Shanti
Momketeer
- Joined
- Nov 29, 2015
We just disembarked from the Fantasy on Saturday, and although I don't really like writing trip reports, I like sharing useful travel info with others. We chose to splurge on regular rounds of bingo on this cruise, had fun, & thought future cruisers might appreciate some tips about playing while my memories are still fresh. Here are the basics:
Time:
Bingo always lasts for an hour, and there are four games during every session. There are typically Bingo sessions around 11am and 4pm on days that have Bingo. Before bingo there is a 15 minute "pre-sales" period to buy electronic handsets (expensive, but with by far the most chances to win) or paper cards (less expensive, with relatively few chances to win). For the final jackpot session (& on longer cruises for the mid-cruise mega session), there is a 30-minute pre-sales period before the bingo hour. If you're serious about playing with an electronic handset during the final jackpot session, be sure to line up early, as electronic handsets will sell out for the final jackpot session.
Cost:
$30 - $80 per regular session. Many people immediately buy the $80 family pack, assuming it gives a much better chance of winning, but I recommend getting the $50 handset instead. The family pack looks more impressive because you get two electronic handets and a paper pack. However, each of the 2 family pack handsets offers only 24 chances, whereas the $50 handset offers 48 chances. Same total number of electronic chances. The family pack also gives 12 paper cards, but ask yourself if 12 cards is worth $30 to you, when you already have 48 electronic cards in the handset. Saving $30 per session will end up saving you significant money if you choose to play Bingo several times over a long cruise.
Prices for everything are higher for the final Bingo session, fyi, but the same pricing principle applies. The cost is deducted from your onboard account, and winnings are placed on your onboard account, all through your key to the world card. Any excess winnings left on your account after the cruise is your money to take home.
Who Can Play:
The whole family can play, and kids are common & welcome at Bingo. It's a fun, wholesome atmosphere, just as you'd expect on DCL. Only adults can claim prizes, however.
Value:
Bingo on DCL (or anywhere imo) is more about having fun playing than expecting to win, because as with any kind of gambling, you're more likely to lose money than win it. DCL makes Bingo fun with a group of energetic hosts playing pop music & telling jokes throughout.
Are the odds of winning good? No, they never are at Bingo anywhere. We won $60 on our cruise last year and $171 on our cruise last week. The final jackpot winner on our last week's Fantasy cruise walked away with over $8,000, so there is a genuine chance of winning some serious money in that final session. Only the final session guarantees a giveaway of the snowball jackpot. You'll see other sessions labelled "$10,000 Jackpot" & such, but don't take that seriously, as they only give away that Jackpot if someone gets blackout in less than a certain number of calls, which I've never seen happen & I imagine only very rarely does (maybe once a year).
Yes, people win with both the electronic handsets & the paper cards. There is no DCL conspiracy against the paper cards- they simply offer fewer chances to win & are harder to use. I sat right behind a woman who was using paper cards a few days ago, and watched her punch & fold her way to a $700 prize.
If you're in it for fun, go to one of the earlier sessions, as those are the most relaxed and fun. The final session is quite crowded & the crowd's mood is more intense. Cash prizes at the early sessions will be relatively small, though, like what I've won. If you only want the thrill & chance to win real money, then only go to the final jackpot session. That is the only session where people win thousands of dollars.
Time:
Bingo always lasts for an hour, and there are four games during every session. There are typically Bingo sessions around 11am and 4pm on days that have Bingo. Before bingo there is a 15 minute "pre-sales" period to buy electronic handsets (expensive, but with by far the most chances to win) or paper cards (less expensive, with relatively few chances to win). For the final jackpot session (& on longer cruises for the mid-cruise mega session), there is a 30-minute pre-sales period before the bingo hour. If you're serious about playing with an electronic handset during the final jackpot session, be sure to line up early, as electronic handsets will sell out for the final jackpot session.
Cost:
$30 - $80 per regular session. Many people immediately buy the $80 family pack, assuming it gives a much better chance of winning, but I recommend getting the $50 handset instead. The family pack looks more impressive because you get two electronic handets and a paper pack. However, each of the 2 family pack handsets offers only 24 chances, whereas the $50 handset offers 48 chances. Same total number of electronic chances. The family pack also gives 12 paper cards, but ask yourself if 12 cards is worth $30 to you, when you already have 48 electronic cards in the handset. Saving $30 per session will end up saving you significant money if you choose to play Bingo several times over a long cruise.
Prices for everything are higher for the final Bingo session, fyi, but the same pricing principle applies. The cost is deducted from your onboard account, and winnings are placed on your onboard account, all through your key to the world card. Any excess winnings left on your account after the cruise is your money to take home.
Who Can Play:
The whole family can play, and kids are common & welcome at Bingo. It's a fun, wholesome atmosphere, just as you'd expect on DCL. Only adults can claim prizes, however.
Value:
Bingo on DCL (or anywhere imo) is more about having fun playing than expecting to win, because as with any kind of gambling, you're more likely to lose money than win it. DCL makes Bingo fun with a group of energetic hosts playing pop music & telling jokes throughout.
Are the odds of winning good? No, they never are at Bingo anywhere. We won $60 on our cruise last year and $171 on our cruise last week. The final jackpot winner on our last week's Fantasy cruise walked away with over $8,000, so there is a genuine chance of winning some serious money in that final session. Only the final session guarantees a giveaway of the snowball jackpot. You'll see other sessions labelled "$10,000 Jackpot" & such, but don't take that seriously, as they only give away that Jackpot if someone gets blackout in less than a certain number of calls, which I've never seen happen & I imagine only very rarely does (maybe once a year).
Yes, people win with both the electronic handsets & the paper cards. There is no DCL conspiracy against the paper cards- they simply offer fewer chances to win & are harder to use. I sat right behind a woman who was using paper cards a few days ago, and watched her punch & fold her way to a $700 prize.
If you're in it for fun, go to one of the earlier sessions, as those are the most relaxed and fun. The final session is quite crowded & the crowd's mood is more intense. Cash prizes at the early sessions will be relatively small, though, like what I've won. If you only want the thrill & chance to win real money, then only go to the final jackpot session. That is the only session where people win thousands of dollars.
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