoenix 1181,

 

I'm in the same boat as you are, no pun intended. I was on VOS in February and won the slot machine tourney. I won the same 5 day cruise in November. I just thought it was free! When I inquired about it I found out port fees and taxes added up to $202/pp. Like you said that's not much less than other rooms on that cruise. When I called the 800 # to inquire, the lady acted like I got such a great outside cabin. Well I was so "lucky" we are on the 2nd floor. I went ahead and booked it (not sure we will go), but it would be nice to win the $25,000 slot machine tourney on the cruise. My hubby had the same sentiments as you, 2nd place wouldn't have been so bad. He won the slot tourney 2 years ago and won $1100. Royal Caribbean figured out it was better to give away a "free cruise" than cash because they are betting that many of us will not be able to go on that specific date or decide that airfare and hotel are too much!

[Texas2steppers]

I entered a slot tournament to kill some time & won a cruise. Second place won $150 & probably made out better.

 

This non transferable cruise is for me & a guest on the Navigator, November 6, 2010. It's a 5 day Western Caribbean itinerary. Also included is entry in a slot tournament with a large grand prize. (nice but since I can't plan on winning, not much of an incentive)

 

Does anyone have any additional information that will help me make a decision? What kind of cabin? Is it just transportation and personal expenses I'll have to pay or do I also pay taxes & port charges? What about taxes on the prize itself? How much will that set me back?

 

If I was close to the port it wouldn't be an issue but I'm not sure I want to spend money to find myself in a Q category cabin selling for $299 pp.

 

TIA.............................d

 

You are guaranteed an outside cabin. You will have to pay taxes & port fees of $202/pp. If you win the $25,000 prize you will not pay taxes on winnings as you will be in international water.

[NorbertsNiece]

I do wish these prizes were properly described to avoid being misrepresented. Over here in the UK there are prizes of 'free holidays' in all sorts of competitions but you HAVE to take out their insurance too as well as paying taxes etc.

[Big Kev]

I wonder whether RCI is the same as NCL on "winning a cruise"

 

We "won" a Caribbean cruise with "scratch" type tickets that they were selling for $20 a pack during shows etc..

 

3 ships displayed after poking windows open meant a 7 day Caribbean Cruise in an inside cabin.

 

Whooopy !!! We won the cruise on that sailing !!

 

Were were told that taxes were extra, but were more than a bit disappointed to find that in addition to taxes, we had to pay an extra, (as on invoice) "CRUISE FARE" of another $140 ea. (Wasnt pre -pay gratuities, 'cos with the freestyle system, they automatically go onto O/B account, and then you pay, with NCL).

 

So that was then really a bit Phooopy.:confused:

 

Continued to ask questions even after our return from the "freeby", but never could get an answer what the extra $140 was for...

 

We enjoyed the cruise tho :D

.

.

[phoenix1181]

You are guaranteed an outside cabin. You will have to pay taxes & port fees of $202/pp. If you win the $25,000 prize you will not pay taxes on winnings as you will be in international water.

 

I thought it was probably an outside cabin. Right now, the only oceanviews available are guarantees @ $519 pp plus port charges & taxes.

 

I do wish these prizes were properly described to avoid being misrepresented. Over here in the UK there are prizes of 'free holidays' in all sorts of competitions but you HAVE to take out their insurance too as well as paying taxes etc.

 

Actually, I'm pretty sure they did adequately describe the prize. But, since I never expected to win, I really didn't pay much attention.

 

I'm sure it's not completely free, but IT IS A CRUISE!!!!

 

Yes, it'a a cruise but we have a land vacation planned that begins the same day & changing it will cost a few bucks. Bottom line, my "free" cruise will cost about $1000 plus whatever the cost is to change the other. I'm pretty sure the Navigator will be sailing without me. :(

 

I guess there's a lesson here for all of us gamblers............... Not only can't you plan on winning, you can't plan on losing either !! :rolleyes:

[phoenix1181]

Call the sponsor of the contest or RCL, they are ones who can answer your questions, then let us know.

 

Almost missed this!

 

I haven't called because I don't want to be pushed to commit yet. I came home to the news that the division I work in is being displaced. If I'm not working, rearranging the land vacation becomes much easier. I want to keep my options open and prefer not to reserve unless I'm sure we'll go.

[justjd]

I won the bingo free cruise a couple of years ago, and was able to upgrade to a Grand Suite for only about $600.00 for a 7 day cruise on the Mariner. It was hard to get info since RCL has a specific representative who handles only free cruises. If you are very nice he/she can be helpful in making it a very nice cruise. We didn't have to pay any government taxes due to the international waters thing. There are always restrictions with any prize, but it is worth looking into....I mean, it's a cruise, right?

[Evelyn9597]

Well done on your slot tournament win!

 

I have a similar dilemma. My DD recently won a 7-night Caribbean cruise playing bingo on IOS. It's going to cost me WAY more in taxes, flights, pre-cruise hotel, transfers, and to add a third guest, than the cruise is actually worth.... so I may have to pass:(. If I lived in the USA, I'd go like a shot.... and, if I could give the prize away, I would..... :rolleyes::)

[Theresa522]

I won the bingo free cruise a couple of years ago, and was able to upgrade to a Grand Suite for only about $600.00 for a 7 day cruise on the Mariner. It was hard to get info since RCL has a specific representative who handles only free cruises. If you are very nice he/she can be helpful in making it a very nice cruise. We didn't have to pay any government taxes due to the international waters thing. There are always restrictions with any prize, but it is worth looking into....I mean, it's a cruise, right?

 

GS for $600 now that sounds worth it to me!!! :D

[snownyet]

I won a free cruise playing bingo on Holland America, It was a 7 day inside cabin on the caribbean cruise of our choice. We upgraded to a balcony and our total money paid to HAL was roughly $200.

Id imagine the reason RCL changed from cash payouts to free cruises is because the cash is a total loss to them while a free cruise brings you back to spend and they'll make money fom a person who otherwise wouldnt have cruised an a potentially unpopular sailing.

[Mark_K]

You are guaranteed an outside cabin. You will have to pay taxes & port fees of $202/pp. If you win the $25,000 prize you will not pay taxes on winnings as you will be in international water.

That may exempt them from having to give you a 1099, I really doubt it legally exempts you from having to pay income tax on it.

[phoenix1181]

Well done on your slot tournament win!

 

I have a similar dilemma. My DD recently won a 7-night Caribbean cruise playing bingo on IOS. It's going to cost me WAY more in taxes, flights, pre-cruise hotel, transfers, and to add a third guest, than the cruise is actually worth.... so I may have to pass:(. If I lived in the USA, I'd go like a shot.... and, if I could give the prize away, I would..... :rolleyes::)

 

It's a bummer isn't it? If the cruise date was flexible, we'd be there in a heartbeat but we're already committed for the same date and right now rearranging things to include the cruise just isn't making sense. In addition to the cost, we'll lose 5 days in our timeshare and if I change timeshare weeks, I'll have to take unpaid time off from a job that's being eliminated. I'm not sure that would be approved & it certainly isn't a smart move financially.

 

It's a shame but it looks like RCCL will be the winner on this one.

[patseacruiser]

I won a small jackpot on a slot 2 years ago and since it was over $1200 I got a 1099 - international waters be damned for US residents I was told.

[Evelyn9597]

It's a bummer isn't it? If the cruise date was flexible, we'd be there in a heartbeat but we're already committed for the same date and right now rearranging things to include the cruise just isn't making sense. In addition to the cost, we'll lose 5 days in our timeshare and if I change timeshare weeks, I'll have to take unpaid time off from a job that's being eliminated. I'm not sure that would be approved & it certainly isn't a smart move financially.

 

It's a shame but it looks like RCCL will be the winner on this one.

 

I know what you mean. I think they must have given you the least popular date in the whole year - early November:rolleyes:?! In your shoes, given the circumstances you describe, I would definitely be inclined to give it a miss, unfortunately.

 

At least there is some date flexibility on our bingo cruise, but there are not many dates that I can realistically take the cruise due to fitting in in with my kids' school holidays (eg, Xmas and Easter are blackout dates) so it doesn't leave much for me to choose from....

[xxoocruiser]

You are guaranteed an outside cabin. You will have to pay taxes & port fees of $202/pp. If you win the $25,000 prize you will not pay taxes on winnings as you will be in international water.

 

 

Did you check the IRS Tax code before making such a blanket statement about winnings not being taxable if won in international waters ?

Gambling winnings for U.S. citizens and/or permanent legal U.S. residents , regardless where in the world they are won, ARE TAXABLE BY THE IRS.

Check out this article http://www.cruise-casinos.com/jackpots.htm

[lawdoc]

You are guaranteed an outside cabin. You will have to pay taxes & port fees of $202/pp. If you win the $25,000 prize you will not pay taxes on winnings as you will be in international water.

 

NOT true. My wife won a $1200.00 slot jackpot. She had to present her passport and fill out an IRS form to get the cash. The cruise lines are required to report winnings to the IRS.

[Dave85]

I seem to recall two things from my Federal Income Tax class in law school (which admittedly was my worst class :p )

 

1) There's some sort of exemption which allows you to decline expensive prizes so that you don't have to pay tax on them;

 

2) There's a threshold over which you have to pay tax on prize money that you won outside the country. Under that amount no tax, over that amount you must pay tax. I also remember hearing this on cruises in the past. What that threshold is I simply don't remember (in part because I never won such a large prize!)

[Mark_K]

I seem to recall two things from my Federal Income Tax class in law school (which admittedly was my worst class :p )

 

1) There's some sort of exemption which allows you to decline expensive prizes so that you don't have to pay tax on them;

 

2) There's a threshold over which you have to pay tax on prize money that you won outside the country. Under that amount no tax, over that amount you must pay tax. I also remember hearing this on cruises in the past. What that threshold is I simply don't remember (in part because I never won such a large prize!)

There is no amount below which you don't have to pay taxes on it. There is an amount under which the casino, or whatever, doesn't have to take your SS# and report it to the government. You still owe taxes on it, but it's sort of an honor system - unless you get seriously audited.

 

At least that's the way I recall it.

[arc918]

If you win the $25,000 prize you will not pay taxes on winnings as you will be in international water.

 

tax advice fail:

 

US taxpayers are taxed on worldwide income...

[AuntieBon]

Companies are not obligated to issue a 1099 form for amounts under $600 but that doesn't mean you aren't obligated to pay taxes on it.

 

I won a cruise for 4 people years ago and didn't receive a 1099 but did some research to find out what a similar week would have cost me and paid taxes on that amount.

 

Stinks to not be able to accept a free cruise. :(