Dropping off luggage to relatives at port of call, is this OK?

Cozumel is one of our Western Caribbean ports in September. I have family in Cozumel and would like to drop off luggage for them. It will just contain gifts like clothes, shoes and food. Nothing perishable. Will they allow me take the luggage off the ship?

I just want to make sure before I make the journey paying for one extra luggage then be sent back to my room because I can't take luggage off the ship.

Thanks.

I can't see why you wouldn't be able to do that. Except for the food.

This would have to be cleared with the cruise line in advance, since the luggage and its contents are being "imported" into Mexico, it will need to be declared to Customs.

Food is a "no-no" unless it's prepackaged and non-perishable. Otherwise, you shouldn't have any problem!

You may you may want to look at this website:

http://www.sat.gob.mx/BienvenidoaMexico/Paginas/mercancia_puedes_ingresar_eng.html

Food is a "no-no" unless it's prepackaged and non-perishable. Otherwise, you shouldn't have any problem!

Once again, you are giving uninformed (and incorrect) assurances. There are limits to the value of goods which may be imported - and even to the dollar amount of US currency.

Depending upon the value of what is involved, there could very well be problems.

Check with your closest Mexican embassy or consulate. You probably wouldn't cause anyone to notice if you took the gifts in a backpack instead of luggage since a lot of folks getting off the ship will be carrying backpacks.

Lugging this stuff with you and worrying about if you can or can't do this is better than just shipping the stuff to them?

It's not always about saving $ sometimes it's about convenience and logistics

Just sayin

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Occasionally a port is skipped. I'll second the knapsack idea. Go with 2, if necessary. Do any ships tender at Cozumel? That might be an issue.

Check with your closest Mexican embassy or consulate. You probably wouldn't cause anyone to notice if you took the gifts in a backpack instead of luggage since a lot of folks getting off the ship will be carrying backpacks.

You are making an assumption that the goods that the OP wants to bring will fit in a back pack. I got the impression from the original post that they OP is talking about a lot more stuff than that.

Years ago we did this, in Honduras, to take things to a missionary. That was in the days when CC allowed discussion of such things. Unfortunately, some of "the faithful" got into arguments over who was more deserving of charity.

We informed the cruise line in advance and were advised who to contact on the ship at boarding, to provide a complete inventory and also that the Honduras officials made the decision at the time.

We attended the clearance meeting at the port, were briefly questioned by the Honduras officials and were escorted off the ship with our bags.

We didn't ship the stuff because, in addition to the expense, some of it was heavy and also because stuff had a tendency to "disappear" in transit.

I can't see why you wouldn't be able to do that. Except for the food.

It must clear Mexican customs which means there has to be an offficial prresent to inspcet an You lilkely should contact your cruise line in advance to let them know your wish and see if they can arrange for proper offficial to be available.

Do be aware that going to the scheduled ports of call is not guaranteed. Though unlikely, you could end up bringing that bag back home.

Ship it. Insure it. If it doesn't get to its destination file a claim

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We have done in it in Europe and the Middle East... we do not carry a suite case into port simply put the gifts we have for family in bags and go ashore... no one ever questioned or even asked to see what we have. There is more security getting back on the ship than off... same when fly... taking gifts to family.

Agree that generally the cruise line doesn't care what you carry off. Mexico, however, may care what you carry in. I think the people suggested a knapsack were suggesting that OP scale back on what they planned to bring. If they bring less and carry off only a bookbag, it's unlikely to get attention. Most passengers carry off a large bag for beach stuff.

A suitcase is much more likely to get attention, both from the standpoint of making sure you don't plan to 'miss the ship' and stay in Mexico and if they are importing goods. So if you move forward with the suitcase plan just do your homework on what you can bring into Mexico and amounts. You may owe taxes.

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Ship it. Insure it. If it doesn't get to its destination file a claim

 

 

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Some times family have to pay duty, if items are shipped... even for gifts.

Some times family have to pay duty, if items are shipped... even for gifts.

I wasn't suggesting they don't pay it

Is the reason the op asked this question simply so duty isn't paid?

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I wasn't suggesting they don't pay it

 

Is the reason the op asked this question simply so duty isn't paid?

 

 

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Not necessarily. But the question was about dropping off "luggage" - not just a "gift"; which does suggest that OP was thinking about the simplest way of getting a fair amount of stuff into Mexico - which does imply avoiding hassle of shipping and paying for any costs (including duty).

As was said before, carrying off a back pack and a large beach bag is not a problem anywhere (not food). I have seen the crew unload a lot of large boxes and other items for schools in Ecuador and Brazil. In Manila, crew took off gifts for family in really large bags that they were able to carry. So it is possible, but I don't know about Mexico. I don't remember seeing any customs officers or other officials in Cozumel. Some other ports around the world have bio product checks with sniffer dogs.

You will need to check with the cruise line.

Keith

You are making an assumption that the goods that the OP wants to bring will fit in a back pack. I got the impression from the original post that they OP is talking about a lot more stuff than that.

I'm going with the assumption the OP wants to low key this. Not bother with getting cruise line permission, dealing with customs and possibly paying duty. Two passengers, each with a back pack should be able to leave the ship without an issue.. Reduce the amount of stuff and the OP might save a lot of aggravation.

A suitcase, packed with clothing, new with tags, might easily exceed the duty free allowance. A back pack with used clothing, or at least clothing washed once, not as much.

We live in Belize. Customs is up to 50% of the value of gifts. We can bring a small amount of "stuff" for personal use.

We took a cruise out of Miami that stopped in Belize. We did a fair amount of shopping in Miami for both gifts, Clothing for the cruise and a lot of personal stuff to take home.

We just packed our back packs full and got off the ship and sent the bags to our house on the island.

I'm going with the assumption the OP wants to low key this. Not bother with getting cruise line permission, dealing with customs and possibly paying duty. Two passengers, each with a back pack should be able to leave the ship without an issue.. Reduce the amount of stuff and the OP might save a lot of aggravation.

 

 

A suitcase, packed with clothing, new with tags, might easily exceed the duty free allowance. A back pack with used clothing, or at least clothing washed once, not as much.

Unless the OP lives in Mexico, why would you suggest he/she has a duty free allowance? Also.......... those to whom he/she is giving the 'suitcase', who li ve in Mexcico, don't get duty free allowance.... Ha d they been on the ship an left with gthe other t ourists, they woldl receive the items while on the ship and would make a customs declarration. tio...... If they have not left the country, they don't get a duty free allowance for receiving a gift.

Unless the OP lives in Mexico, why would you suggest he/she has a duty free allowance? Also.......... those to whom he/she is giving the 'suitcase', who li ve in Mexcico, don't get duty free allowance.... Ha d they been on the ship an left with gthe other t ourists, they woldl receive the items while on the ship and would make a customs declarration. tio...... If they have not left the country, they don't get a duty free allowance for receiving a gift.

Duty-free allowance

Duty-free allowance is a tax exemption granted by the Mexican Government to a national or foreign passenger for certain merchandise he is bringing in Mexico.

• Passengers entering Mexico by land are allowed to import merchandise additional to their baggage for up to $300.00 USD.*
  
• Persons that reside in the north border are allowed to import merchandise for up to $150.00 USD.*
  
• During holiday periods –Easter, Summer, Christmas, New Year-, passengers may import up to $500.00 USD.*1
  
• Passengers entering Mexico by air or a maritime port may import up to $500.00 USD.