Before our most recent cruise on the Dream (trip report here), I knew that I would want a way to secure our belongings while my family was off having fun. This was especially the case the day we boarded the ship, as we all planned to swim and ride the Aquaduck before our room was ready at 1:30. We would have a lot of valuables with us like passports, cash, wallets, phones, etc. and while chances are nobody would have bothered our stuff, I still felt like it would be best to just not take any risk and secure our belongings as best I could. I heard about this KYSS (Keep Your Stuff Safe) bag years ago and decided to give it a try.
The KYSS bag is available in 3 sizes – compact, medium, and large. For some reason they are all the same price, so I decided to get the most bang for my buck and get the large. The color selection is different for each size. You can read all sorts of details, including the dimensions of each size, on the KYSS website so I won’t repeat all of that here. I chose dark blue because I thought it would hide dirt well, and also because it was masculine enough so that my husband to carry it without complaining. Here are some detailed pictures of my bag that I took this morning. Of course I forgot to take any photos of it while actually using it, although it did show up in this one as I documented our sad little beach set up at Blue Lagoon Island:
First, an overall view to give you a sense of scale. This is the large size. It is 18″ high, 20″ long, and is about 6″ wide, though it can be packed fuller than that.
This is one side:
The other side is exactly the same:
A close-up of the combo lock:
On one side of the interior is a small zipper pocket. This is where I stored our phones.
On the other side of the interior are 2 pockets that are open at the top.
There is an interior pocket on one end to store the chain when not in use.
On the same end of the bag, there is an exterior pocket to store the lock.
Here is a shot to show you how it secures your stuff. You can loop the chain around anything nearby that would prevent someone from walking off with the bag: a chair arm, umbrella pole (that can’t be lifted up, of course), railing, etc.
Then, you put the clasp through both zipper handles and lock it so that no one can open the bag.
Now for my thoughts on this bag…….I am very pleased with it. It’s quick and easy to use, sturdy and well constructed, easy to carry, and it gave me peace of mind that our valuables were safe. We ended up using it at Blue Lagoon Island in Nassau and at Castaway Cay as well, although on those days we didn’t have as many valuables with us. But, since we had it we used it. Together with a backpack, they had the perfect amount of space for 6 people’s beach stuff.
I should also mention that you can pay extra for custom embroidery (I didn’t) and choose your 3 digit lock combo at check out.
The only thing I will caution you about is that it does take a while to ship so be sure and order it well before your vacation. The website says 3-4 weeks, and it took every bit of that for mine to arrive. You can pay more for expedited shipping (3-7 days), 2 day, or overnight shipping.
If you don’t have that much time to wait, or you prefer something different, click here to see other products of all shapes and sizes that will help you secure belongings. If you want to use a lock on your own bag, this bag lock device would be a good option.
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I have one f these bags that I’ll be using on our cruise next week! ? There are actually two circles on the base part of the zipper that line up when it is fully closed, and that’s where I clip the lock. I feel like putting the lock through the top of the zipper is less secure (not that anyone can get much out of an opening that small).
You’re so right Becky! I don’t know how I didn’t notice those holes before! Thanks for the tip and enjoy your cruise!!!
HI Diana, Thank you so much for all of the information on your blog! I have read every section and gained a lot of information from you! My family and I are avid Disney fans- but we didn’t start our Disney trips until 2013 as adults. (Excluding honeymoon Disney/ big red boat trip) Now Disney parks, every year 1 trip to universal and 2 cruises on the dream. We also have an Eastern carribean trip booked for July. (Can’t wait) I will definetly be looking to get this bag for our next trip. Thanks so much for sharing! I look forward to all of your posts!
Thank you for your kind words Linda! So glad you’re enjoying the blog!!!
Looking forward to trying new things on the cruise such as the Palo brunch. The biggest challenge will be selecting the right excursions. I don’t like the idea of the large group excursions. But struggle with staying with Disney excursions vs other company. I know your family has done both. I worry about not having a guarantee depending on weather, docking and getting back in time.
I am debating between the large and medium bag for our upcoming cruises (Bahamas and Alaska). I am short (5’1″) and worry that the large would swamp me. Do you carry this bag on to flights? Do you think it would be too large for three people?
There aren’t many reviews online, nor many pictures of people actually carrying the bags.
Hi Amanda! I have used this as my carry on before and it barely fits under the seat in front on me. In fact, I had to smash the top down to make it fit, which I was able to do because it wasn’t completely full. At your height, I kind of think the medium would be better, especially since you only have 3 people. We have 5 which is why ordered the large, but I think with 3 I would have ordered the medium. If it would be helpful, I could email you a picture of my 5′-0″ daughter holding it.
That would be wonderful, thanks!! I am really leaning towards the medium, but for some reason hesitate to go ahead with the order. Seeing someone near my height holding the large would be great!
I am 5’0″ and I have the large. And it is really big. And I only have two people. But it is frequently stuffed to the gills with towels, underwater camera, sunscreen, kindles, snorkel mask, hats, etc. It has finally gotten a hole in the top somehow. I think I’ve had it for about seven years. I think I’ll still stick with the large as I do often have it completely full, but yes, it does sort of dwarf me when packed full. I’m a pack rat though so it doesn’t bother me much.
You sound just like me! I always manage to pack mine (I have the large) totally full, even now that my girls all bring their own backpacks on excursions with most of their stuff in them. I try to envision everything I might need under any circumstance and try to bring it with me. My family makes fun of me for being such a heavy packer, but whenever they need something, I always seem to have it! Imagine that!