Policy on locking luggage

[jenpan]

Can your luggage be locked when being handled at the port when boarding or does it have to remain unlocked? Don't they use scanners to check your luggage, therefore your luggage can remain locked while being transferred to your cabin? Just wondering.

[retired rascal]

We always lock our luggage. If NCL has any question about your luggage which will be screened by various means before it is delivered to your stateroom, you will receive a letter telling you that your luggage is being held and to go to a particular place on the ship. There you will be required to unlock the bag and provide access. I would never think of leaving a bag unlocked.

[cmdchiefthom]

Absolutely!;) If you have TSA approved locks, lock you luggage up!;)

[downsized]

Absolutely!;) If you have TSA approved locks, lock you luggage up!;)

 

"TSA approved locks" is so funny.

I spent 30 years as a locksmith, and I can tell you that there is nearly zero security in any "TSA approved" lock. If I can open one in less than 5 seconds, the bad guys can do so in 10 (or less).

 

I use brightly colored zip ties. In my opinion, they offer better security, in that if TSA needs to, they can easily cut the tie, but I then at least know that someone has been in my luggage. TSA approved locks rank right up there with the ban against nail clippers.

[Glendy]

"TSA approved locks" is so funny.

I spent 30 years as a locksmith, and I can tell you that there is nearly zero security in any "TSA approved" lock. If I can open one in less than 5 seconds, the bad guys can do so in 10 (or less).

 

I use brightly colored zip ties. In my opinion, they offer better security, in that if TSA needs to, they can easily cut the tie, but I then at least know that someone has been in my luggage. TSA approved locks rank right up there with the ban against nail clippers.

 

I did this. Worked great. Just remember to pack extra zip ties to re-lock your luggage for disembarkation.

[johnql]

I'm a big fan of using zip ties, too.

[lambs2]

After having my not-so-cheap TSA approved locks broken off TWICE on two different airline flights :eek: I found the perfect solution - colored ZIP TIES and some strong clippers to get them off when I want to unpack!!:D

[njhorseman]

Absolutely!;) If you have TSA approved locks, lock you luggage up!;)

 

 

You don't need TSA approved locks. They're for flying. The TSA doesn't screen luggage going onto a cruise ship, it's the port agency or cruise line's security. You can use any lock for luggage going on a cruise ship.

[garycarla]

To answer the question, luggage going onboard can be locked. Different than for the airlines.

 

Personally, with all of our travels, we never lock our bags. Nobody has yet to take our dirty underwear.

[njhorseman]

To answer the question, luggage going onboard can be locked. Different than for the airlines.

 

Personally, with all of our travels, we never lock our bags. Nobody has yet to take our dirty underwear.

 

Is your underwear dirty when you're embarking at the start of the cruise? :eek::D;)

[STARFISH*4]

we use the zip-ties to lock our luggage-works just fine we forgot the 'clippers' last time and just borrowed some sissors to cut them off...

[hawaiideb]

we cruised to Alaska out of Vancouver summer of '09. DH was on perratonial dialysis at the time, and we had to bring about 20+ boxes of dialysis fluids (sugar water) on board for him to cycle every evening. We were held up for about an hour while ship's security had to open each and every box, and compare it with his shipping invoice. Nice thing was, once we were done, we got a personal escort to our room from the assistant cruise director :) We're off to the Mexican Riviera in March, and DH has since had a kidney transplant! We plan on packing a lot lighter :)

Debbie

[angelsonefive]

"TSA approved locks" is so funny.

I spent 30 years as a locksmith, and I can tell you that there is nearly zero security in any "TSA approved" lock. If I can open one in less than 5 seconds, the bad guys can do so in 10 (or less).

 

I use brightly colored zip ties. In my opinion, they offer better security, in that if TSA needs to, they can easily cut the tie, but I then at least know that someone has been in my luggage. TSA approved locks rank right up there with the ban against nail clippers.

which means I can have your zip-ty's cut off in one second...what to do with the other 4 seconds?? The zip-ty's are as worthless as the locks with this argument. :eek::eek:;). I use the locks only because TSA wont let me have the cutters in my carry on.:D

[MarkBearSF]

I assume the answer is clear by now (TSA is immaterial - lock 'em)

 

One thing to add to the zip tie solution that caused me great aggravation a couple of years ago... When shipping your luggage be VERY attentive to instructions on securing your luggage.

 

We shipped a couple of suitcases to Rome, where we were going to meet up with cruise luggage and meet our ship in Civitavecchia a couple of days later (We'd spent the week before in Spain). Following post 9/11 habits, I zip-tied the suitcases. The day before our arrival in Rome there was a notice that there was a problem.

 

After confusing phone calls, an incorrect address, a stern Italian soldier guy with a big gun who didn't speak English, wandering the periphery of the airport and a kind clerical worker in a trailer named Paola (the woman, not the trailer) - I finally was reunited with my luggage and told the problem was that Italian customs wasn't authorized to cut the zip ties. I did so, they didn't care to open the suitcases, and DHL gave me and my baggage a ride to the terminal, where I caught a cab back to the hotel - and a few hours later, our ship.

 

Mark

[johnql]

which means I can have your zip-ty's cut off in one second...what to do with the other 4 seconds?? The zip-ty's are as worthless as the locks with this argument. :eek::eek:;). I use the locks only because TSA wont let me have the cutters in my carry on.:D

Both are equally worthless if someone wants in - no argument there. However, the zip ties are a lot cheaper to replace than the TSA locks. As for cutting the zip ties, nail clippers will do the trick. Even scissors (according to TSA guidelines, metal with pointed tips and blades shorter than four inches) are allowed in either a checked bag or a carry-on.

[gooch47]

There have been threads on the Princess board about how easy it is to use a ball point pen to strip open the actual zipper on most suitcases.

 

I use the cable ties to secure the zippers so they don't come open, nothing more. And I use luggage straps for the same reason.

 

If someone badly wanted to get into a soft-side suitcase, all they would have to do would be cut the fabric.

 

Best thing is to NOT put anything in a suitcase that you would really, really hate to lose.

[fergusonvt]

To answer the question, luggage going onboard can be locked. Different than for the airlines.

 

Personally, with all of our travels, we never lock our bags. Nobody has yet to take our dirty underwear.

 

We also never lock our bags during travel. When TSA opens your bag you will know they have been in there because they leave a piece of paper saying they were (my husband works for TSA). We have never had anything stolen from our luggage but also never pack anything that we would regret losing in a checked bag.

[pappagene]

We always lock our bags not so much for security, but to prevent the zippers from coming open accidentally. I have seen how luggage is treated once it is out of you sight. Sometimes it is not so pretty. I have seen a suitcase zipper open accidentally and everythig fall out. The locks on a suitcase can be opened by a 5 year old and a hairpin. They only keed the honest crooks out. Zip ties or locks, it makes no difference.

 

Just my 2 cents worth.

 

Gene

[Schplinky]

 

I use brightly colored zip ties. In my opinion, they offer better security, in that if TSA needs to, they can easily cut the tie, but I then at least know that someone has been in my luggage. TSA approved locks rank right up there with the ban against nail clippers.

 

 

Doesn't this sort of presume that thiefs haven't heard of (or bought) zip ties? If I were a thief, i'd have a pocket full and would just re-zip your case after i emptied it of good things.

[downsized]

which means I can have your zip-ty's cut off in one second...what to do with the other 4 seconds?? The zip-ty's are as worthless as the locks with this argument. :eek::eek:;). I use the locks only because TSA wont let me have the cutters in my carry on.:D

 

I"ll do my best to explain this to you, ...by brightly colored zipties I mean flourescent pinks, greens, blues. Yes, they can easily be cut, but the odds are fairly decent that you "might" not have the exact color that I used, therefore, I "might" have some indication that my bags were opened.

 

Oddly, on the last few flights that I have been on, fingernail clippers are now allowed.

 

If I were to use a hairpin to open your TSA locks, you would have absolutely NO indication that your bag had been opened!

 

Even if I were to use a hardened padlock, it would not take much time for you to slice open a soft sided bag.

[Schplinky]

therefore, I "might" have some indication that my bags were opened.

 

So what would you do then? Presumably, you'll be at sea at this point and NCL will claim it was the dock workers (who are not NCL employees) and if you contact the port afterward, they will say they can't control the bags after they give them to NCL. It's one of those situations where "knowing" someone was in your bag isn't a real help.

 

Still, whether you chose locks or zips, I suppose it's best to give the thieves the idea that yours will take too long and they should move on. Or, does it scream to them that there's something inside worth stealing? I have no idea. We don't put valuables in our bags ever anymore. We flew through Laguardia last year within a week of our friends and we all had stuff (new shoes, bottles of liquor) stolen. The airline has actually started warning people during check in not to put valuables in their checked luggage.

 

People are base animals sometimes. It's too bad it has to taint people's vacations.

[Ask4Jay]

Being more concerned about the airline losing our bags, even temporarily, we take a picture when DW is done packing and transfer it to my iPod touch. If our luggage is missing, we can show the Lost & Found staff what to look for. Have not needed to do that - yet.

[Schplinky]

Being more concerned about the airline losing our bags, even temporarily, we take a picture when DW is done packing and transfer it to my iPod touch. If our luggage is missing, we can show the Lost & Found staff what to look for. Have not needed to do that - yet.

 

 

That is brilliant!

[Boytjie]

"TSA approved locks" is so funny.

I spent 30 years as a locksmith, and I can tell you that there is nearly zero security in any "TSA approved" lock. If I can open one in less than 5 seconds, the bad guys can do so in 10 (or less).

 

I use brightly colored zip ties. In my opinion, they offer better security, in that if TSA needs to, they can easily cut the tie, but I then at least know that someone has been in my luggage. TSA approved locks rank right up there with the ban against nail clippers.

 

My TSA locks have an indicator that changes color whenever it is opened by the TSA. And the locks are reusable, zip ties aren't. ;)

[auntierobin]

We have started sending our luggage ahead via UPS. It is a bit more pricey, but not much more than the $25 pp fee for checked baggage, and this has worked wonderfully. It really does save the headaches at the airport and you have peace of mind of not worrying about airline luggage handlers and TSA inspections.

 

The only downsides to this is :

1.That you have to arrive at the port city a day in advance of the cruise, because you need to ship the luggage to somewhere - and the hotel that you are staying at is usually the best place. We usually arrive a day or two early so for us this works out great.

 

2. You need to pack a week before the trip to allow 4 -5 days for your luggage to get to your destination. And we always allow an extra day on each end. Example: we are leaving for Florida 2/4, I am shipping the luggage 1/28 so that gets there 2/2 - leaving some wiggle room for weather delays, etc.

 

We have tried the luggage straps a few times (I thought that they were a great idea), and for some reason when we get our luggage at our destination the straps are always gone. Gave up on that.

 

Don't use the services like The Luggage Club, my gosh they are expensive more that double UPS.

 

When we are going to one destination (not a cruise) we just ship our clothes in boxes without the luggage. You can ship more clothes and don't have to pay for the weight of the luggage (usually 10+ lbs?)

 

Just my two cents worth.:)