Jump to content

Stuff while away


Recommended Posts

Hello.

I'm going on my first cruise in October. I'll be going with my girlfriend so I'm just wondering where do you put your stuff while your in the pool or in the water? I know big groups usually have a person to look after things but it will just be the two of us. I can leave valuables like phone in the room but what do you do with your seapass card while in the water? Not sure if I'm being super paranoid or not but do you just leave it in a bag on a chair or is it always with you? Let me know what you do.

 

Thank You,

Michael

Link to comment
Share on other sites

8 hours ago, nrgMike said:

Hello.

I'm going on my first cruise in October. I'll be going with my girlfriend so I'm just wondering where do you put your stuff while your in the pool or in the water? I know big groups usually have a person to look after things but it will just be the two of us. I can leave valuables like phone in the room but what do you do with your seapass card while in the water? Not sure if I'm being super paranoid or not but do you just leave it in a bag on a chair or is it always with you? Let me know what you do.

 

Thank You,

Michael

Never leave your Sea Pass unattended.  I now use the waterproof lanyards with a sealed plastic sleeve that is phone-sized.  At one time RC sold some plastic devices that looked like they'd hold a bar of soap.  I broke two of the "lids" on those, so now plastic sleeves are my choice.  The point about the new WOW bands (not sure they are on all ships) is that you can re-use them on your next cruise...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Just now, ChessE4 said:

Never leave your Sea Pass unattended.  I now use the waterproof lanyards with a sealed plastic sleeve that is phone-sized.  At one time RC sold some plastic devices that looked like they'd hold a bar of soap.  I broke two of the "lids" on those, so now plastic sleeves are my choice.  The point about the new WOW bands (not sure they are on all ships) is that you can re-use them on your next cruise...

The wow bands are not on all the ships...I usually have the lanyard and keep it in me but sometimes I bury then in the sand in a bag under my towel or slip them into my book.  I've never had a problem.... Though definitely keeping them with you is more foolproof.  Be careful with the plastic pouches...I had mine tear off a couple times at Disney... Once when I didn't know for over an hour!  Jane

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I have never had an issue at all on any of my cruises.  We only take our sea pass card with us to the pool. I am old school, so I don't even take my tablet to read,  instead the good old fashion paperback book. My husband and I go in the pool or hot tub together and never have someone watch our stuff.

1st.  You are not talking about humungous pool areas, even on the larger ships.  Your lounger is always going to be in your eyesight.  

2. If somehow someone steals your sea pass, you will know immediately when you get to your lounger.  Just go to the guest services desk and report it.  

3. Your picture is on your sea pass card.  Sometimes the bartender will look at it, and sometimes they won't, but if someone steals it that is a risk they are taking.  If you go to the casino or the shops, at least in my experiences they always look at the picture.  Same is true when you come back on the ship from any port.

4. The only time we are more cautious is when we are at Coco Cay, because we typically will take our wallets and phones.  You can get a locker there to guard your personal items.  

FWIW, I am a Jersey girl that lives in VA, and have also lived in NC.  In other words going to the shore is a common weekend jaunt.  If I wanted to steal from someone that would be the easiest target since most people do the same thing...put their wallet, phone and keys in the toe of their shoes or under the corner of the beach blanket.  I am 54 and can state for a fact that never once did someone steal from me at the shore.

JMPO, I am more paranoid about someone trying to move my stuff to get a lounger than them taking any of my property.  Pool chair hogs are really a hot topic.

1 tip I would give you is to either take your own beach towels with you on the cruise or buy towel clips.  The reason why is that it is an easy way to find your chair very quickly.  Realize that there are tons of chairs around the pool, all covered with the RCL powder blue pool towels.  Having your own beach towel or the clips makes them stand out right away since few passengers do either.    

Link to comment
Share on other sites

3 minutes ago, Pima1988 said:

I have never had an issue at all on any of my cruises.  We only take our sea pass card with us to the pool. I am old school, so I don't even take my tablet to read,  instead the good old fashion paperback book. My husband and I go in the pool or hot tub together and never have someone watch our stuff.

1st.  You are not talking about humungous pool areas, even on the larger ships.  Your lounger is always going to be in your eyesight.  

2. If somehow someone steals your sea pass, you will know immediately when you get to your lounger.  Just go to the guest services desk and report it.  

3. Your picture is on your sea pass card.  Sometimes the bartender will look at it, and sometimes they won't, but if someone steals it that is a risk they are taking.  If you go to the casino or the shops, at least in my experiences they always look at the picture.  Same is true when you come back on the ship from any port.

4. The only time we are more cautious is when we are at Coco Cay, because we typically will take our wallets and phones.  You can get a locker there to guard your personal items.  

FWIW, I am a Jersey girl that lives in VA, and have also lived in NC.  In other words going to the shore is a common weekend jaunt.  If I wanted to steal from someone that would be the easiest target since most people do the same thing...put their wallet, phone and keys in the toe of their shoes or under the corner of the beach blanket.  I am 54 and can state for a fact that never once did someone steal from me at the shore.

JMPO, I am more paranoid about someone trying to move my stuff to get a lounger than them taking any of my property.  Pool chair hogs are really a hot topic.

1 tip I would give you is to either take your own beach towels with you on the cruise or buy towel clips.  The reason why is that it is an easy way to find your chair very quickly.  Realize that there are tons of chairs around the pool, all covered with the RCL powder blue pool towels.  Having your own beach towel or the clips makes them stand out right away since few passengers do either.    

I actually was thinking about off the ship.  Like @Pima1988 said, I don't worry at all on the ship....   Jane

Link to comment
Share on other sites

33 minutes ago, mom2mybugs said:
9 hours ago, nrgMike said:

 Not sure if I'm being super paranoid or not but do you just leave it in a bag on a chair or is it always with you? Let me know what you do.

 

Thank You,

Michael

  Be careful with the plastic pouches...I had mine tear off a couple times at Disney... Once when I didn't know for over an hour!  Jane

Yes, it is possible for a plastic sleeve to detach (which happened to me at work once), and all lanyards are not the same.  I have learned to avoid a metal connector to a plastic sleeve because the metal can tear the plastic.  On the ship, I use a plastic snap connector to the sea pass sleeve, and because of the wind on open decks, I actually stick the sleeve in my shirt pocket while it is attached to the lanyard around my neck.  My point about the phone-sized sleeves is that they generally have a hard-plastic seal to which the lanyard is attached, or they have reinforced holes (like a grommet) through which the lanyard cord passes.

When I am in the water, I slide my lanyard under my UV resistant wet shirt. It's pretty much locked in.

I understand there are others on the ship who leave items unattended, but why invite problems?  Have heard stories about theft at Coco Cay, for example.  Thus, the advice of @Pima1988   to consider lockers is good.

On the whole, I am impressed with the honesty of cruise passengers, and I have had my wallet returned through Guest Services when it fell out of my shorts in the Casino.

One last tip about the safe in the stateroom: when you lock it, hold the door closed until the locking cycle is completed.  On some safes the door will "bounce open", which has happened to me several times.  Thankfully, my stateroom attendant pointed it out...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

2 minutes ago, ChessE4 said:

 

I understand there are others on the ship who leave items unattended, but why invite problems?  Have heard stories about theft at Coco Cay, for example.  Thus, the advice of @Pima1988

One last tip about the safe in the stateroom: when you lock it, hold the door closed until the locking cycle is completed.  On some safes the door will "bounce open", which has happened to me several times.  Thankfully, my stateroom attendant pointed it out...

I have been super lucky on cruise ships and Disney (only had one sorcerer's hat stolen off the stroller once).  I don't carry my wallet on the ship though.  

   You are totally right on the safe!  We actually had to have our stateroom attendant reset the safe as the previous people had "locked it open". Jane

Link to comment
Share on other sites

5 hours ago, cmdrfrag said:

/\ This.

One of the reasons I like the Wow band so much. I could leave everything in the room and not have to keep and eye on my bag or anything like that

And for me, having something around my wrist is just...aggravating. I hate the feeling. I definitely just have my card in the pocket of my swimsuit.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

@mom2mybugs

When we get off the ship, the NJ people kick in on us.  I do not carry a purse.  I place my ID and sea pass in my hubby's wallet.  He carries his wallet in his front pocket of his shorts/pants....anybody reaching down there on him will make him look immediately ?  His phone is in the other pocket.  We are "light" travelers....cell phone pics work for us instead of carrying around a camera, especially when you are in 95 degrees in the Caribbean.

@ChessE4  The lockers on Coco Cay are great, especially if you do an excursion and do not have a cabana.  We have done excursions that last 90 mins there (para sailing ---that never gets old).  Prior when you tendered the lockers were right next to where you tendered in.    Cabanas come with safes.  This is our huge splurge.  We love the beach there.  Now that Voom works there will take our tablets and facetime with family at home to make them all jealous.

I agree you need to let the safe go through the cycle.  It is maybe 15 seconds or so.  You will hear it stop.  

Again, I am the carry as little on me as I can when on the ship.  Our wallets, jewelry, passports, etc are left in the safe.  I do take a beach/pool bag to the pool and it has a zipper pouch inside.  Thus, if anyone wanted to steal my sea pass they would have to spend more than 30 secs. at my lounger.  Again, these pools are not lap pools like at the local Y.  They are basically dip in and hang for a few minutes to cool off.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

@Zacharius   I did the WoW band once and will never do it again.  Of course this was when it 1st rolled out a few yrs ago.

1. I must be allergic to whatever they coat it with because it caused a rash on my wrist 

2. Sometimes the bartender could not beam it correctly so I had to take it off....it felt good to take it off because my wrist would sweat with it on.

3. As a woman, I like to wear bracelets and I found that I would have to put the band on my right wrist so I could wear my jewelry, and that made it awkward for me.

Many people love the WoW, my experience is anecdotal.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

One of the great things about a cruise vacation, loosely speaking, most people are trustworthy. Things of monetary value (seapass, cash, flip-flops with bottle opener) you want to keep within an eye shot of course (on your person is best) however, I've left other items (T-Shirt, towels, books, flip-flops without bottle openers) on beach chairs and nothing has happened to them. 

Always keep a guard up, but, for the most part, other guests aren't looking to rob/steal from you.

Enjoy!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 7/8/2019 at 5:14 AM, Pima1988 said:

1 tip I would give you is to either take your own beach towels with you on the cruise or buy towel clips.  The reason why is that it is an easy way to find your chair very quickly.  Realize that there are tons of chairs around the pool, all covered with the RCL powder blue pool towels.  Having your own beach towel or the clips makes them stand out right away since few passengers do either.    

So many great tips in this thread, thank you, it's great to know how to be smart!

Also this one, "On the ship, I use a plastic snap connector to the sea pass sleeve, and because of the wind on open decks, I actually stick the sleeve in my shirt pocket while it is attached to the lanyard around my neck.  My point about the phone-sized sleeves is that they generally have a hard-plastic seal to which the lanyard is attached, or they have reinforced holes (like a grommet) through which the lanyard cord passes."

Link to comment
Share on other sites

On the ship people are pretty honest.  Off the ship thieves know all the hiding places.  We move our stuff to the waters edge area so as to be able to keep an eye on it. Otherwise we get a locker. We grew up in Chicago and living in Tennessee the last 11 years. People don`t believe we are from  Tennessee because we don`t talk funny.  Glad were moving to Florida this fall.  Enjoy the cruise. We are sure you will be hooked.  Don`t forget to visit the future cruise desk. Deposits are less and you can always cancel. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 7/7/2019 at 10:17 PM, nrgMike said:

Hello.

I'm going on my first cruise in October. I'll be going with my girlfriend so I'm just wondering where do you put your stuff while your in the pool or in the water? I know big groups usually have a person to look after things but it will just be the two of us. I can leave valuables like phone in the room but what do you do with your seapass card while in the water? Not sure if I'm being super paranoid or not but do you just leave it in a bag on a chair or is it always with you? Let me know what you do.

 

Thank You,

Michael

I usually keep my SeaPass in my phone case under a towel and hat on the lounger. I don't worry about it especially if it is close to the pool or hot tub I am using. I have also put my SeaPass on a lanyard, looped it on the lounger and covered it with a towel secured by towel clips. It may be a slight risk, but if my SeaPass disappears, Guest Services can take care of that issue quickly.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

On board: Leave all your valuables in your room safe and just take your SeaPass to the pool.  Tuck it under a towel.  I guess people could sneak around stealing SeaPasses to use but I've never seen it happen.  People are on vacation, not on the take.  Your face comes up when it is scanned and they definitely look at that.  Not having to lug your wallet around is one of the great things about cruises.

Beachside: Rent a locker.   Don't leave your wallet unattended on the beach. 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

OH GOD yes.   Caveat we always live in the Solarium, and typically since the loungers are so close you usually strike up conversations with the people next to you.  The Solarium pools also usually have the same people day after day.  They also usually float to the same places to sit everyday.  

My hubby and I would leave the loungers with his tablet and head phones on his lounger, mine had a kindle.  Dip in the pool for 30 mins and they were still there.  We would go to WJ grab a plate and bring it back to eat in the Solarium, gone out of sight for 15 mins., my stuff was still there.  

Phone was the only thing we took with us bc we traveled in a group and used WhatsApp to keep in touch with each other.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

54 minutes ago, JC123 said:

Do you guys think it would be save to leave a Kindle in your bag beside the pool? 

Personally, I wouldn't. For vacations, I always pick up a hard copy book that I can take with me to the pool or beach. Easy peasy and not too expensive to buy another one of those vs losing something like a Kindle to sticky fingers. But that's just my opinion since you asked. You have to decide how much risk you are will to accept and act accordingly. I tend to prefer a low risk profile myself.

Do some research then go through this risk equation that is used by many in environments where risk has to be calculated often as part of business:

Risk = Threat x Vulnerability x Cost

Threat = the frequency of potentially adverse events. Since threat (by this definition) is always a frequency, it's always potentially measurable. And since the events are only potentially adverse, threat per se is not necessarily dangerous or detrimental.

Doing a quick few minutes of research tells me that "In 2018, cruise lines reported 120 alleged crimes from the following categories: homicide, suspicious death, missing US national, sexual assault, kidnapping, assault with serious bodily injury, firing or tampering with vessel, and theft of over $10,000.

Cruise lines reported 82 alleged sexual assaults from 2018 to the DOT, more than any other crime. Theft of over $10,000 was the second-most common crime, with 22 alleged incidents reported from 2018."

Keep in mind that not all crimes are reported and there is an element of PR at work when dealing with things on their end. So, in my assessment, I'd put the threat of theft as fairly low based on statistics but not impossible.

Vulnerability

 

Vulnerability is the likelihood of success of a particular threat category against a particular organization. Notice that if this were the likelihood of success of a particular attack, the likelihood would be either 0 or 1 (0 percent or 100 percent). It's hard to predict the likelihood of success for theft so in an equation like this, I'd just go with a 50 for "50/50" chance.

Cost

 

Cost is the total cost of the impact of a particular threat experienced by a vulnerable target. So how much would it cost to replace your Kindle (not just the item itself but the "man hours" to replace it, annoyance, contents, personal information tied to it, etc)

Risk
It's not threat, vulnerability or cost alone that really matters, but risk. As you can see from the risk equation, for there to be any risk there must be at least some threat and vulnerability and cost. The concept we all learned in sixth grade-that anything multiplied by zero is zero-means that if any one of the three components of risk is zero, then the risk is also zero.

*

For any decision you are trying to make that involves some risk, I find breaking it down with this equation and then deciding if you can accept the cost of loss and accept the risk then act accordingly. But this is a decision YOU have to make We can't make it for you.

Enjoy your cruise!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, Pima1988 said:

OH GOD yes.   Caveat we always live in the Solarium, and typically since the loungers are so close you usually strike up conversations with the people next to you.  The Solarium pools also usually have the same people day after day.  They also usually float to the same places to sit everyday.  

My hubby and I would leave the loungers with his tablet and head phones on his lounger, mine had a kindle.  Dip in the pool for 30 mins and they were still there.  We would go to WJ grab a plate and bring it back to eat in the Solarium, gone out of sight for 15 mins., my stuff was still there.  

Phone was the only thing we took with us bc we traveled in a group and used WhatsApp to keep in touch with each other.

Great - glad to hear I won’t have to be paranoid when I leave it for a few mins! ? 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

58 minutes ago, JennyJenny said:

Personally, I wouldn't. For vacations, I always pick up a hard copy book that I can take with me to the pool or beach. Easy peasy and not too expensive to buy another one of those vs losing something like a Kindle to sticky fingers. But that's just my opinion since you asked. You have to decide how much risk you are will to accept and act accordingly. I tend to prefer a low risk profile myself.

Do some research then go through this risk equation that is used by many in environments where risk has to be calculated often as part of business:

Risk = Threat x Vulnerability x Cost

Threat = the frequency of potentially adverse events. Since threat (by this definition) is always a frequency, it's always potentially measurable. And since the events are only potentially adverse, threat per se is not necessarily dangerous or detrimental.

Doing a quick few minutes of research tells me that "In 2018, cruise lines reported 120 alleged crimes from the following categories: homicide, suspicious death, missing US national, sexual assault, kidnapping, assault with serious bodily injury, firing or tampering with vessel, and theft of over $10,000.

Cruise lines reported 82 alleged sexual assaults from 2018 to the DOT, more than any other crime. Theft of over $10,000 was the second-most common crime, with 22 alleged incidents reported from 2018."

Keep in mind that not all crimes are reported and there is an element of PR at work when dealing with things on their end. So, in my assessment, I'd put the threat of theft as fairly low based on statistics but not impossible.

Vulnerability

 

Vulnerability is the likelihood of success of a particular threat category against a particular organization. Notice that if this were the likelihood of success of a particular attack, the likelihood would be either 0 or 1 (0 percent or 100 percent). It's hard to predict the likelihood of success for theft so in an equation like this, I'd just go with a 50 for "50/50" chance.

Cost

 

Cost is the total cost of the impact of a particular threat experienced by a vulnerable target. So how much would it cost to replace your Kindle (not just the item itself but the "man hours" to replace it, annoyance, contents, personal information tied to it, etc)

Risk
It's not threat, vulnerability or cost alone that really matters, but risk. As you can see from the risk equation, for there to be any risk there must be at least some threat and vulnerability and cost. The concept we all learned in sixth grade-that anything multiplied by zero is zero-means that if any one of the three components of risk is zero, then the risk is also zero.

*

For any decision you are trying to make that involves some risk, I find breaking it down with this equation and then deciding if you can accept the cost of loss and accept the risk then act accordingly. But this is a decision YOU have to make We can't make it for you.

Enjoy your cruise!

Thanks for that - interesting way to look at it - never thought to search the reported crimes on the ships - just assume every is always in a blissful holiday mood (evidently not?).

 

Thanks - I appreciate that?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Just now, JC123 said:

Thanks for that - interesting way to look at it - never thought to search the reported crimes on the ships - just assume every is always in a blissful holiday mood (evidently not?).

 

Thanks - I appreciate that?

You are most welcome.

My job, essentially, is to manage risk not just to my business but to help my clients manage theirs.

I am doing this constantly so it's second nature to me. I realize, though, that others don't do this as a matter of course so figured if I shared then they could!

One of my other responsibilities is to educate others on security and awareness so I am afraid I just tend to do that out of habit ☺️

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I think the risk of theft on board a cruise ship is like anywhere else. Theft is generally a act of opportunity. If you are a "thief" on land, you are going to be a "thief" on a cruise.You have to make it difficult for someone to steal your stuff, like placing it under your lounger, placing your SeaPass or other valuables in the toes of your shoes, under your lounger. Best thing would be to take little as possible with you when you are out of your cabin.

You can do little things to help deter a thief, but you can't really eliminate the threat all together.

Happy cruising!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I am a Jersey girl.  We go to the shore, not the beach.  Where does everyone leave their car keys, and wallet?  In the toes of their shoes holding down the corners of their beach blanket.

Seriously, you have a much higher chance of theft occurring at the shore/beach/water park than on a cruise ship. 

These chairs are so flipping close it is insane.  When I say close I mean the chair handles for your arms are bumped up next to each other with no room, unlike at a beach where they could feet apart.  When we went to horseshoe we only took our sea pass and govt id to get back on the ship, plus small amt of cash to put in to the toe of the shoe.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 1 month later...
On 7/27/2019 at 11:39 AM, Pima1988 said:

These chairs are so flipping close it is insane.  When I say close I mean the chair handles for your arms are bumped up next to each other with no room, unlike at a beach where they could feet apart. 

Agree. This is one of the main reasons I'm using RCCL less and less.  The lounge chairs touch each other and you sometimes have to crawl across a sea of other lounge chairs to get to yours.  Sorry, I don't want to be that chummy with a stranger sleeping 3 inches away, along with his half-eaten hot dog.  If it's so important to the bottom line that you have to cram that many people together then I don't want to be there.  JMO.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...
×
×
  • Create New...