Cruise Crime?
 

Have you been a victim of crime on a cruise or a tour? Beyond taking ordinary precautions, does anyone have reason to think anything else is required? Please share any real experiences you may have had, no rumors please!

No and No. <BR>

Jane: <BR>As a Deputy Sheriff for some 27 years and a cruiser for most of that time I can tell you that the best way to stay safe on a cruise is the same as staying safe anytime you are away from home. Common mistakes I see people make on cruises are the same mistakes that cause problems in any big city. Here are a few tips: <BR>-Leave your expensive jewelry AT HOME. Walking around with lots of gold on is just asking for it. <BR>-If you buy jewelry on trips have the purser lock it up until you leave the ship. If you want to enjoy what you bought wear it to dinner on the ship that evening and then lock it back up. <BR>-Guard your wallet or purse and be careful when you're at any checkout counter not to let other people see what's in it. I can get your credit card number, your home address, your social security number and see how much cash you have just by standing behind you in the checkout line. <BR>-Use travelers checks and DON'T put all your credit cards, cash etc. in one place, like your purse. If they take that, you have nothing left. Have some way of calling home to cancel your credit cards should they be stolen. <BR>-And, return to the ship before dark, especially if you are alone, and don't go in any area where you don't feel safe. <BR>Anyway.... thanks for thinking about safety and have a great cruise! <BR>Deputy Bob

<BR>And I'll add to Deputy Bob's advice. <BR> <BR>I have sailed 61 ships and am a travel agent. <BR> <BR>I must stress the fact that families that travel with children must watch their children. <BR> <BR>They believe, since a ship is an enclosed environment, their children are safe....wrong. <BR> <BR>Children should not have free run of the ship at 3 or 4 AM. <BR> <BR>A ship is a small city and there are many types of passengers on board. <BR> <BR>Please watch your children. <BR> <BR>Paul

I have been on 3 cruises with my husband and going on Princess in Oct. <BR>We have NEVER experienced any problem on any ship we have sailed on. (RCCL, Carnival). "Most" teenagers are in their cabins by midnight but really they haven't been a problem. They are on vacation too and mainly stick to the disco and video games. Don't worry. It is really safe. Just be smart.

I am a Platinum member of RCCL Anchor society so I have been on a few of their cruises and always enjoyed them including this last one last week but something happened that I wanted to share and see if it happened to anyone else.

On the first night of the cruise my wife wore a particular outfit to dinner, 3 days later she was going to wear it again and it was no longer in the room, we searched everywhere, she even rememberd what hanger she put it on and the hanger was empty. We figured that she was spotted wearing the outfit by staff members and that if it was gone it wouldn't be missed so they helped themselves to it.

I told the cabin attendent that the clothes were missing and that he should tell the female workers that if it is returned then there would be no problem but if it is not then everybody would pay. I also reported it to customer service.

After dinner that night we came back in to the room and for the first time the bed was turned down and we could see the clothes under one of the beds on top of my laptop. I put that laptop there that day and I did not put any clothes on top of it so it was placed recently. The clothes appeared to be soiled.

I told customer relations that the clothes were returned and that I wanted them to dry clean them, I never heard from them again.

I was not a victim, but quite a few people on my ship were. We took a cruise several years ago in late May, not knowing there would be 200+ teens on their senior class trip. Some of the kids were fine and respectful, but others were awful brats.

On the last night of the cruise all passengers were asked by the ship to put luggage in the hallway by midnight. The brats stole some liquor from the display case of the gift shop, then they proceeded to grab luggage from the hallway and throw it overboard. I don't know how much luggage was thrown overboard, but thankfully we were on a very low deck so they didn't get ours before they were caught. They were thrown into the brig (I didn't know that ships had a brig until that day) then they were arrested when we docked in New Orleans the next day.

I have heard before about kids throwing luggage overboard. We cruise on HAL &amp; although I am sure it could happen, there are usually very few kids aboard.

I simply can't imagine anyone doing that; or stealing an outfit from a guest - they are such random acts. However, I bring all my good jewelry with me when we cruise &amp; keep it locked in the safe when not wearing it. Why have nice things if you can't wear them?

I agree with the posts in this message that when you are on vacation just as at home, be vigilant. We have been on over 15 cruises in the last 18 years and have never experienced crime. There was a Dateline or Primetime recently on this subject and one particularly sad story was of a woman who had recently lost her teenager in a traffic accident, went on the cruise with friends to try to gain some normalcy in her life, only to be drugged at the bar and raped. She was alone without the friends and knew something was wrong when the employee led her to crew quarters. By this time she was past the point where she could do anything about it.

Dont do anything on board that you wouldnt do at home!!!!!

Why are you bringing back a 6 year old post????

PAUL THEREAULT... Where have you been.. haven't seen you in a dogs age..lol...I will ditto the comments about the kids running around the ship at all h ours.. and I don't mean teenagers...and hogging elevators...., Parents don't seem to take responsibility anymore for their kids.. Wish the cruise ships would.. Why do they have Security Offiers BTW if there isn't a problem!!

IMO,while it's a little strange that someone took the time to find the post,the advice given certainly still applies to crusing now like it did back then.Smart advice is often timeless!

Hi Parrotmom, I'm almost positive PaulT. boycotted this site because he didn't believe in the registration? Peter had been by several months ago, I miss those two too, always entertaining:)

I had the pleasure of sitting in the medical facility on the last cruise and meeting 3 people who were robbed in Nassau (pickpockets and purse snatching)
With the crowding and that many people bustling about, it makes sense that it would be an easy crime for pros.

pat,
I think he is bringing up 6 years old post because something happened on recent cruise and he was searching for it and found this thread and posted in it. DO YOU HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THAT?
What kind of answer were you looking for?

Dondiega, that is downright creepy.
I assume that although your room steward was a man, this outfit most certainly would have been stolen by a woman...no? Now does that mean your steward must have let someone into the room?
Did the cruiseline charge you for the drycleaning? Talk about adding insult to injury...

Joan, the cabin attendant was a man but most certainly he was the one who returned it since I told him too. They did not pay for the dry cleaning as I was busy enjoying myself and didn't want to become consumed with negativity but I did deduct it from the cabin attendant's tip. After he returned it he wasn't that friendly to us anymore seemed to have a guilty conscience.

Good for you - not letting it get the best of you. Thanks for the details.

Maybe the steward was a cross-dresser and there was a hot party that night in the crews lounge!!!