Lady Luck was on Wilbur Merritt’s side as the Holyoke, Mass., resident sailed on the Carnival Victory and came home $304,090 richer after he hit the jackpot in the ship’s South China Sea casino.
Merritt’s big payoff came after playing MegaCash, a bank of slot machines that are connected to all 22 Carnival Cruise Lines ships, as well as vessels from sister companies Holland America Line, Princess Cruises, and Cunard Line.
Following his huge win, Merritt was the talk of the casino as dozens of people gathered around once they heard the commotion. Merritt was also presented with an oversized check representing his winnings.
Pictured here during the festivities are (from left): Casino Slot Manager Boris Fazlijoski; Casino Host Airguard Pamiloza; Casino Host Zoran Chekalov; Irene and Wilbur Merritt; Hotel Director Jan Rusin; Cruise Director Karl Bird; Casino Manager Gareth Millar; and Assistant Casino Manager Aiden Jones.
Carnival Victory operates year-round seven-day southern Caribbean cruises from San Juan, calling at St. Thomas, Barbados, St. Lucia, St. Kitts and St. Maarten.