WHAT HAPPENED TO US ON THE REGAL PRINCESS AT CHRISTMAS - HEART BREAKING!

[Roberto256]

2 minutes ago, mnocket said:

 

 

 

A heartbroken child isn't going to feel better because someone gave them a token monetary "reward". 

 

From the picture of the 'heartbroken child', he looks to be old enough to be able to accept disappointment.

It's not like he was 4, and someone took away his toy.

 

He was able to understand cancelling his entry.

Not winning seems to be a likely outcome of cancelling one's entry.

 

[Itchy&Scratchy]

22 minutes ago, mnocket said:

A heartbroken child isn't going to feel better.  Instead of money, perhaps a gift that makes the child feel special?  Maybe the presentation of a "Good Sport" award?

 

he doesn't look like a child, and he definitely doesn't look young enough to appreciate "a good sport award" instead of a $100.

For example, mine is an 11 year old actual child. He cannot buy lottery tickets or grow a beard... We don't let him out of our sight on a cruise. But he is old enough to understand that if he doesn't buy a lottery ticket, he cannot win the main prize or really any prize.

Princess offered $100 OBC - that's super generous, considering the circumstances.

 

 

Edited January 9, 2023 by Itchy&Scratchy

[Ombud]

7 minutes ago, mnocket said:

If your child came home emotionally devastated from an incident at school, would you respond by giving him/her $100 and sayin "now go away and be happy"?

Not a school age child, but yeah. Specialty Dining for family + $100 cash should go a long way since he canceled his entry.

 

If my 17 yo came home disappointed at a school incident I'd use it as an opportunity to teach that sometimes life isn't fair unless it was a bullying incident. Your team is really REALLY good but you're not the Champs so do NOT get a medal. Eligible for the monitor / job / promotion but someone else gets it. List goes on ~~~~

 

 

Edited January 9, 2023 by Ombud

[DCThunder]

8 minutes ago, mnocket said:

 

 

 

A heartbroken child isn't going to feel better because someone gave them a token monetary "reward".  The issue here is the child's crushing disappointment.  Princess offering $100 is the easiest and most tone-deaf response they could offer.  It shows that they really don't understand the problem they caused and/or how to deal with a child's emotions.  I gave a suggestion of perhaps a trip to the bridge to meet the captain?  Instead of money, perhaps a gift that makes the child feel special?  Maybe the presentation of a "Good Sport" award?

 

If your child came home emotionally devastated from an incident at school, would you respond by giving him/her $100 and sayin "now go away and be happy"?

Well, what did the "heartbroken child" want?  A big hug and apology from Stanley Bear?  (And from the picture, the kid looks to be about 19 so he's hardly a child.)  The OP NEVER said what they wanted, just that this incident had ruined Christmas.

 

And don't forget, we're only hearing one side of this "tale of woe".  The B&M Manager might have a completely different take on the situation, especially if there's an irate husband and father storming around the Piazza and Guest Services desk. 

Edited January 9, 2023 by DCThunder

[mnocket]

2 minutes ago, Itchy&Scratchy said:

who knew he didn't actually win anything because he "didn't buy the lottery ticket", correct?

 

I'm gonna go out on a limb here and say NO he didn't know.  He got a phone call telling him that he won a prize.  I think it's unfairly presumptuous to assume he made the connection to the drawing or, if he did, that he recognized the phone call was a mistake because he withdrew - maybe he thought he wasn't withdrawn after all.  He's a child!  If your child was told he/she won a prize and to be somewhere at a specific time to claim it, do you really believe that they will employ critical thinking to mentally validate it?  Perhaps your child is special, but in my experience when a child is told something special is going to happen to them, they believe it.  Period.

[mnocket]

1 minute ago, DCThunder said:

Well, what did the "heartbroken child" want?  A big hug and apology from Stanley Bear?  (And from the picture, the kid looks to be about 16 so he's hardly a child.)  The OP NEVER said what they wanted, just that this incident had ruined Christmas.

 

And don't forget, we're only hearing one side of this "tale of woe".  The B&M Manager might have a completely different take on the situation, especially if there's an irate husband and father storming around the Piazza and Guest Services desk. 

Wow, I don't even know how to respond to someone like you. Here's $100 kid, now go away and be happy.

[DCThunder]

Just now, mnocket said:

Perhaps your child is special, but in my experience when a child is told something special is going to happen to them, they believe it.  Period.

Sure, when they are 4 years old and Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny and Tooth Fairy are real.  When the dude's old enough to grow a scraggly beard, I'm not buying it.

[Itchy&Scratchy]

3 minutes ago, mnocket said:

If your child was told he/she won a prize and to be somewhere at a specific time to claim it, do you really believe that they will employ critical thinking to mentally validate it?

at 11? maybe no.

At 16+?  I'd be a bad parent if I babied him THIS much.

[Itchy&Scratchy]

12 minutes ago, mnocket said:

He's a child! 

is he now?

Is that a real tattoo on his arm? If he is old enough to get a real tattoo, he is old enough to apply critical thinking.

[MissP22]

6 minutes ago, Itchy&Scratchy said:

at 11? maybe no.

At 16+?  I'd be a bad parent if I babied him THIS much.

Don't all the kids in school nowadays receive a trophy for participation? 

$100 OBC is generous even if Princess did make a mistake by placing his name at the bottom of the check.

[Jeter02]

Sorry, but if he reversed the play for prizes fee from his account I have zero sympathy. That obviously showed he knew what he was doing and realized he was being charged. When he reverse something entries go bye-bye too. Yes it's exciting to know your name is being called for a grand prize. But if you took it knowing you had reversed the charges for playing you should have nothing but guilt on your shoulders for taking something you truly did not win since you knew how to go down to guest services to get your money back.

 

I think that the Brand in marketing ambassador handle the situation very well and was extremely generous to offer the $100 on board credit in a comped specialty dining for the entire family. Princess didn't have to offer you a single thing. What kind of sympathy are you looking for from people? Everyone needs to act like an adult put a smile, carry on about your day and let's all act like adults here. 

 

Personally I would be heartbroken too knowing that I didn't win the big grand prize or anything. But then yet again my dad always tells me you have to play the lotto in order to win the lotto. My ongoing life problem. 🤣

Edited January 9, 2023 by Jeter02

[Ombud]

It is regrettable that someone must actually enter and remain in the game to win. To enter, remove your entry after a winner is chosen, then remove the game fees makes one ineligible. What is really unfortunate is that:

3 hours ago, 17tangerine said:

.... understood why he was not eligible to win the prize. ......  ruined the rest of our Christmas, and disappointed an entire family.

 

IMHO $120+ Specialty Dining for at least 3 and $100 to the kid is quite generous in that he canceled his entry. 

Edited January 9, 2023 by Ombud

[Itchy&Scratchy]

4 minutes ago, MissP22 said:

Don't all the kids in school nowadays receive a trophy for participation? 

not at our middle school or DS's sports... Contrary to the popular belief, schools no longer give them out starting at a reasonable age.

 

 

[Lady Arwen]

41 minutes ago, mnocket said:

 

 

 

A heartbroken child isn't going to feel better because someone gave them a token monetary "reward".  The issue here is the child's crushing disappointment.  Princess offering $100 is the easiest and most tone-deaf response they could offer.  It shows that they really don't understand the problem they caused and/or how to deal with a child's emotions.  I gave a suggestion of perhaps a trip to the bridge to meet the captain?  Instead of money, perhaps a gift that makes the child feel special?  Maybe the presentation of a "Good Sport" award?

 

If your child came home emotionally devastated from an incident at school, would you respond by giving him/her $100 and sayin "now go away and be happy"?

A “heartbroken child”?  Really?  Please look at the photo of this child.  He is a teenager and was aware of what he did.  He should be apologizing to his family for all he put them through and Princess went way beyond what these people deserved.

[Ombud]

18 minutes ago, MissP22 said:

Don't all the kids in school nowadays receive a trophy for participation? 

 

12 minutes ago, Itchy&Scratchy said:

not at our middle school or DS's sports... Contrary to the popular belief, schools no longer give them out starting at a reasonable age.

Not at 8F sports or 17F school (plays basketball at school)

 

Thankfully "participation medals" are a thing of the past. As kids learn to deal with disappointment they become more resilient 

[tonit964]

3 hours ago, memoak said:

There is no such thing as a “free” entry unless you are paying for the “premier” package. This is spelled out pretty clearly in the rules. Also how old is this person ?  You need to be 21 to play in the casino and this person looks really young

You can gamble in the casino on the ships at 18, not 21.

[cali-croozer]

50 minutes ago, mnocket said:

 

 

 

A heartbroken child isn't going to feel better because someone gave them a token monetary "reward".  The issue here is the child's crushing disappointment.  Princess offering $100 is the easiest and most tone-deaf response they could offer.  It shows that they really don't understand the problem they caused and/or how to deal with a child's emotions.  I gave a suggestion of perhaps a trip to the bridge to meet the captain?  Instead of money, perhaps a gift that makes the child feel special?  Maybe the presentation of a "Good Sport" award?

 

If your child came home emotionally devastated from an incident at school, would you respond by giving him/her $100 and sayin "now go away and be happy"?

A child? Had to be at least 18 years old. 

[Dreamer333]

I'm sorry this happened to you but you're not going to receive the sympathy here that you are looking for. Your son didn't qualify for the contest (is he even old enough?? you described him as a child).

 

Your description of the situation (Heartbreaking, Outraged, Really affected my family so deeply, We were all sitting there heartbroken, One of the most miserable experiences we have had on a cruise to date affected our Christmas so negatively, a family sitting there after being treated like an afterthought,  A mother crying, father angry and son heart broken) seems far beyond an appropriate reaction to something like this.

 

Again I'm genuinely sorry that this happened to you.

Edited January 9, 2023 by Dreamer333

[Guest ldtr]

1 hour ago, mnocket said:

I'm gonna go out on a limb here and say NO he didn't know.  He got a phone call telling him that he won a prize.  I think it's unfairly presumptuous to assume he made the connection to the drawing or, if he did, that he recognized the phone call was a mistake because he withdrew - maybe he thought he wasn't withdrawn after all.  He's a child!  If your child was told he/she won a prize and to be somewhere at a specific time to claim it, do you really believe that they will employ critical thinking to mentally validate it?  Perhaps your child is special, but in my experience when a child is told something special is going to happen to them, they believe it.  Period.

your talking like he is 6, not 18 to 19.

 

 

[jeromep]

Reading the thread title I really thought that the OP had a major emergency or terrible tragedy on board.  But no, it was gambling gone wrong.  These posting boards have occasional tragedies documented.  I've read a few times of the couple that went on a cruise, and only one came back, the other was "repatriated", to be polite.  That is a terrible tragedy that is heart wrenching.  A mix up with an on board gambling giveaway, at best, that is annoying or bothersome.

 

I presume that the whole family is back at home and doing whatever it is that you do when not on vacation.  Good.  Everyone is alive, and I presume in good health, and that is something to celebrate every day.

 

 

[Skai]

41 minutes ago, mnocket said:

If your child came home emotionally devastated from an incident at school, would you respond by giving him/her $100 and sayin "now go away and be happy"?

 

Nope.

 

I would tell him, "Son, life doesn't always play out like one may hope it might.  Many things in life reside outside of one's control.  How one chooses to respond to adversity, and by focusing on what one can control; removes the temptation to concentrate on external circumstances as the justification for our own inadequacies.  As deserving as one might feel, life owes us nothing.  One can choose to be a victim of circumstance, or one can accept life's challenges. -- with the understanding that doing so will help one dedicate one's energy to growing stronger; gaining wisdom on one's journey, and not waiting for someone else to fix our problems.  At times, life may throw a curveball; knock one down and scrape one up.  It's important to pick oneself up, and then rub a little dirt in it.  It will help one to grow a tougher skin, and eventually one may become calloused and leathered like your old man; capable of letting life's woes shed off like the water on a duck's back.  Now go and do your chores."

[Lady Arwen]

3 minutes ago, Skai said:

 

Nope.

 

I would tell him, "Son, life doesn't always play out like one may hope it might.  Many things in life reside outside of one's control.  How one chooses to respond to adversity, and by focusing on what one can control; removes the temptation to concentrate on external circumstances as the justification for our own inadequacies.  As deserving as one might feel, life owes us nothing.  One can choose to be a victim of circumstance, or one can accept life's challenges. -- with the understanding that doing so will help one dedicate one's energy to growing stronger; gaining wisdom on one's journey, and not waiting for someone else to fix our problems.  At times, life may throw a curveball; knock one down and scrape one up.  It's important to pick oneself up, and then rub a little dirt in it.  It will help one to grow a tougher skin, and eventually one may become calloused and leathered like your old man; capable of letting life's woes shed off like the water on a duck's back.  Now go and do your chores."

What he said

[memoak]

If he really thought he had won something after canceling his bet and if his entire family agreed with him then I have a bridge or 2 I would like to sell them

[ceilidh1]

I'm so confused about this - how did they get to hold and take a photograph with the check (assuming the person pictured with it is their son?) I was present at one of these things and, certainly at the one I attended, the cheque was on a tripod and remained covered until the winner was announced. The winner was the only one that got to hold and take a picture with it before it was whisked away...

 

I'm also curious as to how old the son is? The original post made it sound as if we are talking a child - if this is the case, I would have more sympathy about the situation as Princess should never have allowed anyone under 18 to participate in buying the Princess prizes game in the first place. As someone that sails with an 11 year old and 16 year old, I would be quite angry if they were able to opt in (and be charged for) to something they were not eligible to participate in or to win. If the son is over 18, signed up for Princess prizes and then cancelled the entry then not so much sympathy from me. Even if the phone call about winning a prize did not give any details as to what he might have won, it would have been evident (from the event itself) that this "prize" was from the Princess prizes game and if you didn't purchase an entry then how could you expect to win anything? It's all a little odd to me...

 

Now, here is where I will play Devil's advocate. If these are new cruisers (or at least new to Princess) who knew nothing about Princess prizes and the son is 18 (old enough to play but young enough to have little common sense/know better) and they went to the event based on the call they had won something at a prize event, then I see how it would be a disappointment. I should add that, if you know nothing about Princess prizes, the event doesn't actually mention having to pay (in fact, the one I was at made it sound as if this was an automatic thing for everyone going in and out of the room, but I think our presenter was just really bad...lol) but I would assume they must have had SOME knowledge of it if the son signed up and then withdrew? Should Princess have checked eligibility BEFORE calling them and putting the name on the check? Absolutely they should have. But, sometimes things happen and mistakes are made. 

[SantaFeFan]

They have my vote as the poster family for 'Sense of Entitlement'. 

 

 

 

Edited January 9, 2023 by SantaFeFan