security

[cruisinquestions]

Hi folks... setting sail in just 5 sleeps (4 year old says that;) ).

Just 2 quick questions about securing personal belongings while on board.

We're first timers, and have read every thing we can find. But here's my questions. How safe are the safes? I mean we have a key to it, of coure, but who would have a master? Trying to figure out, if the person who cleans the room would, and is this safe to store our documents (birth certif. etc) and extra money, digital camera when not carrying, etc in?

 

Also how's this plan sound for safety.. I have a lap top lock. Looks like a 6 foot bike chain. It could be wrapped around the sink pipe or a bed leg maybe, or through a drawer pull... I'll have to scope it out. I know the lap top won't fit in the safe, but I don't want to put it at the purser's desk every day. Sound safe?

If I have to I'll check it daily, but hoping not.

 

And yessssss we have to bring the lap top. :p

Thanks so much guys!!

Jules

[dosi]

I don't think anyone would want to steal your laptop or any of your other stuff either. We have been on a few cruises and leave our digital camera in our room unlocked, and have never had a problem. Ask yourself what is more important to your room steward....a good job with chances of advancement and money to send home every month OR your laptop. I know of folks that leave their laptop on and open and write their needs to their stewards that way. I also don't believe anyone will want your birth certificate. They can order one on line anyold time, why would they want to steal yours? :rolleyes:

[sally r]

Most of the safes are digital now and you enter your own personal code. I have never had any questions as to the security of my cash, passports, personal belongings, etc. Your lap top should be safe in the cabin, just put it out of sight when you leave.

[RACRLS]

Hi folks... setting sail in just 5 sleeps (4 year old says that;) ).

Just 2 quick questions about securing personal belongings while on board.

We're first timers, and have read every thing we can find. But here's my questions. How safe are the safes? I mean we have a key to it, of coure, but who would have a master? Trying to figure out, if the person who cleans the room would, and is this safe to store our documents (birth certif. etc) and extra money, digital camera when not carrying, etc in?

 

Also how's this plan sound for safety.. I have a lap top lock. Looks like a 6 foot bike chain. It could be wrapped around the sink pipe or a bed leg maybe, or through a drawer pull... I'll have to scope it out. I know the lap top won't fit in the safe, but I don't want to put it at the purser's desk every day. Sound safe?

If I have to I'll check it daily, but hoping not.

 

And yessssss we have to bring the lap top. :p

Thanks so much guys!!

Jules

 

With regard to the question about the safe, and keys to it, the safe has a numeric keypad. You will make up your own 4-digit combination (there are instructions on the safe), so no-one has a key. If you forget your 4-digit combination, Maintenance is called to bring an electronic device that attempts to run through possible combinations until they can open it. This is usually not a quick procedure. This happened to another couple we were cruising with a couple years ago.

 

You can keep the digital camera in the safe, unless it is a very large camera. We have used it to keep documents, extra cash, jewelry, etc. during our cruise.

 

I have never had a problem with leaving cameras or other items of value in the room, usually in plain sight, but have never brought the laptop.

[cruisinquestions]

Not sure why you roll your eyes.. Things have been stolen from ships by crew members. They don't advertise these things. There have been worse crimes also. You stay safe, of course, I just wanted to ask some experts if my plan was ok. Why would they want to steel a birth certif.? I have no idea... money, um - I won't even answer that. Let's say they just clean the safe out.

 

Ya, I'd like to assume it's safe on a ship 100% but it's a small traveling city for a week, and if you read around the boards, you'll read about missing cameras, walkmans and other belonging. I didn't think MY posessions were special to anyone like MINE have a higher risk or something. I just read a lot and know crime..of all levels do happen on board. Google it and you will see some very sorry facts.

 

Thank you other folks who simply answered my Qs.

Jules

[smeyer418]

only from crew members? you don't think your fellow passengers never steal...

 

The digital safes are pretty safe. Nothing is fool proof if you are a target...

[dosi]

Not sure why you roll your eyes.. Things have been stolen from ships by crew members. They don't advertise these things. There have been worse crimes also. You stay safe, of course, I just wanted to ask some experts if my plan was ok. Why would they want to steel a birth certif.? I have no idea... money, um - I won't even answer that. Let's say they just clean the safe out.

 

Ya, I'd like to assume it's safe on a ship 100% but it's a small traveling city for a week, and if you read around the boards, you'll read about missing cameras, walkmans and other belonging. I didn't think MY posessions were special to anyone like MINE have a higher risk or something. I just read a lot and know crime..of all levels do happen on board. Google it and you will see some very sorry facts.

 

Thank you other folks who simply answered my Qs.

 

 

Yes I am sure thing are stolen, but don't like to think about it. I am so busy thinking about the good things that will happen on my next cruise, that I give little if any thought to anything bad that might happen. I live in a small town, I rarely lock my car or my house. I am sorry that you and everyone else has to comtemplate the possiblity of having your things taken from you. I guess I don't worry as much because I have very few things of great value....I dump all my "extra" money into cruises and then can't afford the video to take movies of my trips. :) In all honesty I do think you would be more likely to be a target of your fellow passengers than you would be a target of the crew, but I am probably wrong about that too. Just call me Pollyanna!!

[salty dingo]

I think if you keep your laptop stowed out of sight while you are away it will be safe. You could stow it in an empty suitcase (large one) and place the lock around the handle. I doubt anyone could discreetly remove such a thing from your room.

 

If it is out of sight, no one would know it was there. Crew is too busy to snoop and they know it would be their job if they were caught.

 

Last cruise, my roommate thought he lost some money. He couldn't help but suspect the cabin steward, but I was not so sure. We discreetly mentioned to the steward that we were missing some cash, no accusation, just information. It turned up later, as the fellow had hidden it very well after having a few drinks. We were glad we did not falsely accuse anyone.

[GregInCharlotte]

I have my laptop cable locked to my desk in the highrise Iwork in but I don't give a thought on a cruise - least of all from the cabin steward.

[Sillyjilly]

Years ago on a Carnival cruise, my sister-in-law had some fancy clothing and belts stolen out of her room. Yes, the room was always locked. I think they saw her wear it, liked it, and hoped she wouldn't notice until she arrived home. However, she did notice when she was packing and the room steward argued and argued that she just misplaced them. (Clothes and belts?) One can only assume it had to be an employee. Who else has the key to your room? Carnival reimbursed her for her clothing.

[johnql]

One can only assume it had to be an employee. Who else has the key to your room?

It may very well have been the steward or another employee. But you know what they say about assuming. Here's another possible explanation: when a steward cleans a cabin, he/she often leaves the door open/ajar. It's possible that another passenger, while walking by the open door, noticed that the steward happened to be cleaning the bathroom, then took advantage of the opportunity by running into the cabin and grabbing whatever was available. Is this likely what happened? Probably not, but without an eyewitness or hard evidence it's impossible to prove otherwise.

[ImA1032]

I wouldn't think a cruise would be any more or any less safe than a hotel. After all, that's basically what it is, a floating hotel. I've stayed in casinos in Vegas and never put away my laptop. The in-room safes sound just like the ones at the Rio Suites. I've never had a problem using those either, storing everything from cash to a pistol in them.

[zimmerjulie]

I think a cruise is safer because, unlike with a hotel, there is a documented list of the identity of everyone aboard. Also, anyone can walk into a hotel from the street...not so with a ship. It can also be tougher to make a quick getaway with the goods if you are at sea:p .

 

As to safer as far as employee theft is concerned, I think that crewmembers aboard ship often have much more to lose by being fired than the typical housekeeper at a land-based hotel in the US.

 

JMHO.

 

Ships feel very safe to me. We do use the safe for cash, credit cards, documents, etc. It is the best way for us to avoid just sticking them in a random drawer, then not be able to find them when it's time to hit the ports.:)

 

Jules,

I agree that just keeping your laptop in an out-of-the-way place would be fine, but if you do want to lock it up, the suitcase idea sounds good to me.

 

If I saw a laptop wrapped in a 6 foot chain and locked to a sink pipe, I might wonder if there was something INCREDIBLY compelling in there...Swiss bank account numbers, etc:D , so I think the suitcase, or other discreet hiding place would probably be better.

 

HAVE A GREAT CRUISE!!

[smiggy]

We take our laptop and leave it open on the desk the entire time and it's not locked down. For a few dollars you can have a rider added to you homeowners insurance (or renters) policy to give you peace of mind.

 

We do remove all banking and investment information.... just in case.