Bingo Scam on Liberty of the Seas

[BillOh]

I would have been annoyed as well. Luckily, I played Bingo once very early in my cruising career and got that out of the way and so it has not been a problem since.

 

 

Ditto! One other thing that annoys me about the way RCI does Bingo, even if they get another players to justify the jackpot, they frequently tell you, right before the game starts, that in order to win the "free cruise" you have to have a bingo before a certain number of numbers are called. (I can't remember exactly how many). If they do that on the $500 jackpot as well, then there is a good chance they might not give it away and the game should go ahead anyway.

[Langley Cruisers]

All games are a form of "gambling". Monopoly, Life, Risk, Stratego, War, Old Maid, and on and on.

 

 

Ummm... just no. I never had to pay money to enter into a game of Monopoly. Gambling is paying money for something, hoping you win, but most likely losing. Think about it: lottery, scratch cards, casino, bingo, horses, etc. The games you mentioned are hardling gambling. :rolleyes:

[lovemylab]

I agree that a notation should be made in the compass. That being said, I think the OP would still be upset as he still would have lost his lounger by the pool.

 

As for children playing bingo, I fail to understand why the cruiseline is the one considered not acting responsible. It's up to the parent to decide whether the child plays. If you don't want your kid to play bingo, then don't take them. This is not Adventure Ocean or the activities manager announcing "free bingo for kids". This is parents CHOOSING to take their child to a bingo game. The cruiseline is simply giving them a free card (likely to keep them occupied so they're not disruptive to other passengers).

[Tucker in Texas]

Someday the suits are going to figure out that 150 people paying $10 to play Bingo brings in more money than 30 paying $30.

 

I've seen them cancel games on when not enough showed up. I've, also, seen them play games and pay out only $75 or so to the winner and that was when the entry fee was $35 for cards, $60+ for electronic thingees that usually win because they have 18 cards on them.

 

Tucker in Texas

[ehfl]

I'm Shocked! SHOCKED! to see "Bingo" and "Scam" in the same sentence.

[nrdsb4]

I and my lovely wife just returned from the Liberty of the Seas. We arrived in Miami this morning. Back in Minnesota now and it is 0 outside! Ship was lovely and service was great in all ways except for an event that occurred on the first day at sea. The activities staff advertised that they were going to be playing a game of bingo on Monday am and the prizes included a $500 dollar pot as well as a suite upgrade. My wife and I were sitting by the pool and were hesitant to leave our pool chairs as it was wall to wall people around the pool area. After some discussion we decided to make our way down and play the game. When we arrived at the advertised location which was the Sphinx theater, we were told that they were not yet selling bingo cards for the upcoming game. We waited about 15 minutes and during this time only a few more showed up to play. There was a total of about 40 people in the room at this time. A activities member came in and announced that due to lack of participants the game had been canceled. I told him that it was misrepresentation and a scam that they now were not playing the game due to it not being profitable for RCI. He did not respond. I then went to guest services and complained. They put me in touch with the person responsible for the bingo games on the ship. I explained to him my frustration as well as that there were others who left the room feeling the same way I did about it. He stated that it was company policy to cancel if they did not have enough people to cover the pot to be given away. I told him that was misrepresentation and that if I tried to do something like that at my business I would have customers never show up again to shop in my store. I then expressed that they need to have it in the small print and in the anouncements of the bingo games that there has to be a minium amount of people playing the game or else it will be cancelled. Due to this situation, I made no effort to play in any of the bingo games all week. How would one know if it would happen again? I have cruised RCI 5 times and their sister line Celebrity line 4 times. I have also cruised other lines in addition to these two. I was so turned off by this action of RCI that I will be not cruising their line again for some time. I do not appreciate my time wasted by mis-representation and scams!

 

If I understand your post correctly, you did not purchase a bingo card, only to be sent away without the chance to play. Therefore, this was no "scam," and if that's the inflammatory rhetoric you used when voicing your complaints, it's not wonder you didn't get a satisfactory response.

 

What you have described is an annoyance, poor customer service perhaps, but no "scam." In fact, your thread title seems to also be a "misrepresentation."

Edited January 10, 2011 by nrdsb4

[ChipLondon]

Bingo :d

 

 

..................in fact, your thread title seems to also be a "misrepresentation."

[Attapooch]

I read the OP's original post twice and I honestly think that they forgot to mention where they told the whippersnappers to also stay off their lawn.

 

I think we've witnessed the birth of new HAL cruiser.

[johneeo]

That's what they do for the Hold'em tournaments.

 

Yep, I paid to enter one, and literally, I was the only one that enterred.

 

I won the free cruise, second place prize of $500, and a T-shirt.

 

Then I woke up.

[bplazo]

They could have at least played for the suite upgrade and maybe do a split the pot game. I have to side with the OP that I would have been annoyed to find that it was cancelled (not that I would be playing bingo).

 

I think that if they allow children to play Bingo that they need to pay full price for their cards. No freebies.

[EVALUATOR]

IMO, you are now making extreme examples to try and prove your point.

I am sure the cruise line would have (and has) canceled cruises long before the day before you sail. All I am saying is if the OP is so upset that Bingo was canceled hasn't experienced all cruise lines canceling events for whatever reason. It happens every cruise!

 

You compared a canceled flight with a canceled bingo game. I compared a canceled cruise with a canceled flight.

 

So what if they advertise or announce it's $15 per person for 2 to go to chops. You make an appointment for 9:00 p.m. when you get there, they say not enough showed up to pay to heat up the grill, so pay more or go to the Windjammer?

[Merion_Mom]

The last couple of RCL cruises that we were on they no longer had the snowball jackpot bingo. I don't know if that is becoming a thing of the past or not. :confused:

 

I haven't seen (really, heard about - I don't play bingo onboard any more) any BIG jackpots in about 3 years.

[donaldsc]

I do agree that there should have been some fine print. However, to stop cruising on all ships from a line because you -

 

a) lost your seat at the pool

b) wasted 15 minutes of your precious time

c) Did not get to play a round of bingo

 

suggests to me that you have many other personal problems to start to deal with.

 

DON

[jeffreytg]

I fail to see how this was a scam. In order for a scam to occur, something of value must change hands -like money. The OP did not pay money for bingo, therefore he did not get scammed at bingo.

 

If the cruise line is guilty of anything, its is in not giving advance notice that a minimum number of players must exist. This is a failure to communicate, but not a scam.

Edited January 10, 2011 by jeffreytg

[Langley Cruisers]

Maybe OP meant "sham". Change a letter and there you have it. :D

[wwcruisers]

Sham is right, Langleycruisers. We used to play Bingo onboard, but the handheld electronic cards killed it for me. It took all of the "skill" factor out of the game. When people used to have to keep track of all of the cards they bought, it could be a real challenge. Now you can play as many games as you can purchase, and win even if you are comatose (or deceased)! :rolleyes:

Edited January 11, 2011 by wwcruisers

[mommabean]

Sham is right, Langleycruisers. We used to play Bingo onboard, but the handheld electronic cards killed it for me. It took all of the "skill" factor out of the game. When people used to have to keep track of all of the cards they bought, it could be a real challenge. Now you can play as many games as you can purchase, and win even if you are comatose (or deceased)! :rolleyes:

 

I have played a few times in the past. When I saw those machines, I decided I wouldn't ever be tempted again. That's not a game.

 

The last time I played was just because my daughter and her friend wanted to play. I bought a card for each of us, the smallest amount I could buy so we could all play. I handed out the cards *I* paid for. And wouldn't you know it...one of the cards *I* bought won. It was the card I gave my daughter's friend. She won a diamond ring - no kidding - AND $50. Of course I had to take possession of the prizes since the girls were minors (16 years old) but I did hand it over :eek: since it's only right to give it to the card's owner. That's the last card I bought since I figured my luck is over and I didn't even win. LOL

 

Gina

[reney313]

The OP has every right to air his opinion on this subject. I don't think it ruined the cruise for him, but he values customer service and if he feels that the line did not provide any service, then that is his opinion. I, for one, am happy he posted as I wasn't aware that they would cancel a game if not enough showed up to make it "profitable". As to someone else's reply, they certainly don't increase the pay out if they bring in more than the payout. (at least I would agree, but I don't play Bingo on the ship either so maybe they do?)

 

On that note, I do think it would be worthy for the OP to send a letter of his experience. It seems at the very least, the game should go one for those that do show up, and the suite upgrade provided. (and split the pot for what is collected). That really doesn't 'cost' them anything.

 

I shouldn't be surprised how many people jumped on this poster for what he feels is bad service. It wouldn't have bothered me, but that's not relevant to his complaint.

[Cincy-David]

Can I sit by you next time?

 

Very funny and quick.... love it

[Sapphire723]

Although, I don't feel that it's a scam, I can certainly see why it is upsetting to go out of your way to attend something only to have it cancelled for a silly reason.

 

On the one NCL cruise we went on, several events were cancelled after we showed up, dining rooms closed well before the times posted, and it seemed like we spent the entire week chasing shadows. If you don't think an event will be worth the time/money, then either post a plan B or don't have it at all. Don't make passengers waste their vacation trying to guess if what you say is happening will really happen.

[nycruiser80]

Don't get so worked up. Really, its not worth it. I understand its the principle but I got news for you most travel companies are a scam. Okay, I'm being too harsh. Lets face it they all have unfair policies that benifit them because at the end of the day they want to make money. "Guests" are secondary sadly. I worked in travel over 10 years and the cruise lines, hotel companies and especially the airlines are all "scam" artists. In the begining, when I began a career in travel, I was upset over things but what can we do. Either companies control our lives or the government. Many people don't see it that way but I beleive it comes down to that! So, I enjoy a cruise not for the bingo and silly shows. I love it for the sea and the ship design otherwise if I got upset at all of the unfair polocies in the travel industry I would have stopped traveling years ago. My only other suggestion (and I am seriously not trying to be wise***, I am being honest) try a more upscale line if you can afford. By this I mean Seabourn, Silversea, Crystal. You get a little less of this bologna on those lines since they are not mass market.

[north29]

In would be ticked off as well.. He had a great seat by the pool, got up, dresses, went to play a game.. He did his part, the cruise line did not. It was bad form on their part.

 

Maybe more and more people are skipping BINGO.. For a reason.

 

 

T

 

I do not know or not if RC post the minimum number for activities that are cash prized, but they should up front and big, not print that you have to have a magnifying glass to read. I might have not been as mad as the OP but that is just me, but would have been upset, and maybe even written a private note to RC's complaint department where every that is, probably file 13.

[BILLSFAN83]

I agree that I could use another vacation. I am just worn out after a week of lying around doing nothing.

 

Please understand, The game has nothing to do with my frustation, it has to do with the fact that I made the effort in good faith to show up at the game and I would only wish for RCI to follow through with their part. My time is valuable and I would expect that to be recognized by a company selling vacation time to me.

 

 

Your time isn't that valuable if you cut your losses and went back on your enjoyable vacation

"I then went to guest services and complained. They put me in touch with the person responsible for the bingo games on the ship." Sounds like you have plenty of time to waste.

 

Come on your an adult and should know better, while its frustrating that you had to get up for nothing (not RCI's fault more people didn't want to play Bingo) its common sense that games need a reasonable amount of people. I don't think the marriage game would be played with one couple.

[TEXASMUNK]

To let a bingo game get in the way of a good time

 

But, I will offer...if they had played for the Suite upgrade, there may have been one winner who truly did believe it was a SCAM....

 

Asking them to pay the higher gratuity level for a Suite.

[Paul65]

I was on this cruise, too, and I'm upset with what they did with that Bingo session. We got some great seats by the pool, when some passengers got up to go play Bingo, but they came back about 15 minutes later asking for they pool chairs back, because they got scammed out of the Bingo game. I expected RC to babysit those folks for at least an hour or so! :mad: