debbieinct61 Posted October 29, 2006 #1 Share Posted October 29, 2006 My sister & I returned Friday from the Crown Princess. She had packed about $500 of costume jewelry in her luggage that was placed out overnite, & hand carried her good jewelry. When we started unpacking it was obvious our bags had been rifled through, and they even picked through the jewelry, taking the best costume. Why not, they had all nite. Please be careful fellow cruisers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AuntieBon Posted October 29, 2006 #2 Share Posted October 29, 2006 Did you fly also? I would lay blame more at the feet of baggage handlers at the airport than the hard working folks at the cruiseline. The cruiseline employees have way too much to lose if they get caught where the baggage handlers might not have the same concerns/issues. Sorry to hear about the loss in any event. What a shame :( Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clutterlady Posted October 29, 2006 #3 Share Posted October 29, 2006 debbie..wow..so very sorry this had to happen! Wasn't the luggage locked?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrysalis Posted October 29, 2006 #4 Share Posted October 29, 2006 sorry that this happened to you...and that your first post at cruisecritic had to be a negative one. How was your cruise itself? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jdm Posted October 29, 2006 #5 Share Posted October 29, 2006 Sorry about your loss, however, why didn't you lock your suitcases with TSA approved locks? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T&J Posted October 29, 2006 #6 Share Posted October 29, 2006 Sorry about your loss, however, why didn't you lock your suitcases with TSA approved locks? Ahh guys come on..let's show a little compassion here...that's like saying you didn't use a Club or a Sherlock on your car after locking it or you didn't have a monitoring system on your home alarm although it went off! It not only the loss but the invasion of privacy as well that this person has suffered! Tony :cool: :eek: :cool: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tina G Posted October 29, 2006 #7 Share Posted October 29, 2006 Sorry to hear about your sister's bad experience. :eek: I agree. It was probably airport thieves. I'm glad she hand carried her good jewelry! As for you folks who wanted her to lock her bags--ever hear about 9/11? Airports tell you NOT to lock any suitcases. They will actually cut the lock off or damage your bag if they want to inspect it. There are some locks that are supposed to be opened by some kind of inspection code, but half the time they are cut anyway because the airport personnel doesn't know how to use them. I hand carry anything special, and try not to take irreplaceables (except my DH, or course!). I hope you got travel insurance, so there should be some compensation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spongerob Posted October 29, 2006 #8 Share Posted October 29, 2006 It could have been ANYBODY that went through those bags. We use TSA-approved locks and have had them since they first came out. No problems. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bdjam Posted October 29, 2006 #9 Share Posted October 29, 2006 Airports tell you NOT to lock any suitcases. If flying, my suitcases are unlocked when at the airport and on the plane, but as soon as I retrieve them – or put them out for the night’s pickup at the end of the cruise – they are locked. It’s not so much that I’m worried about thieves, but I know how luggage has to be handled by crew on board the ships (and porters at the dock) and locking them is a safety measure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
debbieinct61 Posted October 29, 2006 Author #10 Share Posted October 29, 2006 To answer your questions, my sister & I drove down, and the only time we were not in control of those belongings either in the safe or the car was during the pack-up. This is not my first cruise, and I don't even bring much jewelry to wear anymore, particularly since we were going to Ocho Rios, but I'm glad they didn't take the Xmas gifts I had purchased. I posted a review(this is my 6th cruise, but new to the board) if anyone would are to read. BTW, just want to say thanks for all the great tips I pick up here. I was in the hospitality business @ a 4 Star Hotel & Spa here in CT, so I know good service, but I'm not a snob about it since I was once on that end. Anyways, thanks to all posters. I was just bummed because it capped a pretty bad crusie, and Princess was the first line I had been on way back when (pre-Carnival) and I used it as my gold standard. Sorry this post is so long Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Husky Mike Posted October 29, 2006 #11 Share Posted October 29, 2006 Not sure where the culprit lies, a number of years ago my friends and I went on a cruise on Royal Caribbean and the strangest thing happened, 2 sets of luggage had been opened and the half the items from inside had been switched also some things were missing. Funny thing was that the suitcases were locked with those cheap locks that come with the luggage and were opened and relocked. She wrote to both the cruiseline and the airline with her complaint, only to get back apologetic letters from both. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shogun Posted October 29, 2006 #12 Share Posted October 29, 2006 Hi There Have always locked everything and also taken everything of value out of them and put that into hand luggage, As we fly into US we also put scurity tape on the bags so you can see if bag has been opened. yours Shogun Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
debbieinct61 Posted October 29, 2006 Author #13 Share Posted October 29, 2006 On a side note, they dropped someone luggage into the Hudson? River during loading and a couple a crew members got a big laugh out of that. I wonder what those poor folks wore for formal night? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clutterlady Posted October 29, 2006 #14 Share Posted October 29, 2006 Sorry to hear about your sister's bad experience. :eek: I agree. It was probably airport thieves. I'm glad she hand carried her good jewelry! As for you folks who wanted her to lock her bags--ever hear about 9/11? Airports tell you NOT to lock any suitcases. They will actually cut the lock off or damage your bag if they want to inspect it. There are some locks that are supposed to be opened by some kind of inspection code, but half the time they are cut anyway because the airport personnel doesn't know how to use them. I hand carry anything special, and try not to take irreplaceables (except my DH, or course!). I hope you got travel insurance, so there should be some compensation. Tina, that's at the airport, I never leave my bags unlocked in the hall of a cruise ship. Always use TSA locks and never had a problem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catnip Posted October 29, 2006 #15 Share Posted October 29, 2006 As for you folks who wanted her to lock her bags--ever hear about 9/11? Airports tell you NOT to lock any suitcases. They will actually cut the lock off or damage your bag if they want to inspect it. There are some locks that are supposed to be opened by some kind of inspection code, but half the time they are cut anyway because the airport personnel doesn't know how to use them. That is correct. I think it depends on the airport & the employees. I asked at my local airport last year about using the TSA locks, and 3 different TSA agents gave me a blank stare. They had not heard about them. :cool: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J&B in GA Posted October 29, 2006 #16 Share Posted October 29, 2006 Debbie, So sorry for your sister's loss. Hope your Princess cruise experience was a good one, but what a terrible thing to come home too. When we fly, we do not lock our luggage anymore, due to TSA inspections and haven't wanted to buy those spcial TSA locks. But when we drive, or before we put our luggage out for the night before disembarkation, we use plastic zip ties to secure them. We then inspect those tags when we claim our luggage in customs. BTW - Those zip ties are available in different colors, if you're afraid the porters carry spares. :rolleyes: If you zip tie them when you arrive, be sure to have some nail clippers in your carry on (yes, they're allowed now), as they are difficult to cut with your teeth ! OUCH ! :eek: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
schaca Posted October 29, 2006 #17 Share Posted October 29, 2006 We are due to leave on Island Princess on Sunday 5/11/06 coming but flying on Sat from Heathrow. We have been told to use the recommended locks or Cable ties. Not to leave unlocked even though it it recommended to leave unlocked. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Host CJSKIDS Posted October 29, 2006 #18 Share Posted October 29, 2006 I went and got a few TSA approved locks and wouldn't you they cut them somewhere at JFK and we didn't have them when we returned to Fort Myers a few months ago. Not sure that I want to bother getting more since if someone at the airport wants to go through our bags they will. I never lock them prior to putting them in the hallways when we cruise and I guess we've been lucky. I don't have anything but clothes and shoes in our suitcases so with the exception of that there's nothing else to take. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leafpeeper Posted October 29, 2006 #19 Share Posted October 29, 2006 So sorry to hear about your loss of jewelry. I don't own anything expensive, so I never have to lock anything--car, house, suitcases. My son and his wife just flew in from LA and were shocked that we never lock anything. I spend all my money on fun--nothing to show for it but lots of memories. Can't remember any gifts I get, but always remember our vacations. Now that the kids are grown, they remember the vacations too. Now I am making memories with my two little grandsons. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toto2Kansas Posted October 29, 2006 #20 Share Posted October 29, 2006 So sorry to hear you had a thief take your things, that is very sad. One thing we do. We always leave our luggage without a lock for flying as where we fly out of, it is very difficult to lock them without having the airport have a hissy fit. BUT, once we arrive at the port, we put a special colored zip tie around each bags zippers. Also, the final night onboard, before putting our luggage out in the hallway, we again put on the zip ties. Then we cut them off with small sissors we keep in the side pocket before we check them in at the airport. Never had a problem with someone cutting them off as they would find it very hard to replace the ones we use. Hopefully this is a rare thing, although I am sure it happens more than we realize. Again, so sorry to hear about this. :( Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ula Posted October 29, 2006 #21 Share Posted October 29, 2006 Debbie, I am going to give you an old school rule. If the item is of any value make sure you can carry it at all times. If not leave it at home. We call this keeping an honest person honest. I call this a lesson learned. Well the thief's only got paste. But 500.00 in costume jewels, why? We do dress appropriate for cruises but that is more than our clothes cost. Nothing of personal value that we have is left in the hall of a ship or placed under a plane. We are just to old to trust that stuff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jennew Posted October 29, 2006 #22 Share Posted October 29, 2006 I am a little confused at the people who are second-guessing the OP and her sister. They were stolen from and that is OUTRAGOUS. Baggage handlers are paid to perform a task. They have no right to steal from the bags. If they steal something, THEY are the ones who should be hung out to dry. I don't care of the OP packed the crown jewels in her bag, there is no excuse for theft. To the OP, I hope you contacted Princess with your complaint. They need to be made aware of this problem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
above sea level cruiser Posted October 29, 2006 #23 Share Posted October 29, 2006 What exactly is a TSA lock? - sorry I just don't know. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clutterlady Posted October 29, 2006 #24 Share Posted October 29, 2006 I am a little confused at the people who are second-guessing the OP and her sister. They were stolen from and that is OUTRAGOUS. Baggage handlers are paid to perform a task. They have no right to steal from the bags. If they steal something, THEY are the ones who should be hung out to dry. I don't care of the OP packed the crown jewels in her bag, there is no excuse for theft. To the OP, I hope you contacted Princess with your complaint. They need to be made aware of this problem. jennew, the OP I believe is saying she thinks the jewelry was taken while the luggage was out in the hall. Could have been a passenger. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clutterlady Posted October 29, 2006 #25 Share Posted October 29, 2006 My locks are a 3 dial combo travel security lock. You set your own combination and airport security is supposed to have a master key which will open the lock for inspection and then they can re-lock. We do a lot of land vacations and have used these the last 2 years without a problem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.