This is probably a real dumb question, but what
is the method most cruisers use to lock luggage for air flight and ship embarkation, specifically soft luggage and clothing
bag. My first cruise and flight since 9/11. Am at a loss on how to secure soft luggage adequately. Anyone willing to explain this to
a dummy.
2nd. Question - Is anyone taking the Mediterranean Cruise on Carnival Liberty August
23rd.
When I went on Carnival Victory out of Miami Feb 2003 with my mom, we had our luggage locked with a security lock and key. By the time it was delivered to our room, all the luggage had locks broken off, security went through everything IN the luggage and left a note on cruise letterhead that all bags had been manually searched. It was not a pretty sight to find so when hubby and I went on cruise last year on NCL Dream, we didn't lock the luggage and everything was left exactly as I had packed it. I don't know what the rules are of locking luggage now but I would imagine it varies between cruise lines...
We use twist-ties, tied many times over. It wouldn't be difficult to get into our bags, but would take a lot of time. And, we do the same as SonnyV's wife and make sure that all valuables and medications are in our carry-on, which does not leave our sight.
I agree with Sonny and Lisa- Bring the valuables in the carry ons and don't bother locking the luggage. If you must lock it, use the TSA approved lock (meaning that a TSA key can open it and anyone intent on stealing from luggage probably has one of those keys anyway)
As far as why the locked luggage was rumaged through versus the non locked luggage, the answer is random searches. They don't always search bags but I'm sure the checklist which determines which ones get searched has "locked" as one of the factors.
On a similar topic. We have started putting brightly colored ribbons on our luggage so we can spot it on the luggage carousel easier. Figured this out when we realized that 90% of the luggae was black.. just like the new set we bought.
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================================================== ========== Carnival Cruise Lines:
Fantasy 90, Celebration 95, Victory 05, Conquest 05, Spirit 6/06, Freedom 6/08, Holiday 7/08, Victory 6/09, Valor 9/09, Dream 6/10, Splendor 8/10,Conquest 8/11,Magic 11/11,Triumph 4/12,Spirit 7/12,Freedom 11/12, Triumph 2/13 - The fire cruise
NCL Dream October 2006, RCCL Mariner OTS June 2007
I still believe in locking the luggage. At some point they will break the lock to have a "look see" if have a reason..I would rather the security look in my bag, than the handlers.
When we fly to a cruise (which I hate to do...much prefer driving, but that is another story) we do not lock our luggage. Hubby's luggage always gets searched because he carries a CPAP machine and they obviously have not figured out what one of this is yet. (He flew 36 times last year for work alone.)
However, once we get our luggage from the airline...we do lock it before going on the cruise.
We always fly in a day ahead and lock all our luggage before leaving the hotel. We have cruised about 8 times since 9/11 and have never had a cruise line open our luggage. (only airport security)
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