What is Deal or No Deal?

[GeorgiaRetiredCruisers]

I bought 3 cards in advance of our cruise on Solstice next week and they were discounted.  I have no idea what it is about though? Its a game, right??

[omeinv]

@GeorgiaRetiredCruisers

 

It's a game, following the general format of the TV game show (I think you can see it on Amazon Prime if you're curious). 

 

The gist of the thing is this.  One person is selected by the number printed on one of their cards.  They choose one box of twenty.  That becomes their box.  There is an amount of money in each box ranging from 1 penny to 1000 dollars.  Now that they have theirs locked in, the open remaining boxes.  As they open boxes and reveal the amount each contains, they are periodically offered cash based on the odds that their box contains a better amount of money.  As a simplified example, suppose I had chosen box number one, and had opened nine more boxes.  In the course of opening those I've revealed all the nine lowest amounts.  Leaving the 11 highest amounts (from $40.00 to 1000.00) in play.  My offer would be pretty good, and about the median of the remaining amount (lets say $310.00 for example).  I could then continue to play, or accept the $310.00.  This is the reason for the name Deal or No Deal.  If I open three more boxes, reveal the top three amounts, my next offer would be considerably lower, but still based on the median of the potential amounts in my box.  At each of these decision points I decide whether to accept the offer.  Finally, it gets to the point where there is my box, and one other, and only two possible amounts.  I'm then given the option to keep my original box, or switch to the other. 

 

It's fairly entertaining to watch the contestant deal with the always present demands of fear vs. greed. 

 

Meanwhile, everyone else's card can win prizes based upon matching the amount in one of the 20 boxes on your card with the box displayed on the screen. 

 

Finally, after two rounds of contestants playing, another randomly selected contestant gets a chance to win either money or a free cruise depending on a wheel spin. 

 

Harris

Denver, CO

Edited April 27, 2023 by omeinv

[GeorgiaRetiredCruisers]

Thanks.  My Blood Pressure is rising just reading your description. LOL!

[Dar & Bob]

6 hours ago, GeorgiaRetiredCruisers said:

I bought 3 cards in advance of our cruise on Solstice next week and they were discounted.  I have no idea what it is about though? Its a game, right??

Sorry can't resist... IMO  It's a ripoff.  Yes it was fun even from the watching perspective - however several things to note.  You are able to "win" on your card even if you aren't picked.  What you win is casino credits that have to be played (they can't be cashed out)  Also, if you are picked an win the free cruise, it is usually for an inside cabin on a particular saiing. So, yes it's amusing but the Deal is not all that.  L(

[brockmom]

It is fun, and being elite plus we were able to get a discount on the cards…or extra cards…can’t quiet remember….

and I do recall hubby went to the casino cashier and cashed out some of his winnings from the game…so you do get some paid out.

sorry I can’t remember more specifics, but it was exciting as the first game, we had a cruise winner.

give it a try ! Great for a sea day activity 

brockmom

[rmalbers]

10 hours ago, Dar & Bob said:

Sorry can't resist... IMO  It's a ripoff.  Yes it was fun even from the watching perspective - however several things to note.  You are able to "win" on your card even if you aren't picked.  What you win is casino credits that have to be played (they can't be cashed out)  Also, if you are picked an win the free cruise, it is usually for an inside cabin on a particular saiing. So, yes it's amusing but the Deal is not all that.  L(

I think it's safe to say that X wouldn't be doing it if they lost money doing it.  It was sure popular on my last cruise.  I had never heard about it before and only saw it when passing thru from the theater.

[SFCAcruiser]

In addition to what the previous posters described, the OP should know that each card has a bar code that will be scanned when you pick up your cards. The game computer knows who owns which cards and if a card is a "winner" of some prize, big or small. Therefore, the audience players do not need to feverishly try to open the boxes on their cards. As the game's director (often the cruise director) tells the audience.... you can take a nap during the game or not attend the game at all. Later that day you can simply take your cards to the casino and the cashier will scan your cards and tell you if you have won anything. 

[PumpkinPatches]

This was on my last cruise in January on the Crown Princess.  I bought a 3-pack of tickets and won a $20 casino credit, and there I won $50 🙂 

I thought it was fun and I was glad I went!  Would definitely play again.  Even if you're not the on-stage player, it's still fun and exciting and you have a chance to win something!

[neverlaysup]

It is a fabulous money maker for the cruise company....even better than bingo and since they award lots of small amounts in casino credit....they make even more money.

[lgonquin]

And I thought Princess cruises had a corner on the market for this game. Somebody must be charging royalties and/or licensing fees to run this game on their ships. 

[NMTraveller]

What is the average win for this show?  Or are you paying for the ahem stage appearance?