Theft on Nieuw Amsterdam

[cbr663]

Unfortunately, you cannot apply a blanket statement to either side. I once caught our cabin steward going through the drawers in our cabin when I unexpectedly returned to get my glasses after going to dinner. An unpleasant incident ensued while he tried to cover up. Yes, I reported it. I did not see him again and left it to his superiors to deal with.

 

Just like the "real" world, there are bad people everywhere. Sad but true.

 

Wow. That must have been really un-nerving to see and experience. Good that you reported it.

 

Keep in mind that the cabins are one of the few areas that crew members are not being monitored as there are no cameras in individual cabins. Crews know where they are on and off the monitors while on board.

[kazu]

Wow. That must have been really un-nerving to see and experience. Good that you reported it.

 

Keep in mind that the cabins are one of the few areas that crew members are not being monitored as there are no cameras in individual cabins. Crews know where they are on and off the monitors while on board.

 

Actually there are not that many cameras on board as I was told by the staff captain. They are in the casino, the shops, the outside areas and a bit in hallways but otherwise not so much. At least that is what I was told when I asked them to check the security camera

[kazu]

Unfortunately, you cannot apply a blanket statement to either side. I once caught our cabin steward going through the drawers in our cabin when I unexpectedly returned to get my glasses after going to dinner. An unpleasant incident ensued while he tried to cover up. Yes, I reported it. I did not see him again and left it to his superiors to deal with.

 

Just like the "real" world, there are bad people everywhere. Sad but true.

 

So right, as your incident shows.

 

Sad to hear that and really glad you reported it.

 

Had it been me I would have asked for a new steward. I'm sure (or hope) they did that in any case.

[cbr663]

Actually there are not that many cameras on board as I was told by the staff captain. They are in the casino, the shops, the outside areas and a bit in hallways but otherwise not so much. At least that is what I was told when I asked them to check the security camera

 

I remember your writing about the loss of your camera and I remember thinking then that your experience demonstrated that security cameras are not there primarily to watch passengers - they are in place to watch staff.

[Sillyjilly]

nevermind

Edited November 4, 2016 by Sillyjilly

[Topsham]

I remember your writing about the loss of your camera and I remember thinking then that your experience demonstrated that security cameras are not there primarily to watch passengers - they are in place to watch staff.

 

 

 

More like they are there to watch passenger doing very silly things. On top of that... final night, all the baggage out in the alleyway. For ANYONE who wants to rummage through baggage it is ripe picking. Not crew, they are too busy, but it would take a second or two for any 'disgusting' passenger go through a suitcase.

[3rdGenCunarder]

I recall reading a thread about a passenger who had valuables stolen from carry-on left in the room while they went to breakfast on disembarkation day. There was some speculation that extra cleaners helping the regular stewards may have been the opportunists. Even since I read that, we keep valuables in the safe until the last minute before we leave the cabin.

 

Not sure what line it was. It wasn't HAL. But it makes me wonder, do HAL stewards get extra help on turnaround days?

[Fouremco]

But it makes me wonder, do HAL stewards get extra help on turnaround days?

Not that I've ever noticed, and we usually disembark fairly late.

 

My carry-on bag is a treasure trove of high tech goodies, travel docs and other valuables. Once packed, it never leaves my sight.

[lvz2cruz]

We had a female cabin steward with sticky fingers on Celebrity years ago.

It started small. Our daughter collects coke bottles from countries we travel. She placed them on the desk in our room and they disappeared. We asked girl and she said she threw them away. They were full and unopened!!!?? We do not leave trash laying around. Our cabin is neat.

After a new port it happened again. We told her we throw our trash away please leave things where they are. Happened one more time.

We also had stack of papers in a clip of confirmations for hotel, rental car, etc for post cruise days. They disappeared too. Maybe she was hoping for credit card info.

Finally, as we were packing to go home, I could not find expensive pair of designer shoes. We looked and looked but nowhere. I know I didn't come back to the room barefoot.

As we moved things around making sure we had everything they and a pair I didn't realize was missing were buried behind the life jackets in the top of a closet.

I think she put them there figuring if we complained they would be "found" but once we left ship she could get.

Once home and laundry done and folded teenage daughters realized some clothes were missing too.

I did report at that time.

It does happen, but not often.

[serendipity1499]

I recall reading a thread about a passenger who had valuables stolen from carry-on left in the room while they went to breakfast on disembarkation day. There was some speculation that extra cleaners helping the regular stewards may have been the opportunists. Even since I read that, we keep valuables in the safe until the last minute before we leave the cabin.

 

Not sure what line it was. It wasn't HAL. But it makes me wonder, do HAL stewards get extra help on turnaround days?

 

Hmm..Your post got me thinking..The last morning of our cruise before going for breakfast I took my jewelry out of the safe & put it in my carry-on which we left in the cabin..Also took our passports & put them in my purse which I took to Breakfast..By the time we got back from breakfast our bed was already made up for the new guests.. I think from now on if we go on another cruise I'll wait till we are ready to leave the room before cleaning out the safe..

 

But I'm a worrywart & always worry that I might forget something, so I'll have to leave a note for myself to check the safe..:eek::eek:LOL

 

Not that I've ever noticed, and we usually disembark fairly late.

 

My carry-on bag is a treasure trove of high tech goodies, travel docs and other valuables. Once packed, it never leaves my sight.

 

Good idea, We normally disembark fairly late too, but on Sunday we had a driver waiting for us & could not leave until our Friends were called..Our driver waited over an hour for us..I'll try to be more careful from now on about putting things of value in our carry-ons before leaving the cabin for good../SIZE]

[3rdGenCunarder]

Hmm..Your post got me thinking..The last morning of our cruise before going for breakfast I took my jewelry out of the safe & put it in my carry-on which we left in the cabin..Also took our passports & put them in my purse which I took to Breakfast..By the time we got back from breakfast our bed was already made up for the new guests.. I think from now on if we go on another cruise I'll wait till we are ready to leave the room before cleaning out the safe..

 

But I'm a worrywart & always worry that I might forget something, so I'll have to leave a note for myself to check the safe..:eek::eek:LOL

 

 

 

Good idea, We normally disembark fairly late too, but on Sunday we had a driver waiting for us & could not leave until our Friends were called..Our driver waited over an hour for us..I'll try to be more careful from now on about putting things of value in our carry-ons before leaving the cabin for good../SIZE]

 

(bold is mine) Yeah, I worry about that, too. But we have a tradition of checking every closet and every drawer before we leave a hotel room or cruise cabin. One last look, just in case we missed something.

[take us away]

So sorry about the loss but also do not believe it was the cabin steward as their job, which usually supports their family, is way more important than a pair of speakers.

 

Have many, many days on HAL, have never had an issue and I also travel with a lot of electronics which I do not leave in plain sight and do not lock up. Have had cabins where the door did not easily latch so always had to double check to make sure it was locked. Other passengers know everyone is on their way to the drill and that doors do not always lock so maybe this is what happened. Was very surprised at the rude front desk person as not a HAL standard behavior, did you mention this in your survey?

[IndyDenise]

Last HAL cruise our hangers (3) were taken from three separate closets . We had our formal dresses on them and wore them that night. Upon returning to change the hangers were gone.

 

We brought the hangers from home and traveled with the dresses on them. In our closet we found hanger bonanza! Whoohoo! Hangers of every type ! We hung stuff just because we could.

 

Our room steward denied taking them. Um okay, the Westerdam had a thief on board who didn't touch our valuables but took 3 hangers. We let it go because I wasn't about to make a stink about something that , after the fact, the room steward was probably embarrassed about later. I'm sure he took them for someone else who complained that they didn't have enough hangers. Like I said we had the mother lode in our room.

 

When we were gathering our belongings from the room to disembark our cabin steward was in our room doing turn around. We said our good byes and left. While we were waiting for the elevators he ran up to me and asked if I had taken the (cheap) HAL tote bag he placed upon the bed for the new guests. I assured him I didn't ( and we didn't ) . He asked if I was sure.. and I told him that I was.. and maybe whoever took the hangers made a mistake and didn't also leave a tote bag on the bed. I walked away with a large smile when I saw his facial reaction.

 

 

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[Topsham]

Most ships use good hangers in the wardrobes. Usually always the same. If you hang any of your own, it is easy to spot the difference. The problem is that sometime laundry comes back that are not always the 'standard' hangers that come from the cabins. Like wire hangers. Like those my Mommy Dearest used to beat me!

 

Anyhow, one thing to do. If you get new hangers in the cabin, changed to the standard hangers and leave the discarded hangers, wire one etc and leave them on the bed in the morning. The steward will remove them and will leave the rest alone.

 

I have a little thing about checking cabins at the end of the cruise. I put all hangers neatly in the wardrobe and in the same way the steward does at the beginning of the cruise. Makes sure that they are 'mine or theirs'.

 

Last year on the SAGA SAPPHIRE the Captain gave me an old wooden hanger found in the captain's cabin. Nice dark wood with gold company logo stamped on. Not Saga, this was an OLD logo... as least forty years old, from North German Lloyd. Nice find. Probably from the old EUROPA or BREMEN. The sort of things you can only find on EBAY!

[3rdGenCunarder]

We use wire hangers (sorry, Joan!) in our garment bag, but move some clothes to the better hangers when we unpack, especially suit jackets. I've learned to put my hangers back in the garment bag before I put it away in case the hangers get 'harvested' and I can't pack. On one of our QE2 cruises, the cabin stewardess went through the room during turndown on the last night. She took our library book (which I had intended to finish and pop into the drop slot) and all the wire hangers. I had to ring for her and ask for some hangers so I could pack.

 

On HAL, I usually put the laundry hangers with our next load of laundry so that they can be re-used.

[iancal]

DW was convinced that a piece of her jewelry went missing from our condo while we were travelling. She went as far as suspecting that the one person who had access, other than our son, had lifted it.

 

That was two years ago. About a month or so she discovered the item. So thankful we did not verbalize or publicize this thought.

[IndyDenise]

As a ( former) retail manager I was trained in asset protection and especially spotting employee theft. Let me tell you that often the person I suspected would be innocent and the trusted, longtime employee would be the thief.

 

I've learned never to assume or to jump to conclusions .

 

I don't doubt that a cabin steward can steal., no matter what the consequences may be. Not EVERY employee is honest in ANY company.

 

 

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[serendipity1499]

I use the ultra thin no slip velvet hangars to pack my hanging garment bag.. Also so take a dozen extra with me as the hangars HAL puts in the closets are too thick & cumbersome..

 

https://www.amazon.com/AmazonBasics-Velvet-Shirt-Dress-Hangers/dp/B00FXNABZS/ref=sr_1_2?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1478370794&sr=1-2&keywords=velvet+hangers

 

If we have to fly, would not take the extras..

SIZE]

Edited November 5, 2016 by serendipity1499

[stevenr597]

In respect to protection against loss of valuables, there are two rather inexpensive steps one can take.

 

1) You can purchase a double lock which would enable you to both lock you carry on, and using the lock, also connect it to a nonremoveable piece in the cabin...your carry on cannot be taken.

 

2) Purchase a portable lockbox which can be secured to your carry on.

[RDC1]

Are you kidding me if we are sure we brought it with us?? Did I mention I am 60 and not senile yet? My husband had the speaker in his hand and wanted to play the music on our balcony, but I told him not to and I saw him put it on the make up table. Please do not offend me like the front desk people did. I was not trying to blame anyone, I would also be surprised if someone was risking his job for a $180, but as I mentioned, it may have looked like a large jewellery box (fortunately my expensive jewellery was locked up in the safe!). And yes, I am aware that anyone could have walked in, although I also think that is a problem with a cruise security.

I do not generally write reviews about my travels, I wrote this one because of the frustrating and disappointing experience that I wanted to share and as a warning to other travellers.

 

Standard practice on any cruise ship is that if something is reported stolen or missing, the first thing security does is search the room. More often then one might think the item turns up. If the search does not find the item, then they go to the next step of the process which might be to check room access, security camera's, etc.

 

As such one should not take it as an insult when they want to perform a search. It is part of the process. No search, no other action is taken.

[serendipity1499]

As a ( former) retail manager I was trained in asset protection and especially spotting employee theft. Let me tell you that often the person I suspected would be innocent and the trusted, longtime employee would be the thief.

 

I've learned never to assume or to jump to conclusions .

 

I don't doubt that a cabin steward can steal., no matter what the consequences may be. Not EVERY employee is honest in ANY company.

 

 

 

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Agree with that.. And then we had employees who would try to get unauthorized time off..

 

During peak months we had restrictions for vacation & personal time off.. Employees who wanted time off normally could not get it unless there was a family emergency.. All our Agents understood this & tried to adjust their schedules by switching days/schedules with other Agents..

 

Even Management was careful not to take extra time off only because our Agents could not do it..

 

Most Agents had free passes to travel on other carriers to various places.. One time an employee who could not arrange a switch, called in sick on a Friday.. We knew he had a ticket to travel from point A to point B on another carrier..Called my counterpart at the other airline to see if the employee had presented his pass for travel on the flight on Thursday night.. Sure enough the employee was on the manifest..:eek:

Edited November 5, 2016 by serendipity1499

[cbr663]

As a ( former) retail manager I was trained in asset protection and especially spotting employee theft. Let me tell you that often the person I suspected would be innocent and the trusted, longtime employee would be the thief.

 

I've learned never to assume or to jump to conclusions .

 

I don't doubt that a cabin steward can steal., no matter what the consequences may be. Not EVERY employee is honest in ANY company.

 

I agree. The number one reason most employees steal is because they have the opportunity to do so. Some steal because of pressure and many can rationalize the theft, but even long time trusted employees can fall to impulse when presented with the opportunity.

 

I know a guy who was managing a high end furniture / home store that was fired for theft. He was always in the habit of bringing items home to see how they looked in his home before he bought them. This went on for years without a problem when suddenly items that were brought home were not returned and not purchased.

 

And what great opportunity is there than on a cruise ship on turn around day. Every one is busy trying to get the ship to zero count and prepped for the next sailing. Passengers leaving the ship are focused on the next stage of their journey and missing items can take days to discover when little can be done about it.

[crusinpsychRN]

I had a controlled substance taken from my cabin on Carnival. Reported it and 3 people came to my cabin and turned it upside down. I was worried about the rum runners but they were ignored. Had to have another team put the cabin back in order. Never found it.

 

Got home and it was on the counter!

[serendipity1499]

I had a controlled substance taken from my cabin on Carnival. Reported it and 3 people came to my cabin and turned it upside down. I was worried about the rum runners but they were ignored. Had to have another team put the cabin back in order. Never found it.

 

Got home and it was on the counter!

 

OH my...:eek: I hope you sent a letter of apology..