Room Safes?

[kimber79]

What is the alternative to using your KTTW for your room safes. I know sometime back that I had read something of people using their debit cards/credit cards (??) instead of their KTTW card for their room safes. Does anyone know how this works?? Just curious, as we leave in a couple weeks for our first cruise!!

Thank you in advance for your help!!

Kim

 

[Señor Ferrari]

I'm not sure what difference it makes, but I believe that you can "initialize" the safe with any card which has a magnetic strip. The safes are re-set after each cruise, so when you first open it, the card you use is the one which must open it for the rest of the trip. Since you can't use a credit card on board, all of mine are usually in the safe, except when I'm in town at one of the ports. You need your room key whether on board or off the ship (to get back on), so I really don't see the logic in using a credit card vs. a room key. I know I once read a reason for this which seemed perfectly reasonable, but it escapes me now. On 4 cruises, I've never had a problem using the room key.

 

[tstobb]

the card you use is the one which must open it for the rest of the trip

The card that locks the safe is the only card that will open the safe on each occasion, not for the duration of the trip. Not sure about using a card other than the KTTW card though . . .

 

[Cruise]

Some people use cards other than the KTTW because, as tstobb pointed out, the card that locks the safe is the only one that can open it. Each lock/unlock cycle is a new one. For example, I can lock the safe using my KTTW, but my huband can't open it with his KTTW. I would have to use mine. After I open it again, he could use his to lock the safe, but his would have to be used to open it again that time.

The reason some people use a card other than the KTTW card is because of this. If I was watching a movie and DH went to play bingo, we would each have our KTTW cards with us. If one of us wanted in the safe for whatever reason, we'd have to track the other down. Instead, some people use another card with a magnetic strip and then hide it somewhere in the room. So, whoever is in the room at any given time can get into the safe.

You don't need to use a credit card for this. Any card with a magnetic strip will do. My gym membership card, for example. Some library cards, etc.

As for losing a card and having to open the safe, Guest Services can open the safe no matter what card was used to close it, KTTW, library, gym, credit card, etc. Losing your KTTW card and having it replaced doesn't give you the same magnetic code back. It will be a new one so that your lost KTTW card will no longer be valid.

hope this helps,
Julie

 

[taswira]

<B>Cruise</B> - That's true, but I would not want to use a credit card, and if it did become demagnetized it is still easier to get a new KTTW even with a new code. I guess you <I>could</I> use another magnetic card. I understand the inconvenience if there are several people in a room. Guess it depends on what you put in the safe and how often it needs to be accessed. On one of my cruises, I roomed with another TA and even though we were not constantly together, we had no problem. But then, we weren't needing to get into the safe too often.

 

[kimber79]

THANK YOU!!

Thanks for the quick responses!! I knew I had read somewhere on these boards that someone had used (or wish they had used!) another card, but the reason escaped me as did Senor Ferrari! I was just trying to finish up on all my notes as our first cruise is drawing close!!

Have a joyful weekend!