Beware Possible Thief on Golden Princess

[northwestbear]

Just disembarked Golden Princess this morning from 7nt Alaska cruise and had an odd and disturbing occurrence. Last night prior to dinner we returned to our room (E210) to find that our cabin steward had left a white envelope sitting on the desk. We took this as a message that he was anticipating an additional tip besides the auto-tip that is added to our daily account. The service we'd received during the week was lackluster at best and we had no intention of providing any additional tip to this steward (we usually do tip extra for a job well done). I put the envelope into a pile of other paper items on the desk. I set out some items to be packed in my carry on - an Alaska ball cap that I'd had since my first cruise in 2005 and a pair of prescription sun glasses. After we'd placed our checked bags outside the room we went to dinner. Upon our return to our room we found another white envelope on the desk - so now there were two. I went to pack my carryon and realized that the items I'd set our were not where i had placed them. I also noticed that a box of chocolates that I'd left in a side table drawer was missing. We tore the room apart and could not locate the items. I could not remember packing them into my checked luggage, but thought it was possible, so I did not want to report this to anyone until I'd had a chance to go through my checked luggage. We returned home and emptied out our luggage and the items were indeed missing. I immediately placed a call to Princess who sent me a missing property form to fill out. I could care less about the cap and chocolate, but the glasses were expensive and the thought that our steward may have taken items from the room is just so disturbing to me. I have never felt unsafe or previously questioned the integrity of any of the crew members on the many cruises we have taken. I do not have any absolute proof that the steward took the items, but I am convinced that someone gained access to our state room and removed the items. :mad:

[PescadoAmarillo]

While I understand your reluctance to report the missing items while you were still on the ship, then it would have been possible for security to review all the key cards that were used to gain admittance to your cabin. However, getting this done on the final evening would have been difficult at best.

 

That was a tough situation. Like you, I would just assume I had packed the items in question until I got home and proved otherwise.

 

The normal MO is for security to search your cabin when an item is reported missing. I've seen this happen twice, and both times the steward confessed to us that they were a wreck waiting to see if the item turned up. If it doesn't, they then search the steward's cabin.

[Cruisin Oldies]

Just a thought but I've found that the door to a room is often left open while it's being cleaned, stocked, etc. Since there were 2 white envelopes, couldn't someone have just gone in and left the envelope on the desk looked around and later took what they wanted? Folks walking by would have just thought someone was dropping off the envelope inside rather than the outside slot. Or if someone came by they left and went back later with another envelope? Just a thought and I'm probably wrong.

 

Cruisin Oldies

[AZbeachboy]

What cabin or deck were you on. I am leaving in two week to cruise on the Golden. I sure will keep a look out.

[northwestbear]

We were in Emerald 210 - What made this really strange and made me question whether I'd packed the items in my checked luggage is the randomness of what was taken. If someone was looking for valuables, there was a camera bag with a digital SLR and lenses on the closet shelf and an IPad in the same drawer as the missing box of chocolate. Both seemed to be untouched. (The safe in the rooms is way to small for these items).

[RNGALNG]

Did you purchase trip insurance either privately or through Princess?

 

I had my cell phone taken on our last cruise from my purse. We had Princes coverage and they covered the cost of a replacement one. (I had a 3G iPhone - yes an older one!) and I got a 4 as the replacement.

 

Good luck with finding your lost items. Sad that this happened.

[poolreader]

I panicked for a minute because I will be on the Golden on Oct. 7, and I knew my room number is 211, and I thought it was on the Emerald deck. I just checked my reservation, I am on Aloha deck. On Oct 21 i am on the Emerald deck, but that is on the Star. But since I am going with a group, and some people in our group are on the Emerald deck in that room number area please let me know if any of you can report similar problems. Some of the people going with us are cruising for the first time and I do not want them to have a bad experience. Thank you

[5326jan]

It seems hard to believe that a steward would risk his job and ability to support his/her family for such random items. I have no doubt that your things went missing, but I would be much more inclined to blame a passer-by. The steward would still be to blame if the door was left open and the cabin unattended. Sorry this happened to you. :(

[Happy ks]

So...what was in the white envelopes?

 

I'm sorry this happened to you. I have left behind items by mistake in our cabin from several cruises. Never once did we assume the cabin steward did any of this, too much risk for them. We have also thought things had gone missing, only to find them packed into odd places in our bags once emptied at home.

 

My BIL once accused the cabin steward of taking his toiletries, only to find them packed deep into his luggage once home.

 

We now go through the room thoroughly before exiting. I throw out all the daily papers every day so they don't stack up. We pull up the comforter on the bed so nothing could be left on the sheets. We empty the side drawers onto the bed and pack from there.

 

I'm not saying no one stole your stuff, but it could be that you left the items behind by mistake. I wish you luck getting your glasses back, those can be so pricey.

[Clutterlady]

Not understanding about the envelope? Was it empty? In all my Princess cruises, the steward never left an envelope for a tip!

[goody1]

So...what was in the white envelopes?

 

I'm sorry this happened to you. I have left behind items by mistake in our cabin from several cruises. Never once did we assume the cabin steward did any of this, too much risk for them. We have also thought things had gone missing, only to find them packed into odd places in our bags once emptied at home.

 

My BIL once accused the cabin steward of taking his toiletries, only to find them packed deep into his luggage once home.

 

We now go through the room thoroughly before exiting. I throw out all the daily papers every day so they don't stack up. We pull up the comforter on the bed so nothing could be left on the sheets. We empty the side drawers onto the bed and pack from there.

 

I'm not saying no one stole your stuff, but it could be that you left the items behind by mistake. I wish you luck getting your glasses back, those can be so pricey.

 

Hope your bil was thoroughly ashamed of himself.

[redtogo]

Not understanding about the envelope? Was it empty? In all my Princess cruises, the steward never left an envelope for a tip!

 

We have always gone to the passenger service desk for envelopes. I don't think that the room steward has ever left us one in our cabin. I'll have to be more observant on my cruise (in a few weeks).

[sassyredhat]

Just a thought but I've found that the door to a room is often left open while it's being cleaned, stocked, etc. Since there were 2 white envelopes, couldn't someone have just gone in and left the envelope on the desk looked around and later took what they wanted? Folks walking by would have just thought someone was dropping off the envelope inside rather than the outside slot. Or if someone came by they left and went back later with another envelope? Just a thought and I'm probably wrong.

Cruisin Oldies

 

This was my thought too, as I have seen those doors wide open to anyone when they clean.

I have left out numerous items, and nothing has ever been taken. We also get envelopes from the front desk, never in our cabin.

Not saying it didn't happen, but, housekeeping crew NEED their jobs to support their families.

Pat

[Northender]

Not understanding about the envelope? Was it empty? In all my Princess cruises, the steward never left an envelope for a tip!

 

I agree with you. Never had an envelope placed in our cabin. If you wanted to do something extra, you went to the Purser's desk to get them, or bring your own.

 

I too would like to know what was in the envelope, if anything.:confused:

[wendychloecruiser]

Just disembarked Golden Princess this morning from 7nt Alaska cruise and had an odd and disturbing occurrence. Last night prior to dinner we returned to our room (E210) to find that our cabin steward had left a white envelope sitting on the desk. We took this as a message that he was anticipating an additional tip besides the auto-tip that is added to our daily account. The service we'd received during the week was lackluster at best and we had no intention of providing any additional tip to this steward (we usually do tip extra for a job well done). I put the envelope into a pile of other paper items on the desk. I set out some items to be packed in my carry on - an Alaska ball cap that I'd had since my first cruise in 2005 and a pair of prescription sun glasses. After we'd placed our checked bags outside the room we went to dinner. Upon our return to our room we found another white envelope on the desk - so now there were two. I went to pack my carryon and realized that the items I'd set our were not where i had placed them. I also noticed that a box of chocolates that I'd left in a side table drawer was missing. We tore the room apart and could not locate the items. I could not remember packing them into my checked luggage, but thought it was possible, so I did not want to report this to anyone until I'd had a chance to go through my checked luggage. We returned home and emptied out our luggage and the items were indeed missing. I immediately placed a call to Princess who sent me a missing property form to fill out. I could care less about the cap and chocolate, but the glasses were expensive and the thought that our steward may have taken items from the room is just so disturbing to me. I have never felt unsafe or previously questioned the integrity of any of the crew members on the many cruises we have taken. I do not have any absolute proof that the steward took the items, but I am convinced that someone gained access to our state room and removed the items. :mad:

 

My mom and I had a similar experience on an NCL ship years ago. I must say that I have been on many (65) cruises and this has never happened either prior to or since.

 

On the third or so day of the cruise my mom kept saying that she could have sworn she brought such and such. It started with a sweater. Then it was a top or two. I initially thought it was just mom being mom! By day five or six it was clear that a lot of her stuff, not mine, was clearly missing. Not to get nasty but all her underwear (all new) was gone out of her drawer.

 

We had to report it as she was running out of clothes! My mom is very generous and we kind of knew it must be the cabin steward and he must be taking the items for a good reason but it was a lot of garments. It turns out that indeed the cabin steward admitted to taking the things for his mother to send home for her.

 

I generally leave all sorts of things out in plain view in the cabin. I do put things such as wallets and passports in the safe but with the the exception of the above incident, I haven't in as much as had loose change taken from my cabin.

[Happy2cruise]

Never had envelopes put in our cabins on any of our cruises.....what was in the envelopes:confused:

[Tee706]

After returning from breakfast one morning we noticed that we were missing $50 that my DH had won in the casino the night before and left out on the nightstand when he emptied his pockets.

 

We turned the room upside down looking for it, including checking his pants pocket from the night before, to no avail. It was very disheartening to think the steward took it, but we couldn't imagine what else could have happened to it. We decided not to say anything, though, hoping that maybe the steward mistook it for a tip since it was carelessly left sitting out.

 

I decided to go back behind my DH and search in the places that he had already checked. Glad I did! I found the $50 right in his pants pocket that he had previously "thoroughly" checked!!:eek: I felt so guilty for thinking the steward had taken it, that he ended up with it as an extra tip at the end of the cruise anyway!

[sassycruiser]

We were on a 15 day HAL cruise this May. My son's I phone mysteriously disappeared on a sea day. He and I had both seen it plugged in before dinner in the cabin and then it was gone.

 

Steward was a little too over the top about it being there when he cleaned the cabin. Reminded me of a kid who knew they were guilty but kept insisting they weren't.

 

We made a report at the desk, HAL didn't seem too concerned. It never showed back up again. When we got home ATT told us that type of phone was the most stolen.

 

Lesson learned - keep it in the safe when not in the room and charge it at night while you are in the room.

[Treven]

I agree with you. Never had an envelope placed in our cabin. If you wanted to do something extra, you went to the Purser's desk to get them, or bring your own.

 

I too would like to know what was in the envelope, if anything.:confused:

Neither have I.

[Dayenu]

We were in Emerald 210 - What made this really strange and made me question whether I'd packed the items in my checked luggage is the randomness of what was taken. If someone was looking for valuables, there was a camera bag with a digital SLR and lenses on the closet shelf and an IPad in the same drawer as the missing box of chocolate. Both seemed to be untouched. (The safe in the rooms is way to small for these items).

 

If an employee took something from the cabin - there are random searches of employees' cabins on ships, it would be difficult to conceal/explain a camera in employee's cabin, while chocolates can be eaten or explained that the employee bought them on the day off.

[victory2020]

My mom and I had a similar experience on an NCL ship years ago. I must say that I have been on many (65) cruises and this has never happened either prior to or since.

 

On the third or so day of the cruise my mom kept saying that she could have sworn she brought such and such. It started with a sweater. Then it was a top or two. I initially thought it was just mom being mom! By day five or six it was clear that a lot of her stuff, not mine, was clearly missing. Not to get nasty but all her underwear (all new) was gone out of her drawer.

 

We had to report it as she was running out of clothes! My mom is very generous and we kind of knew it must be the cabin steward and he must be taking the items for a good reason but it was a lot of garments. It turns out that indeed the cabin steward admitted to taking the things for his mother to send home for her.

 

I generally leave all sorts of things out in plain view in the cabin. I do put things such as wallets and passports in the safe but with the the exception of the above incident, I haven't in as much as had loose change taken from my cabin.

This is strange! A few years back on NCL I had a bra(not new) go missing. I thought it possibly got into the trash by mistake although we keep our room clean & are not the type of people to be careless. On a CCl cruise I tried to throw away a pair of socks & the cabin steward kept taking them out, probably thinking they got there by mistake.

About theft - I was on NCl & was coming back from port & went through the scanner. On the other side was someone walking away with my purse!

I grabbed it from him & didn't say or do anything - I waas shocked & couldn't believe a passenger would do something like that on purpose.

Later in the cruise my DH saw the guy. He was an employee! A cleaning crew or something. We then reported it & security asked what we would like to happen, ie him getting fired. I said no because it could have been an accident, I just wanted them to be aware of him in case something else like that should happen. Shows that someone else could have gained entrance?

[pablo222]

Earlier this year we were invited to the most traveled pax lunch, and happened to sit with the 'HR Manager' on the ship. I had no idea that such a position existed -- sexual harrassment is so rampant, that I simply couldn't believe anyone was looking out for employees. Anyway, she was telling us that one waiter had apparently stolen the iphone of another waiter. The iphone had some apple software that automatically uploaded pictures, and the original owner was easily able to see all the pictures the new owner was taking. The new owner even thoughtfully took some selfies as he was on his way back to the ship from leave. According to the HR manager the thief would probably be fired. So, I think it's a little naive to think that nothing is ever stolen because people won't risk their jobs.

[redtogo]

We practice "keep an honest man honest".

 

My husband's Nikon camera, 2 iPads, cellphones, passports, and wallets ALL get locked in the safe. It's a tight squeeze, but it can be done.

[northwestbear]

The envelopes were White Princess envelopes and were empty. They were placed in the center of the desk.so we could think of no other reason than this was a suggestion for a tip, going back to the days prior to the auto tips when the envelopes were common practice. I also have never had this happen before. It was more than a little creepy that when we removed the first empty envelope that another was left in its place. also, it had been only one item, I would be more inclined to think I misplaced an item, but three?

 

 

Sent using the Cruise Critic forums app

[Northender]

The envelopes were White Princess envelopes and were empty. They were placed in the center of the desk.so we could think of no other reason than this was a suggestion for a tip, going back to the days prior to the auto tips when the envelopes were common practice. I also have never had this happen before. It was more than a little creepy that when we removed the first empty envelope that another was left in its place. also, it had been only one item, I would be more inclined to think I misplaced an item, but three?

 

 

Sent using the Cruise Critic forums app

 

Thanks for the answer on the envelopes. It is a shame that we never watch for those "red flags" until after the fact. To leave the camera, lenses and IPad is strange to say the least, but I am sure whoever took the items has a problem. Did you notify Princes?