Where to find out how much tax is on extra booze

[idontknow]

Ok, go ahead and label me a cheap "boozehound." LOL (even though I only drink 3 times a year) Since the prices are so cheap at Nassau, I thought we could get a few bottles to bring back and stock the liqueur cabinet. If DH and I are over 21, are we both allowed to bring back 2 bottles each? (one from the Bahamas) Or are we only allowed 2 bottles total? What if we can not decide and we end up with 6 bottles total. (don't expect to, but you never know ;)) Does anyone know where I can find info on how they tax and how much they tax? (If we go over our limit, then we pay customs at the DCL port, right?) I would rather find out now how much the tax will be before we meet customs.

[Dave_from_Marietta]

From what I can figure out (based on www.customs.ustreas.gov/travel/know.htm#Paying%20Duty), it appears that the duty is 4% of the purchase price on all bottles over your limit. Still certainly worth your while.

[Firefighter Mickey]

The rules are in your "manual" that's in your stateroom, so take a look at them when you board. You can increase your limits by purchasing a liquor made in the islands (I don't remember all of the specifics, but I do remember going ashore again at our last port of call just to purchase another bottle of rum to bump our limit).

If you are over your limit, you'll need to report to the morning "meeting" with the customs people prior to leaving the ship, at which point you can declare what you have - if the duty is less than $10, the duty is waived. However, if it's more than $10, it's cash only - no credit cards or checks, so be sure to have some extra cash on hand if you plan on going over the limit.

The limits are per-adult.

Also, you can purchase "duty-free" on the ship and it will be delivered to you the night before you arrive at Port Canaveral, though I don't remember all of the rules around duty-free purchases (the rules were obviously written by the same people that created the US income tax laws).

[jdm]

We were on the Wonder a couple of weeks ago and they run some great deals on liquor on the ship. We were allowed 1 bottle per person but they were selling bottles of Stoli's for $7. We bought 4 and they told my husband he would have to pay .70 a bottle for duty. He got up at the crack of dawn on disembarktion day and waited in line and they told him to forget about it. They don't bother with that small amount. He wished they had told him that the day before or he wouldn't have gone.... which is what they told him he needed to do :~(

Jenn

[winnyis]

we went to customs they told us they dont collect anything under $10

St Marten had great prices.


Ginny

[candleonwater]

Same thing happened to me... got up at the crack of dawn to find out how much they were going to hit me for an extra bottle purchased in St. Thomas... when they said don't worry about it... I wasn't a real happy camper! It was TOO early in the am to be dealing with this stuff! Of course, walking around carrying two liquor boxes made me feel like a major drinker... and I don't drink!

[Towncrier]

I paid more attention to prices on our last cruise. I agree that St. Maarten has the best deals on the 7-day Eastern cruise. The same bottle of Bailey's that sells for $15 on the ship is only $10 on St. Maarten.

[idontknow]

Thank you so much for your first hand responses AND for letting me/all of us know about the info in the stateroom. If the duty tax is only .70, I'll be in heaven. LOL Even if I know I have to get up really early to be told to "forgetaboutit" I won't mind. Atleast I will have done my part and I'll feel better about it later. (every time a police car comes past my house, I would wonder if they were coming for me! ;))