Search for the Nations - Terrible Prize!

[yogimax]

9 minutes ago, papaflamingo said:

 Sad that a wonderful 7 night cruise is a total failure because the prize for a contest wasn't up to par.  

Who said this 8 night cruise was a "total failure?"  Please quote your source!

[ReneeFLL]

43 minutes ago, yogimax said:

Who said this 8 night cruise was a "total failure?"  Please quote your source!

Exactly.

[papaflamingo]

On 9/2/2019 at 1:04 PM, yogimax said:

Who said this 8 night cruise was a "total failure?"  Please quote your source!

You know, you whined and whined about how horrible it was that the prize was so bad.  You said in your first post

"This was the highlight of his cruise....They all had spent hours doing this and RCCL stiffed all of them....

A bingo t-shirt.  You have to be kidding!....All Stevie got was a bingo t-shirt....C'mon RCCL... you can do better... much better!"

You went on to say "Sorry, but the lesson he learned was Work hard... Excel... Do your best...  Strive for perfection...

Understand that the corporation cares little for your excellence and is laughing all the way to the quarterly profit statements!"

So it seems you felt it was a failure.  Look come on, at the risk of simply ticking you off.....are you kidding me?  I just don't get a 13 year old on a wonderful cruise being upset because the prize for a game that is meant merely to fill time at sea isn't "good enough."  Sorry, with all the wonderful things to do on a ship today, this seems a ridiculous reason for you to be angry at the cruise line.  Who cruises for prizes?  We used to do or watch most the pool games, trivia, quest, etc.  The prize was usually a key chain and it was a running joke with the Cruise Director.   And it became "coveted."  I'm thinking in reality Stevie hasn't given it a second thought.  Honestly, I just can't see this trivial thing being such a big deal to warrant your anger at RCCL.   

So sorry if I ruffled your feathers, and I certainly don't expect you to agree. But it's how I see it.  And as I suggested, if the value of the prize is what determines participation, then I suggest one find out what the prize is before investing the effort. 

 

 

[fletch1027]

On 9/1/2019 at 10:19 PM, cruising grandma said:

 

We’ve been on winning teams of Quest....took a couple hours at most....lots of laughs and we didn’t care what the prizes were. 

 

 

 

 

Sometimes with Quest, the real prize is being able to wipe your mind of what you just saw... 😂

 

[yogimax]

2 hours ago, papaflamingo said:

 Honestly, I just can't see this trivial thing being such a big deal to warrant your anger at RCCL.   

 

 

I never said the cruise was a "total failure," as you mistakenly assert.

 

Bottom line...

 

I had a wonderful cruise!...

Stevie had a wonderful cruise!...

"Anger at RCCL?" - Nope, I rarely get angry and certainly not over something like this...

I appreciate RCCL and especially the Crown & Anchor program.

 

My point was simple... RCCL can spend a few more bucks for a challenge that involves 7 days of effort, and, in this instance, involved a 13 year old.  For a few bucks more, RCCL can promote a competition that brings much good will to its employees and will help make a kid and his family even more  "Loyal to Royal"  than they are now!

Edited September 3, 2019 by yogimax

[John&LaLa]

On 9/2/2019 at 11:39 AM, ReneeFLL said:

 

 

Not everything comes with a prize, but he probably worked extra hard to win since they said the winner would get a great prize. I agree there is to much of "what's in it for me" regarding the ones who don't do anything, but Stevie went out of his way to win so there should be something in it for him. I think it sucks he only got a t-shirt. 

 

 

Your grandkids enjoying their cruise and everything they did on it (I won't bother listing everything they did since you already did that 🙄) has nothing to do with Stevie and his participation in this game. He was told the winner would win a great prize so he put in extra work and he won. I'm guessing your grandkids put in the extra work at playing and they were rewarded for it since that's what they chose to do. BTW, what's the big deal with trying different foods? Isn't that just part of normal every day life?

 

 

It has nothing to do that some can only dream about a cruise. Why do people always throw this out there? The fact is that he was on a cruise, worked extra hard and got a crappy (imo) prize. 

 

So I'm beginning to wonder if those stupid participation trophies aren't a result of something like this. You work extra hard and don't get rewarded for it so why bother? I know some of you will say it's for self satisfaction, but not everything we do is only for self satisfaction but also for the reward at the end. 

 

I'm with Yogimax on this one. I also think the prize should have been better. We don't really know how Stevie felt about the prize or what exactly his motivations were in doing it. I'm sure he had fun and learned a lot, but he might have also been looking forward to winning a great prize so he put in the extra effort. Reward him for his hard work.

 

Let's say your boss says you will get a nice prize if you achieve xx and x. Now are you going to try to achieve that to get the prize? If you succeeded and then your prize is just so so how would you feel? Probably upset would be my guess.

 

 

 

I'm not sure Yogi said the winner was promised a 'great' prize. 🤔

[papaflamingo]

3 hours ago, yogimax said:

I never said the cruise was a "total failure," as you mistakenly assert.

 

Bottom line...

 

I had a wonderful cruise!...

Stevie had a wonderful cruise!...

"Anger at RCCL?" - Nope, I rarely get angry and certainly not over something like this...

I appreciate RCCL and especially the Crown & Anchor program.

 

My point was simple... RCCL can spend a few more bucks for a challenge that involves 7 days of effort, and, in this instance, involved a 13 year old.  For a few bucks more, RCCL can promote a competition that brings much good will to its employees and will help make a kid and his family even more  "Loyal to Royal"  than they are now!

Fair enough.  Let me ask you this... are you going to cruise on Royal Caribbean again?  Will Stevie?  What do you think really determines loyalty?  Game prizes for a 13 year old or Free Drinks at Happy Hour, Cabin Discounts, Priority Boarding for the parents?  

Edited September 4, 2019 by papaflamingo

[benjoon]

We were on the Navigator last year and my husband did a music quiz. You had to name song and artist of 15 songs. He worked by himself and  the only one that got 100%. The activity staff member said well done but you get ‘F____ All’. Her exact words. The prize wasn’t really what he wanted but it was her terrible attitude that upset him. Maybe we should have reported this.

[Clarea]

5 hours ago, benjoon said:

We were on the Navigator last year and my husband did a music quiz. You had to name song and artist of 15 songs. He worked by himself and  the only one that got 100%. The activity staff member said well done but you get ‘F____ All’. Her exact words. The prize wasn’t really what he wanted but it was her terrible attitude that upset him. Maybe we should have reported this.

 

Does not sound like a typical RC activities staff member.

[benjoon]

24 minutes ago, Host Clarea said:

 

Does not sound like a typical RC activities staff member.

Yes that’s why my husband was so shocked. Usually they are ultra friendly and happy in their jobs.

[LMaxwell]

Surplus Bingo T Shirt is a crap prize.  You people complain far louder at the stale cookies they provide for M&M's.  

[LMaxwell]

8 hours ago, benjoon said:

We were on the Navigator last year and my husband did a music quiz. You had to name song and artist of 15 songs. He worked by himself and  the only one that got 100%. The activity staff member said well done but you get ‘F____ All’. Her exact words. The prize wasn’t really what he wanted but it was her terrible attitude that upset him. Maybe we should have reported this.

Younger girl, brunette, thick glasses? 

[marci22]

I think a Bingo tshirt is a dumb prize. Why not at least make it a regular RC tshirt from the $10 sale table? Or a coupon for a JR shake? Or something besides this #riduculousterrible bingo ad. 

[yogimax]

14 hours ago, John&LaLa said:

 

I'm not sure Yogi said the winner was promised a 'great' prize. 🤔

Correct!

 

It was my assumption based on what we had won doing the same challenge on a different ship.

[yogimax]

11 hours ago, papaflamingo said:

Fair enough.  Let me ask you this... are you going to cruise on Royal Caribbean again?  Will Stevie?  What do you think really determines loyalty?  Game prizes for a 13 year old or Free Drinks at Happy Hour, Cabin Discounts, Priority Boarding for the parents?  

Of course, you are correct.  it's the great perks we receive that lead us back to RCCL.

[ShillyShally]

RCCL should have a "Winner" wall somewhere on the ship where they post a couple event photos and the top 3 teams/entrants from that event - and limit it to just a handful of events, but maybe have a "highest points" board for trivia, etc, but I think it may take some extra work to man, but I expect guests would thrilled to "make the wall" and then they can take photos of themselves next to their picture/name/whatever!  Marginal costs, could be consistent across ships, etc. Or just stick to the medals, those are fun while on board and easily identifiable/conversation starters on board and can be hung or flung after the cruise!  

[mugtech]

I already have a lifetime supply of pens, markers and key chains.  Many of us play trivia or name that tune for the joy of the competition, the friends we make at these events.  If the 13 year old's win was such a big deal, then perhaps the parents could have rewarded their son.  NCL has t-shirts that say YOU CAN CALL ME CHAMP.

[Baron Barracuda]

Still believe displeasure towards Royal is misdirected.  CD and AM determine prizes and some are just more generous than others.  Over the years remember my family winning free video rentals, partial wifi credit, bingo pkg, casino credits and cruise video.  These may have "value" but actually cost Royal little to nothing.  

[ReneeFLL]

On 9/2/2019 at 12:52 PM, papaflamingo said:

I guess you missed my  point.  One of the pleasures of cruising is the opportunity to try different foods.  I can confidently tell you that my grandkids were not going to have the opportunity to try escargot in an expensive french restaurant, but did get to try it on the cruise.  If they didn't like it, nothing ventured.  Turns out my grandson did like it and ordered it a few times.  So, no, trying different foods, especially exotic or expensive foods, is not a normal part of everyday life.

Honestly, we can argue poor Stevie's experience ad nauseam and there'll never be an agreement.    So if someone is participating in a cruise contest of any description solely for a "great prize," they'll likely be disappointed. As I said much earlier, if the prize is the goal, and it has to be great (whatever that is), then I would suggest in the future that one find out what the prize is before committing the time. Sad that a wonderful 7 night cruise is a total failure because the prize for a contest wasn't up to par.  

No I didn't miss your point, but I think you missed mine. For us trying new and different things definitely doesn't only apply to our cruises. We are always up to trying new things regardless of where we are. I thought this would also apply to your grandkids, but I guess not. Glad they found something new and different that they liked.

[tullers]

On 8/31/2019 at 4:15 PM, yogimax said:

Sorry, but the lesson he learned was

 

Work hard... Excel... Do your best...  Strive for perfection...

 

Understand that the corporation cares little for your excellence and is laughing all the way to the quarterly profit statements!

 

Yes, that's cynical but I care for kids who seek to be their best and deserve a better reward!  C'mon, this was a 13 year old.  Give me a keychain for winning trivia.  I don't care.  But don't take it out on the kids!  They are your future, RCCL.  Encourage them!

We all have differing philosophies.  Not sure how or why you jumped to the quarterly profit statement.  The contest didn't charge an entrance fee and the 13 year old got the opportunity to develop and hone some useful social skills.  It's not always about the purse.

 

[yogimax]

2 hours ago, tullers said:

Not sure how or why you jumped to the quarterly profit statement. 

 

First of all... kudos to RCCL for their continuing aid to the Bahamas!  That will impact, if only to a small degree, their quarterly profits, yet I would hope most of those of us who are shareholders would say it is a wonderful way to commit to helping those in great need.

 

You asked why I "jumped to the quarterly profit statement."  I remember the days when trivia prizes were hats, umbrellas, backpacks.  Now they are key chains, highlighters and pens.  So why the change?  Obviously, the budget to the activities departments for prizes has been drastically cut.  Why?  Because corporate has determined that it is more important to growing the bottom line on the quarterly statement, if only to a small degree, than providing decent prizes to those who have committed their time to trivia and other games and contests. 

 

Good decision or bad decision?  I have my opinion but I know others will disagree.

[Maplemoose]

On a related topic, for those who play trivia, does RC do it 100% orally like Carnival or do they show the questions on a screen like NCL. I am hard of hearing and Carnival was a pain, especially with all the accents. Those with perfect hearing were having trouble and the questions had to be continually repeated. Not necessary at all with a screen and laptop setup right behind them! NCL was so much smoother. Asking specifically about Harmony. TIA

[legaljen1969]

On 9/1/2019 at 8:30 AM, mjkacmom said:

He can wear a shirt, my kids have SO many trophies and medals (for winning, participation trophies get tossed early on). I’ll take shirts over trophies, at some dance competitions kids got to choose between a trophy or $5 gift card, guess which one was more popular.

That's a great point. And if someone comments on his shirt, it's a great conversation starter as to how he got the shirt. He can tell about his experience when people take notice.   What did someone expect he would get? An iPad? 

 

[dcgrumpy]

Be thankful the person running it knew what they were doing.

 

We were going to do it on Allure last year. We asked how long we had to get the names. The guy kept telling us to came back when we were done and whoever had the most would win. We tried clarifying, an hour, 2 hours, 3 days....?

 

Needless to say, we said "screw this" after taking two selfies. LOL

Edited September 6, 2019 by dcgrumpy

[papaflamingo]

8 hours ago, ReneeFLL said:

No I didn't miss your point, but I think you missed mine. For us trying new and different things definitely doesn't only apply to our cruises. We are always up to trying new things regardless of where we are. I thought this would also apply to your grandkids, but I guess not. Glad they found something new and different that they liked.

I got your point, but our kids can't afford to take the grandkids to fine dining restaurants and spend a tremendous amount on escargot, souffles, lobster, etc. only to have them not like it and have to order something else.  So a cruise is a great place to try all sorts of different foods. If they don't like it, no loss.  

Edited September 7, 2019 by papaflamingo