Safety of cell phone by pool

[coaster]

30 minutes ago, Mum2Mercury said:

 

 

I kinda like the idea of using a retired phone for the Royal App, but technology isn't my strong point -- HOW do you do this?  You can download an app on a phone that no longer has service?  

Varies by make and model. Go into settings and turn off data and select your home wifi signal if you have not already set it up. You will probably get some messages stating you can't make calls or 911 location service will not work. Really older phones will not have the latest operating system and may not be able to get the Royal app. Not sure how old of operating systems the Royal app supports. Yes, you can still download supported apps.

 

Need to clarify a previous post of mine. Amazon tablets do not have access to the Royal app. The exception is if you hack it to add the Google Play store. There are many YouTube videos that will walk you through that process.

Edited October 3, 2022 by coaster

[topnole]

On 10/1/2022 at 12:46 PM, kibutzer said:

Hi, 

 

First time on RCCL. What do you do with cell phone while swimming? Do things disappear while on chair ? Also if you don't get beverage package can you get ice water anytime you want it? Please be kind in your responses. TIA

A Royal cruise is about the only vacation where I wouldn’t worry leaving my phone under something while away for a bit.   Anything is possible, but the odds of someone taking your phone is very very low.   As others have said, security cameras are everywhere and there is no where for a thief to go to get away.   I don’t know anyone who has ever had one stolen in such a scenario.   I’m sure it has happened, but I wouldn’t worry one bit myself.  

[CruiserLucas]

We just leave ours under shirts/towel. Never had a problem or heard of any from others. Though the chances are never 0, it's going to be hard to stay away from the long arm of the cruise security if someone did steal them.

 

We only use the floaty waterproof phone holders that go around your neck when at the beach, but that could be an option if you don't want to really risk it being on the chair.

[thrifty99]

2 hours ago, Mum2Mercury said:

I wish they'd make a small flat bag -- like a bank bag meant for money -- with this kind of protection.  It'd be enough for phones, cash, credit cards and passports.  We could put it INTO our existing backpacks /twist the security chain out the zipper-hole.  Does anyone know of such a product?  I've seen plenty of small, flat bags, but not small, flat bags that have a security chain AND are slash-proof.  

I have this one and works great for a beach and leaving things locked to your chair.  I can either put a bunch of things inside it or I put it inside my backpack as a “security liner” inside.  Is nice and flat for packing so takes up no space. 
 

https://www.amazon.com/PacSafe-Travelsafe-Liter-Portable-Black/dp/B074SQLBB3/ref=asc_df_B074SQLBB3/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=312136397404&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=17526555866808537592&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9013116&hvtargid=pla-457013962308&psc=1

Edited October 3, 2022 by thrifty99

[mjkacmom]

Leave it in the beach bag, same as at the beach. I’ve been going to the Jersey shore my entire life and don’t know of anyone who has secured their phones/wallets or had them stolen. I’m sure it’s happened but it’s not a thing (unlike catalytic converters, that’s a problem).

[Charles4515]

On 10/1/2022 at 2:41 PM, reallyitsmema said:

 

There has been a my phone was stolen on Coco Cay thread.  Not sure if there has been a thread about a stolen phone on a ship.

It happened at Labadee too. The phone was recovered after the local "boss" stepped in. 

[CanHardlyWait4NextYear]

5 hours ago, coaster said:

Varies by make and model. Go into settings and turn off data and select your home wifi signal if you have not already set it up. You will probably get some messages stating you can't make calls or 911 location service will not work. Really older phones will not have the latest operating system and may not be able to get the Royal app. Not sure how old of operating systems the Royal app supports. Yes, you can still download supported apps.

 

Need to clarify a previous post of mine. Amazon tablets do not have access to the Royal app. The exception is if you hack it to add the Google Play store. There are many YouTube videos that will walk you through that process.

I use my old phone like a tablet off my wifi. I use my new phone off my wifi when home. Don't know about downloading the app, as it's already on both phones. But if I needed old phone "active" to do it, I would just move card back for the download. 

[CanHardlyWait4NextYear]

5 hours ago, coaster said:

Varies by make and model. Go into settings and turn off data and select your home wifi signal if you have not already set it up. You will probably get some messages stating you can't make calls or 911 location service will not work. Really older phones will not have the latest operating system and may not be able to get the Royal app. Not sure how old of operating systems the Royal app supports. Yes, you can still download supported apps.

 

Need to clarify a previous post of mine. Amazon tablets do not have access to the Royal app. The exception is if you hack it to add the Google Play store. There are many YouTube videos that will walk you through that process.

Yes, my Amazon fire tablet has Google Play store via hack as well. Not hard to do at all.

[CanHardlyWait4NextYear]

OK, just added Royal app to old 5yr old android phone via my home wifi. Now I have Royal app on current phone and 2 old phones I use as mini tablets around house with wifi.

[coaster]

50 minutes ago, CanHardlyWait4NextYear said:

OK, just added Royal app to old 5yr old android phone via my home wifi. Now I have Royal app on current phone and 2 old phones I use as mini tablets around house with wifi.

Can never have too many electronic gadgets!

[PhillyFan33579]

On 10/1/2022 at 1:36 PM, Capt_BJ said:

cell phone or nice sunglasses will disappear in a flash

 

I have been on 49 cruises, left all sorts of things around the pool area (cell phone, kindle, sun glasses, etc.) and have never had anything “disappear”. I also have never heard from  anyone I have cruised with or met on a cruise that lost anything they left around the pool area. 

[ARandomTraveler]

The pool isn't as much of a problem as the beach can sometimes be. I have heard of people getting things stolen from the beach. 
 

I agree that phones are stolen much less often than they used to be for all the reasons Mum2Mercury mentioned. But in some foreign countries, there's more theft on the public beaches than others. 

[Ret MP]

We all have had varying degrees of security issues on and off a cruise ship.  

 

I'm always an advocate of security anything that has any value to you.  

 

THAT IS ALL!

[ARandomTraveler]

1 hour ago, Ret MP said:

We all have had varying degrees of security issues on and off a cruise ship.  

 

I'm always an advocate of security anything that has any value to you.  

 

THAT IS ALL!

Agreed. It takes 10 seconds to lock up your stuff.

[LittleJoefromKokomo]

I would never leave a $1000 phone on a deckchair out of sight when I took a swim or went to the restroom, cameras or not. A quick factory reset and then someone else have a new phone. Sorry, I don't trust 3000+ cruisers that I don't know that well. There are cameras in the casinos aswell, despite that theft of forgotten titos in the slots happen all the time without any consequenses.

[Tin can]

I can't help thinking that on a ship with 4000 - 5000 people on board that you are going to get the full cross section of society. This would possibly also include unfortunately a very small element of the less honest when presented with unattended valuables.

 

 

[Charles4515]

2 hours ago, UnregisteredUser said:

I would never leave a $1000 phone on a deckchair out of sight when I took a swim or went to the restroom, cameras or not. A quick factory reset and then someone else have a new phone. Sorry, I don't trust 3000+ cruisers that I don't know that well. There are cameras in the casinos aswell, despite that theft of forgotten titos in the slots happen all the time without any consequenses.

If someone stole my iPhone all they would have is paperweight. It can’t be reset as it has activation lock. That said I don’t leave my phone or iPad unattended or where I can’t keep an eye on it. A casual dumb thief of opportunity may not know that they won’t be able to use the phone. With 3000 onboard I am sure there are some idiots among them. If I am alone and have to go to the toilet. I take them with me. I have lands swimwear with pockets.