How SAFE are the SAFES in the rooms?

[DBXX]

We are going on the Carnival Fantasy and DH and I were just discussing how much money we are going to bring. He is worried about that much cash being in the safe. How SAFE are they? We are budgeting for $2000 spending money, I want to bring $1000 cash and $1000 travelers checks, can I cash them on the boat? I have never used Travelers checks but his solution is if the safe can be accessed at least we will only loose $1000 cash and the TC can be gotten back, is this true? And if we dont spend all the money I can just cash the TC when I get back home. What advise do you have on this? I am figureing the ship holds like 1200 people and every single person on that ship has cash and lots of it and they certainly arent walking around with it so there is only one place it will be so it has got to be safe right? I know they have codes where you put your own code but his thing is they must have a skeloton code in case you forget your code, or once you get off the ship they have to reset for the next person, or if you get sick and they have to open it. So what do YOU do?

Danielle

[Style2k7]

I think the safes actually use the magnetic strip of a credit card of your choice. I think I read that someone here used their drivers license since it had a mag strip.

[cruiser for life]

We sailed on the Ecstasy on 1/31/2008. We used the safe and all we had to do was put in our own 4 digit code. I felt comfortable with the safe, but that is a personal choice. The instructions said for us to leave the door open when disembarking.

Have a great trip. This was our first, and we can't wait to sail again.

[flowers]

We bring some cash, but we used a debit card for on ship purchases, why take a chance carrying that much cash? Its not just the safe, but you are carrying it to and from the safe. Now we have a credit card we used the last cruise, but Iv never needed a credit card before, just a debit card will do attached to my checking account. I dont understand carrying cash for on the ship.

Iv never worried about the safe to be honest and never had a problem.

[Ainsley]

we always used the safes. my parents chose a credit card and thats the ONLY card that can open the safe. we have been on 6 cruises carried cash and travelers checks and we havent ever had any problems with anything being taken or what not. but i think they reset the safes from inside. not sure though because it tells you to leave it open when you disembark. but personal opinion safes are safe. =]

[Sammy1954]

We use the safe in our room all the time. Never had problems.
I will get a gift card and use that for the safe. NEVER use your
room card for it.
I know you can cash travelers checks on the ship but I take some
cash and that way I dont need to mess around.
use the cash for the casino or to buy a few things on the islands.

sammy

[skymaster]

I always use the safe, and have NEVER had a problem. Depending on the ship, the safe uses a 4 digit number that you select, or a mag stripe on a card. If it's a mag stripe, then take a card that won't matter if you loose it. We usually take a Craftsman Club card from Sears. (If I loose it, the most someone can get is a discount on a screw driver ) Any card with a mag stripe will work, so a library card, room card from a motel, or most anything else.
The pursers desk can and will cash your travelers checks, so that's no problem.
Have a GREAT cruise.

Ken
"Sky"

[CaptainEdwardJohnSmith]

51 cruises and NEVER ever had any problems with things going missing from cabin safes! Come to think of it, we never ever had any problems with ANYTHING going missing from our cabin, period!

DO NOT EVEN BE CONCERNED ABOUT IT!

Plan your cruise and go have fun!


Captain


PS: Yes you can cash travelers checks at the Purer's Desk.

[travelgalSue]

I agree the safes are good. I have an old credit card that expired in 2000 that we take along to use just for the safe. I leave it in the cabin in a location that hubby and I both know where it is. Should either of us need to get something from the safe we can easily. If it is lost so be it no one could us it as the account is inactive now. Just another option for you.

[mehawk]

Let's plan this... the perpetrator has to know your cabin number, then when you will be out of your cabin, then how long you'll be out of your cabin. Next, how to get into your cabin. After getting in the cabin, what is the digit number sequence of your safe. If you don't have a numeric lock, then what is used as a magnetic key?

Don't worry about it. Just make sure you close it and lock it when you aren't in it and it will be fine.

[Sammy1954]

Originally Posted by mehawk

Let's plan this... the perpetrator has to know your cabin number, then when you will be out of your cabin, then how long you'll be out of your cabin. Next, how to get into your cabin. After getting in the cabin, what is the digit number sequence of your safe. If you don't have a numeric lock, then what is used as a magnetic key?

Don't worry about it. Just make sure you close it and lock it when you aren't in it and it will be fine.

Good One

Still laughing life is good..

[Floridanamaw]

I also used ours. I took an old credit card that we didn't use anymore and used it. Don't use room card, drivers license or credit card that you still use. You have to use the same card for the whole time, you cannot use one to close and a different one to open. I also had a laptop I just left in the room under the bed. You don't have to worry about things going missing. Enjoy your cruise.

[ready2gonow]

The safes are safe! However, my story is:

While sorting our cash for the day, etc., I set the designated open-the-safe-card "inside" the safe (so I could find it quickly), and then pushed the door closed so I wouldn't hit the door with my little head. Guess what! It locked after a while! All by itself! Of course, I didn't remember placing the card inside the safe. Why would anyone do that, right? Anyway, I began tearing the cabin apart looking for the card, finally gave up and called to have it opened. It too several hours before someone came to open the safe.

I'm so smart! Live and learn! And I prefer the safes with a key pad where you set your own combination! Much easier!

[Michelle1959]

On Sensation last July, I used an old Toys R us gift card for the room safe. I had previously determined how much cash to take for each port day of our trip. Whatever wasn't earmarked for that day's excursion, I kept in the safe, along with an extra credit card, my house/car keys, our passports, other travel documents, and my son's psp. We had no worries.

All I carried on me off the ship was a credit card, $50 in cash, our excursion tickets, my cell phone, pda, and digital camera, sunblock, chapstick and sunglasses.

[papa2cool]

Originally Posted by mehawk

Let's plan this... the perpetrator has to know your cabin number, then when you will be out of your cabin, then how long you'll be out of your cabin. Next, how to get into your cabin. After getting in the cabin, what is the digit number sequence of your safe. If you don't have a numeric lock, then what is used as a magnetic key?

Don't worry about it. Just make sure you close it and lock it when you aren't in it and it will be fine.

Hhhhhhhhmmmmmmmmm. Mehawk sure has put some thought into pulling this one off. Seriously, good thinking. We used our safe on the Holiday all the time. It took a 4 number code and we didnt worry about it a bit.

Dewayne

[misguidedangel]

I brought 2100 cash and 300 TC on my last cruise. I kept all my gambling money on me all the time on the ship and left it in the safe in port. I used an old bookstore gift card I got last year. I didn't want to risk amy personal information, so a used gift card was perfect...

As for the safe being safe. I had over $4000 in jewellery in the safe plus over $3000 cash (between me and my mom) and I never worried that it could be compromised...

[mehawk]

To all of those who laughed with me at my story, seriously, I taught crime prevention to all types of people in my law enforcement career and that includes deputies who worked FOR me. I taught that you must think like a crook to defeat him. There are many books that are written by former crooks explaining what they look for when searching for targets. I used these books as study aides for my classes.

I always try to use humor in my teachings and topics. I hope you all continue to enjoy them as I enjoy sharing them.

[papa2cool]

Mehawk:

I knew that you had a lot of experience in law enforcement, so I knew where you were coming from with your thinking.

[mehawk]

Originally Posted by papa2cool

Mehawk:

I knew that you had a lot of experience in law enforcement, so I knew where you were coming from with your thinking.

[Joe323]

The safes are as safe as any hotel room safe as they are basically tthe same technology

[cruise dreaming]

We have cruised 15 times and have always used the safe onboard without a single problem - we have always had the 4 digit kind. We also take very little cash. Everything on the ship goes on an onboard account so there is no need for money on the ship except for the casino and any extra tips at the end. While on shore we usually put everything possible on a credit card. That also helps when traveling to foreign ports and money exchange. We don't like walking around with lots of cash. We only have cash for the little street vendors, taxis, and tips for tour guides. We have traveled all over the world, the longest trip was 21 days and we have never taken $2000 cash. We have also never had a problem with our credit card charges. If you did need extra money most ports have ATM or banks you can access money.