elliair Posted January 30, 2017 #51 Share Posted January 30, 2017 Can't even take food off in the home port where the food was originally loaded. Many ports have AgDogs and search your bags. We bring some prepackaged snacks from home. Also we get some cereal boxes from the buffet. Fruit can bring bugs into an environment. Check out the devastation the Mediterranean Fruit Fly and the Asian Psyllid have done to California agriculture. Meat and cheese can also have issues. Also how would you keep it fresh? This is true. On a cruise to Mexico (can't remember which port), but the authorities had dogs sniffing bags. There were garbage cans set up and both of the cans were full! It was hilarious to watch the people scrambling to unload their bags and panic in their eyes that the dogs were going to sniff them out. And the dogs did a good job of it. That was a fun unpaid excursion! :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
floridalover5623 Posted January 30, 2017 #52 Share Posted January 30, 2017 This is true. On a cruise to Mexico (can't remember which port), but the authorities had dogs sniffing bags. There were garbage cans set up and both of the cans were full! It was hilarious to watch the people scrambling to unload their bags and panic in their eyes that the dogs were going to sniff them out. And the dogs did a good job of it. That was a fun unpaid excursion! :D What do you think the dogs eat for dinner. :D:rolleyes: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare philv Posted January 30, 2017 #53 Share Posted January 30, 2017 if we go to a beach, are we aloud to pack a small cooler with sandwiches, fruits etc... no. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeromep Posted January 30, 2017 #54 Share Posted January 30, 2017 In most parts of the world is not allowed but if you're in the Caribbean all the ports except St Thomas seem to allow food to be taken off the ship. Lots of people will say they won't, but Princess doesn't publicize or announce anything against it. We usually take something for the beach all the time without any problems. This is a good observation. First off, St. Thomas is in the USVI which means that they are governed by USDA regulations about transporting fresh agricultural products. There may also be local regulations, but I don't know this. So, even though the food is loaded in, say, Ft. Lauderdale and the ship doesn't do any replenishment until they return to Ft. L. as far as the USDA is concerned, they don't "know" the origin of the food on board and can't assume that the ship hasn't re-provisioned in a foreign port, therefore, you can't take food from the ship onto shore, all in the name of preventing some kind of infestation from an insect which may be present in the fresh fruit and vegetable provisions. I'm sure that because the ships are foreign flagged, that also has an impact on how the food transporting regulations operate. Now, other Caribbean islands might not be so strict about this, or they might not even care. Princess knows the regs from island to island and enforces them to the best of their ability. You'll experience the same thing on Alaskan cruises. Let's say you are on an RT Seattle cruise for Alaska. The ship is provisioned in Seattle. It visits all U.S. ports, except for Victoria, BC, and then returns to Seattle. Even though you are provisioned in Seattle, you can't take food or drink off the ship in the Alaskan ports. Our general operating method is to have as hearty a breakfast as possible before a port day and then you can generally survive the port day without having to refuel. Also, many mid-day excursions will take a lunch break, and some even provide lunch. Generally, if you purchase this kind of excursion from Princess, you can trust that the food is safe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SadieN Posted January 30, 2017 #55 Share Posted January 30, 2017 (edited) no. Should be "NO!" :):) Edited January 30, 2017 by SadieN Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pavovsky Posted January 30, 2017 #56 Share Posted January 30, 2017 Take water off. Have taken a packed lunch too. Usually a BLT or a salmon bagel. I bring a roll of tin foil with me. Means you can stay out all day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
floridalover5623 Posted January 30, 2017 #57 Share Posted January 30, 2017 Now, other Caribbean islands might not be so strict about this, or they might not even care. Princess knows the regs from island to island and enforces them to the best of their ability. Again, if Princess knows the regulations they sure don't let anyone know about them in the Caribbean. Also upon exiting all of the islands in the Caribbean the local government doesn't seem to care enough to even post a sign. (Mexican ports excluded) That can only tell me one thing- if no one cares either way to notify me by written documentation or verbal announcements plus no signage after leaving the ship it can only mean that people are encouraged to pack a lunch from the buffet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
easyboy Posted January 30, 2017 #58 Share Posted January 30, 2017 Again, if Princess knows the regulations they sure don't let anyone know about them in the Caribbean. Also upon exiting all of the islands in the Caribbean the local government doesn't seem to care enough to even post a sign. (Mexican ports excluded) That can only tell me one thing- if no one cares either way to notify me by written documentation or verbal announcements plus no signage after leaving the ship it can only mean that people are encouraged to pack a lunch from the buffet. True, since you are not violating any. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kennicott Posted January 31, 2017 #59 Share Posted January 31, 2017 The Patter probably doesn't tell you that, in some countries, if you buy or possess any drugs you may never see the outside of a prison again but that doesn't mean you aren't still responsible for following the local laws. I can't agree more, one can hardly expect a cruise line to rewrite all the laws of the land they are visiting, in a ship's daily newsletter. I've noticed over the years that the lines are probably uncomfortable with this "taking food off the ship" issue anyway. Since there is such a variety of pertinent rules and regulations it is almost impossible to come up with a pat answer for each port. For instance, some say packaged food okay, but that is not the case in all ports, packaged foods are sometimes illegal. If a cruise line attempts to provide such information they are then inundated with lawyer wannabe guests who argue otherwise. So, a lot of the cruise lines in their passage contracts, are doing what Princess does and state this: " You shall be responsible for complying with the requirements of all immigration, port, health, customs, and police authorities, and all other laws and regulations of each country or state from or to which you will travel." Violate one of those laws at your own peril. Maybe last view your cruise ship "hull down on the horizon" from the port interrogation station. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pmorton3360 Posted January 31, 2017 #60 Share Posted January 31, 2017 We use to take a couple ham croissants and fruit in our little cooler and some canned pop. We were educated of the problems this could cause many years ago. It was never the cost, but mainly the wonderful fruit on the ship. Being from the north, it was all so good. So no more. Sent from my BLU STUDIO 5.5 HD using Forums mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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