If you forget something on your ship after the cruise ends, what can you do to try to get it back?
Vacationers mistakenly leave behind personal items in hotels, airplanes, taxis, and even cruise ships. Forgetfulness is an unfortunate reality of travel.
My kids have left behind phone chargers, toys, and clothes that got misplaced, fell somewhere, or were simply ignored until it was too late.
Unfortunately, once you disembark the cruise ship on the final morning, you cannot go back and try to get it back.
If you find yourself in this situation, there are a few things to try in order to hopefully get things back.
Report the missing item to Royal Caribbean
Royal Caribbean provides a means of reporting missing items to start the claims process.
It's somewhat similar to if you left something behind on an airplane and the process of working with the airline to get it back.
Guests can fill out a Lost and Found Request Form that is processed by a third-party company called Chargerback.
You should fill out the form as soon as possible once you realize you forgot something.
You'll need to provide your personal information, along with where you last saw the item, your sailing information, and where they can send it if they find it.
According to the cruise line, some thing cannot be returned
- Food & Beverage
- Clothing Items
- Money, casino chips, or credit cards (Credit cards are destroyed for your protection, and Casino chips/money are processed onboard and added to the credit card on file)
- Makeup, Grooming Items, Perfumes, Lotions
- Alcohol or tobacco item
- Any other item that may pose a risk or is prohibited by law
If they find the items, you are responsible for paying for the shipping to get it back to you. In addition, Chargerback claims it can take 2-3 weeks to get the item shipped.
What are the chances I'll get my lost things back?
Experiences with filing a lost and found claim vary considerably, and in reality there's a chance you may not get it back.
Part of the issue is the lost item needs to be found and reported as a lost item.
The final morning of a cruise is a busy day when crew members are hustling to prepare the ship for the next sailing and they're working very hard to prep staterooms. Because guests leave behind trash and discarded items, it's easy to overlook something that is "lost" versus something that is left because it's unwanted.
If a crew member spots what appears to be unintentionally left behind, they'll give it to their supervisor who then passes it along to the Guest Services team.
The Guest Services team will log the item and then it goes through the process of being being transferred from the ship to a facility on land so it can eventually be returned.
Without a doubt a quick claim is critical to ensuring word gets passed along to look for a certain item.
File a claim with travel insurance
While getting the lost item back would be ideal, you may have to accept it's gone and try to replace it.
If you have travel insurance, you may be able to claim the lost item with them and be compensated for it. This is more useful for items of higher value than a kids toy or everyday garment.
Most travel insurance plans cover lost items on a cruise through baggage loss and baggage delay benefits, which can reimburse you for lost, stolen, or damaged belongings.
You will want to file a claim as soon as you realize the item is missing and trying to reclaim it with the cruise line isn't going to work.
You may need to provide confirmation from the Lost and Found process mentioned earlier that the lost item cannot be found as proof.
Filing a claim with travel insurance is probably an option for high value items, and not a pair of sunglasses, children's toy, or souvenir.
Two hacks for reducing the chance you'll forget something on a cruise
I've come across two creative ideas for how to lessen the likelihood you'll need to fill out a lost and found form.
Losing your cell phone is probably at the top of worst things you could leave behind on a cruise, so you could change your homescreen to make it easier to get back to you.
Change your screen saver or lock screen image to be your SeaPass card or something the cruise line can use to identify you.
While a pretty wallpaper you usually have looks great, someone that finds your phone can't access your personal information because it will be locked.
By using an image on your lock screen that the cruise line can reference if you lose your phone on board, you stand a much better chance of getting it returned.
The other trick is to put your shoe in your stateroom safe.
The idea is by putting your shoe in the safe (just one should suffice), you cannot possibly leave the ship without having gotten everything out of your safe because you'll need your shoe.
Considering jewelry, wallets, and money are among the most commonly forgotten items on a cruise ship, verifying your safe is empty before departing is a good idea.
