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Taking alcohol ashore partway through a cruise


wilepuff
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We live in Panama and are planning to take a cruise through the Panama Canal in May 2017, leaving from Florida and stopping in Colon, Panama. There are some alcohol products that are not available in Panama, so we would like to go shopping in Florida, and when we visit Colon we would take the bottles home. Each person is allowed to import three bottles of liquor into the country, and it would not be Duty Free products anyway.

We contacted Celebrity who could not give us an answer, even after contacting the ship. We plan to try again closer to the time, but perhaps somebody out there knows if it is possible? Maybe the Cruise Director can babysit our bottles rather than sending them to "jail" for the entire cruise?

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Celebrity's alcohol policy is quite clear. You can't bring it on board at embarkation. The only exception is the 2 bottles of wine/champagne per cabin. Alcohol purchased during the cruise is held and not returned to you until the evening before final debarkation.

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We live in Panama and are planning to take a cruise through the Panama Canal in May 2017, leaving from Florida and stopping in Colon, Panama. There are some alcohol products that are not available in Panama, so we would like to go shopping in Florida, and when we visit Colon we would take the bottles home. Each person is allowed to import three bottles of liquor into the country, and it would not be Duty Free products anyway.

We contacted Celebrity who could not give us an answer, even after contacting the ship. We plan to try again closer to the time, but perhaps somebody out there knows if it is possible? Maybe the Cruise Director can babysit our bottles rather than sending them to "jail" for the entire cruise?

 

 

Unless "import" or what you are buying is somehow "illegal" in Panama (Everclear?), why not just have stuff shipped to you from the Florida store or from an online retailer. The few dollars you may save by carting bottles around really seems to be "pennywise and pound foolish."

 

 

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As referred to in the above response the "jail" where alcohol purchases are "held for safekeeping" exists for bottles brought on board at intermediate ports to be carried off once returning to the USA. Technically bringing hard liquor on board at embarkation is a violation of the cruise contract--so you need it in writing from corporate before you sail that you have permission to do so. If you are thinking about "playing dumb" and just having it stored on board and then begging for mercy when your reach Colon, know that contraband discovered before initial sailaway is often "held" not on board but at the port--which will make things real complicated as I assume you are on an open-jaw rather than round-trip cruise.

 

 

Beyond this, it is very possible that allowing a passenger to bring "foreign goods for import" on the ship with the intent of taking them off in Colon is a violation of Celebrity's contract with the port of Colon as a vessel of "day visitors only" not cargo. Even if not Celebrity has to arrange for a custom's inspection of whatever goods you are importing; should all these obstacles be overcome and Celebrity choose to make the effort specifically for you, you may find the cost of the arrangement passed on to you.

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Assuming the cruise is also going to end in Florida, why don't you just buy it then? And then put it in your checked luggage when you fly home? As others have said, you won't be able to bring it onto the cruise with you at embarkation.

 

 

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Assuming the cruise is also going to end in Florida, why don't you just buy it then? And then put it in your checked luggage when you fly home? As others have said, you won't be able to bring it onto the cruise with you at embarkation.

 

 

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A full transit Panama Canal cruise may end in a different port. I understand what OP is trying to do... taking bottles of liquor home in your luggage on a flight is a pain. It takes up room in your checked bag and there's the risk of breakage. Purchasing in Florida and carrying off in colon would be easier if it was allowed. OPs best shot would probably be to purchase the liquor on the cruise, if it's available. Then they don't have to worry about getting caught w the liquor at embarkation and can get an answer straight away on whether or not they will be allowed to take it off with them in port. Worst case scenario it would make more sense to purchase the liquor at their debarkation port and fly home with it rather than carry it the length of the cruise or have it tossed upon boarding.

 

 

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