12 Cruise Travel Essentials to Prevent Theft

As a former cruise ship crew member (and current travel writer), I’ve spent a lot of time on cruise ships. I’ve sailed the winter season between Australia and Fiji, the summer season in the Med, and spent over 100 days on a World Cruise. Unlike airplanes, buses, cars, and trains, where a traveler must remain alert (and usually upright) during transit, cruises allow travelers the luxury of going to sleep in one country and waking up in another; and enjoying a sunset cocktail in between. As calm and relaxing as cruise travel can be, it can still set the scene for a slew of unique (and unexpected) theft possibilities. Hence why it’s essential that travelers be aware of their belongings and surroundings.

Cruising presents two different opportunities for theft: onboard and ashore. Although it is rare to be a victim of theft while onboard, it still happens. According to the US Department of Transportation’s Cruise Line Incident Report, there were 20 reported thefts of more than $10,000 on cruise ships that docked in the US in 2023. When you compare that with the 18 million passengers of 2023’s North American cruise market, the likelihood of theft onboard is low. But, as highlighted by CNN, current legislation does not require the cruise lines and US Coast Guard to report more minor instances of theft. And as such, pinpointing global statistics for cruise ship incidents can be tricky. 

“Cruise ships cross so many jurisdictional lines during their travels; where the theft occurs may impact its reporting and resolution,” says Anna Redmond, founder of Braav, a platform that matches top security talent with businesses on demand. Regardless of which country you’re sailing through, an onboard theft should be reported to the ship’s staff security as quickly as possible to accelerate action. And, your travel bag should be equipped with smart accessories to help ward off would-be thieves. 

If you’re headed out on a cruise and you want to be prepared for anything, both onboard and ashore, investing in some budget-friendly travel accessories can provide invaluable peace of mind. Below, you’ll find this longtime cruiser’s go-to, anti-theft travel essentials to keep your valuables secure, as well as my tips on how to ensure a safe cruise experience. 

Portable Lock Box

Most cruise ship cabins come equipped with a personal safe. But, these electronic safes all have master codes that unlock them. If this makes you nervous, you might feel better bringing your own safe to lock up things like watches, electronics, or jewelry. This portable lock box takes up little space in your luggage and uses a four-digit combination lock that you set, which many consider safer than the digital safes that have reset codes and master keys. 

It’s also a genius gadget to have handy when you’re hanging around the ship, especially if you’ll be enjoying the cruise’s itinerary and leaving your essentials in your beach bag as you hop from activity to activity. And, it’ll give you peace of mind to pack in your tote when you’re docked. 

Apple AirTag 4-pack 

A traveler’s best friend, the Apple AirTag is a must for any kind of travel as it keeps a close eye on your valuables, suitcases, and so on. To prepare for a cruise, tuck an AirTag in every piece of luggage, including your purse or wallet. Always turn on the “Find My” app on your Apple devices so you can monitor your AirTags from anywhere. When you leave the ship to explore ashore, always leave one Apple device onboard safely in your cabin so you can use it to ping another device if it gets stolen. 

Money Belt

When traveling ashore, never bring high-value items with you; they’re safer in your stateroom. Nevertheless, you should still have some emergency cash and your passport on you. I recommend keeping these essentials as close to your body as possible, ideally in a zippered pocket. Pickpockets are called that for a reason; they’re adept at snagging items from open, accessible pockets. If your clothes aren’t stocked with zippered pockets, a money belt or lanyard wallet (looped through a belt loop), secures belongings to your person discreetly.

Personal Safety Alarm

Most theft occurs when a traveler isn’t paying attention. But on rare occasions, thieves can get more confrontational, especially if they’ve cornered you alone. In these cases, it helps to make as much noise as possible to attract attention to the bad actor. A loud personal safety alarm may be enough to send the thief running for fear witnesses may soon appear. Shoppers say that they feel “safer” just by “being in possession” of this useful gadget, which emits a loud siren-level alarm and a bright LED light. 

A Dummy Wallet

If you’re a victim of a mugging, always act with your safety in mind first. If a mugger is demanding your wallet in a hurry, you could play the part of the cunning traveler and hand over a decoy wallet. This is a wallet you carry with a few expired credit cards and a small amount of cash. The act of handing over a wallet and running away could be enough to distract your mugger until you make it to a safe place.

A Cell Phone Lanyard

When I spoke with Panache Cruises founder, James Cole, he shared his own story of theft while walking and using his cell phone. The thief was on a motorbike and “snatched my mobile phone and promptly sped away — I should have known better. But it goes to show that even experienced travelers can be lured into a false sense of security when on holiday.” 

A mobile phone lanyard like this luxe one from Casemate could help you keep a firmer grip on your phone and make it harder to snatch quickly from your grasp. For something a little more rugged, opt for this adjustable nylon one from Amazon-loved brand Outxe; it can be worn around your neck or on your wrist. 

Luggage Lock

If you’re wary of the security of your cabin, then you’ll have peace of mind by locking your luggage while you’re out of your room. Cruise ships don’t allow door locks due to ship safety (in case of fire, etc.), but a luggage lock is your next best bet for securing your belongings in your room. 

VPN

Many travelers forget that some of their most valuable travel belongings are invisible. Our personal data is at risk any time we connect to a public Wi-Fi network ashore. A private VPN protects your network and the activity you conduct on your phone, such as checking bank account balances. As a cruise ship crew member, I was always seeking out public Wi-Fi when ashore because the ship’s Wi-Fi was spotty or too expensive. A VPN will provide you peace of mind for surfing the web safely no matter where you are.

Portable Charger 

Phones are a traveler’s no. 1 safety tool. If you’ve been a victim of theft, you don’t want to be stranded with a battery-sapped phone. You may need it to call for help, or to navigate the nearest police station. And if your phone itself has been stolen, you’ll want it to have some charge so you can ping it using “Find My iPhone” or its inherent location tracker. That’s why it’s essential that you keep it full of charge.

Anti-theft Backpack

Backpacks are a great bag to take ashore for all-day exploring. But, be careful wearing a backpack in a busy, crowded destination. It’s hard to feel when someone is slipping into your pack’s pockets when crowds are pushing against you from all sides. The chaos of crowds makes it easy for an opportunist to dip into your bag. To avoid backpack theft, wear it on your front as you head into busy areas (you’ll look goofy, but it’s worth it). Alternatively, invest in a backpack with little to no accessible exterior pockets and zippers. This Nordace backpack has a secret security pocket that sits against your back, making it good for passports, money, and wallets. You could also use luggage locks looped through your backpack’s zippers for extra safety.

Slash-proof Bag

I’ll never forget the story my mother told me of when she was walking down the sidewalk in Rome with a girl friend and a motorbike zipped by, swiftly cutting the strap of her friend’s bag right off her shoulder without ever slowing down. Although this is the only account I’ve ever heard of motorized thieves with scissors, perhaps you can never be too careful. A bag strap that’s hefty and hard to slash through could save you from motorbike trickery.

Travelon’s RFID-blocking, slash-proof crossbody bag is specially designed to prevent four common points of theft (grab-and-go theft, pickpockets, slash-and-grab theft, and electronic identity theft), which is why it’s one of Amazon’s top-selling travel purses (more than 2,000 of them were sold in the last month, according to the retailer). Also, practice wearing your bag on the side of your body away from the street. 

Extra: Travel Insurance

Travel insurance on a cruise can come in handy for a number of scenarios. Look into plans that will specifically reimburse you for the value of your stolen items. For example, if the item stolen is a pricey cell phone, then the minor expense of travel insurance could end up saving you a lot. 

Now that you know what to pack, read on for more useful tips before you cruise that will give you peace of mind. 

More Ways to Prevent Onboard Theft: 

Safety on a Cruise Ship

Safety on a cruise ship is comprehensive. In all of my years of cruising, I have never experienced (or even heard of) any accounts of onboard theft. Cruise passengers have their locked cabin to stow luggage, and most staterooms have in-room safes for high-value items. Every cruise ship also has a team of designated safety and security officers. These officers monitor public areas while at sea and remain at the gangway for the entire duration of the ship’s docking in port. Everyone leaving and entering the ship is scanned using an electronic system. This scanning ensures no passengers are left ashore before a ship departs, but it also registers all activity entering and leaving the vessel. No unrecorded people can enter the ship. At any one time, the ship’s Bridge (the captain and their officers) know the names and quantity of passengers onboard. 

Whatsmore, most ships are equipped with video surveillance in public areas. “Every public space [is] constantly monitored by CCTV cameras,” Cole tells Travel + Leisure. Video surveillance helps the Bridge quickly monitor things like a fire, but it’s also in the best safety interest of passengers to help security officers investigate reported incidents. 

Theft When Ashore

Theft that occurs when a cruise passenger is ashore is much harder to track as those crimes are reported to police in the country of port, not the cruise line. As you can imagine, petty theft in crowded destinations (though still infrequent) is more likely than on a secured cruise ship full of other holidayers. Pickpockets can be found milling in bustling destinations where the chaos makes it easy to get close to someone. 

If you are a victim of theft while ashore, your first point of contact should be local police. It is unlikely that you’ll resolve the issue before you need to head back to the ship before it departs. This time crunch makes the next tip all the more critical: never bring or wear high-value items with you ashore, and try not to travel with a significant amount of cash on you at one time. 

Busy tourist destinations are also hot spots for street scams, which can fool travelers into handing over their money using tricks and elaborate setups. Before leaving for your cruise, do a quick search on common street scams in your ports of call so you’re not caught off-guard.

Anti-theft Traveler Tips

Whether sipping a daiquiri by the ship’s pool or wandering ashore in the old town of Dubrovnik, you should always be aware of yourself and your surroundings. Redmond reminds travelers: “Common sense rules still apply. Most theft is theft of opportunity.” This means that crimes occur when travelers are negligent of their personal items. Onboard, this could look like leaving your room key on a bar while you walk back to your table to grab something. Ashore, this could look like slinging your purse out of sight on the back of your chair instead of keeping it in your lap. 

I remember when my crewmember roommate came back to the ship as we departed Barcelona, exhausted from spending the afternoon speaking with Spanish police after she set her purse down on a restaurant’s sidewalk table, only to have it deftly stolen when she wasn’t paying attention. Even savvy full-time travelers can be victims of theft. 

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