? re: taking food off ship

[cruise pup]

Lucky you.

 

Yes, lucky to have taken 50 cruises :D I don't take food off the ship. This was just my observations which should count for something.

[caribill]

I've been on over 50 cruises and not once have I seen anyone stopped and asked to open their bags for inspection when disembarking in a port of call.

 

I have not been on 50 cruises, but on multiple pccasions every bag and purse coming off the ship was looked into by local authorities. Some ports had dogs sniffing the passengers and bags also.

[junglejane]

I've posted this story before but I'll repeat it. This happened to us on disembarkation in San Pedro (not at a port of call) in March of 2008. We self disembarked from the Golden Princess after a Mexican Riviera cruise. Our family of four was selected (at random maybe?) for a special screening by the Dept. of Agriculture. We went through the passport check and then were escorted to a room where we were questioned thoroughly about whether or not we had any fruits or vegetables. We said we did not. They asked us if we were sure. We said we were sure. Really really sure? Yes, we were certain. Then they ran all of our luggage through some screening machines similar to the airport X-ray machines. The officer in charge, looking very serious and grim, said, "I'm going to ask you one last time whether you have any fruits or vegetables. And I have to warn you that there is a fine (I think he said $30,000!) if you are caught bringing in fruits or vegetables and it is a criminal offense. So think carefully before you answer."

 

At this point I was getting nervous about whether or not one of the kids had stuck a banana or orange in a bag that I didn't know about. But they denied it. The Agriculture officers then announced that their machine had detected organic matter in one of our suitcases. They opened it up and found my husband's little plastic container of Metamucil (about 4 oz. worth)! I guess that was okay because they let us go. Still, I say don't mess with the folks at USDA or their counterparts in foreign countries!

[Passin Thru]

It is possible that is how stink bugs got to the US and if you havent dealt with them you eventually will. They have spread like wildfire and they get in every crack in you auto door, hood, trunk, underneath and when they get warm while you are in Fl they fly off and you inadvertantly transport them to a new home.

They do not check for fruits and veggies in every state, only FL and CA have Agricultural check points on state lines. Some have aniomal check points for livestock haulers. I drove a produce truck in all the lwr 48 states.

[Passin Thru]

One other thing. We were stopped in Dulles Airport coming home from Italy and the lady said,"Do you have meat or fruit in your backpack." I said ,"No". She said, "Well Daisy says you do, were you carrying food anytime on your trip?" We said yes, we always take bananas". She let us go on our way.

[Astro Flyer]

While our experience was getting off a flight, it showed how serious they are in Australia when we arrived for our cruise.

 

We had trail mix so we told them about it because it contained nuts & for awhile they were going to make us remove all of the almonds before they realized they were not raw & thus okay.

 

Another couple on our flight decided to just keep their trail mix in their bag & the authorities were very upset. When we left the terminal, that couple was still going through a very thorough inspection after being caught not claiming the almonds...and being told they were subject to a fine!

 

Bet the next time they'll claim it & for anyone flying into Sydney for their cruise remember to claim the almonds & let them decide if they are allowed.

[Cruisin' Chick]

Back in 1994 when my then bf (now hubby) was taking me on a trial cruise (one of those one-day gambling specials), he had packed a lunchbox with some snacks for us. When we returned to San Diego, we had to go back through customs and the dog stopped before us. The officer asked if we had any fruit. At first, hubby said no, but then he remembered that he had packed some fruit. He sheepishly opened the lunchbox and there was a banana. That got thrown out by the officer and he admonished us never to do that again.

[1 HappyCruiser]

Just a comment about Princess's information passed on to their passengers- On a B2B trip on the Emerald Princess in May to the Caribbean the only notification received about removing food off the ship was on the paper passed out the last day before entering the US- not a word was printed about the subject in all of the 14 days.

This is not to say that they didn't have a warning somewhere in all their documentation, answer book, information book in the cabin, or posted on a bulletin board somewhere on the ship but you would have to look hard to find it. Also in all of the ports we visited there was not one sign when leaving the ship or on land about the matter nor were there any baggage checks or food sniffing dogs to be seen. It almost appears that they have changed their restrictions in the Caribbean.

If they wanted to pass out an important warning on the matter, don't you think they would have printed it in the Patter that 99 % of the typical cruisers only read for their cruise info. I doubt if 1 % of the people aboard read anything else. They're more interested in what time the dining room opens, when bingo starts and if there is a midnight buffet.

[pablo222]

Taking any type of meat products into New Zealand or Australia is a definite NO-NO. It doesn't matter if it is in a can, sealed in a package or in a sandwich from the buffet. They don't allow it to be brought it, it had nothing to do with the inspectors wanting it for themselves. I would think if you google this, it will explain it all to you. ;)

 

Um.............the original poster is going on an Alaskan cruise.

Unlikely they will be entering New Zealand or Australia.

 

As to enforcement, all I have ever seen is a trash bin in the terminal

with a warning sign for those who 'forget'.

[mytime53]

If the cruise originated in Vancouver, you may want to think about that as the ships are provisioned in Vancouver and the US has no inspection on that food. It could land you in trouble with FDA people. Also at the beginning of the Alaska cruise season ships arrive with food aboard from ....well wherever.

 

I've read the rules:

baked goods--okay

cured cheeses--okay

hard-boiled eggs--okay

items that have been canned or vacuum-packed in jars--okay for personal use (except some meat products)

chocolate and candy--okay

 

And the list goes on, but obviously from what is allowed above, you can make a decent snack/lunch. Would I bring fresh fruit or vegetables off? No. Would I bring meat off? No (not only against the rules, but I don't want something that should be refrigerated, either).

[hansi]

Just off the Crown NE/Canada route and we were reminded that the US government (not the cruise line at all )forbids any vegetables, meat, fruits, to be taken off the ship and INTO the country. Is it worth the hassle for a $2 sandwich if the agriculture department or the homeland security department etc is doing spot checks or even if they are checking because of some other problem (drug information or criminal on the loose) and you get caught up for this minor infraction and it becomes major troubl? I have seen with my own eyes that they do occasionally check and I have had me and my bag sniffed by the friendly doggie. IMHO it is much easier to go to the nearest 7-11 or grocery store and get a fresh sandwich or buy some peanut butter crackers etc (sealed packages NOT opened) and take those in your backpack. This IS for the protection of American agriculture, security and health. Play nice and get your food on the shore.

 

You can get a sandwich for $2! Where?

[Putterdude]

I've read the rules:

baked goods--okay

cured cheeses--okay

hard-boiled eggs--okay

items that have been canned or vacuum-packed in jars--okay for personal use (except some meat products)

chocolate and candy--okay

 

And the list goes on, but obviously from what is allowed above, you can make a decent snack/lunch. Would I bring fresh fruit or vegetables off? No. Would I bring meat off? No (not only against the rules, but I don't want something that should be refrigerated, either).

 

So the cruise line rather than reciting what may or may not be taken ashore simply says ... don't take food ashore. I have no idea how often you cross an a international border but I know of people who have got in trouble with US customs for taking a can of Campbell's Beef Vegetable soup into the US because it contained meat and vegtables. Was the Customs officer correct...no he wasn't but who is inclined to argue with them...they are the final authority.

[mytime53]

I cross borders often. You aren't in trouble if you declare it (I'm talking about coming back into U.S., not going into other countries--the only other countries I have personal experience taking food other than snack bars into are Mexico and the Bahamas).

 

You'd be hard-pressed to find someone who follows the rules more than I do. But you can't live your life worrying about how someone else might incorrectly interpret the rules.

[Weluv2cruise2007]

I've been on over 50 cruises and not once have I seen anyone stopped and asked to open their bags for inspection when disembarking in a port of call.

 

I haven't been on 50 cruises (but it's a goal!) but I've been all over the Caribbean, West Coast US, Alaska and the Med and I've never seen anyone searched getting off either. X-rayed getting on...of course - but getting off has always just been a free-for-all. I guess we are one of the evil risk takers....we ALWAYS take food when we go ashore. Unless we specifically plan to eat in the port, we're often too busy to bother trying to find somewhere to eat or in the case of certain ports a little wary of the local fare so stick to what we know. The IC has been our best resource...we go get a couple of sandwiches every night for the next day. I would never lie about it (that's when you could really get in trouble) but again...I've never seen anyone care. Mind you if I ever end up in a port with armed guards and machine guns I may reconsider...;)

[Astro Flyer]

Just a comment about Princess's information passed on to their passengers- On a B2B trip on the Emerald Princess in May to the Caribbean the only notification received about removing food off the ship was on the paper passed out the last day before entering the US- not a word was printed about the subject in all of the 14 days.

This is not to say that they didn't have a warning somewhere in all their documentation, answer book, information book in the cabin, or posted on a bulletin board somewhere on the ship but you would have to look hard to find it. Also in all of the ports we visited there was not one sign when leaving the ship or on land about the matter nor were there any baggage checks or food sniffing dogs to be seen. It almost appears that they have changed their restrictions in the Caribbean.

If they wanted to pass out an important warning on the matter, don't you think they would have printed it in the Patter that 99 % of the typical cruisers only read for their cruise info. I doubt if 1 % of the people aboard read anything else. They're more interested in what time the dining room opens, when bingo starts and if there is a midnight buffet.

I doubt if the Caribbean island don't have regulations about food being brought ashore. Thus it would appear that someone onboard neglected to post this info in the Patter. Within the past year we sailed the Star twice (Sydney to LA & FLL to Copenhagen) & they had the warnings about removing food from the ship in the Patter before ports of call.

 

I'm sure we've all experienced a lack of standardization on ships so possibly the crew of your ship neglected to put it in the Patter & were wrong not to do it.

[1 HappyCruiser]

You can get a sandwich for $2! Where?

$2 will might buy you one piece of bread for one side of the sandwich in Alaska- never mind the filling. :D

 

I doubt if the Caribbean island don't have regulations about food being brought ashore. Thus it would appear that someone onboard neglected to post this info in the Patter. Within the past year we sailed the Star twice (Sydney to LA & FLL to Copenhagen) & they had the warnings about removing food from the ship in the Patter before ports of call.

 

I'm sure we've all experienced a lack of standardization on ships so possibly the crew of your ship neglected to put it in the Patter & were wrong not to do it.

 

I sure they do have some regulations on most of the Caribbean islands but I haven't seen it posted anywhere in years so I'll stick with the items mentioned by mytime53 which we've been doing for 25 years, even in Cozumel. I'm leaving this week for the Caribbean once again & will make it a point to scour all the information thoroughly for any posting.

People on CC might know a few of the ship rules more than most people but that's only a very small portion of the cruising public and if they had any hope of people not removing food from the ships you think it would be top priority ahead of the shore tours times or where to check you liquor when returning - they never seem to forget the important items that affect the bottom line profits.

[Pam in CA]

Except for a few islands, the Caribbean doesn't depend on agriculture for their economy so they are more relaxed about what you bring off the ship. Same thing for Manaus; the ship packed everyone's lunches for our excursion and put them in insulated bags, which I still have. :)