Are the in-room safes, really safe?

[Bowie MeMe]

I was told that security can't open any safe. The only way is to drill out the hinges and destroy the safe . If this happens , the passenger is charged for a new safe.

 

My SIL who is a 4 star hotel manager says that all the hotels that he has worked in have codes that will open the safes. 250 rooms at least once a day someone leaves with the safe locked. It is not supposed to happen but the codes do get out and so keep that in mind. Also keep in mind not worth risking your job and reputation on opening a safe that may be empty or have worthless stuff in it. Management at all levels do set up stings.

 

I use the safes but I don't keep much valuable there. I travel with what I could afford to replace if lost. I also have practiced at times hiding it in a bandaid can or fake hair spray can top. It was I that forgot I had a $100 stuffed away and wondered why we were so short on cash (back before ATM and when $100 was a good amount of money!):o

[EdmPair]

I know hotel type safes in North America more than those used on all cruise ships so I am careful to say the extent of my experience. As well, a ship which was fitted out with safes in each room 20 yrs ago may also be different. However, the general pattern is just as most people have said. Select people can open the safe. Given the 24/7 type of operation, a ship would have perhaps a dozen such people. For the most common lockouts, a bypass would save drilling. In all safe work, you want to avoid drilling but there could be cases where that is all which is left. (If the model forced that too often, the ship would pull all those and get new safes. Such boxes are not pricey as safes go.) If a safe were drilled, a new one could be substituted in under 1/2 hour.

 

I drilled opened a safe deposit box in a big hotel in town and while the process is such neither the hotel staff or myself would know the contents, this guest was willing to volunteer it. She 'just had to buy' this jewelery from an upscale store and announced its price. My last two week cruise to Europe was less money in total than these rocks. Her tone of voice suggested it was pocket change.

 

Good idea on the plastic bag or envelope for small items.

[Krazy Kruizers]

I feel safe putting items into the ship's safes.

We have had the batteries die a few times on ships and couldn't get the safe open.

Security came -- opened the safe with a little mechanism that bypasses the batteries. Within a couple of minutes -- new batteries and we could use our safe again.

[lady_cruiser]

I always wonder if the things we put in the safe in our room, are actually SAFE. Does anyone know? Any bad experiences?

So safe that we were locked out ourselves once and had to have security unlock it for us.

[Gail & Marty sailing away]

I never herd of a problem ..

[FolksOfMeans - ByNoMeans]

We have had it happen to us twice.

 

Prior passenger "opens" the safe;

then, "locks" it.

 

Had to have our Steward contact Security.

[deppong]

Not that long ago, a member posted that they lost their ring because it slipped under the pad inside the safe. Happy ending... by posting here on CC, another member who was onboard for the following cruise was able to contact the next cabin occupant who got it back to its owner.

 

At the time, CC members were suggesting that it's best to place all items into plastic baggies prior to storing in the cabin safe. Smaller items are then contained and won't slip under the safe pad or get overlooked.

 

Since reading that post, I always first place items into a baggie before placing into the safe.

 

.

 

I always take a cup from the bathroom and put all of our small things ie:rings earrings necklaces into the cup and into the safe. That way you can see them and wont forget them. The safe is dark so before we leave we shine the iphone into it to make sure everything is out.

[PennyAgain]

I found someone's jewelry a cruise ship room safe and telephoned security to come get it. The safe was set up on a shelf just above my eye level. I was checking the safe to make sure we had not left anything in it when I found the jewelry; so the person had been without the items for at least a week.

 

but maybe longer.

 

Security gave me a receipt and their names for my own records.

 

I never heard the rest of the story.

[TracieABD]

I found someone's jewelry a cruise ship room safe and telephoned security to come get it. The safe was set up on a shelf just above my eye level. I was checking the safe to make sure we had not left anything in it when I found the jewelry; so the person had been without the items for at least a week.

 

but maybe longer.

 

Security gave me a receipt and their names for my own records.

 

I never heard the rest of the story.

 

I hope that the previous occupants received their property. They are very, very lucky that you are so honest. :)

Nicely done.

[Gail & Marty sailing away]

We use zip lock bags in the safe ..

[sail7seas]

We have had it happen to us twice.

 

Prior passenger "opens" the safe;

then, "locks" it.

 

Had to have our Steward contact Security.

 

 

It has happened to us, as well.

Who would do that? It seems such a mean, childish thing to do. They well know they have purposefully inconvenienced and annoyed the on-coming guests.

That is definitely not someone I would want as a tablemate. :eek:

 

 

 

 

I found someone's jewelry a cruise ship room safe and telephoned security to come get it. The safe was set up on a shelf just above my eye level. I was checking the safe to make sure we had not left anything in it when I found the jewelry; so the person had been without the items for at least a week.

 

but maybe longer.

 

Security gave me a receipt and their names for my own records.

 

I never heard the rest of the story.

 

 

This is the flip side of the coin..........

 

an honest, nice person.

You know you did the right thing and no one has to tell you so.

Good for you!!!

 

It's too bad the owner probably was not told of your kind act so never had the chance to thank you.

 

 

[cruiselover**]

I have never had a problem with the 'safety' of the safes. My husband and I also use the one quart plastic bags to hold our loose items, as others have mentioned. We have been doing that for many years now and it has been a good system for us. I find the bags are very helpful to keep all my $100 and $500 casino chips! Just kidding.

 

Years ago, I left our cabin safe OPEN (accidently) while we went to dinner. We had quite a bit of money in there, but our cabin steward never bothered it. The safe was located in a very strange place (inside the closet) and I had closed the door of the closet without locking the safe. I have checked and double-checked the safe each cruise since then.

[Nebr.cruiser]

It does pay to double-check the safe before you leave. Many of them have a kind of 'lip' or gap around the front edge. Once I found one of my rings had slipped into that gap; it could easily have been missed. Now, I keep jewelry in a bag.

 

I also think that it would be very possibly to accidentally close the safe as you are leaving the ship. It's kind of an automatic reflex, for me at least, to close doors that are open. I can see that happening, without even realizing it, so maybe it wasn't done to be mean. Hopefully!

[EdmPair]

The previous guest who locks a safe before you arrive, may just be in a bit too much of the habit of locking the safe. I could also be a petty mean act but I doubt it.

 

In security, those who get the best results from locks are those who build as much consistency as possible. Locking the safe every time you open it is one of those habits to build. Those who sometimes lock it and sometimes not, will more likely leave the room with the safe door unlocked.

[sail7seas]

It does pay to double-check the safe before you leave. Many of them have a kind of 'lip' or gap around the front edge. Once I found one of my rings had slipped into that gap; it could easily have been missed. Now, I keep jewelry in a bag.

 

I also think that it would be very possibly to accidentally close the safe as you are leaving the ship. It's kind of an automatic reflex, for me at least, to close doors that are open. I can see that happening, without even realizing it, so maybe it wasn't done to be mean. Hopefully!

 

The previous guest who locks a safe before you arrive, may just be in a bit too much of the habit of locking the safe. I could also be a petty mean act but I doubt it.

 

In security, those who get the best results from locks are those who build as much consistency as possible. Locking the safe every time you open it is one of those habits to build. Those who sometimes lock it and sometimes not, will more likely leave the room with the safe door unlocked.

 

 

 

Thanks for these posts.

I had not considered that was probably the reason we found the safe locked those several times.

 

I will think more kindly about it should we find it locked in the future. :)

 

Much nicer to have that more understanding notion.

 

[Krazy Kruizers]

It does pay to double-check the safe before you leave. Many of them have a kind of 'lip' or gap around the front edge. Once I found one of my rings had slipped into that gap; it could easily have been missed. Now, I keep jewelry in a bag.

 

I also think that it would be very possibly to accidentally close the safe as you are leaving the ship. It's kind of an automatic reflex, for me at least, to close doors that are open. I can see that happening, without even realizing it, so maybe it wasn't done to be mean. Hopefully!

 

We always check all drawers, closets and the safe one last time before we leave the ship.

Years ago I got a small soft sided jewelry case for traveling from Magellans.

We have arrived in cabins where the safe was locked.

[sail7seas]

I used to use a jewelry bag to carry whatever jewelry I brought on our cruises but then changed. Why make it obvious to a casual quick grab thief where the jewelry is if they should have the chance either at the airport security checkpoint or wherever. I now put my jewelry in a container I will not describe here that does not 'scream' JEWELRY FOUND HERE. :D

 

This 'container' I use is perfect for holding what I want, fits nicely in my carryon and safe and is convenient to use and I kid myself into thinking it makes my jewelry one little level safer.

[PennyAgain]

I hope that the previous occupants received their property. They are very, very lucky that you are so honest. :)

Nicely done.

 

I had a good upbringing. It never would have passed my mind to do anything else.

 

Since I have been wary of any safes that are above eye level or nearly so.

[EdmPair]

I used to use a jewelry bag to carry whatever jewelry I brought on our cruises but then changed. Why make it obvious to a casual quick grab thief where the jewelry is if they should have the chance either at the airport security checkpoint or wherever. I now put my jewelry in a container I will not describe here that does not 'scream' JEWELRY FOUND HERE. :D

 

This 'container' I use is perfect for holding what I want, fits nicely in my carryon and safe and is convenient to use and I kid myself into thinking it makes my jewelry one little level safer.

 

If your 'container' was left unattended in the room, it is very plausible the diversion would work. Many times crime is that of opportunity and some thief may have only a second to grab one item. A case looking like it contains 'the goods' is the easy target. In your case it would not have your valuables.

 

However, once in the safe it is the target. That is when you want the safe to do its job.

[Sinppu]

I would be more worried about the stateroom doors being safe... No one is supposed to get in through that door (except you and the stateoom attendant) to try if the safe is safe...

[sail7seas]

If your 'container' was left unattended in the room, it is very plausible the diversion would work. Many times crime is that of opportunity and some thief may have only a second to grab one item. A case looking like it contains 'the goods' is the easy target. In your case it would not have your valuables.

 

However, once in the safe it is the target. That is when you want the safe to do its job.

 

 

 

Yes, you're right. Thankfully, to date and literally 90+ cruises and over 1,000 days aboard various cruiselines and ships, our safe has remained untouched by anyone but us. Same for hotel safes but I don't kid myself there could still be a 'first time'. We can only take the precautions available to us, be vigilant about locking up our things and then depend upon the security provided on ships and in hotels to do their job. Living is a risk......... :)

 

 

I would be more worried about the stateroom doors being safe... No one is supposed to get in through that door (except you and the stateoom attendant) to try if the safe is safe...

 

 

You're right, too.

 

However, this is one aspect of cruising I do sometimes fret about a bit.

It is very common for stewards to enter a cabin, begin cleaning, leave to get some supplies or to assist someone who has come seeking them and they leave the cabin door open.

 

People can and do enter. I do not worry about a steward removing things from our cabin that belong to us but a thief of opportunity could quickly enter a cabin and snatch something left out in the open.

 

Put your valuables away. Don't leave them on the counter.

I admit to leaving my netbook on our counter and don't worry about it all that much. They aren't that expensive, I have no bank accounst, social security nuimbers, no credit card numbers etc entered in it and aside from losing the computer, I'm not too worried about any contents that would put us at risk.

 

That is NOT to say I wouldn't be furious were it to go missing. I love that netbook and we enjoy traveling with it.

 

[Putterdude]

We have never had a problem with cabin safes. However, I do follow the advice I have read on these boards and that is before leaving the cabin prior to disembarkation to run my hand around the safe and to run a finger under the the front lip of the safe to be sure nothing has rolled under it.

[CELTICGIRLCRUISER]

We have never had a problem with cabin safes. However, I do follow the advice I have read on these boards and that is before leaving the cabin prior to disembarkation to run my hand around the safe and to run a finger under the the front lip of the safe to be sure nothing has rolled under it.

 

In all the years we have been travelling never had problems with an in room safe and always check the lip.

 

Again I would be more concerned that the steward leaves the door open and someone else makes off with something.

[heatherandfred]

Never had a problem. Those with a problem probably didn't read the directions thoroughly. I always wait and listen for the lock to slide in and I hold the door tight so it leaves no room for error. Then I check or again after its locked.

[Langley Cruisers]

...I would be more concerned that the steward leaves the door open and someone else makes off with something.

 

Absolutely agreed; this is the bigger problem. :(