Kinder Eggs as FE Gift for Alaska…allowed?

[kuhltiffany]

I'm Canadian and heading on an Alaskan cruise next summer. We're driving to port (Vancouver), so could easily bring Kinder Eggs for the kids as a Fish Extender gift. But I wonder if they would take them at the port security check before we get on the ship? It technically leaves in Canada but then goes to the US...

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I'm Canadian and heading on an Alaskan cruise next summer. We're driving to port (Vancouver), so could easily bring Kinder Eggs for the kids as a Fish Extender gift. But I wonder if they would take them at the port security check before we get on the ship? It technically leaves in Canada but then goes to the US...

While they may (or may not) allow them onboard, they would be banned from being brought into the US. While it's not real likely that many people know about the ban on them, I'd hate to think that I could be responsible for someone having a hard time at US customs when returning to the US after the cruise. Not all FE gifts (candy) is consumed onboard, some is brought back home.

 

[bcwife76]

We're doing Alaska next year (and live in Vancouver) and no, we will not be including Kinder eggs in our FE gifts. While getting them on and off the ship probably won't be an issue. for those heading back to the US via air, they might definitely encounter an issue. I have to give my head a shake every time I think about the US NOT allowing Kinder eggs, honestly it's absurd!

 

[redsonja76]

They are (SO FREAKING STUPIDLY AND ABSURDLY) banned in the US. Ugh, I hate it because my kids and I LOVE kinder eggs. If it were me, I would take them with a note that they need to be consumed on board and not brought into the US. I wouldn't imagine that the customs in Vancouver would take them from you as they aren't banned in Canada, but customs in the states wouldn't allow them off the ship. But what you will be doing is creating the love in the heart of a poor little American child for the sweet wonder that is the kinder egg that they will then be trying to fulfill for the rest of their lives, so think long and hard before you create that kinder egg addict (lolololol). We were stationed in Germany and became totally addicted and now can't get them, and we miss them so very much!!!

 

[DahliaRW]

You should be fine with the ship. Just include a note that they need to be consumed on board or before returning to the US. Then there should be no issues at customs for those returning to the US.

 

[bumbershoot]

I wouldn't do it, personally.

The likelihood of the person NOT remembering the note and possibly getting fined, even if tiny, just isn't something I want to think about. And Alaska *is* the US, so...

We're up in Vancouver right now and DS and DH bought 8 eggs today. They love them. I think they are atrocious, personally. Soooo much better chocolate out there.

And I think the ban was done at some point before that gigantic plastic egg was put in there, and no one has lobbied the gov't hard enough to unban them.

 

[bcwife76]

I wouldn't do it, personally.

The likelihood of the person NOT remembering the note and possibly getting fined, even if tiny, just isn't something I want to think about. And Alaska *is* the US, so...

We're up in Vancouver right now and DS and DH bought 8 eggs today. They love them. I think they are atrocious, personally. Soooo much better chocolate out there.

And I think the ban was done at some point before that gigantic plastic egg was put in there, and no one has lobbied the gov't hard enough to unban them.

My kids love them and I live in Vancouver so I can get them anytime - but like you I think the chocolate itself is awful!!! lol So much yummier chocolate out there, I don't quite get the fascination. But, I guess to a kid it combines the best of both worlds - chocolate and toys!

 

[wilkeliza]

I wouldn't do it, personally.

The likelihood of the person NOT remembering the note and possibly getting fined, even if tiny, just isn't something I want to think about. And Alaska *is* the US, so...

We're up in Vancouver right now and DS and DH bought 8 eggs today. They love them. I think they are atrocious, personally. Soooo much better chocolate out there.

And I think the ban was done at some point before that gigantic plastic egg was put in there, and no one has lobbied the gov't hard enough to unban them.

The giant plastic egg has been there for as long as I've ever had them. I've even had the ones straight form Germany and they have always had the egg. The thing is the ban isn't just Kinder Egg specific. The reason why they are banned is because of a law that says you can not put a non food item inside a food item if it is not visible form the outside. Funny enough since Mars (who owns Kinder in the US) has actually lobbied against other candies that are similar because they have been unsuccessful in getting the law changed.

 

[brianvdb]

I'm Canadian and heading on an Alaskan cruise next summer. We're driving to port (Vancouver), so could easily bring Kinder Eggs for the kids as a Fish Extender gift. But I wonder if they would take them at the port security check before we get on the ship? It technically leaves in Canada but then goes to the US...

You are required to pre-clear US Customs before embarking in Vancouver. I would advise against trying to bring anything through that is prohibited in the US.

 

[Flossbolna]

The giant plastic egg has been there for as long as I've ever had them.

Yes, I grew up in the 70s in Germany and even then big giant yellow egg inside the chocolate. However, those yellow plastic eggs used to be opened very easily. The newer models are more difficult to open. Definitely designed to make it difficult to get to the tiny toys for younger children.

 

[MommyP]

I just read that there is a $1,200 fine PER egg if caught & confiscated by Customs. I wouldn't risk ruining someone's vacation as stupid and ridonkulous as the illegal ban may be

 

[lillygator]

why on earth are they banned?

 

[Topper]

why on earth are they banned?

 

[kuhltiffany]

I'm assuming that the chocolate part would be consumed and that if anything was brought back to the US, it would just be the inside capsule with prize. It"s the combination of the capsule/prize IN the egg that's not allowed.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I'm assuming that the chocolate part would be consumed and that if anything was brought back to the US, it would just be the inside capsule with prize. It"s the combination of the capsule/prize IN the egg that's not allowed.

As I noted, not all candy given out in FE gifts is consumed while onboard. Many people save it to bring home.

 

[cdoc29]

We bought some on our last cruise that stopped in Cozumel. We had and no difficulty getting them on the ship (it’s registered in the Bahamas after all). We did have our children consume the ones we bought before returning to the US. It’s kind of like being able to purchase and smoke Cuban Cigars on the ship, as long as you don’t bring them back to the US you should be fine. If your going to give out Kinder Eggs (and if we were on the cruise I think that would be an awesome thing to receive since we cannot get them in the US) just be sure to attach a note explaining the need to be consumed and that they are not allowed to brought into the US.

 

[Disney_Alli]

I wouldn't do it since other than embarkation and debarkation day the entire cruise takes place in the US. How many parents want to explain to their kids that no they can't take that candy as a snack on the excursion because it's banned. There are SOOOOOO many other uniquely Canadian chocolates you could share that aren't banned (Aero, Smarties, Coffee Crisp, Crunchie, etc) that you could easily bring instead.

 

[BadPinkTink]

every year I visit friends in California and I always bring Irish / European candy and chocolates as gifts. This year I brought Kinder Eggs, not knowing they were illegal and customs give huge fines if they find them. I was just lucky that I did not get one of the random bag searches at customs. That is one gift I will NOT be bringing on my next visit

 

[mylittlebuttercup]

I would definitely NOT do it. I didn't know what Kinder eggs were until this thread, so I googled them and found out there is a huge fine attached to bringing them back in the U.S. It could ruin someone's vacation if they bring them off the ship because they do not know any better and are then hit with a $1,000+ fine