Bingo is a popular cruise activity, with passengers lining up to secure their cards in hopes of winning the jackpot. Typically, it's a ship-sponsored activity; however, a guest sailing onboard P&O Cruises' P&O Azura recently reported finding derogatory "bingo" cards mocking other passengers.
The cards, titled "Cruise Ship Bingo" were filled with offensive categories, including "Unruly brats who can't behave," "Big fat fatties waddling around," and "Gigantic horrid tattoos." Other categories were comprised of common cruise ship stereotypes such as "Drinking before noon," "Ferocious sunburn," and "Buffet plates heaped of food."
Discovered in cabin pigeonholes and other public areas, it was not a targeted attack. Rather, they appeared to mock a variety of cruise ship passengers.
The original Facebook post, which has since been deleted, revealed that the guest who found the card went to Guest Services. The crew did not take much action following acknowledging their existence, angering other passengers.
P&O's cruise contract states, "Guests are expected at all times to conduct themselves in a proper manner and with due regard to the health, safety, comfort, enjoyment and general well-being of all persons both on board the ship...and the Guest expressly agrees to this."
Carnival, P&O's sister brand, takes it one step further, explaining that all passengers are expected to conduct themselves in a "respectful and considerate manner," and disruptive guests will not be tolerated.
If you experience harassment on your cruise, do not hesitate to report it to Guest Services. They will open an investigation and may go as far as reviewing CCTV footage and interviewing other passengers. If guilty, the offending party can face serious consequences.
In early June, guests sailing onboard Carnival Paradise were banned after starting a fight in the buffet. Carnival Cruise Line's Matt Lupoi released a statement to USA Today saying, "Carnival Paradise's security team intervened in an incident that took place on June 6. As is our policy, we will not tolerate such behavior and the guests involved were fined and will not sail on Carnival Cruise Line again."
Read more: 9 Reasons You Could Get Banned From A Cruise Ship
Though bingo is something usually hosted by crew members, passengers have taken to the internet to share their own bingo cards
"In three weeks, my husband and I are going on our first cruise since 2019. Needless to say, we are super excited. I made some cruise bingo cards for us to sit by the pool and play together," wrote homsar06.
Other users shared similar sentiments, saying things along the lines of, "We'll definitely be playing this on our cruise," and "I'm printing this and taking it on my next cruise."
The categories on the bingo card are far more tame than those found on P&O Azura, with the most offensive being "Weirdly revealing swimwear," "Far too drunk," "Double-fisting plates of food," and "Double-fisting drinks."
If having people talk about creating their own bingo cards on Reddit wasn't interesting enough, some actually sell versions on Etsy.
For as little as $1.50, you can purchase a printable bingo game for your upcoming cruise. Categories include "A ship's officer," "A tasty snack," and "Aft wake of the ship." Thankfully, most cards for sale appear more akin to a scavenger hunt than an activity mocking other guests.
Someone made a bingo card for Royal Caribbean's Ultimate World Cruise to keep up with the drama onboard
TikTok user @whimsysoul shared a bingo card she made in anticipation of unfolding events on Royal Caribbean's 274-night world cruise onboard Serenade of the Seas
"I have never been on a cruise," she begins, "but I have lived in a dorm room; I travel professionally; and I researched a lot of other people's TIkToks to come up with what I think is a pretty good bingo card."
Some categories were inevitable, especially on a 9-month cruise, like running errands in port or someone having to return home early. Others were a bit raunchier, namely "mass STDs" and getting "knocked up or [giving] birth." According to a follow-up video, two categories were crossed off within eleven days: someone going home early and a port errand run.
On March 6, she posted "season 2" of Ultimate World Cruise Bingo. Since then, six categories have been crossed off, including the free space.
Serenade of the Seas just begun the final segment of the cruise and is scheduled to visit ports like Valencia, Spain; Casablanca, Morocco; Cork (Cobh), Ireland; Stockholm, Sweden; Olden, Norway; New York, New York; and Perfect Day at CocoCay. Royal Caribbean's first-ever Ultimate World Cruise will conclude on September 10 in Miami, Florida.
Bingo has been part of the cruise ship experience for decades
To win bingo, the player must form a predetermined shape on a card by marking spaces that correspond to a letter and number combination. The first person to form the shape excitedly yells, "BINGO," and wins a prize. Typically, it is cash or onboard credit; however, you could be lucky to walk away with a free cruise.
Some lines—namely Virgin Voyages—have added fun twists to the traditional game. Instead of having the letter and number combination yelled out by someone on the activity crew, why not have it hosted by a drag queen?!
However, unlike trivia, deck parties, and youth programming, bingo isn't included in the cost of your cruise. True fans of the activity can pay upwards of $50+ for bingo packages, which include daubers, multiple cards, and sometimes a t-shirt!
Due to its popularity, lines form ahead of bingo card sales. It's not uncommon for them to stretch out of the venue and wrap around corners. If you're hoping to play, check your cruise ship's schedule to see if there's a pre-sale. Then, you can stroll into the venue when it's time to play, rather than wait in a long line.
If you're a first-time player, do not be surprised by the competitive atmosphere. Bingo is, at its core, a form of gambling. Like slot machines and table games, it can be addicting!
Elizabeth Wright
Elizabeth graduated from New York University's Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute with her M.A. in Journalism in May 2023. Growing up, she had the privilege of traveling frequently with her family and fell in love with cruising after sailing on the Oasis of the Seas her freshman year of high school. She wanted to pursue a career that highlighted her passion for travel and strengths as a writer.
