Just back from Ecstasy - Cabin Robbed!

:mad:

Our cabin was robbed the second day (Tues, May 31, 2005) between 11:45am - 2pm. $120 cash & a bracelet we had purchased that morning were taken. It was really slick how it was done. We asked 3 times for the key to the safe and were told by the cabin steward that they would get us the key (they conveniently kept forgetting).

The entire 2nd night was lost as two security guards came, made us fill out paperwork and completely searched our cabin (which we had done repeatedly). They were nice but had a ‘this happens all the time’ attitude, which didn't put us at ease. It was amazing how quickly the cabin steward was able to get us the key when the security asked for it. It appeared magically. How convenient.

We were told nothing could be done on the cruise and we had to wait till the cruise was over and contact Guest Relations. I just spoke with them. They are sending us a letter and we ‘might’ get a Bon Voyage gift if we ever said again. Needless to say, we are screwed.

Thankfully, my husband's wallet wasn't robbed and we had enough cash to do a couple of things. We had prepurchased our shore excursions and had fun on them. However, a dark cloud was thrown over the whole vacation. We were scared to leave our rooms and each time we left we made 3 or 4 checks to see that everything was locked up. The main cabin steward was very apologetic, but her asst. was rude to us from the beginning and he could never look us in the eye after the robbery. We are convinced it was him. After we were robbed, we came back to the room only to have him tell us to come back later - she came immediately and ‘scolded’ him by saying that we could come and go if we like. Guest Relations asked today if we had any hard proof it was him and I said, yes, their employees are the only ones that had a key and the room was ‘made-up’ by them the exact time we were burglarized.

In addition to being robbed and violated, Carnival makes you pay for a lot of things that other cruise lines don't. The coffee bar was not free and latte's, cappuccino’s and the like were all $3.50 or so, bingo was $10 - $20 for a card, almost all the fitness classes had a minimum of $10 for them.

We ended up making the most of it, but everything that happened, all the additional costs, being hit-up to pay for things daily, well it left a really bad taste in my mouth.

Luckily, we had wonderful companions for dinner who were veteran cruisers. They too were very disappointed and were quick to tell us that they have had great experiences on both Royal Caribbean & Celebrity - so although it will be a while before we cruise again - we probably will - albeit with another cruise line.

Just wondering what kind of safes they have on board. I've never been on a ship theat required a key from the staff?

I have been on many Carnival ships including the Ecstacy . I don't think any of them have a key to open the safe. You have to use a credit card or any card with a magnetic strip.

Some of the older ships have keys in place of the credit card swipe system.

I'm sorry to hear that this happened. While I am not questioning the validity of your claim, I must ask - why would you leave money and jewelry in a safe that you could not lock and did not have a key for?

1st post...very interesting.

I don't care where I was I certainly wouldn't leave money or jewlery out in the open.

:mad:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In addition to being robbed and violated, Carnival makes you pay for a lot of things that other cruise lines don't. The coffee bar was not free and latte's, cappuccino’s and the like were all $3.50 or so, bingo was $10 - $20 for a card, almost all the fitness classes had a minimum of $10 for them.

 

 

 

 

 

Luckily, we had wonderful companions for dinner who were veteran cruisers. They too were very disappointed and were quick to tell us that they have had great experiences on both Royal Caribbean & Celebrity - so although it will be a while before we cruise again - we probably will - albeit with another cruise line.

 

 

Sorry about your experience on board ship. That does stink.

I have been on RCI twice within the last six months and the coffee bars on both of those ships charge for the coffee bars as you decribed above. They have free coffee in the Winjammer cafe but so does Carnival.

:mad:

 

 

 

 

 

 

We were told nothing could be done on the cruise and we had to wait till the cruise was over and contact Guest Relations.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you had only found these boards before your cruise..

We have talked endlessly about cost of coffee,cost at the gym and the cost of the bingo.If you decide to cruise again.Please read the boards you will learn so much from them.:)

1st post...very interesting.

 

I don't care where I was I certainly wouldn't leave money or jewlery out in the open.

Please don't start with this first time poster crap. Very childish.

Please don't start with this first time poster crap. Very childish.

Well thanks for that scolding.

1st post...very interesting.

 

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You were also a first time poster too.:)

But I don't think I ever made anything up just to get attention. As I believe the OP is doing.

In addition to being robbed and violated, Carnival makes you pay for a lot of things that other cruise lines don't. The coffee bar was not free and latte's, cappuccino’s and the like were all $3.50 or so, bingo was $10 - $20 for a card, almost all the fitness classes had a minimum of $10 for them.

 

 

We ended up making the most of it, but everything that happened, all the additional costs, being hit-up to pay for things daily, well it left a really bad taste in my mouth.

 

 

Luckily, we had wonderful companions for dinner who were veteran cruisers. They too were very disappointed and were quick to tell us that they have had great experiences on both Royal Caribbean & Celebrity - so although it will be a while before we cruise again - we probably will - albeit with another cruise line.

Sorry about the robbery, I had credit cards taken out of our hotel room the last time we were in Tampa, so I understand how that can foreshadow the rest of your vacation.

But just to let you know, other lines have specialty coffee bars that cost extra. I don't know of any line that lets you play bingo for free. And I'm not completely sure but most fitness classes I've read about do require an additional cost. Just FYI for your future cruises.

What others things were you "hit-up to pay for"? And what else, if anything, were your dinner companions disappointed with?

I'm sorry you were disappointed in Carnival. It never fails it seems when first-timers take a cruise they end up with the 3 or 4 day, oldest ships (Fantasy-class) in the fleet and judge the entire line by that cruise. Oh well . . . . :(

I need a little clarification:

Am I to understand that in the absence of the use of a key for the safe, that you just left the $120 and the bracelet "lying" around in your cabin? Please don't do this on any other cruise line in the future. Or any hotel either.

You asked for the key 3 times? The 2nd and 3rd time should have been asked of the Purser. You might be surprised how, magically that key might appear in 5 minutes.

Try a newer ship. Most of the Carnival fleet uses a safe that locks with a magnetized strip of any card you have that has one.

You never have to wait to file a grievance with Guest Relations. Should have filed one immediately and insisted on an incident report. Copies of all these go to just about everyone that can help. Someone says you can't do this - move up the chain of command. They hate that. :D

I wish you happy cruising on whatever line you take next.

I'm sorry you were disappointed in Carnival. It never fails it seems when first-timers take a cruise they end up with the 3 or 4 day, oldest ships (Fantasy-class) in the fleet and judge the entire line by that cruise. Oh well . . . . :(

 

 

QUOTE]Well i cant speak for the OP but,its the price thats the attraction.not the ship.I mean 409..pp.sounds awesome for a cruise if you dont know any better.:)

We were scared to leave our rooms.

 

 

Carnival makes you pay for a lot of things

The only thing that makes sense is that May 31st was a Tuesday. After that, you've lost me. Where did you have the $120 and the bracelette?

And how did Carnival "make you pay"?

And what did you have with you that made you scared to leave your room?

I am sorry to hear about your loss. On our Ecstasy cruise, they still had the key system in place. Just curious, but where did you have your items when they were stolen? I certainly hope they were not out in the open because that's a temptation some cannot refuse:o

Just because this is their first post does not mean this is a false post. Some people come on here with the intention of warning others about their experiences, thinking that they could be helping others. This really isn't the type of board to do so on your first post. Epinions.com comes to mind for that. I, too, wish you would have found the boards before you cruised. You would have learned a lot of valuable information:)

Let us know what you hear from headquarters!

Last year I sailed on RCL older ship. They don't have safes but you can get one at the pursers desk. I didn't want to have to go back and forth and wait in line. I had cash in a pants pocket -folded and put away. Credit cards and ids, birth certs all remained in a bag inside a suitcase under the bed. I checked on it everymorning. All my other stuff was out in the open -including cameras. I was very trusting never thought twice. This post makes me think differently.

I would get the address for Carnival from their website and write a letter. Demand that they conduct an investigation. Also did you go to the Purser's desk and have a report filled out?

Sorry to hear about you being robbed while on what supposed to be relaxing and fun.:(

With that said, I would think this could happen on any cruise line. With what I heard about Carnival they will make it right. I am also sure with your experience the assistant room steward will not be there much longer. We had a drink waiter drop a glass of red wine on my wifes white pants. The entire staff was mortified. I thought they were going to fire the drink guy right away. We made sure they knew it was no big deal and not to reprimand the drink guy. Accidents happen. They were even going to put a credit on our Sail & Sign card for cleaning. We wouldn't hear of it. A little Oxyclean got it clean.

I was also surprised you would need a key for the safe. Even on the older ship Imagination we used our Sail & Sign on the safe and then on the Valor we used our credit card. Only the same card that locked it can open it. I know you probably don't want to hear this but I personally would not leave cash or valuable items in the room until I could have secured them. No matter how well you may hide stuff or how safe you think you are, there can be that one person that can ruin a trip.

I wish you guys the best in resolving this with Carnival.

I'm sorry you were disappointed in Carnival. It never fails it seems when first-timers take a cruise they end up with the 3 or 4 day, oldest ships (Fantasy-class) in the fleet and judge the entire line by that cruise. Oh well . . . . :(

 

 

QUOTE]Well i cant speak for the OP but,its the price thats the attraction.not the ship.I mean 409..pp.sounds awesome for a cruise if you dont know any better.:)

 

You really can't beat the price, especially if you want to try a cruise for the first time or if you cannot take a longer vacation. I will cruise Ecstasy a second time this December. I liked her the first time around and hope to have a great time this December as well:)

With that said, I would think this could happen on any cruise line. With what I heard about Carnival they will make it right. I am also sure with your experience the assistant room steward will not be there much longer. We had a drink waiter drop a glass of red wine on my wifes white pants. The entire staff was mortified. I thought they were going to fire the drink guy right away. We made sure they knew it was no big deal and not to reprimand the drink guy. Accidents happen. They were even going to put a credit on our Sail & Sign card for cleaning. We wouldn't hear of it. A little Oxyclean got it clean.

Some would demand a free cruise for that:D I'm glad to hear you had a positive outlook on the situation and did not allow it to ruin your cruise:)

Please don't start with this first time poster crap. Very childish.

Not questioning the Op's validity but this seems to be a compilation of previous posters experiences. I can see where some would question it.

Jenn- Sorry to hear you had a bad experience. You will learn quickly on this board that if you say anything negative about Carnival...you will be attacked and judged. It is sad. Thanks for sharing.....it may encourage others to be a little more careful.

I hate that it threw a dark cloud over your vacation!! That's terrible. In my opinion, Carnival is a very good cruise line and I hate to hear you had a bad time. Cruising is a great way to vacation, but you pay the cruise fare, port charges, shore tours, tips, drinks, and then for the "extras" like pics, etc... I guess someone misinformed you about the costs.

Carnival does charge for the "extras" mentioned, but doesn't RCCL too. I have sailed on both and if I remember, they both charge for all of those things. What cruise lines doesn't charge for the items?

Was your safe locked?

My parents had some money stole one time from thier locked safe!! About $600, But no forms had to be filled out & no security officers came and searched the cabin, the pursers desk did say to call Guest Relations and file a claim when they got home, which they did. That had the Carnival insurance. Nothing was ever done about it, but that's beside the point. It wasn't a big deal to the staff onboard. My parents just removed the rest of the cash from the safe and kept it with them the rest of the cruise. Dad had won the cash in the casino!! I guess he felt like the cruise line gave it to him anyway!!:)