Personal Belongings on excursions

Hi,
We've only been on one prior cruise for 3 days and are going on Explorer of the Seas on Saturday 4/24/04. We have shore excursions booked for snorkeling w/stingrays and the Dunns River Falls. When you go to the port to go snorkeling, what do you do with your purse, camera & wallet? Is it safe to leave these items on the tour boat??

The same question for the Dunns River Falls. What do you do with purse/wallet and other clothes while climbing the falls??

Are traveler's checks accepted at the casino onboard?? Can you cash traveler's checks onboard the ship?? Are they accepted in the ports the same as cash?

Thank you so much for any advice you can give us.

Mary

[MaryLou]

Mary: I always try not to take much with me on the excursions...especially snorkeling. Some of the places have lockers and I believe Dunn's River is one of those places.
They sell waterproof pouches to keep your ID, CruiseCard money in while snorkeling.

[nushnakka]

On the stingrays tour we left our items in a zipped bag on the ship. There was no problem with items. At Dunn's I wish I had known what it would be like because I had a good camera that got a little wet and never worked right. My daughter also found out do not wear contacts because the area we were climbing there was a tremendous amount of water rushing down and we had to get out of the line and go back because she was worried about losing her eyes. Otherwise take very little with you and use a waterproof zipped bag. Happy sailing, this is a great iten and good excursions!

[JeanS]

I do not recall seeing lockers at Dunns River Falls, but perhaps my contacts fell out and I didn't see them! But I agree, a waterproof camera would be the best, they take some really good pictures, and bring as little with you as possible...

Thank you all for your advice. I'm glad I asked and hope I can find something waterproof to carry our things in. And thanks for the good camera info.

We're leaving Saturday and are so excited. Thanks,
Mary

[cruznRN]

Dunn's River Falls does have lockers for a fee. I would not bring anymore cash than you plan on spending or can afford to lose, you can always get back on the ship and get more $$. The pursers office will cash travelers checks. I did not try to cash travelers checks off the ship. I did notice that the "cruiseline sponsored " shops did accept most major credit cards, travelers checks, and american currency. Carry small bills (to provide exact change)as many vendors will try to give you change in the "native currency". Which you can ususlly exchange at the pursers office, but who knows if you are getting correct change.

[Stacowgirl]

Yes, Dunns river does have lockers, I am sure we paid no more than $4.00 for locker. We used it to put our ID's and towels but I would not bring anything expensive because when I was there this lady from the Couple's hotel we stayed at brought her CamCorder and asked one of the locals to record them at least until they got to the first level. When she got to the first level where he was suppose to be standing filming the lady and hubby, the guy was gone. One local took my hubby's Tommy Hilfilger hat right off his head and ran so please be careful and don't wear any fancy jewerly or anything you don't want ripped off. As for the Stingray tour. (we took the one in Grand Cayman and we put our ID's and towels etc in a tote/beach bag and left it on the catamaran and it was not touched. You will really enjoy stingray tour.

[TyingtheKnot]

Mary...there is a waterproof case that can go around your neck that is big enough for your i.d. sea pass etc...and a nicer camera. It is called a aquapac. It is waterproof and big enough to put quite a bit in it. You can look it up online or you can got R.E.I. online. It is a outdoors/sporting good place. They sell it there. It is called a aquapac (or you can do a search on there site for waterproof pouches).

TK

[mamaw]

Everyone keeps saying to leave passports locked in safe on ship...but I thought you needed to show them at ports if you got off the ship? (yes...I'm new at this...ha). Also...I know everyone is saying their belongings were safe left on a boat or in a cubby...but it makes me nervous! We are doing a Grand Cayman dolphin encounter, stingray city and the turtle farm. I'm nervous about belongings (backpack w/just-in-case pull-ups for my 3 yr old, our spending money for the day and IDs..maybe a waterproof camera. Has anyone worn this in a waterproof bag w/lanyard?

[Donna]

If you feel you need your passport in ports, just carry a copy of it and a pic ID other than passport, just keep it locked up in your cabin safe...You shouldn't need it in ports.

[Snoozeman]

Originally Posted by mamaw

Everyone keeps saying to leave passports locked in safe on ship...but I thought you needed to show them at ports if you got off the ship? (yes...I'm new at this...ha). Also...I know everyone is saying their belongings were safe left on a boat or in a cubby...but it makes me nervous! We are doing a Grand Cayman dolphin encounter, stingray city and the turtle farm. I'm nervous about belongings (backpack w/just-in-case pull-ups for my 3 yr old, our spending money for the day and IDs..maybe a waterproof camera. Has anyone worn this in a waterproof bag w/lanyard?

I have not worn a waterproof bag with lanyard, but the small plastic cases work. I have an advantage as a guy and just put it in my pocket.

First--don't take anything valuable with you off the ship if you are that concerned. better to have piece of mind so that you can enjoy your excursion. Use a disposable camera and leave nothing of value in the backpack.

[LisaK]

your belongings will be fine on your excursions, you will be with a fairly small group of people from begining to end of your excursion, so if anyone was dumb enough to take something it wouldn't be too hard to figure out who in the group did it. IF it will make you feel even better, you can use a small suitcase lock and lock the zipper on your backpack. As the others have said, just bring the basic/barest of essentials on your excursions.