Taking food off the ship

[monkeybird]

if I brought things like plastic containers and Ziploc bags, I would be able to take sandwiches or salads off the ship for excursions, right? I'm specifically thinking about a long one that does not include lunch and will be in the "wilderness".
We're a hangry family. It's not pretty.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

if I brought things like plastic containers and Ziploc bags, I would be able to take sandwiches or salads off the ship for excursions, right? I'm specifically thinking about a long one that does not include lunch and will be in the "wilderness".
We're a hangry family. It's not pretty.

No. Generally, the only food allowed to be taken off are prepackaged, commercially prepared items. Like granola bars, boxed cereal, and fruit snack pouches.

Baggies, and plastic containers don't work.

And, in some ports, if you're caught taking food off that's not allowed you could incur severe fines.

 

[monkeybird]

Shoot. Not what I wanted to hear. But obviously appreciate the response, @PrincessShmoo. I should mention that this is an Alaskan cruise, in case that makes a difference.

 

[elvispursley]

I believe that unless it's in a factory sealed package, you are not allowed to take food off the ship per customs. That's why if you're going to request the PBJ from room service (they're Uncrustables) you need to request it be left in the sealed package. Fruit is also not to be taken off the ship. Stinks when it comes to long excursions over lunch (we had to have our taxi stop so we could buy veggie snacks as we weren't sure our private tour operator would provide non-meat options).

 

[monkeybird]

I believe that unless it's in a factory sealed package, you are not allowed to take food off the ship per customs. That's why if you're going to request the PBJ from room service (they're Uncrustables) you need to request it be left in the sealed package. Fruit is also not to be taken off the ship. Stinks when it comes to long excursions over lunch (we had to have our taxi stop so we could buy veggie snacks as we weren't sure our private tour operator would provide non-meat options).

Thanks. The availability of vegan-friendly options at port is definitely a concern for me...

 

[PrincessShmoo]

That's why if you're going to request the PBJ from room service (they're Uncrustables) you need to request it be left in the sealed package.

It's my understanding that room service will not deliver the Uncrustables in the package any longer. For just that reason, perishables typically are not allowed off the ship.

 

[monkeybird]

What a bummer. Thanks for letting me know!

 

[elvispursley]

Thanks. The availability of vegan-friendly options at port is definitely a concern for me...

We are lacto-ovo so things were a little bit easier for us (not much)--ended up getting fruit, some cheese, and crackers. Our tour operator had granola bars, chips, and other snack foods, but when you're snorkeling all day...I would hope being in AK you might have an easier time of finding something (but then again, it might be when you're vegetarian and visiting Texas--LOL, j/k, I lived in Texas and could live off Tex/Mex. Good luck finding something to eat!

 

[cruisehopeful]

Shoot. Not what I wanted to hear. But obviously appreciate the response, . I should mention that this is an Alaskan cruise, in case that makes a difference.

They wouldn't even let people take off a cup of coffee off of the ship in Juneau. Each port is different about what they allow you bring with you into the port. The good news is the ship isn't really that far in any of the ports and you could get back to eat and still go do other things. Of course, if you are on an excursion, you won't be able to do that. I think they will allow sealed packages of things like nuts and trail mix. They don't search backpacks, though.

 

[monkeybird]

We are lacto-ovo so things were a little bit easier for us (not much)--ended up getting fruit, some cheese, and crackers. Our tour operator had granola bars, chips, and other snack foods, but when you're snorkeling all day...I would hope being in AK you might have an easier time of finding something (but then again, it might be when you're vegetarian and visiting Texas--LOL, j/k, I lived in Texas and could live off Tex/Mex. Good luck finding something to eat!

Thanks. I'll pack a bunch of snacks and hope for the best. Fortunately, there will be food on the ship upon my return. And yes, love Mexican food!

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Shoot. Not what I wanted to hear. But obviously appreciate the response, @PrincessShmoo. I should mention that this is an Alaskan cruise, in case that makes a difference.

Where in the "wilderness" of Alaska are you going to be? And how are you getting there?

 

[oufpat]

And I'm wondering about the Med Cruise, I know there is a lot to see and I'd rather just snack during day.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

And I'm wondering about the Med Cruise, I know there is a lot to see and I'd rather just snack during day.

Believe me, there are lots of places everywhere where you can pick a "little something" to eat.

 

[Geomom]

As far as Juneau, if you go to Mendenhall Glacier they don't want you to have any kind of food OR flavored drink on you due to the bears. We had sealed packs of nuts and cracker sandwiches and had to leave them on the Juneautours glacier express bus--the driver let us leave them up front and said if we go back on the same bus (there is a different bus every 1/2 hr) we could have our snacks back. We did manage to time it right...the driver had changed, but our snacks were still there--and my hangry kids were very very happy about that and ate them on the bus ride back into town.

 

[monkeybird]

Where in the "wilderness" of Alaska are you going to be? And how are you getting there?

In the Ketchikan area. We'll be in private vans. We'll just have to ask them to drive us to the store to pick up food before we set off for the actual excursion, I guess.

 

[monkeybird]

As far as Juneau, if you go to Mendenhall Glacier they don't want you to have any kind of food OR flavored drink on you due to the bears. We had sealed packs of nuts and cracker sandwiches and had to leave them on the Juneautours glacier express bus--the driver let us leave them up front and said if we go back on the same bus (there is a different bus every 1/2 hr) we could have our snacks back. We did manage to time it right...the driver had changed, but our snacks were still there--and my hangry kids were very very happy about that and ate them on the bus ride back into town.

Thank you, Geomom. I wouldn't bring food into pristine nature, but I appreciate your warning.

 

[ALK$Disney]

They don't really check bags and backpacks when you leave port....just saying

 

[EastYorkDisneyFan]

Something to keep in mind the food that will be onboard the ship in Alkas will most lily be loaded in well the ship is in Canada even if it is something that is exported from the US like Oranges it still can not be brought back across the border again aka off the ship.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

They don't really check bags and backpacks when you leave port....just saying

Haven't you seen the food sniffing dogs? I have.

And, yes, I've seen people made to open their bags and remove illegal fruit/food to be dumped in the trash cans.

 

[FigmentSpark]

It's not a DCL rule. It's a law of the land. When you get off the ship in a port, you are entering a country and going through customs of a sort. You may not have to present forms and a passport, but you are required to abide by the laws of what you can and can not bring into the country.

When I drive across the border from Canada to Buffalo or Grand Forks or Minot, etc. I am asked if I have any citrus fruit or meats with me. I can't even bring an orange into the U.S. at a northern port, because I might save it until I've driven to Florida or California. And even if that orange came from one of those states, the customs people have no way of knowing. So the law bans the importing of certain foods to protect the economies of their agricultural states. When you leave the ship in Alaska, you are entering U.S. territory. And even if your food was bought in Seattle (but then how did you get it into Canada to get on the ship?), you still can't bring it into the U.S. because they don't know if you bought it there or not?

So, sneaking foods off the ship is akin to smuggling contraband into another country.

Think about that before you decide they won't notice. What if they do?