cavcmy Posted July 3, 2015 #1 Share Posted July 3, 2015 Does anyone who has been on this cruise remember if you were allowed to take food/snacks off the ship for excursions? I know it is not allowed in some countries but reading customs/entry regulations for the various ports on the British Isles cruise, it sounds like you may be able to do it. Thanks for your help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CruiserBruce Posted July 3, 2015 #2 Share Posted July 3, 2015 (edited) If you are asking about Princess policy or procedure, I would be asking on the Princess board. Generally, very few countries allow you to bring food ashore. Edited July 3, 2015 by CruiserBruce Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kamloops50 Posted July 3, 2015 #3 Share Posted July 3, 2015 There is a long thread about this subject . Most if not all countries don't allow food to be brought ashore . Only factory sealed packages are allowed in some countries. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dsrdsrdsr Posted July 3, 2015 #4 Share Posted July 3, 2015 If there is a restriction, I have never heard of it. The only European country I have been to where I have been told no food can be taken ashore, was Iceland. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare BlueRiband Posted July 3, 2015 #5 Share Posted July 3, 2015 (edited) This is a common topic raised by newbies and the answer is no. Many countries are worried that food can contain molds, larve, spores, etc. and devastate the local agriculture. (In 1989 the Mediterranean Fruit Fly, a native of Africa, caused severe damage to California citrus crops. Although a cruise ship was not responsible it's an example of what can happen when an invasive species is introduced.) If you are caught leaving the ship with food you will be required to throw it in the garbage can. Edited July 3, 2015 by BlueRiband Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cb at sea Posted July 4, 2015 #6 Share Posted July 4, 2015 (edited) You may take pre-packaged stuff...cereal, granola bars, crackers, etc....stuff in sealed packages. You may not take off sandwiches, fruit, veggies, meats or cheeses. In most countries, they can fine you..or even, arrest you. On LONG excursions, a meal is usually provided. If it's only a couple hours, eat hearty before you leave the ship! You won't starve...I swear! Edited July 4, 2015 by cb at sea Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare BlueRiband Posted July 4, 2015 #7 Share Posted July 4, 2015 There are more stringent exceptions - Australia doesn't allow any food, even sealed, off ships. (But the OP is cruising the British Isles so sealed stuff should be OK.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare LHT28 Posted July 4, 2015 #8 Share Posted July 4, 2015 (edited) They do have restaurants in the British Isles so no need to go without Pack snack bars or protein bars I take snack bars incase we need something on a tour before the lunch stop or if we do not find food before my blood sugar drops Edited July 4, 2015 by LHT28 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Putterdude Posted July 4, 2015 #9 Share Posted July 4, 2015 Normally the rule is no food may be taken off the ship, but that is the visited country's rule not Princess's. However, I think we are on the same cruise in August and as the ship, the Royal, will be spending the summer in the BIs it will be provisioned in the UK. So if you are comfortable that the British laws permit you leaving the ship with food...why not. La Havre, I would spend some more time looking into it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GUT2407 Posted July 4, 2015 #10 Share Posted July 4, 2015 Factory sealed will be the most you should take ashore, you can do imense damage to a countries agricultural economy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Keith1010 Posted July 4, 2015 #11 Share Posted July 4, 2015 You may take pre-packaged stuff...cereal, granola bars, crackers, etc....stuff in sealed packages. You may not take off sandwiches, fruit, veggies, meats or cheeses. In most countries, they can fine you..or even, arrest you. On LONG excursions, a meal is usually provided. If it's only a couple hours, eat hearty before you leave the ship! You won't starve...I swear! I am sorry to disagree but we have found that taking sandwiches off the ship has been fine in several European Countries we have sailed, while it is clearly not permitted in other countries ranging from the Caribbean to Australia/New Zealand. It really is country specific. I also want to note that not only do some rules vary by cruise line but our experience is that it can change from time to time by the country we are visiting. I do think that CruiserBruce gave good advice which is to ask on the specific cruise line board and I would list the countries being visited. But even with that the original poster needs to confirm all of this once on the ship. Keith Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zqvol Posted July 4, 2015 #12 Share Posted July 4, 2015 People who are posting that it is a blanket no are just incorrect. The cruise lines often have policies that prohibit taking food off of the ships but the rules of the countries where you are docking are often different. The OP needs to investigate the rules in the UK and make a decision. As for the Americans who are chiming in that it is not allowed, unless you have actually taken a cruise inteh UK you have no idea what is allowed and what isn't and your advice is not helpful. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wowzz Posted July 4, 2015 #13 Share Posted July 4, 2015 As someone who was in the food import/export business, can I just say that the UK has no restrictions on bringing into the country any of the type of food items that you would find on any cruise ship - I assume that the OP is not planning on acquiring some raw meat from the galley and smuggling that out in his pocket. The individual cruise line may of course have their own rules about this practise. As has been stated, other countries are much more strict. Australia for example will not let you even bring in a single apple. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wowzz Posted July 4, 2015 #14 Share Posted July 4, 2015 ''You may take pre-packaged stuff...cereal, granola bars, crackers, etc....stuff in sealed packages. You may not take off sandwiches, fruit, veggies, meats or cheeses.'' Sorry - as far as the UK is concerned that is totally untrue. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SantaFeFan Posted July 4, 2015 #15 Share Posted July 4, 2015 Here is a pamphlet published by the UK government on this very topic. Took less than 30 seconds to find using Google. https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/355730/bringing_food_leaflet_aug_2014_v4.pdf Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wowzz Posted July 4, 2015 #16 Share Posted July 4, 2015 So, as the ship will have been provisioned in EC countries, the OP should be OK taking ashore any food item. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Keith1010 Posted July 4, 2015 #17 Share Posted July 4, 2015 Yes they should but again it's always wise to check with the ship. With that said on other lines we have taken boxed lunches off the ship in UK ports and it has been permitted. Keith Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cavcmy Posted July 4, 2015 Author #18 Share Posted July 4, 2015 I am the OP. Thank you all so much for your replies. The UK pamphlet affirms what I was thinking for the ports on the British Isles cruise, but will double-check when we are on the ship. Appreciate your help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wowzz Posted July 4, 2015 #19 Share Posted July 4, 2015 To be honest, I don't think that with thousands of immigrants trying to enter the UK, a cheese sandwich from a cruise ship is at the top of the priority list Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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