No bringing food onto islands?

[PoohJen]

Hi y'all,
A July 10 Eastern reports that you can't bring "food or fruit" onto the islands (ST. Maarten and St. Thomas) - so...I shouldn't bother ordering sandwiches to bring from room service? Anyone have a different experience?

Thanks a bunch!

 

[DrCavin]

Just make sure it is packed in a cooler or purse. Do not try to take it off the ship so that it can be spotted.

I even saw them stop someone from taking a cup of coffee off the ship.

We packed ours in a colapsable cooler & had no problems.

 

[WDWCrazzyCunninghams]

But that sounds so lame. You are taking a COOLER off the ship. What else would be in there BUT food? Doesn't make sense to me..... I'm sorry sir. You have to leave that cup of coffee, but feel free to leave with all your sandwiches, fresh fruit and cookies you packed in there.

 

[PoohJen]

yeah, that's confusing...is it that they don't want food out in the open, but if it's zipped in the cooler you're toting, that's okay?

 

[bicker]

This main issue is pests, such as aphids. Inadvertant carrying of microbes or pests has often caused utter decimation of critical agriculture, putting many farmers out of business, and leaving many many workers without jobs, not to mention the economic and social damage to the nations or states affected. Some places are more vigorous about enforcement than others, but all places with any significant agriculture face serious risks from any fruit or vegetables carried in from anyplace else, including (and perhaps especially) from the United States (since our own agriculture is so often protected by chemical pesticides).

Australia, for a time, and perhaps still, sprayed incoming tourists with a disinfectant that flight attendants and frequent travelers worry may be causing them long-term health problems due to their repeated exposure. (The Aussie government recognized the danger when I asked, but said their agriculture was too important to risk.)

 

[KyCruisinSusan]

So does that mean it's ok to take a ham sandwich, in a ziplock baggy, off the ship as long as you dont have lettuce on it?

What about cookies? I know about the aphids problem, but wouldn't it be alright to take non agricultural foods off the ship.

I would hate to think of some microbe jumping off my sandwich or cookies and destroying the agricultural economy of a country.

 

[bicker]

Baked goods are extremely unlikely to be a problem. Baked goods with fruit are another story. Fig newtons, for example. Cooked meats are almost always waived through, at least on agricultural grounds, so ham and bread is probably fine. Lettuce, as you pointed out, would be problematic.

 

[DrCavin]

It may be lame, but that seemed to be what was happening. We even saw a Mom & her Son sitting next to the station where they check you out eating pizza. They would not allow them to take if off the ship.

I am sure Disney knows that food is probably in the coolers, but they don't want to take the time to have everyone open them to inspect or something....