Lanyards

[riverrat]

I have read that on newer ships the key cards go in the wall receiver when cruiser is in the room. If you use a Lanyard for your card, is that too much of a pain taking it on and off? Or maybe there is a new way to keep up with the ship card.

[Vict0riann]

I don't think you have to use your key card - you can take any old credit card sized card and use that.  

[12cruise2]

You don't have to take your card on and off your lanyard to place it in the card reader.  In fact, here's a trick.  You know all those card keys from your past hotel stays that you shouldn't turn in when you check out of the hotel--keep several of those in your suitcases, and use one of them for this very thing.  We did the entire trip last week, and just lifted it up an inch or so to turn off the lights, or push it back down to turn them on, when we exited/entered the room.  Room steward left it alone.  This worked years ago on the Royal Princess, too. 

[dobiemom]

Cardboard or folded cardstock cut to size also works. 😉

[salt water in my veins]

Any card will do. Old library card etc. We hang ours , next to the light switch. We use an old shoe lace, punch a hole in the card, and use a magnet, to keep it on the wall.

[AnnieBelle]

I use a hotel key card and we would put it on the closet shelf by the switch. 

[Sharon in AZ]

All great ideas and I think I’ll use an old casino card. I did find it frustrating when DH would leave the cabin while I was doing my hair and had to switch cards. 😉

[Dismomx5]

I use any old card that I leave in my suitcase. These are usually just the last cruise/hotel I was at. You put it in the slot and the lights (and more importantly to DH the TV 😂) come on. When you go to leave, simply lift the card a bit (you'll feel the click) and it stays right in the slot, ready to push down and engage the lighting when you get back.

[cruzn single]

On my last cruise, I just left my card on the lanyard, and when I was in the room, just put card in slot and left the lanyard hanging.  Was easiest for me because I was traveling solo. Never had to find the card!

[Boytjie]

We always have our cards on a lanyard and have never had an issue when leaving it in the slot for the lights.

[Boytjie]

10 hours ago, Sharon in AZ said:

All great ideas and I think I’ll use an old casino card. I did find it frustrating when DH would leave the cabin while I was doing my hair and had to switch cards. 😉

 

Oh, yes, that is an issue! We have also used a gym card or frequent shopping card to deal with that.

 

[Overhead Fred]

We always use the cruise cards from our previous cruise!

[Daniel A]

Before Princess went with the medallion, I would leave an old hotel key card in the slot while I was out.  (Removing the card from the slot turned off the A/C and we didn't want to be walking into a hot cabin after being out for a while.)  I found that if the steward came in to make up the room while I was out, the card would be removed and left on a table top.  Now, since implementing the medallion as a replacement for the cruise card, Princess puts a blank card in the slot.  Anticipate stewards pulling your spare cards out of the slot.

[12cruise2]

1 hour ago, Daniel A said:

Before Princess went with the medallion, I would leave an old hotel key card in the slot while I was out.  (Removing the card from the slot turned off the A/C and we didn't want to be walking into a hot cabin after being out for a while.)  I found that if the steward came in to make up the room while I was out, the card would be removed and left on a table top.  Now, since implementing the medallion as a replacement for the cruise card, Princess puts a blank card in the slot.  Anticipate stewards pulling your spare cards out of the slot.

On Royal Princess, you're right--room stewards pulled out the cards so a/c wouldn't continue to run.  However, we got around that by asking the stewards to clean at say 8:00 or 7:30 a.--whatever time they started (cuz we always get up to eat at the minute the Lido opens), THEN for the rest of the day we left the Do Not Disturb sign out AND a fake card key in the electricity activation card slot.  We were in the Carib., it was quite hot, and for sure we didn't want to come back to a hot stateroom, as you mentioned above.

 

We were just on the NA for two weeks in Alaska, so it was cold and I can't say if the "a/c" went off when we left the room and pulled up the card.  We always lifted the card up out of the activation mode about an inch when we left the room, the stewards never touched it, and I think the TV remained on even with the card pulled up and that there were no lights on (I won't swear to it as we didn't have TV that much where I remember).  But now in a warmer climate, I'd want to be sure I got back to the room soon after the stewards cleaned to activate the electricity AND put out the Do Not Disturb sign.  We have our regular morning routine on board--breakfast,  an extra cup of tea or two, working a puzzle or two together at the table, taking care of anything necessary at the Front Desk, that idea.  Then back to the cabin around 9:00 a. and the stewards have cleaned.

Edited September 28, 2021 by 12cruise2
words

[Daniel A]

45 minutes ago, 12cruise2 said:

On Royal Princess, you're right--room stewards pulled out the cards so a/c wouldn't continue to run.  However, we got around that by asking the stewards to clean at say 8:00 or 7:30 a.--whatever time they started (cuz we always get up to eat at the minute the Lido opens), THEN for the rest of the day we left the Do Not Disturb sign out AND a fake card key in the electricity activation card slot.  We were in the Carib., it was quite hot, and for sure we didn't want to come back to a hot stateroom, as you mentioned above.

 

We were just on the NA for two weeks in Alaska, so it was cold and I can't say if the "a/c" went off when we left the room and pulled up the card.  We always lifted the card up out of the activation mode about an inch when we left the room, the stewards never touched it, and I think the TV remained on even with the card pulled up and that there were no lights on (I won't swear to it as we didn't have TV that much where I remember).  But now in a warmer climate, I'd want to be sure I got back to the room soon after the stewards cleaned to activate the electricity AND put out the Do Not Disturb sign.  We have our regular morning routine on board--breakfast,  an extra cup of tea or two, working a puzzle or two together at the table, taking care of anything necessary at the Front Desk, that idea.  Then back to the cabin around 9:00 a. and the stewards have cleaned.

This is very good advice borne from direct experience.  Thank you for your excellent post.  👍