Cuban cigars

[kalama]

Anyone out there know what the rules are about buying and smoking Cuban cigars while on the Disney cruise?

My husband bought one in Nassau last year and thinks he was only allowed to smoke it onboard while the ship was in port there.

We're doing the Eastern Carib. trip next April and would like to buy some in St. Maarten.

Thanks!

 

[Bacrd]

I'm not sure about Disney (since our 1st cruise with them will be Halloween this year) but on all the other lines..you can buy them and smoke them on the ship...but they CANNOT be brought thru customs into the US.
The worse part is that Canadians are allowed to bring them into Canada...but only if they can find a way off the ship without going thru the US.
The last night on the ships have always been "Smoke em if ya got them"!!

 

[Texag87]

take the rings off and they can not tell where you bought them even the custom agents.

 

[kalama]

Wouldn't customs be suspicious of them because they have no labels?

Not to be a worry wart, but I'm the type that gets nervous in Customs even when I have nothing to declare!

 

[sdptalk]

Good question! My husband loves a good cigar in the evening. Will have to remember the suggestions.

 

[Lloyd Dobler]

While I'm sure many people have gotten away with it, but in my opinion it's just not worth it. It is smuggling, and you can be prosecuted for it. Check out http://www.customs.gov/xp/cgov/travel/alerts/cuban_cigars.xml.

 

[floridaminnie]

You can smoke them on the boat, but they can NOT be brought into the US.

 

[kalama]

So I guess my DH was mistaken. You can smoke 'em if you got 'em. Thanks everyone.

 

[JoniJ]

Which port has the best price on the Cuban cigars? Does anyone have a favorite or a recommandation of which one to buy? My DH likes milder ones if that helps any! Thanks, Joni

 

[Wavegirl]

Casa Del Habano in Grand Cayman is the best cigar store I've ever seen.

I'm not a smoker but my husband is and even I enjoyed the visit. The owner was extremely interesting and has a vault of vintage cigars.

We took the bands off of ours and actually mailed them to our home address right from Geoge Town so my husband could put them back on the cigars when we got home.

I guess part of the thrill of smoking cuban cigars is letting everyone know you are smoking cuban cigars

 

[JoniJ]

Thanks, but we are going on the Eastern cruise so I need some from there. We did go to that store though and my DH thought the same thing!!! I which we could order from there, but we all know better. My DH does the same thing with the bands, it must be a guy thing!! Joni

 

[kalama]

If you smoke them onboard, does it matter if it's docked in a US port (like St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands)? Can you smoke them on Castaway Cay?

 

[jerinknox]

I have smoked them in all ports and have brought them home. You can smoke them at any point on the ship but as soon as you walk back on US soil you are supposed to not have any.

Enjoy because there is not a cigar even close to a cuban in America.....

 

[poopie]

I bring one home every time I leave the counrty for a cigar smoking friend. I believe it is $100 fine if caught.

I don't think they are looking for someone bringing in one or a few they are looking for someone trying to bring in 100's for sale.

It always makes my trip a little more "daring" smuggling in the one cigar each time, rebel that I am.........

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Originally posted by poopie
I bring one home every time I leave the counrty for a cigar smoking friend. I believe it is $100 fine if caught.

I guess you didn't look at the link that Lloyd Dobler posted about the U.S. economic sanctions against Cuba as they relate to Cuban cigars, at http://www.customs.gov/xp/cgov/travel/alerts/cuban_cigars.xml

The U.S. Government views the smuggling of Cuban cigars into the U.S. as a willful disregard of U.S. foreign policy. So any prosecution is likely to be based not merely on the economic value of the cigar.

Perhaps there have been cases where the fine has been only $100 (although I'd be curious where that number came from), but the penalty can be much higher:
<blockquote>It is also illegal for U.S. persons to buy, sell, trade, or otherwise engage in transactions involving illegally-imported Cuban cigars. The penalties for doing so include, in addition to confiscation of the cigars, civil fines of up to $55,000 per violation and in appropriate cases, criminal prosecution which may result in higher fines and/or imprisonment. </blockquote>
I agree with Lloyd Dobler, "it's just not worth it."

 

[TnRobin]

You have spoken about the Federal laws associated with contraband. In addition to Federal troubles, you will also be liable for state laws too. I use to work for our State's Revenue Department. They have a special section that seeks out and destroys any contraband found. This includes all tobacco products brought illegaly into the state. The people caught not only lose thier purchases and lose money from thier bank accounts, but they often loose thier freedom for awhile.

 

[LarryC]

People should realize that most "Cuban" cigars purchased by tourist in the Caribbean and Mexico are counterfeit. Estimates range from 30% to 60% of all cigars thought to be Cuban were indeed fakes.

I was on the 7/12 Eastern last week and walked around St Maarten and St Thomas, and spotted MANY stores selling counterfeit Cohibas (I was only looking at that brand since I am VERY familiar with the real Cohiba cigar, label, and box). I can only assume that their other supposed Cuban cigars were counterfeit as well.

I did visit a tobacco store in St Maarten and did see genuine Cohiba cigards, though. A 7x50 Churchill was selling for $24. If you are buying them for $10 you are getting scammed.

Remember, if you see "Cuban Cigars" being sold from the jewelry store, or on the street, or in the liquor store - chances are they are counterfeit.

For more information, visit the Cigar Aficionado web site that can give you an overview on how to spot counterfeir Cuban cigars.

http://www.cigaraficionado.com/Cigar/CA_Static/Counterfeit/countgal.html

 

[jrabbit]

The biggest problem I have with the Western Cruise is the availability of "cuban" cigars in Grand Cayman and Cozamel. I don't have a problem with you buying them and smoking them in private, and I DO NOT consider decks 4, 9 or 10 private. Yes they are outside, but with guys smoking them every 10 feet I can't enjoy taking a walk around the deck. Being outside and near the aft of the ship, you get the "enjoy" everyones cigar smoke. You may not be "inhaling" BUT I'M TRYING TO BREATH HERE!!!

I didn't notice this so much on our Eastern cruise or the one to Nassau.