Customs Alert!!!

[bucsat1]

We just got back from a great time on Explorer of the Seas 3/27-4/3. Upon disembarkation, we encountered a little problem in the form of a rude customs agent, and I have some advice that may save others similar hassles.

 

My wife and I purchased well under $1000 worth of goods on the trip, including that which we bought aboard ship, and that from the ports. This being the case, I was absolutely (and correctly) confident that we were way under our combined duty free limit. I didn't bother to carefully tally the purchases as most people don't, and penciled in $800 on the declaration form. I also didn't have receipts at the ready and never have in the past dozen or so cruises.

 

At the cursory customs interview booth, the agent looked at my form, and also noticed the new Movado watch on my wrist that I had purchased in the Caymans for $420. He skeptically asked me if I was leaving out any declarative value and sarcasticlly mentioned the apparently new watch. I assured him that my declaration was truthful and that I was sure we were way under the allotted limit. Not being satisfied, he asked us to step into the back for further interrogation. We approached a sour looking fellow who tersely told us to place all of our bags onto the table in front of his. The porter we had engaged politely and patiently waited with the bulk of our belonging on his hand truck.

 

At this point, the agent asked me for the receipt to my watch. I replied that I didn't have it handy and my wife and I began digging through things and pulling apart our carry-ons in search of the receipt. As we looked, he began to also go through our stuff and took apart several boxes that held inexpensive trinkets we had accumulated. I told him that the watch had cost just over $400 dollars but he obviously had his doubts. He matter-of-factly informed us that it was our responsibility to prove the worth of the items we had bought, and if we had underdeclared, regardless of how much under the allowable limit we were, we would have our merchandise seized and would pay a hefty fine. Just as we were about to dive into the carefully packed bags on the porter's cart, he gestured to the lady agent seated behind him and asked her to have a look at the watch. She took one look and quickly confirmed that my estimation was "about right". Reluctantly, he motioned us through without so much as a "have a nice day".

 

Once outside, the porter told us of a woman in recent weeks that had bought a $2000 dollar watch aboard ship for her husband's approaching birthday. Hoping to surprise the next week, she didn't declare the watch, and carefully concealed it in her suitcase. When they came to the customs window, the agent looked at their declaration sheet and asked if there was anything they were leaving out. She insisted that there was not. He again asked her the same question, saying he was giving her one more chance to truthfully answer. Again she denied his request. At this point they were escorted to the back and their luggage was thoroughly searched as she embassingly confessed the concealed watch. The watch was seized, and they had to pay ten times the required duty as a penalty.

 

***NOTE***

 

When you approach the customs window, the agent already has computer access to all shipboard purchases you have made. This is supplied by the cruiseline in advance. If your declaration amount is less that the ship's tally, you will automatically be searched and fined accordingly. This only applies to items purchased on the ship, not in port. My advice just to save the hassle: Don't wear your most expensive purchases off the ship in sight og the customs personnel. It raises unnecessary suspicion and could cause you a lot of grief.

 

Question:

 

What happens to the person that wears their new Rolex they bought a few weeks prior to sailing? They obviously don't have that receipt with them. How do they possibly prove they didn't purchase it on the trip?

[LBB]

I had the same question a few weeks ago when I got a new watch. My parents were on another ship and bought the watch for me there. I was worried that the customs agents would think I bought it during my trip next month. The watch actually came with a card that has the ship name and date on it....I'm going to have that with me just in case.

[Shar27]

***NOTE***

 

When you approach the customs window, the agent already has computer access to all shipboard purchases you have made. This is supplied by the cruiseline in advance. If your declaration amount is less that the ship's tally, you will automatically be searched and fined accordingly. This only applies to items purchased on the ship, not in port. My advice just to save the hassle: Don't wear your most expensive purchases off the ship in sight og the customs personnel. It raises unnecessary suspicion and could cause you a lot of grief.

 

 

Oh my gosh! That is so interesting and good to know. Thanks for the info.

 

Sharonna

[dc-snoopy]

One thing we did on the Jewel in February. We had a bag (just one of the regular plastic bags that we got when we bought chachki) that we put all our receipts for items in. At the end of the night I just emptied my pockets and went through the receipts...ones for drinks or such were tossed...ones for items went into the bag. We then had all of them for when we put together our list. We also had one place where we put all of our souvenir shopping and when we packed, we just checked off the items on the list as we packed them into the suitcases...a great way to doublecheck the list.

[loudbmw]

Packed away with my passport is a copy of the receipt and for the duty paid for my watch. I bring it on every cruise in case they ask.

 

Customs has a job to do and a nice new watch or ring is going to trigger a few questions. As the original poster said, be honest, be prepared with receipts (even if you purchased a big ticket item in the U.S.) and you will have no problem. Almost every customs official I have met in 15 cruises has been professional and nice to me.

 

Get caught trying to hide stuff is a sure ticket to get the custom officials less friendly side.

 

Lou

[Arizona Cruz Chic]

Quite a story! Thanks for the heads up, sorry you had such a tough time getting through customs. :eek:

 

***

[springtxbill]

I believe that the large shops in the ports also report the large sales to the Customs dept. When the Immigration person pulls your name up on the computerhe knows all about you including your past history. he then makes a code mark on the Customs form that the person taking the form knows what to ask you. He knows the answer before asking the question, so don't think about sneaking something through.

[erin_cruisers]

BUSCAT1:

Sorry to hear of your grief at customs. I too have a story to share...

Quite a few years ago, my father took his nice new GMC Duelly Crew Cab and new 5th Wheel trailer with his family to Florida for a 4 week holiday.

While down there he purchased several new Scuba tanks and various other gear. He also purchased a new 35 horse Evenrude outboard motor for his Zodiac.

When re-entering Canada, he declared most of the items he bought but oops! forgot about the outboard motor.

He used the motor a couple of times before the summer boating season ended.

Then one day - a knock on the door. They identified themselves as Customs agents, and asked about Dad's trip. Very friendly like.

Then they asked about his purchases. He said "Oh you know, just the usual stuff".

Then they asked about the outboard :0 Well he almost fell off his chair!

They said they knew about it, and why didn't he declare it? He denied it of course, and as they were leaving they said to him, "We can do this easy, or we can do this the hard way" Whats it gonna be?

They gave him exactly one week to fess up and have the motor ready. Otherwise they would come back with a warrant for the motor, his truck, and his trailer (conveyenences of said motor).

Needless to say he had the motor ready the next week, which they took, and said "Thanks!"

Before they left he asked how they knew. They said easy - the storeowner called them!!!

He knew they werent' locals, and because Dad paid with a credit card, they had all the paper trail they needed. They also said the storeowner got a little reward for calling these things in.

It was a hard lesson for my Dad, and I learned something that day too. (Never pay by credit card! ;-) NO, just kidding)!!!

[TrentS]

If you have an expensive watch the easiest thing to do is declare it BEFORE you leave. All you have to do is go to a Custom's office and fill out a form, they look at the item and make sure the serial numbers match, then stamp it. Carry the form and you won't be questioned. I've been asked about my watch several times, show them that form, and that's it.

 

When I buy things out of the country I try to keep them all in the same bag if possible, and keep all receipts for merchandise in an envelope with the total down to the penny (and rate I exchanged it to US$ at if applicable) on the outside of the envelope. When asked I hand them the envelope of receipts, they look through them, see that I'm well organized and let me go.

 

It doesn't pay to try and sneak anything though, the duty is very small - The fine isn't!

[journey2002]

Are you only allowed to only purchase a certain amount over seas?

[sleepybert]

I always make sure I have my receipts with me when re-entering Canada. In all the trips I've taken, even just across the bridge to the US. I've only had 1 Cdn agent who was having a bad day and taking it out on everyone. But, when you don't have anything to hide it's usually ok. I do know someone recently that got searched in the back room on his way back into Canada. They said that it was random, but 1 person out of 300, isn't very random for that type of search.

[bob278]

There is a customs form (4457) that I fill out before we leave. I get it stamped in the customs office (where I get the form) at our outbound airport. On it, you can list any expensive items you have and that will stop any questions. Since the kinds of things I put on it don't change too often, I only have to do this about every other year. What I list includes laptop, digital cameras, nice watches (I list both our watches - not that they are so expensive, but one is a Seiko and one is a Bulova and some of those are pretty expensive).

 

If you are asked about a camera (or whatever) and it is on that form, you are saved from any further hassle.

 

I like the idea of a single bag or place for all receipts. The only problem with that is my wife and I frequently buy something as a surprise for the other. So maybe we can leave the surprise off the declaration form, but if questioned, can say "oops" and show that we are under the limit.

[Schplinky]

I find that if you are clutching all your receipts with a pice of paper tallying the amounts, you rarely get asked much. I suppose you coud look too eager to throw the scent but I don't think most customs officers would question you if you have all the info. together when yo get to them. Sometimes, it seems like they're "punishing" folks who get to the front of the line and have nothing ready.

[Michuck]

I don't recall going thru customs where they have a computer to look up your name. The first place you go thru after leaving the ship is immigration, and they're not checking for customs items. The second place AFTER you've picked up your luggage, is customs - which is just before you walk out the door, and I don't recall them checking names against a computer.....maybe I'm just not remembering right....??

 

Michele

[suziehmkr]

And this depends on your port. Ports like San Diego, you don't even go thru Immigration or Customs... it is a breeze. All customs forms are filled out the night before and their system allows them to just call questionable people before the passengers are released. So they don't even see what you are wearing or what is in your carry on.

 

Thanks for the heads up... it is always good information to know, especially if you have been spoiled in ports like San Diego and didn't think it was much different in any other ports.

[teker]

Several years back I purchased a Bose system in St Thomas and the agent helped me work it so I stayed under the limit. He was very helpful.

[cruiseco]

Are you only allowed to only purchase a certain amount over seas?

 

You can purchase as much as you'd like but at some point there's an import duty that has to be paid. How much that duty is and at what point it's owed depends on the items purchased and from what country.

 

http://www.customs.gov/xp/cgov/travel/vacation/us_citizens/faqs.xml

[firstcruise05]

Hmmm...this is very interesting. Thank you for this thread, I had no idea about any of this. So...I will be sure to keep my receipts in a handy place. Just one question...I don't understand the confiscation thing. So, say you buy a watch and don't declare it...then they just take it from you forever and you're out the money that you used to buy it? Or do they take it from you just until you pay the import duty? I'm not planning on doing a whole lot of shopping or lying about it but I'd hate to get something confiscated for good just because my paperwork isn't in order.

[suezyq50]

Does this mean you shouldn't wear rings? :confused: I am concerned about this. My DH bought me a blue saphire with diamonds on our last cruise for our 30th anniversary. I never take it off. I sure don't want any problems.

[Linda/Ohio]

I wouldn't be concerned about the jewelry that you normally wear---it is pretty easy to tell that it is not "brand new". I have some very nice stuff and usually wear a ring, a Movado and take a couple of necklaces. My husband wears a Rolex. If an agent actually looks at your stuff they can tell a watch that is brand-spanking new to one that has a bit of wear on it.

 

Linda/Ohio

[shipknotshore]

Very interesting thread. On one of our cruises I had purchased 5 cartons of cigarettes (lots cheaper on board than at home). I put them on our form and the customs agent asked me about it. We were completely honest and the agent let us through without having to pay the add'l. duty. I believe that you can only bring 1 carton per adult back without paying add'l. duty. I think being honest will pay off. I won't have to worry about it this cruise, I've quit smoking since then. :D

[sweetjem]

Hello we have purchased 2 things that total 9,000 in Jewerly I have just put it on and wore it home no problem so far.

[MichTraveler]

I usually do not spend much money shopping abroad. A T-shirt or two, maybe a cheap trinket or postcard. When we returned from the Caribbean, we put zero on our declaration card.

At customs, the Agent asked "nothing?" and we said "Yes, nothing."

He asked "What about alchol?" We said, "nope -- don't drink."

He asked "What about cigarettes?" We said, "nope - don't smoke."

He asked "What about T-shirts or something?" We said, "nope, not this trip."

He asked "What about some jewelry?" My DH said, "nope, she's a cheap date!"

 

I guess he was convinced because he let us through and was laughing at us pretty hard.

[dc-snoopy]

I don't recall going thru customs where they have a computer to look up your name. The first place you go thru after leaving the ship is immigration, and they're not checking for customs items. The second place AFTER you've picked up your luggage, is customs - which is just before you walk out the door, and I don't recall them checking names against a computer.....maybe I'm just not remembering right....??

 

Michele

 

When we went through customs at Port Everglades (Ft Lauderdale) in February, there was a guy sitting there at the porter check out and he had a clipboard...he was collecting the forms that we handed over and he was barely glancing at the clipboard or forms. I just assumed that they had already reviewed the records of those people who were under the max duty-free limit and were waving those people through...and perhaps stopping and questioning anyone who was over.

[eyeskatermum]

I agree, go to the customs window before you leave your home airport. I did that once an kept it in my passport case for 10 years with all the camera equipment listed.

 

I had no problems this weekend coming into Puerto Rico on the Adventure. They were more concerned about Fruits and Vegies and Living plants than about the Jewelry. Our ship-board bill was over $2,000 for the six of us (we used one credit card), and our purchases all totalled over $800 per couple.

 

I always remember that customs agents have more power than local police and to smile and be friendly, but not overly. All of us had jewelry on and not one piece was questioned. You can encounter a bad experience anywhere, I would not label the entire customs force as awful just because of one time. One one Voyager Class Ship alone they are clearing over 3000 people in very little time. Sometimes there are three ships in port. Patience is a must under these kinds of conditions.