Buying a Watch on the Wish

[SL6827]

I suppose one could accidentally wear it off the ship and forget to declare a new $5000 - $10000 dollar purchase. Same with a purchase on St. Thomas.

…Theoretically speaking.

Could this really work? How could they prove you didn't have it before boarding? Good idea if possible.

 

[71 Truck]

Heh, I know I will have better luck winning the lottery, but it doesn’t hurt to dream on vacation right? Appropos finding some treasure while on the Treasure (or the Wish, Dream, Fantasy…even Magic). Lol!

Back in December 2019 when no one in the United States had any Tudor Black Bay GMTs or Black Bay 58s the Disney Fantasy had several of them.
December 2023 when we were on the Fantasy it appeared they were no longer selling Tudor.

So sometimes you do get lucky, you never know.

 

[Dug720]

If you're caught "accidentally" wearing off something you bought on the cruise and are planning not to declare, you could be fined $300 or more as well as face other penalties that could impact future travel, they could confiscate the item, or you could face a penalty up to the value of the item.

While the line does not supply customs with a "who purchased what" list, I suspect if there was a strong enough suspicion they could get receipts from the ship.

Up to you if you want to chance it. (Plus if you've got kids with you, the example you're setting that it's ok to lie. If you're cool setting that example, I guess risk it.)

 

[SL6827]

I wonder just what would trigger a strong suspension at customs? What other type items do people try to avoid declaring at the end of thier cruise? If you were one to cruise extremely often, would that get thier attention? This sounds very interesting.

 

[hrhdhd]

Could this really work? How could they prove you didn't have it before boarding? Good idea if possible.

You can register items with CBP before travel if you want to avoid questions about how an item was required.

I am frequently over my limit (travel solo on long trips and like to shop; $800 is nothing), and I declare. Every time. Often the CBP officers are impressed that I am honest and just wave me through. Occasionally, I am charged duty, which I pay. It's the system, and I would rather my items not be confiscated.

 

[hrhdhd]

While the line does not supply customs with a "who purchased what" list, I suspect if there was a strong enough suspicion they could get receipts from the ship.

I'd be surprised if DCL didn't provide lists of large on-ship purchases to CBP. Celebrity and Princess do, and people trying to sneak stuff in have been surprised when they're pulled over for questioning.

 

[emchen]

If you're caught "accidentally" wearing off something you bought on the cruise and are planning not to declare, you could be fined $300 or more as well as face other penalties that could impact future travel, they could confiscate the item, or you could face a penalty up to the value of the item.

While the line does not supply customs with a "who purchased what" list, I suspect if there was a strong enough suspicion they could get receipts from the ship.

Up to you if you want to chance it. (Plus if you've got kids with you, the example you're setting that it's ok to lie. If you're cool setting that example, I guess risk it.)

You can register items with CBP before travel if you want to avoid questions about how an item was required.

I am frequently over my limit (travel solo on long trips and like to shop; $800 is nothing), and I declare. Every time. Often the CBP officers are impressed that I am honest and just wave me through. Occasionally, I am charged duty, which I pay. It's the system, and I would rather my items not be confiscated.

“Accidentally” was tongue in cheek. $1600 x 6 family members = $9600. If lucky enough to score a stainless steel sports Rolex on St. Thomas, I will certainly be declaring at customs.

 

[RedHead0186]

I wonder just what would trigger a strong suspension at customs? What other type items do people try to avoid declaring at the end of thier cruise? If you were one to cruise extremely often, would that get thier attention? This sounds very interesting.

I suppose if a customs officer saw you wearing an expensive watch/piece of jewelry they could ask you about it. Of course, you could lie, but they could also be trained to look for the tells of lying. That's probably not super likely to happen but I suppose it could.

 

[SL6827]

I suppose if a customs officer saw you wearing an expensive watch/piece of jewelry they could ask you about it. Of course, you could lie, but they could also be trained to look for the tells of lying. That's probably not super likely to happen but I suppose it could.

Ya, it could. Would it just be one 's word against the other? What about the reverse? Say you had a very big ring on your finger when you boarded, but they concluded you bought it elsewhere duty free?

 

[DisneyCowgirl]

I suppose one could accidentally wear it off the ship and forget to declare a new $5000 - $10000 dollar purchase. Same with a purchase on St. Thomas.

…Theoretically speaking.

Could this really work? How could they prove you didn't have it before boarding? Good idea if possible.

For purchases made on the ship, the seller will report it to customs (I've seen this happen on Disney ships), so definitely don't try it!

 

[cvjw]

I am not planning on buying an expensive watch or trying to sneak it thru customs, but PC has face recognition customs now. You don’t even get close to an customs agent. You barely even stop moving. Doubt they would have enough time to see your wrist as you are walking.

Maybe you are supposed to go thru the traditional customs line if you are declaring purchases.

 

[princesscinderella]

I suppose one could accidentally wear it off the ship and forget to declare a new $5000 - $10000 dollar purchase. Same with a purchase on St. Thomas.

…Theoretically speaking.

I have friends that sailed earlier this year on the wish and they splurged in the onboard shops where he got a fancy watch and she got two diamond bracelets. When they were leaving the ship and scanning their key cards they were flagged and got ushered to a customs agent where they then declared what they bought on the ship. The agent ended up waiving them through even though they were way past the duty-free limit.

 

[DisneyCowgirl]

I have friends that sailed earlier this year on the wish and they splurged in the onboard shops where he got a fancy watch and she got two diamond bracelets. When they were leaving the ship and scanning their key cards they were flagged and got ushered to a customs agent where they then declared what they bought on the ship. The agent ended up waiving them through even though they were way past the duty-free limit.

Wow! That's good to know.

 

[Kit Jackson]

But do keep in mind the sales people are genuinely sales people, and the hard selling is aggressive from the outset. I love looking at jewelry but found i couldn't go into the shops because it became way too much way too fast.

I went into one of the jewelry stores because a friend wanted to go in for an event, which turned out to be not at all what she expected. I looked around, asked to see something (a necklace or a bracelet) and then the sales person kept showing me other things that were not at all like the first piece I looked at. It felt very aggressive and pushy. I would never go back there. You experience feels very similar to mine.

 

[RedHead0186]

Maybe you are supposed to go thru the traditional customs line if you are declaring purchases.

I think you are. IIRC, when we disembarked at Port Everglades last month, they had signs stating if you had a US passport and had nothing to declare, you could go through the facial recognition. Otherwise, go through the regular line. I'm not 100% on that but that's what I remember.

 

[SleepyDeb]

When I first started travelling internationally in the 80's, I read extensively about duty limits. It was silly for me to be worrying at that point in life because I was a college student and was lucky if I came home with $25 worth of trinkets. But, I learned that if you were traveling with expensive items (jewelry, electronics, etc) that you should bring copies of the receipts with you to prove you didn't buy it on your trip or you could have problems with customs.

I haven't read the whole customs rules in a long time, I just familiarize myself with the new limits. I also take a pic on my phone before leaving of any expensive jewelry I travel with. The date stamp is my proof I didn't buy it on the trip.

From what I hear, simply saying "I bought this long before this cruise" isn't enough. They don't have to prove right then and there that you're lying. If you're suspected of lying, it might be a long drawn out process and a yucky end to a nice vacation. You don't get to wave your hand and walk away. And if you actually are lying, it could be very very expensive, much more than the duty you were trying to avoid.)

 

[Lucien Franciosa]

While the line does not supply customs with a "who purchased what" list, I suspect if there was a strong enough suspicion they could get receipts from the ship.

actually, they do supply at least some form of a list, as I will explain below.

I have friends that sailed earlier this year on the wish and they splurged in the onboard shops where he got a fancy watch and she got two diamond bracelets. When they were leaving the ship and scanning their key cards they were flagged and got ushered to a customs agent where they then declared what they bought on the ship. The agent ended up waiving them through even though they were way past the duty-free limit.

This was my experience too. I had bought Diamond Jewelry for my wife (love that Crown of Light diamond cut) on previous cruises, and while WAY over the duty free limit we dutifully reported it, and got waved through with no fee. Twice. no problemo. And while not the same, I do a lot of international travel for work, always am honest with my declaration, often a bit over (not WAY), and always get waved through.

But then on another cruise, bought a mickey diamond tennis bracelet, which was WAY WAY over the limit, and I didnt even have the chance to declare it on departure. When they scanned our key cards a red light popped up and the woman asked us to stand aside while she summoned security, who kindly took us to the customs office. Customs made a show of calling the jewelry shop to see where it was made, the jewelry shop made a show of ignorance (thanks), and the agent charged us 3% (which in my mind wasnt too bad).

When the original red light popped up, I asked what was up and the woman told us 'customs'. she was looking at a screen and I peered over her shoulder, saw a list with about 10 or so names.

So I think if you go over the limit and are honest about it, sometimes you will get lucky. Sometimes they come looking for you.

 

[Bad Pink Tink 2.0]

Diamonds International are a jewelry manufacturer and retailer. On the ships they supply the products, just like Omega, Hublot, Tag Heuer, supply the watches.

The staff in the shops are employees of Harding Retail. They are a third party retail agency that supply retail staff to all the major cruise lines including Disney.

I follow Lucy / Cruising As Crew on YouTube. She is from UK and for the last 10 years has been working on cruise ships in the spas and in the shops. When she worked in the spas she was employed by Steiner. She then moved to Harding Retail and worked on The Wish in 2023. She has also worked on multiple Virgin Cruise ships.

 

[kiford]

We used to get a green card (I don't know if that's what it's called, but the card was green) years ago for our big bag of camera equipment. Since we were carrying 1-2 SLR bodies plus 3-4 lenses and accessories we thought it best to have it, though we were never asked for it. We had to go to some office, show the equipment and the purchase evidence, and they gave us this green card. Every time we bought new equipment, we would go down, and they'd add it to the card. While it's always possible to tell customs that you brought that equipment from home, you have no way to prove it, so they don't have to take your word for it. And since we did occasionally buy equipment when travelling, which we declared, we wanted to make sure we didn't get assessed duty at a later date.

There was a case recently where someone went from Canada to the US to buy a $115K watch and didn't declare it. He was stupid enough to send the empty box back to himself, and it got flagged at customs, so he was assessed both duty and penalties of around $35K. The problem with trying to just wear it back and claim you brought it with you is: (a) maybe they don't believe you, and you can't prove it; and (b) if you ever want warranty work on that, you need to have evidence so you need the receipt and if they find that, you will be charged penalties as well as duty.

We've looked at the watches on board, and, quite apart from duty, we didn't find the prices to be all that great compared to what we would pay at home. And the selection is limited. If we really want a high-end watch, we can order one from our local retailer who carries them, who records the purchase and who can provide or facilitate any warranty or repair work on them. We've not been impressed with either jewellery or watches being sold on board ships or in the ports, both in terms of selection and price. And on our last cruise when we went into one of the stores on board just to be nosy, we got pounced on immediately and had difficulty shaking them off.

 

[bedgraynexl]

I've had a similar experience with others buying a watch on DCL (Fantasy). In 2022, I bought a Bremont, not a big name but I love the watch, and I was still over the duty free limit. As stated above by several others, the jewelry stores on board are Diamonds International. I didn't take any chances and got a customs form from guest services. The customs official at the port just waived me through after checking my form and declared value. So you never really know what you'll get when going through customs.

I hope you find something cool to mark the occasion. I plan to do the same when on my cruise in March. Like you, I'm also thinking Omega this go around.