Bar set up thread proved NCL listens, so can they do something about Bingo

[woodley]

I used to play Bingo on each cruise I went on but have stopped due to the hard sell it is given, the cheesy jokes and the length of time a game takes now. They also keep delaying the start of the game in the hope more people will arrive, we are given the time of start and if we wanted to play we would make sure to be there on time.

 

The machines that do all the work for you means you may as well not watch and listen as the machine will tell you if you have won.

 

The constant reminders and "HI De Hi" comparing are really infantile and to be honest boring. A good fast game of Bingo with a good prize to be won would be much more enjoyable.

 

So Ncl if you are listening can you make some changes so that I may participate in a game I used to enjoy.

[sparks1093]

I suspect that Bingo is quite a money maker for NCL the way it is now, so as long as people continue to play they won't be inclined to make any substantial changes. Our 12 year old is a Bingo fanatic and we played one set of paper games. The jackpots are miniscule compared to what is taken in every night.

[DMH15]

I enjoy bingo but not much on NCL. So now I go to Red Rock in Vegas to get my bingo fix.

 

Loved bingo on Celebrity. But overall prefer NCL so I just bingo less on NCL.

[uneamie]

I don't like those machines....ya might as well leave it on your seat, go to a show and come back and see if you won. LOL I like good old fashion Bingo. And of course the price is obnoxious. It seems they take advantage of every opportunity they can to make a buck. If people continue to play they will continue to raise the price...that's how the real world works. :rolleyes:

[garycarla]

I have to agree with some earlier posters. As long as people continue to play their game, they will continue to offer it.

[terrymtex01]

I know I will be a lone voice here, but I actually do not mind the cost of bingo on NCL or even how they do it, but what does keep us from playing bingo on NCL are the small prizes. I could not believe it when we played bingo on the Star last May when we were on the Alaskian itinenary. It was like $50.00 or $60.00 for each of us to play (can't remember exactly) and the top prize was $300.00. Trust me when I say I would rather spend my money on a slot machine in hopes of winning something than spending that on bingo for a chance at only $300.00. May not make sense to anyone else but it is how I feel about bingo on NCL.. 8-)

[jdarch]

I agree about bingo on ncl.....I loved playing bingo on Celebrity and on the Azamara Journey. It wasn't stupidly expensive and it was actually fun. I think the machines take the fun out of it. It was a normal price and everyone actually had a chance to win. On my first ncl cruise last year and on my cruise this year on the Dawn I was soooo disappointed that I couldn't or wouldn't play bingo. That was actually one of the things I enjoyed the most on my other cruises. Seriously, on a cruise..... in the middle of the ocean.....going to Bermuda....playing bingo.......with a cocktail.........in the middle of the day. How much better can it get? Anyway, I thought I'd put in my 2cents worth.:D

[ruffs]

I'm new to this, is it $50 a person, with a bunch of people playing, to win $300?

 

Doesn't seem like a good shot a winning anything.

[beau4]

I'm new to this, is it $50 a person, with a bunch of people playing, to win $300?

 

Doesn't seem like a good shot a winning anything.

 

Yes, that's right - for the first few days. On the last day the machine cost $149.00 per person with the highest number of cards and free crack-its. It would be nice if more of a pay-out was given and/or the cost was lowered. My first cruise had the room packed, people were playing standing at the bar area; my last cruise those playing were only about half the room.Still a lot of money raked in though.

 

BTW - thanks again NCL for reinstating the bar set-up

[jdarch]

At every bingo session I went to and no, I didn't play, but I love reading in Spinnakers Lounger, they had the expensive machine at 2 different prices and the paper cards at like $34. but, the machines had like a zillion more chances on them. The 2 different prices for the machine was for the machine and so many raffle tickets or something. On one of the last days, I really wanted to play bingo, so, I gave in and played. But, each session is only like 3 or so games. I wish they would revamp the whole bingo part of the cruise.:D I still love my cruises on the Dawn to bermuda.

[johnql]

I used to play bingo on pretty much every cruise. But in the past few years it has gotten ridiculously expensive. I don't mind the way it's conducted. I just think it's too expensive. I haven't played in my last 4 or 5 NCL cruises.

 

Oh, yeah - I also agree that the prizes have gotten way too small considering the cost.

[Pianoman6582]

I know I will be a lone voice here, but I actually do not mind the cost of bingo on NCL or even how they do it, but what does keep us from playing bingo on NCL are the small prizes. I could not believe it when we played bingo on the Star last May when we were on the Alaskian itinenary. It was like $50.00 or $60.00 for each of us to play (can't remember exactly) and the top prize was $300.00. Trust me when I say I would rather spend my money on a slot machine in hopes of winning something than spending that on bingo for a chance at only $300.00. May not make sense to anyone else but it is how I feel about bingo on NCL.. 8-)

 

We're on the same page there--although I will say that I do spend a goodly amount of time in the casino.:rolleyes: My Lee dragged me to Bingo on our 07 Repo one afternoon and I was HOOKED. I had the little free card they give you, got four of five spaces (NOT including the "free" space) and was inches away from a few hundred bucks... Been playing ever since... In May on the Star, I was one number away from the jack pot (yes it was on the machine). I was sitting at the edge of my seat BEGGING the god of Bingo to come and grace me with an I27...... The god of humor and bad timing (whose last name is "Murphy" I think) gave me an I28... but I was THIS CLOSE to 2500 BUCKS! Why WOULDN'T I play? Look, if I was in the Casino, I'd be playin 15 bucks a shot Black Jack. So if I was on a bad streak, that means I could be out the 50 or 60 (or more...GADS!:eek:) bucks it costs for Bingo, in a matter of moments. And then there's the extras.... Yes, those NCL Instant Wins they hawk at every evening show and every bingo session, and the Bingo-licious and Bada Bingo Baby T-Shirts (I have several of each of them) and of course, because it's a casino driven activity, they have the Slot Play Bonuses and on and on an on... and don't get me started about the Columbian Emeralds drawing... It's fun. It's exciting. It's Bingo. If you don't think it's any of those things, go back to the hot tub and order another Mojito. And I thank you.:D;):p:cool:

JWK: Bingo-licious

 

Post Script: I will say that how fun Bingo is can be measured in how good the staff is. If the Cruise Director's Staff doesn't know enough to wait for the machines to ALL boot up before playing the dagnabbed game. Or if the staff doesn't do the things like, "Grampa Ball of Bingo" or "Heinz Ball of Bingo" and ust reads off numbers, we might as well be playing in the "Greengrove Nursing Home Bingo Tournament." But if you've got a GREAT staff (like the one we had on the Gem in January) (ie "Bingo" Joe, Maria, Charlane, Cletus, Jade, etc etc) it makes Bingo SOO much more fun! And I thank you again. JWK: finished for real now....

[newmexicoNita]

I used to play Bingo on each cruise I went on but have stopped due to the hard sell it is given, the cheesy jokes and the length of time a game takes now. They also keep delaying the start of the game in the hope more people will arrive, we are given the time of start and if we wanted to play we would make sure to be there on time.

 

The machines that do all the work for you means you may as well not watch and listen as the machine will tell you if you have won.

 

The constant reminders and "HI De Hi" comparing are really infantile and to be honest boring. A good fast game of Bingo with a good prize to be won would be much more enjoyable.

 

So Ncl if you are listening can you make some changes so that I may participate in a game I used to enjoy.

 

the reason the bar set up got attention was action was taken the first day of the announcement. I don't think you can do much about the BINGO thing.

 

Nita

[uppitycats]

When we were on the Jewel, they held the Bingo games in -- I forget the name of the area, but near the top of the ship with all the glass windows looking out in three directions. It was really annoying because we don't "do" Bingo..or the casino..wanted to enjoy the view, and converse, and were surrounded by Bingo players. I don't mind that they play the game...just shouldn't take the "prime real estate" to do it!

[IWORK2CRUISE]

I played bingo more often before the machines. I now play maybe once per cruise. The machines take the fun out of it for me. There isn't the same banter and anticipation as there used to be. Since the machines do all of the searching you don't even need to pay attention. Boring!

The machine play is also quite expensive and I can't even believe that so so many are willing to shell out that amount for relatively small prizes. NCL must be making quite a profit on their bingo, though.

If it were up to me I would ditch the machines and lower the price over-all to bring in more participants and MORE FUN.

[sverigecruiser]

When we were on the Jewel, they held the Bingo games in -- I forget the name of the area, but near the top of the ship with all the glass windows looking out in three directions. It was really annoying because we don't "do" Bingo..or the casino..wanted to enjoy the view, and converse, and were surrounded by Bingo players. I don't mind that they play the game...just shouldn't take the "prime real estate" to do it!

 

I agree! They used the Spinnaker lounge on deck 13 for Bingo so that people who wanted to enjoy the great view couldn't do that! The Bingo is very annoying! I can't understand how anyone can like it!

 

On our cruise on the Jade they used the whole barcity for quiz the last evening so that people couldn't get a predinner drink there, very annoying too!

[PIPER50]

My DD and I love Bingo but on our last cruise we did not play once. This was due to the cost and the length of time it took to play a game - we would have been bored stiff:o

[mypleasure]

I don't play Bingo and the thing that discourages me is the cost. I don't mind paying a few dollars, maybe $30 for a bit of fun but the prices charged are ridiculous for such small prizes and a game of chance. If I gamble I play a game where skill and judgement are required. Bingo for me would just be a bit of fun for an hour and those charges are not fun.

[cherylroslyn]

I don't like those machines....ya might as well leave it on your seat, go to a show and come back and see if you won. LOL I like good old fashion Bingo. And of course the price is obnoxious. It seems they take advantage of every opportunity they can to make a buck. If people continue to play they will continue to raise the price...that's how the real world works. :rolleyes:

Yeah but where else can you win a tub of chapstick in the shaope of a BINGO BALL for 80 dollars?

[newmexicoNita]

I don't play Bingo and the thing that discourages me is the cost. I don't mind paying a few dollars, maybe $30 for a bit of fun but the prices charged are ridiculous for such small prizes and a game of chance. If I gamble I play a game where skill and judgement are required. Bingo for me would just be a bit of fun for an hour and those charges are not fun.

 

I do not play Bingo anywhere. I am one of those that if they said the last person to cover their board is the winner, I would be next to last. Bingo and I are on separate planets. If I am going to give my money away, especially on a ship I will take that same $50 and make it last a few minutes longer in the casino.

 

Nita

[kokonutkroozer]

I agree that bingo is way to costly and not any fun anymore.

 

On our upcoming cruise, I am looking into possibly making a theme bingo or buying some bingo supplies and propose to our roll call group to get together and play on our own. We can pitch in a small pool for the jackpot (so long as we don't get in trouble for gambling in a non NCL venue). Much greater chance to win a reasonable prize and certain to be much more fun as we have an active roll call and will be another chance to get to know each other better in addition to our Meet and Greet.

 

I like NCL and freestyle, but in this case, I'm going to feel free to do my own thing!

[newmexicoNita]

I agree that bingo is way to costly and not any fun anymore.

 

On our upcoming cruise, I am looking into possibly making a theme bingo or buying some bingo supplies and propose to our roll call group to get together and play on our own. We can pitch in a small pool for the jackpot (so long as we don't get in trouble for gambling in a non NCL venue). Much greater chance to win a reasonable prize and certain to be much more fun as we have an active roll call and will be another chance to get to know each other better in addition to our Meet and Greet.

 

I like NCL and freestyle, but in this case, I'm going to feel free to do my own thing!

 

sounds fun, don't know if it will work though.

 

Nita

[uneamie]

I agree that bingo is way to costly and not any fun anymore.

 

On our upcoming cruise, I am looking into possibly making a theme bingo or buying some bingo supplies and propose to our roll call group to get together and play on our own. We can pitch in a small pool for the jackpot (so long as we don't get in trouble for gambling in a non NCL venue). Much greater chance to win a reasonable prize and certain to be much more fun as we have an active roll call and will be another chance to get to know each other better in addition to our Meet and Greet.

 

I like NCL and freestyle, but in this case, I'm going to feel free to do my own thing!

 

Wow...that is a splendid idea. :D And to make it legal, you could always make the prizes "non monetary"....like a free dinner at Le Bistro, a bottle of wine, on board ship credit...or something like that.

 

I love that idea.....of course the success of it would all depend on your "roll call" people and how many of them would participate. Let us know how that works out for you all. It could become a "roll call" trend and perhaps embarrass the cruise line to provide a more affordable and fun game ( although I wouldn't hold my breath on that).

[Richie2pies]

NCL makes too much money on Bingo to knowingly allow competition. Their outrageous fees and skimpy prizes make their Bingo a rip-off, but as long as people keep going, they won't change it.

[uneamie]

NCL makes too much money on Bingo to knowingly allow competition. Their outrageous fees and skimpy prizes make their Bingo a rip-off, but as long as people keep going, they won't change it.

 

Well...it is possible. If anyone in the "roll call" group has a suite...they can offer to host a "bingo night" in their suite. NCL has no right to tell you what to do in your stateroom as long as it is not dangerous...simple as that. Secondly, how the heck would they even know you are hosting a bingo party in your suite unless you tell them? Now that is not saying that anyone would want to go to that extent...but, it's possible and quite frankly not at all something I would not consider if I had a suite myself....sounds like a night of great fun to me.