Taking Food Items Off the Ship

[MamaCrush]

Are we allowed (or more to the point-- can it be done!) to take snack items off the ship in a cooler or whatever, at disembarkation? Would be nice to have a few post-cruise goodies on the drive back to NC!

 

[figment52]

The rule is the only food items that may be removed from the ship are those in prepackaged sealed containers/packaging. Cookies, candy, crackers et al in their original containers/packaging. Absolutely no fresh fruit or veggies or meat and no treats from the dining room, room service or other food stations or any food wrapped in a napkin.

If you de-board after the second seating of breakfast you will notice that there is a table of food just prior to baggage claim where the policy is restated and passengers that were unaware of the rule left behind the food they were going to take off the ship. It seems like such a waste of food. It is better to know the policy before hand. Thanks for asking.

It would be better to plan a quick trip to the grocery store before you start the drive home.

You didn't ask but I will warn you, there have been many reports of ants at the port. Many cruisers have left crumbs and food in their car at the port to return and find ant colonies have taken up residence in their vehicles. If you leave food in the vehicle at port make sure they are in air tight containers and no trace of crumbs.

 

[Pooh_Friend#1]

Can food be taken off the ship like PBJ sandwiches and chips for a picnic on the beach at a port?

 

[dclwdwlover]

We kept a closed cooler of drinks & packaged food (nothing that would melt) in our car & had no problem. Just snacks - small boxed cereals, granola bars, etc., but at least we had some snacks for the trip until we stopped for a meal several hours later.

 

[tkd lisa]

As far as taking food off at the ports, on our first Western trip in May 01, we took several room service sandwiches on our snorkling excursion. We were snorkling from 8:30 til 1:30 and figured the kids would want something to eat. We had no problems doing this, and just had our own zip locks and a soft sided cooler. I haven't heard of anyone specifically doing this lately, but it worked well for us. With all the swimming the kids were pretty hungry when I pulled the sandwiches out between the 2nd and 3rd stops.

 

[jgalecpa]

I still remember fondly my sandwiches I ate from room service, while out at Stingray city on a boat from Capt Marvins.

We brought along a bunch of zip lock bags and a soft sided cooler.

Stocked up the night before and kept them in the room fridge.

Next day we had a good lunch.

Worked great.

Jim

 

[Pooh_Friend#1]

Good, I hope they still will let us do that. I would like to take some sandwiches out on Costa Maya. I know they have restaurants and bars but last time I was in Mexico, Puerto Vallarta, I was very careful with everything I ate and drank and still came home very sick. I don't want to be sick on the cruise after eating something in Mexico.

 

[ivanova]

as long as the food is in an ice chest or bag (not out in the open) they've let us take food off the ship at ports ... but they are VERY strict and do not allow you to take off food (or opened partially used bottles of alcohol) when you disembark at the end of the trip.

 

[jrabbit]

All of the other countries don't care if you bring food off of the ship but back home, the USDA really doesn't want any forgien "pests" sneaking into the country hiding in some uneaten food.

I can understand, but then again I can't really understand. All of the food served on the ships is loaded from inside the US ... so we can take it away but can't bring it back home.

Kinda like California. THey have checkpoints on the major roads and ask if you are bringing in any fruit. The funny thing about this is the fruit they don't want you bringing in is the same fruit that they shipped to our grocerystores a few days earlier!