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[Boopuff]

Just wondering - if you exit the boat at a port do you have to go through security to get back on the ship? So if you shop, do you have to "declare" purchases? (newbie to cruising!)

 

[Dug720]

You do go through the same scanner and the bags are x-rayed. If you have anything such as alcohol (beyond the allowed 2 bottles of wine or 6 bottles of beer - assuming you are of legal age), knives, etc. they WILL be tagged and confiscated until the end of the cruise.

 

[truck1]

You don't have to declare your purchases until you return to the US. On the last night of the cruise, youll get some paperwork including a USCBP form. Short version is unless you are buying thousands of dollars worth of material to resell, you don't have to get too technical. Depending on which cruise you are on, will determine how much liquor for example that you can bring back. If you go over that amount of "Free" then you have to declare the additional. If you buy for example, beach towels and t shirts, then I would put a dollar amount on the form. Customs isn't really too interested in any one unless they have more then a certain amount of cash, or more then a certain amount of merchandise. Those limits are listed on the form. I think the cash for example is more then $10,000.

Heres the page for a sample CBP form and it explains what you have to do

https://www.cbp.gov/travel/us-citizens/sample-declaration-form

 

[Sunshine2U]

I think declaring purchases is between you and customs officials. Cruise lines scan for safety and prohibited items.

 

[Sir William]

You don't have to declare your purchases until you return to the US. On the last night of the cruise, youll get some paperwork including a USCBP form. Short version is unless you are buying thousands of dollars worth of material to resell, you don't have to get too technical. Depending on which cruise you are on, will determine how much liquor for example that you can bring back. If you go over that amount of "Free" then you have to declare the additional. If you buy for example, beach towels and t shirts, then I would put a dollar amount on the form. Customs isn't really too interested in any one unless they have more then a certain amount of cash, or more then a certain amount of merchandise. Those limits are listed on the form. I think the cash for example is more then $10,000.

Heres the page for a sample CBP form and it explains what you have to do

https://www.cbp.gov/travel/us-citizens/sample-declaration-form

Actually, you must declare all purchases and gifts received while outside the US. Customs will determine if you owe any duty. You may be asked to show receipts so keep them handy. I put everything into general categories (you don't have to itemize everything) like clothing, jewelry, alcohol, miscellaneous souvenirs, etc.

If you don't declare something and Customs finds it you could face criminal charges. I've returned with a bottle or two more than the allowed amount of alcohol, have been questioned about it, but never had to pay duty.

 

[truck1]

Actually, you must declare all purchases and gifts received while outside the US. Customs will determine if you owe any duty. You may be asked to show receipts so keep them handy. I put everything into general categories (you don't have to itemize everything) like clothing, jewelry, alcohol, miscellaneous souvenirs, etc.

If you don't declare something and Customs finds it you could face criminal charges. I've returned with a bottle or two more than the allowed amount of alcohol, have been questioned about it, but never had to pay duty.

That's what I put in the first line. You dont have to declare until the last night on the CBP form. You don't have to do it daily when you return. Its also why I found the sample form online, which outlines what the limits are. However, everytime Ive cruised, the CBP agent in the terminal took the form, glanced at it and never said a word. Yes you do have to watch what you bring back on the off chance, but Ive never seen anyone look twice at the form. The only time Ive ever seen a CBP agent really look at the form other then a glance, is in the airports coming back from another country. Might be because of the tight turnaround of a ship, vs all the time in the world in an airport. If I'm not mistaken, theres a separate line for those that have something to declare.

CBP is not too worried if you come back with 3 bottles of liquor instead of 2. Or if you buy a bunch of t shirts and towels. Come back with a case of liquor, or several expensive watches, or high end items, and its a dfferent story. Don't tell them and they find out, and youll be there while. Ive worked and talked with a bunch of CBP agents, in Kennedy Airport, and they know what to look for in people. Its an unofficial stereotype. Theres several cues that a dishonest person will do that triggers a closer look.

Typically I do the same thing as you. Put a general description of something, with a close total price of each.

 

[Anna114]

Actually, you must declare all purchases and gifts received while outside the US. Customs will determine if you owe any duty. You may be asked to show receipts so keep them handy. I put everything into general categories (you don't have to itemize everything) like clothing, jewelry, alcohol, miscellaneous souvenirs, etc.

If you don't declare something and Customs finds it you could face criminal charges. I've returned with a bottle or two more than the allowed amount of alcohol, have been questioned about it, but never had to pay duty.

My cousin and I, went on a cruise to Bermuda, on NCL. We both had the same amount of alcohol. They had to pay duty but we did not. I think it was because ours was in our carry on and theirs was in their suitcase. I also think the customs agent played a part. Whether they are a strict rule follower or maybe it was because, while I love my cousin dearly, I am a much friendlier person and was having a good laugh with our agent while she was not. Just beware you may have to pay duty if you are taking off more then the allotted amount of alcohol.

 

[Sir William]

My cousin and I, went on a cruise to Bermuda, on NCL. We both had the same amount of alcohol. They had to pay duty but we did not. I think it was because ours was in our carry on and theirs was in their suitcase. I also think the customs agent played a part. Whether they are a strict rule follower or maybe it was because, while I love my cousin dearly, I am a much friendlier person and was having a good laugh with our agent while she was not. Just beware you may have to pay duty if you are taking off more then the allotted amount of alcohol.

Fully agree. When I travel to Scotland and Ireland (almost annually), I usually bring back several bottles of whisky that I can't get in the US. The limit is 2 liters but I've come back with 3-4 as a rule. Only once did a Customs agent say anything - and that was to ask what brands of Scotch I'd acquired. The rest of the time they just stamp it and pass me through. I've always been prepared to pay duty but I've never had to, though I've had friends who have to pay duty for excess alcohol.

The only time I've been "challenged" was when I bought some reindeer sausage at the Duty Free in Iceland. I put it on my declaration and, of course, had it in my carry-on. The agent asked to see it and when another agent saw me bring it out came over to confiscate it and read me the riot act about smuggling. The other agent had to point out to the second agent that I'd declared it. He clearly wanted to charge me so wasn't happy that I hadn't tried to sneak the sausage in. I lost the sausage but at least I wasn't fined or arrested for attempted smuggling.

 

[Sir William]

That's what I put in the first line. You dont have to declare until the last night on the CBP form. You don't have to do it daily when you return. Its also why I found the sample form online, which outlines what the limits are. However, everytime Ive cruised, the CBP agent in the terminal took the form, glanced at it and never said a word. Yes you do have to watch what you bring back on the off chance, but Ive never seen anyone look twice at the form. The only time Ive ever seen a CBP agent really look at the form other then a glance, is in the airports coming back from another country. Might be because of the tight turnaround of a ship, vs all the time in the world in an airport. If I'm not mistaken, theres a separate line for those that have something to declare.

CBP is not too worried if you come back with 3 bottles of liquor instead of 2. Or if you buy a bunch of t shirts and towels. Come back with a case of liquor, or several expensive watches, or high end items, and its a dfferent story. Don't tell them and they find out, and youll be there while. Ive worked and talked with a bunch of CBP agents, in Kennedy Airport, and they know what to look for in people. Its an unofficial stereotype. Theres several cues that a dishonest person will do that triggers a closer look.

Typically I do the same thing as you. Put a general description of something, with a close total price of each.

This is what I was referring to: "If you go over that amount of "Free" then you have to declare the additional." My point is that you must declare everything, not just what you think is additional. CBP will make that determination, and often that determination is up to the individual agent you happen to see.

 

[Anna114]

Gotcha.

 

[bumbershoot]

The only time I've been "challenged" was when I bought some reindeer sausage at the Duty Free in Iceland. I put it on my declaration and, of course, had it in my carry-on. The agent asked to see it and when another agent saw me bring it out came over to confiscate it and read me the riot act about smuggling. The other agent had to point out to the second agent that I'd declared it. He clearly wanted to charge me so wasn't happy that I hadn't tried to sneak the sausage in. I lost the sausage but at least I wasn't fined or arrested for attempted smuggling.

They let you buy it at the duty free shop when you weren't going to be able to bring it in to your country? Duty free shops have seemed on top of things to me, so I'm surprised.

 

[SuperDry]

They let you buy it at the duty free shop when you weren't going to be able to bring it in to your country? Duty free shops have seemed on top of things to me, so I'm surprised.

Rules vary by country. A shop in an Iceland airport may not know the exact rules for every other country with regard to sausage import.