Do you carry a wallet or purse onboard?

[friendlybrown]

I'm a mystery author setting my 3rd book (Oliver Twisted) onboard a Dickens- themed cruise. Holland America has been very helpful to me, but I have so many questions - maybe you all can help.

 

The crime in this book involves pickpockets - onboard the ship rather than in port. In my current draft, the thieves steal wallets and take $ and IDs from purses.I've been told that most people don't carry them on the ship - might there be any reason someone would?

 

Thanks for your help!

[sail7seas]

I always have a small purse with me. Either a wristlet or cross body very small shoulder bag. I carry reading glasses, tissues, lipstick, mini hairbrush, a bit of cash and ship's ID/key card along with a breath mint.

 

I've been on over 80+ cruises and you'll never see me without a small purse of one type or another including in the evening be it a small clutch or evening bag.

 

[Nebr.cruiser]

For me it just depends. I sometimes have a small cross body purse with me unless I am sure I won't need one. I take a very small wristlet to dinner, just big enough for my reading glasses, toothpicks, tissue, etc.

 

I usually have no money in my purse. Sometimes I have my camera or a Kidle in my bag or beach tote.

 

My husband usually doesn't carry his wallet around the ship. We leave our valuables, including cash in the safe. We just put our ship card in pockets.

 

I do see some people with purses/totes. There might be more opportunity for someone to take stuff on the Lido deck if they leave their chairs to swim or for some other reason, although it's usually pretty crowded there.

 

There's not a lot of places to use cash on a ship. Good luck with the book!

[friendlybrown]

Thanks a bunch! This is really helpful (and using the Lido deck could come in really handy).

[spookwife]

I'm a mystery author setting my 3rd book (Oliver Twisted) onboard a Dickens- themed cruise. Holland America has been very helpful to me, but I have so many questions - maybe you all can help.

 

The crime in this book involves pickpockets - onboard the ship rather than in port. In my current draft, the thieves steal wallets and take $ and IDs from purses.I've been told that most people don't carry them on the ship - might there be any reason someone would?

 

Thanks for your help!

 

 

not really.

 

the only thing I carry out and about on the ship is my ship's card/room key. nothing else is valid on board to purchase anything or prove age.

[RLBlack]

As soon as we get on the ship, we deposit our wallets and valuables in the safe in our room. We have an envelope in a drawer with a few one dollar bills for room service. Sometimes I will carry a tote with my kindle, and some personal items- unless we are going on shore- (then only one credit card and small amounts of money) I will carry some type of purse, My tote has nothing of excessive value to steal. There is no need for cash on most cruises, the cruise card handles just about everything.

[paul929207]

Ships operate on a cashless basis. You sign any purchases to your cabin account. Neither my wife nor I ever carries a wallet or a purse on the ship

[OCruisers]

On the ship I always carry a medium-smallish without a magnet snap "OUR" cruise purse with us. There are too many things we want/need to have so it's the best and most convenient way for us.

"Ours" is black so it goes to Formal nights... not the little pretty evening bag I use to take. :)

 

LuLu

[Xyla]

I definitely carried a tote bag with me. I had my kindle, my sunglasses, sunscreen, lip balm etc in it. Also my cruise card. But no cash, other id or credit cards since no need for those on the ship.

[AmazedByCruising]

In my current draft, the thieves steal wallets and take $ and IDs from purses.I've been told that most people don't carry them on the ship - might there be any reason someone would?

 

I did half way and at the end of cruise carry some cash to tip some people. With a beverage card you don't need to sign anything so you can't write in a tip anymore. Maximum profit for the thieves would be like $150, but there are cameras everywhere, not just the casino.

And then maybe some money left over from the casino. Theoretically it could happen :rolleyes:

Never carried any ID but the ships card.

[friendlybrown]

Hmm... do people carry their phones with them?

[zoncom]

Your phone will not work on the sea or foreign ports. Check out the internet at sea situation. It can be a perk on more upscale ships. Or very pricey. I often carry an evening bag.

[Langley Cruisers]

We do not carry anything with us except our cards (oh, and a gal's gotta have her lip gloss! :p ) - as mentioned, it is a cashless society onboard so passengers do not need cash or credit cards. As well, cell phone reception is very expensive at sea so most people wait until they get to port to use their phone, if at all. Internet is available for a hefty price.

 

On Formal Night I carry a small purse for my cosmetics, comb, mints, etc.

[AmazedByCruising]

Hmm... do people carry their phones with them?

 

As a camera, yes.

[Lady Chew]

Have seen people all over the ship with smart phones & tablets.

 

There are men who do carry their wallets on the ship, just out of habit, I guess. Some women do carry their regular purses, but most use their pockets or small cross body bags to hold only glasses, lipstick, room key, etc.

[jefffrompawpaw]

Do you need cash for slot machines and table games like Black Jack?

[Hlitner]

DW and I have literally spent years on cruise ships (as passengers) and never carry any cash with us unless we want a few dollars to tip a favorite bar tender/waiter. My wallet goes in the cabin safe the first time I get into my cabin and stays there until I need it at a port. DW seldom carries a purse on the ship (her gf thinks this is weird).

 

Hank

[Keith1010]

On board, I carry my room card.

 

No need to carry anything else for me.

 

Now my wife carries a purse in the evening.

 

Keith

[ger_77]

There really is no reason to carry a wallet or purse (regular size) on the ship. All you need onboard is your room card; I use a retractable badge reel with a clip that I attach to the waistband of my shorts. I can tuck the card in the pocket and it is out of the way until I need it. I have the friendly personnel at the Front Office punch a hole in the card and attach it to my holder immediately on boarding. Hubby carries his card in his shorts pocket. For dinner, I use a small evening bag that also holds some tissue and lipstick.

 

Smooth Sailing ! :) :)

[GrooveInWhichWeMove]

I personally do not carry my wallet on-board (I keep it in the room safe), BUT when I just embark, the cabins aren't ready, so I would have a wallet on me then. Similarly, when disembarking, I'd have it with me, too. That's the time of opportunity for your Artful Dodger. :)

[MNfamilycruiser]

I'm a mystery author setting my 3rd book (Oliver Twisted) onboard a Dickens- themed cruise. Holland America has been very helpful to me, but I have so many questions - maybe you all can help.

 

The crime in this book involves pickpockets - onboard the ship rather than in port. In my current draft, the thieves steal wallets and take $ and IDs from purses.I've been told that most people don't carry them on the ship - might there be any reason someone would?

 

Thanks for your help!

 

A very few might - but few enough that any cruiser reading your book would recognize that you haven't really cruised ;)

Jewelry? OR the pickpocket would have to concentrate on people getting on and off the ship - that would be the time people are carrying cash and ID's as they are heading to or from the ports. Or on the tenders?

Edited September 15, 2015 by MNfamilycruiser

[Treven]

As a male, I don't need to carry a small purse, or a large one for that matter. I carry my sea pass on a lanyard around my neck. I will bring along a $20 bill as a cash tip when I'm dining in one of the speciality restaurants. Other than that situation, I guess one might carry cash to tip a bar tender if they'd been well taken care of. I would only have one or two drinks at a bar and I think the mandatory 15% tip is quite enough. But I'll admit that I have no idea if the bar tender gets a cut of that sur charge or not.

Edited September 15, 2015 by Treven

[SheehanDJ]

There's your answer OP.

 

Pick pocket the room cards, quickly dupe them, go to other folks cabins, crack the safe. Your thief pretty much has all week to use people's credit cards before they will even miss them.

[Bevv]

I'm a mystery author setting my 3rd book (Oliver Twisted) onboard a Dickens- themed cruise. Holland America has been very helpful to me, but I have so many questions - maybe you all can help.

 

The crime in this book involves pickpockets - onboard the ship rather than in port. In my current draft, the thieves steal wallets and take $ and IDs from purses.I've been told that most people don't carry them on the ship - might there be any reason someone would?

 

Thanks for your help!

 

How about having your thieves grab and make copies of the room keys/charge cards? There are portable things that can swipe, get the info and then keep the info. they can then use the duplicate cards to enter cabins and grab things from the rooom... wallets, jewelery etc.

 

Cruise cards are often laid on lounges etc when people are in the pool.

Edited September 15, 2015 by Bevv

[MNfamilycruiser]

A very few might - but few enough that any cruiser reading your book would recognize that you haven't really cruised ;)

Jewelry? OR the pickpocket would have to concentrate on people getting on and off the ship - that would be the time people are carrying cash and ID's as they are heading to or from the ports. Or on the tenders?

 

I am going to add some more details :D

 

When people are getting back on the ship - at a port stop - it can get kind of crowded, busy and confusing. You need to have your ship card out for them to check you back in. They put it in a machine and they can see your picture to see if it is you. If you were carrying a passport or ID to have with you in port, you wouldn't need it at that time - it would be in a wallet or purse. You also have to put any packages or bags you have with you through an x-ray machine - like at the airport. There can be a backup with people milling around waiting for their stuff to come through or to drop it off. This is especially true if a lot of people return at the same time. There also tends to be a lot of milling around waiting for the elevators, especially if you are entering the ship on deck 2 instead of one of the higher decks. That all depends on the port you are at.

 

I can't remember if you have to put purses and backpacks through - but I think yes.