"Moving" to Puerto Vallarta via Princess Cruise

[SakeDad]

Hi everyone! We are currently living in PV and have our home in Vegas. We were able to get a GREAT DEAL on a Princess Mex Riv cruise in March which fits well with our having to go back to the US for our 180 day tourist visa.

So we plan on flying to Vegas, driving to LA with several items for the condo we really don't want to fly with, then taking them to the condo in PV and bringing back some stuff we don't want to fly to the US. Nothing illegal, just household items, etc...

 

Does anyone here have EXPERIENCE doing this??? Hopefully with Princess but even more important is in PV. Thanks y Gracias in advance! :D

[CruiserBruce]

From when you asked the exact same question a little over a month ago:

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2282051

[bobnsofi]

Did not reply, but do recall your prior post

 

Yes... no problem for an experienced cruiser

 

check 4 giant bags (you pass them, and 4 $1 bills, to a porter in the vehicle drop off point.

 

then you walk on with 4 more giant bags. you go right your cabin and stuff the 4 walk on bags under the bed (you could even check all 8, they do not count, or keep track, you could drop 4 off, and drive around the circle and drop 4 more off to a different of the many MANY porters. If ya really want to stick it, drive up, drop 4 off early at 11 am, do some near port errands, have a snack, and them show up to board with 4 more to the porters, that way you luggage arrives at your cabin at different times, so you do not clog up the hallways. massive luggage is many cruisers default, so ya really just blend in)

 

Stuff 4 under the bed, and place 4, 2 along each side of the bed

 

when you port in pv, walk off with the giant bags like ya own the ship.

 

when ya return to ship, walk on with the giant bags like ya own the ship. If they ask you, say calmly with conviction, that you are returning to the ship. If they ask why, tell them that you own a home in PV and are bringing your clothing and items aboard now for the cruise. You could even make many different trips with a single bag. The ship usually has 2 gangways, so you could vary your return (your return to ship in pv is the most difficult of this otherwise easy venture). You could bring the empty suit cases back on board 1st, and then make multiple trips with loaded smaller carry on cases (easier for the ships crew to check for contraband, a loaded taxi will wait for $15/hr).

 

upon departure, put all 4 giant bags in the hallway the night before arrival (crew delivers them ashore) and pick them up post customs.

 

End of story, no problem, we could make this happen with our eyes closed.

 

re-boarding in pv is the small hitch in this plan, as the Mexican Check and Ships Crew are not used to large suit cases returning from port, AS YA WOULD STAND OUT, AND THOSE FOLKS LOVE TO BURN THE TIME OF STAND OUTS... THEY FEEL LIKE THEY ARE DOING A SUCCESSFUL ASSIGNED JOB.

 

Think'n return with empty large bags, and then use multiple carry on trips, over many hours, to bring items back aboard. If anyone asks, you could state that you love drinking Mexican beer and browsing ashore, and equally love the ship board food and bathrooms (cruisers typically hate Mexican rest rooms, and love free cruise food)

Edited December 23, 2015 by bobnsofi

[SakeDad]

From when you asked the exact same question a little over a month ago:

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2282051

 

Oops.....yes, I am blond...thanks for asking. :p

 

Bobnsofi....I thank you VERY much and wish I could sail with you! I can tell you are a HOOT! If you get to PV soon let us know, we can grab a cerveza! GRACIAS AMIGO! :D

[Mistyhon]

I'm sure it's possible but be prepared for a ration of crap from security on both ends.

 

We walked off the ship with a carryon in cozumel and had to open it up and show our snorkel gear inside. They were super concerned that we were trying to disembark the ship.