Unfortunate way to end our magical cruise

[Momto3cuties]

We sailed the Dream 9/30 to 10/4 and had a wonderful time! Loved Castaway Cay (even the downpour as we headed to the beach was amusing!), stayed on the ship in Nassau and rode the AquaDuck too many times to count, kids enjoyed the club and we had some adult time, food was good, service as good, character interactions were fabulous, shows and movies were fun as well...just a great, great time!

Now, I preface this by saying that I know I shouldn't have done this and unfortunately it was a hard lesson to learn. The last night we packed before dinner, including our carry ons. I took my IPad from the safe, packed it in my carry on and put the carry on under the bed, with the rest of our packed luggage. We went to dinner at 5:45 and returned the room at 7PM. DH stayed in the room all night as our youngest had fallen asleep in her appetizer at dinner The carry on never left our sight except for when it was under the bed while we were at dinner. Our stateroom attendant (and or his helpers) came in and made the couch bed and pull down bunk.

As we disembarked the ship I went to pull out the IPad - gone! As we further opened our luggage upon arriving to our next destination, it was clear that all our bags - carry ons and packed suitcases- had been rifled through. I know I should have been more careful and left the IPad in the safe until we walked off the ship - my bad! It is just disappointing that someone would steal it. As DH pointed out, our IPad was probably worth a month of food for the families of these workers. Still, disappointing and had to explain this (why someone would take something that wasn't theirs) to my 3 kids.

Now, we had travel insurance and they will cover this, but getting in touch with risk management at DCL has not been easy. Still waiting for a phone call after two voice messages left.

Just wanted to remind people to keep your belongings locked up and to learn from our mistake. We are staying positive and reminding ourselves that this was a small incident and should not dampened our spirits on what was a wonderful family vacation.

 

[Bonniec]

Wow, that's horrible that workers would do that.

Thanks for the tip, I will be sure to carry on all valuables. How does that sort of thing work with insurance? How do they know you had an ipad?

 

[Sparrow78]

Wow, that just sucks! Unfortunate yes and makes me think I will not bring ours. Still, kinda stupid of someone to do because it shouldn't be that hard to narrow down... I can't see staff going from room to room to snoop through luggage.

I'm interested to hear what Disney says to you

 

[vcunning]

For our upcoming trip, we just bought some new luggage. They have built-in combination locks with the TSA key. I didn't think much of it at the time, but your story made me appreciate it.

On another note, did you enable the "Find my iPad" feature? http://www.apple.com/ipad/find-my-ipad.html

Might be some information that Disney would like to have. There was just an article in the news about a TSA agent stealing an iPad. The news crew knocked on his door and he admitted he had it.

 

[kcashner]

Wow! You know, this is probably the second time on DCL that I've heard of a theft story that had NO solution other than it being the fault of the stateroom people. Every other instance of items "missing," there was at least a possibility that someone else had access.

So sorry for your mess!

 

[networktek]

Anything that is of value to you should always be either locked in a in room safe or with you at all times when traveling

 

[gunka]

I guess I got lucky. Since we did a CA Cruise and often had cell phone reception, DW and I both left our Smartphones on the desk while we were out of the room the entire cruise. They were never touched.

 

[DynamicDisneyDuo]

Wow! You know, this is probably the second time on DCL that I've heard of a theft story that had NO solution other than it being the fault of the stateroom people. Every other instance of items "missing," there was at least a possibility that someone else had access.

So sorry for your mess!

I don't know if I'd say no solution other than, maybe the most likely solution would be CM theft. That being said, I saw staterooms propped open up and down the corridors with the stateroom host/ess moving between them on our cruises. So that's an opportunity for someone else to slip in real quick. I don't see someone having time to rifle through everything unless the CM was far away for some reason.

Because of that, I would definitely say a CM is the most likely suspect.

OP, sorry you had your vacation go south on you.

 

[woody73]

. . . Just wanted to remind people to keep your belongings locked up and to learn from our mistake.

Thanks for the heads up.

Woody

 

[rocknspots]

Just want to add my "sorry for your loss" to the others. DH & I always leave things like our Kindle Fires & smart phones out and I've been know to leave my jewerly in my nightstand drawer. For our upcoming Hawaii cruise (as well as all future cruises) I will definitely be locking things in the safe. I've always been a trusting soul but I'd rather learn from someone elses experience than suffer myself.

Thanks for sharing and I hope everything works out right for you. Keep us informed...

Jackie

 

[stephanie1977]

That's terrible! I'm sorry that happened.

Our stateroom door didn't close unless we pulled it shut, which made me check it and recheck it.

Ever since I read on these boards about bags taken from CC, I basically never let anything of value out of my sight unless it was in the safe when it was off of my person.

 

[sissy_ib]

Wow, that's horrible that workers would do that.

Thanks for the tip, I will be sure to carry on all valuables. How does that sort of thing work with insurance? How do they know you had an ipad?

DH had his car broken into about two years. They broke a window and stole a GPS unit, iPod and his gym bag with all his gym clothes and running shoes. His renters insurance covered it with no receipts or anything. I don't think he even needed the police report but I could be wrong. Most people who make a claim for this kind of thing are honest.

 

[lorimay]

WOW!

Sorry that happened.

I left my Iphone on the desk our entire cruise.
Never gave it a second thought, I will now.

 

[inkedupmomma]

Anything that is of value to you should always be either locked in a in room safe or with you at all times when traveling

How is this a helpful statement? The OP already admitted that she knows that she should have left it in the safe. She clearly feels terrible for not.

I never understand why some people post just to be heard.

OP, there was a facebook page that a girl started on a CM who stole her iphone! She was able to bust him BAD!

I included the link! As others have suggested, if you downloaded the find my ipad app, you can shut it down so they can't use it, and track its exact location!

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/sideshow/ifound-woman-posts-pictures-stolen-iphone-facebook-220100952.html

and the Facebook page

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.4102695045342.2181863.1221948597&type=3&l=45551c466f

 

[JoiseyMom]

We have left phones and laptops out of the safe and nothing has ever been taken. I am sorry about your loss, but it being an Ipad I would pursue it with them. I mean have the accessed your itunes or i accounts? THose are pretty easy to track.

Which ever cast member took it is stupid for risking their jobs/careers for that item, especially something so easily trackable.

 

[kindsoul73]

Anything that is of value to you should always be either locked in a in room safe or with you at all times when traveling

I don't think that statement was very fair, or necessary. Just my two cents. The OP already prefaced their post with that, and is obviously feeling down already.
Bummer!

And to the OP, I am really shocked to hear this. I guess I am way too casual with my electronics. I left my iPad out in the open to charge.
I will remember your post when I go back on the 28th.

 

[aan1701]

Just wanted to restate what others have said. If it is turned on on your iPad, go onto a computer and use the find my iPad feature in iCloud. Do this while on the phone with DCL maybe. They can get a message to the ship in real time. Well at least according to my friend that works shoreside for DCL then turn on the ping as the feature will not pin point were it is but no one but you can turn off the loud ping.

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[PizzieDuster]

Just wanted to restate what others have said. If it is turned on on your iPad, go onto a computer and use the find my iPad feature in iCloud. Do this while on the phone with DCL maybe. They can get a message to the ship in real time. Well at least according to my friend that works shoreside for DCL then turn on the ping as the feature will not pin point were it is but no one but you can turn off the loud ping.

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

I thought I heard that about Ipads. Do they have a GPA system or something like that? Very interesting.

So sorry to hear about that OP. Great advice!

 

[Momto3cuties]

Luckily I had the IPad locked, so I am doubtful they could get into it. It was also in the safe for over 4 days and I am assuming it probably needed to be charged anyhow. We did try the locate your IPad feature, but I am thinking because it is locked with a security code it is not tracking it.

DH is a realist and said any smart person who stole it probably already wiped it clean and will sell it in Nassau. According to him they did not steal it for the educational kid apps, music, and my Weight Watchers app

The interesting thing is DH had his phone out all week and it wasn't touched once. I think our stateroom attendant was smart enough not to touch that,
as he saw DH using it throughout the cruise. I think it was just luck that he found something of value to take. Like I said, he or someone he worked with (that had access to the room) had to pull the bags out from under the bed to rifle through them. Obviously he hit the jackpot with my carry on. We went to dinner every night at 5:45 and usually returned about 7PM to change and go out to enjoy more activities. The last evening DH and my little one were in the room at 7PM and never left all night. So we were creatures of habit and we saw our stateroom attendant every evening as we left for dinner - always wished us a nice dinner....so he knew our schedule and obviously waited until the last evening to se what he could "find".

Theft of personal belongings (up to $1000) is part of our travel insurance policy.
We need to provide our original receipt from the IPad, claim forms, detailed description of the theft, proof of travel on the ship, and a copy that we filed a claim with DCL. We have everything together already, except of course the DCL claim....kind of disheartened that they have not responded to my voice messages. Will give them until Monday...then I will just flood their voice message box with messages!

Sad that someone would need to steal to make ends meet. Obviously my family has never been in this type of situation, for which I am thankful. it turned into a teachable moment for my kids as well. And as disappointed as I am I think I am more upset that our belongings were rifled through.

Will keep you all updated -

 

[The Maleficent One]

I'm sad to hear that this happened to you.

when we went on our cruise I opted to leave all o my stuff in the safe. only because I'm paranoid. A few times I too left my iphone out. Probably just a false sense of security as the cruise wore on.

I hope you get your call returned soon