Money & Jewelry Taken From Safes On Century

[bassque]

I wonder about the OP. Why their first post on such a subject?. OK we all have to have first posts, but usually for help on ports, the cruise or meeting other cruisers. I am always suspicious of first posts complaining about something.

 

Last April my wife and I took our (adult) sons on the Galaxy for the Panama Canal cruise. My sons are thorough travelers and they like to get as much information about destinations as they possibly can before they visit. One of the places they checked was this message board. It was on this board that they got the tip to go past the shopping area and catch a cab to Mahahual on the Costa Maya stop. The three hours that we spent in that little town were among the best hours on the cruise. We owe that all to the Cruise Critic message boards.

 

Anyway, upon our return from this cruise the boys suggested we post our experience on the board and see if anybody had some suggestions on who to talk to at Celebrity regarding this situation. A name or email address of somebody...anybody...could be very helpful as we felt we were stonewalled on the ship and haven't received much help from Customer Service. Thus, the request for help in the original post.

 

While we haven't unlocked any "secret" doors via this thread, I feel heartened that there have been very good suggestions for others on how to avoid this problem. If that is the very least that comes from this then I think that this can be viewed as a positive thread. My apologies if you think I am trying to drag the Celebrity name through the mud. That is definitely not the intention.

 

As I stated earlier we have always received excellent service on multiple cruises with the RCI family. This episode, however, has been the one glaring exception.

[rcicruiser]

You said deck 12 there is not deck 12 with cabins on it. What was the name of the deck or what cabin number where you in.

[bassque]

The computeried key-card system X uses keeps a detailed log of each and every time a key-card is used to gain entry into a cabin for the duration of every cruise - including date, time and person to whom a particular key was issued (including you, the passenger). That log should include entry by "authorized" personnel (cabin steward, room service, electricians, plumbers, etc.) as well, since their keys are coded. Therefore, X could have easily determined who entered your cabin between the time you left and the time you noticed your jewelry and cash were missing. Whether security still has that log on file is up for grabs, but you may want to demand an accounting and an explanation of who entered your cabin and why.

You are exactly right about them knowing what key cards are used to enter a room. They checked our door lock and the sum total of their entire investigative report to us was that "only you and authorized personnel entered your room." They would not let us see their investigative report nor let us have a copy of it as it was "confidential."

 

We walked off the ship with only a copy of the report we had filed with the ship and a business card for Customer Relations. I called the number on the card and it is the number you call if you wish to make a reservation.

[bassque]

You said deck 12 there is not deck 12 with cabins on it. What was the name of the deck or what cabin number where you in.

 

There are 20 Sky Suites on deck 12 and there are six inside rooms. The name of the deck is the Sports Deck. We were in 1202 and the other people we know of who were burglarized were in 1203.

[gracecarmo]

Bassque: I know how you feel....we felt very violated when we were robbed. The theif only took cash, no jewelry, but still it was $750. This happened on a day we were at sea, and we were in the theatre in the afternoon. The ship was one of the older ships of HAL, where the "safe" is a lock drawer with a key. I guess we let our guard down (we have been on over 35 cruises). We left the lecture early to go back to the room and get our money for the casino. When we opened our door, all our blinds were drawn, and we knew something was wrong at that point. This happened about 10 years ago, and it still makes me sick to think about it.

In looking back at the situation, I think we were being watched. At the door of the theatre some of the crew were standing with two way radios, but this may be normal. Our cabin was a plastic key card, the type with little holes.

Somehow, someone duplicated the master key, and had a master key to the lock drawer too. Our luggage was gone through as well as the locked drawers.

Security came and took our report, but other than that, no apology.

Also: on still another cruise line during the captain's welcome aboard party in the 3 story atrium, a pax shouted from one of the floors looking into the party, that his room was robbed, and that the cruiseline did not do anything.

Crime on cruiseships can be the same as hotel rooms, etc. and could be a target for thivery rings, according to a fellow cruise critic that was associated with the law enforcement.

My solution: I carry everything on my person, and I leave my expensive jewelry at home. This way, I feel that I alone am in control of my money.

[bassque]

Bassque: I know how you feel....we felt very violated when we were robbed. The theif only took cash, no jewelry, but still it was $750. This happened on a day we were at sea, and we were in the theatre in the afternoon. The ship was one of the older ships of HAL, where the "safe" is a lock drawer with a key. I guess we let our guard down (we have been on over 35 cruises). We left the lecture early to go back to the room and get our money for the casino. When we opened our door, all our blinds were drawn, and we knew something was wrong at that point. This happened about 10 years ago, and it still makes me sick to think about it.

In looking back at the situation, I think we were being watched. At the door of the theatre some of the crew were standing with two way radios, but this may be normal. Our cabin was a plastic key card, the type with little holes.

Somehow, someone duplicated the master key, and had a master key to the lock drawer too. Our luggage was gone through as well as the locked drawers.

Security came and took our report, but other than that, no apology.

Also: on still another cruise line during the captain's welcome aboard party in the 3 story atrium, a pax shouted from one of the floors looking into the party, that his room was robbed, and that the cruiseline did not do anything.

Crime on cruiseships can be the same as hotel rooms, etc. and could be a target for thivery rings, according to a fellow cruise critic that was associated with the law enforcement.

My solution: I carry everything on my person, and I leave my expensive jewelry at home. This way, I feel that I alone am in control of my money.

Thank you, Grace. An equally disturbing story. We will certainly take your advice in your solution from now on.

[HurricaneSally]

We never take a lot of cash, just what we need for cabs and tipping porters, room service, etc. We use our credit card for everything else. For my gambling, I buy travelers checks and allow myself a certain amount per day. Our safe is used for wallets, with about 100.00 in cash and our camera and our passports.

 

On our first cruise, we kept our cash in the safe at the pursers desk. We counted it in front of the person and had to sign the money out as we took it. It worked great and kept everybody honest.

[ebk2795]

Bassque

These days, having money stolen from the safe would be the least of my worries. With my passport and any other personal documents in the safe, I would be more worried about someone getting enough personal information about me to steal my indentity.

And if you can at all help it, don't carry your Social Security card with you. Leve it at home.

Eileen

[Sky Sweet]

Bassque

These days, having money stolen from the safe would be the least of my worries. With my passport and any other personal documents in the safe, I would be more worried about someone getting enough personal information about me to steal my indentity.

And if you can at all help it, don't carry your Social Security card with you. Leve it at home.

Eileen

 

EBK, I feel the exact same way.

[FinelyCruising]

I hate hearing these stories. By now once they are described it is so easy for the cruise staff to be able to isolate the staff with the credentails to enter and use the code method to gain access to the safe, knowing fully that in some instances while daily cleaning occurs, similar to as in hotels, the cabins doors are wide open for anyone to peer into. Hate this stuff....

[Gypsea]

Until recently I have always been convinced that the ship staff and crew are honorable and good people from all over the world. The fact is most of them probably are but some are likely responsible for a fair amount of the crimes on-board. We all have to be aware of our surroundings and not get a false sense of security just because we are so well treated on a ship. One bad apple can sure leave us looking for more

 

I guess I have been pretty lucky as my safe has never been broken into. Funny though, my last trip I did have to call the purser to have it opened. All of a sudden I couldn't make my code work. Hmmm.

[cinderellen]

So sorry to hear about the trouble you had. My husband and I were recently on NCL Jewel and had a very wierd thing happen. Came back from a day in Roatan and found our safe open. My husband noticed a very expensive watch missing. We took an inventory of the safe and found travelers checks and money still there. Looked around the room and found nothing else out of order. Called security. They were in our room immediately and due to the fact that the ship was still boarding, they said the head of security would be up at 5:00. On the dot, he phoned to say he was on his way up. They asked many questions and also permission to search our room. We of course agreed. Long story short, the missing watch was found under the liner in the bottom of a carryon bag. We were mortified as we had looked in all the luggage before calling security. My husband knew he packed it. They were so gracious and said "this happens all the time" but we just wanted to die. They did determine the safe battery was expired and called for maintenance to come and replace it before they left. We were very impressed with the high level of professionalism. As we have sailed Celebrity and are again February of 2007, we would expect the same level of service if it had happened on one of their ships.

[dspencer]

Thankyou for sharing.

A real eye opener and I will certainly be keeping it in mind.

The ship becomes our home away from home so we all relax.

What a shame we can't.

[bassque]

I hate hearing these stories. By now once they are described it is so easy for the cruise staff to be able to isolate the staff with the credentails to enter and use the code method to gain access to the safe, knowing fully that in some instances while daily cleaning occurs, similar to as in hotels, the cabins doors are wide open for anyone to peer into. Hate this stuff....

 

FC, Exactly. We have always felt extremely safe on RCCL (or any cruise ship) but now will have to take extra precautions. As an update, the only information I have been able to get from RCCL's Claim Office is a pre-recorded message that tells me to FAX my claim to them and they will get back to me in four to six weeks!! All I want them to cover is what my home owner's policy won't cover (deductible and cash limit) and I just want to talk to a real person regarding this matter. I have also sent a letter to the president of RCCL hoping for a response. We'll see.

[wolfganghowell]

Make sure you send your letter to the Celebrity president, not just RCCL. I agree with the other posters - their own records should show if anyone was in the cabin. I'm truly shocked this happened in a closed safe in a locked room but have no reason to doubt your story. We've been on 8 cruises and have #9 coming up. Never a problem (knock wood) but at least if X hears about it - whether they satisfy your claim or not, if they hear it often enough, they will HAVE to pay attention.

[Eleris]

I am shocked this happened to you and feel bad that anyone has had such an awful experience on vacation. I cannot tell you how many times I have opened the safe in my room with jewlery and cash in it and then got distracted getting one of the kids ready for dinner and left the room with the safe wide open! :eek: :eek: Not a dime was missing from it. So easy to do when the safe is in the closet and you close the closet door for a minute to get something out of another then you leave for dinner with the safe wide open inside the closet. I know when they made up the beds and pulled out the linens for the kids they opened the closet doors and had to see the safe wide open. I am going to put up post it notes from now on to remind myself and also the kids are old enough to dress themselves now! But the staff onboard was extremely trustworthy.

[FinelyCruising]

FC, Exactly. We have always felt extremely safe on RCCL (or any cruise ship) but now will have to take extra precautions. As an update, the only information I have been able to get from RCCL's Claim Office is a pre-recorded message that tells me to FAX my claim to them and they will get back to me in four to six weeks!! All I want them to cover is what my home owner's policy won't cover (deductible and cash limit) and I just want to talk to a real person regarding this matter. I have also sent a letter to the president of RCCL hoping for a response. We'll see.

 

Bassque - I imagine there is a reason why they leave the door open while cleaning, but with contents inside it compromises personal belongings. So they have a double - edged sword. If someone outside of the cruiseline is a professional safe cracker then it's almost by invitation. OR, if it's a staff member who capitalizes on the open door policy, well then, you will never know, but the fact remains they made it easier for a crook and can't exactly point the finger that you did it and you're fibbing just to try to bilk them.

 

I still hate this stuff and hope it never happens to me. Good Luck to you in your efforts.

[Sue L]

We had problems in our neighborhood a few years ago with houses being robbed. About 8 houses were robbed within a few block area. What did they all have in common? Keypads!!!!

 

We were told by the police that they put some sort of stuff on the keypad keys and then when you go to use it they can tell which of the keys you used. They said usually a few random patterns and viola the code is found. This seems to be especially true with short codes ( three numbers) but they are so expert that they usually can tell because most people tend to use common numbers, anniversarys, birthdays, etc. which limits the last 2 numbers in any code to 1-12.

 

So the moral to this story is don't make it so easy for any of the crooks.

 

This goes for your computer and atm passwords and pin #'s too!!

 

I always travel with my jewelry but this may make me think twice!!!

 

Sue

[bassque]

Sue L, Wow! How very interesting. Thank you very much for the information. In other words, these hotel-type coded safes are just not secure from an informed thief. Thank you, again.

[jaxon41]

How disturbing. Thanks for giving us all a "heads up".

[Ma Bell]

I guess we should be sure to touch all the keys before we set our code.

[MamaQuack]

SueL-our little local bank tells all ATM users to not use fingers but instead the tip of a car key or something else metal - so far, so good.

[flamingos]

SueL-our little local bank tells all ATM users to not use fingers but instead the tip of a car key or something else metal - so far, so good.

 

Actually, that would help stop the spread the of disease, too.

It just strikes me as funny - I was reminded of reading an article in some teen magazine decades ago about how Marie Osmond kept her nails perfect by dialing (you remember how!) with the eraser end of a pencil, never the fingertips! I suppose a pencil eraser would also leave smudge marks on the keypad, though.....

[Guest Jaxmania]

So sorry to hear about your loss.

I guess we have had a false sense of security as we have cruised since 1983 on NCL, RCCL, American Hawaii Cruise Line and Princess have never had anything taken from our cabin.

We've booked our 29th cruise on Caribbean Princess for Nov, 2006.

For many years we cruised on ships without a safe and just put money and documents in a drawer under some clothing.

I hope this is an isolated incident that you will never experience again and you may be able to enjoy many trouble free years of cruising.

[RMSeadog]

Does anyone have any idea of what else to do if you don't trust the safe. I sure don't want to carry everything on me all of the time.

 

You can check in your valuables with the Pursers Officer and retrieve then as needed. We have been in rooms without a safe. ~ Rick