tlwg04 Posted April 18, 2017 #1 Share Posted April 18, 2017 Soooooooooooooo looking forward to my cruise, it cant get here fast enough!! anyway, what are some of the bottles that are a Must Purchase for you? What have you found were the best deals? My ports are Amber Cove, St Thomas, Grand Turk and San juan. I think I read somewhere that you are allowed one liter per port, but are allowed additional bottles on one of these but I cant remember what's what. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrusinNewbie656 Posted April 18, 2017 #2 Share Posted April 18, 2017 I am interested in some info on this as well we sail June 9 on the Carnival sunshine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tlwg04 Posted April 18, 2017 Author #3 Share Posted April 18, 2017 bump Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare 1025cruise Posted April 18, 2017 #4 Share Posted April 18, 2017 Since I need to fly to port, I have never found anything on any island or on the ship that was enough of a value to figure out a way to bring it home. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moondog73 Posted April 18, 2017 #5 Share Posted April 18, 2017 We went to Bacardi in San Juan and got a bottle of rum that you can only get there. We got to fill the bottle and apply the label. We ten had to fill out a logbook. They know who bought each bottle. Grand Turk I bought a bottle of Bambarra Reserve Sent from my SM-G920V using Forums mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Schoifmom Posted April 18, 2017 #6 Share Posted April 18, 2017 You pay duty at the embarkation port on anything over 1 liter per person. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tlwg04 Posted April 18, 2017 Author #7 Share Posted April 18, 2017 You pay duty at the embarkation port on anything over 1 liter per person. total, per 7 day cruise?I dont believe this is quite accurate..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coevan Posted April 18, 2017 #8 Share Posted April 18, 2017 St.Thomas is by far the cheapest. I believe you can take 4 liters per person. The prices on anything at Amber Cove were very expensive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Schoifmom Posted April 19, 2017 #9 Share Posted April 19, 2017 total, per 7 day cruise?I dont believe this is quite accurate..... https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/190/related/1/session/L2F2LzEvdGltZS8xNDkyNTYwMjMxL3NpZC82S1FxR3Jnbg%3D%3D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coevan Posted April 19, 2017 #10 Share Posted April 19, 2017 "Generally, one liter of alcohol per person may be entered into the U.S. duty-free by travelers who are 21 or older, although travelers coming from the U.S. Virgin Islands or other Caribbean countries are entitled to more. Additional quantities may be entered, although they will be subject to duty and Federal excise taxes, which will be assessed and collected at the port of entry." The key word is generally. I have brought back 4 bottles from St.Thomas and have never been charged any tax Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
splintz Posted April 19, 2017 #11 Share Posted April 19, 2017 I have been on numerous cruises and have always bought more than my allotted 1 liter per person. Sometimes up to 8 liters. I have never had an issue. Also every time I declare all the bottles on my customs form. I have never been questioned or made to pay duty for the bottles. I just brought home 4 bottles of vodka that I bought from the duty free store on the pride 3 days ago and the customs agent looked at my declaration form that said 4 bottles of vodka checked my passport and said have a nice day. In 14 cruises I have always bought over my allowance and declared it. Never have I been questioned or made to pay a duty tax. My advice is to be truthful and declare what you bought and more than likely you will be on your way without paying a duty. Just don't lie about it on the form. If they catch you with more than your allotment and you don't declare it you will have some explaining to do Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tandemcruzr Posted April 19, 2017 #12 Share Posted April 19, 2017 Here is additional info based on where you buy your alcohol. https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/424/related/1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BallFour4 Posted April 19, 2017 #13 Share Posted April 19, 2017 We went to Bacardi in San Juan and got a bottle of rum that you can only get there. We got to fill the bottle and apply the label. We ten had to fill out a logbook. They know who bought each bottle. That's a fun tour! We went in January and also bought a bottle of Bacardí Special Reserve Rum. I had the cruise date engraved on the bottle. Last week I was surprised to see it at Costco... We took the local ferry from Pier 2 and then caught the $3 shuttle to the tour. http://www.visitcasabacardi.com/fill-your-spirit/ . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maryred Posted April 19, 2017 #14 Share Posted April 19, 2017 (edited) total, per 7 day cruise?I dont believe this is quite accurate..... It is accurate for most Caribbean islands, 1 liter tax and duty free per trip regardless of how long or how many islands visited. When in the US Virgin Islands you may buy 5 liters duty free as long as 4 of those liters are distilled and bottled in the USVI. You can buy more but the CBP can assess a duty on the overages and may enforce any state regulation for the homeport and possibly any that your home state may have. Alcohol purchased in Puerto Rico is taxed at the point of sale (except, I believe from the shop in the port terminal), so do not include those purchases on your Custom's Declaration form and hold on to the receipt that shows the tax already paid. NOW the big question is will the CBP clerk you encounter upon repatriation actually send you to the duty collection office or check each bottle for point of distillation, since you are visiting Saint Thomas. The answer is a real toss-up. Every time I've sailed out of Baltimore the clerks there were strict and will send you to the cashiers office to pay the duty and MD alcohol tax for any part of a liter over the allowance, meanwhile for my cruises out of NYC and NJ it's been a 50/50 toss up if we've been charge the duty. The most we have paid in duty and taxes for overages is in Baltimore where they added the 3.5% sin tax on top of the duty, last trip that averaged about $5 per liter over. The least we have paid is in NOLA, being assessed about $3 per bottle over. https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/424/related/1 https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/212/related/1 https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/544/related/1 https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/246/related/1 https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/190/related/1 Edited April 19, 2017 by maryred Fix link Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pascalburns Posted April 19, 2017 #15 Share Posted April 19, 2017 it is good to know these things.thanks for the info. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tef43 Posted April 19, 2017 #16 Share Posted April 19, 2017 When in the US Virgin Islands you may buy 5 liters duty free as long as 4 of those liters are distilled and bottled in the USVI. You have that backwards. It is only the fifth liter that must be locally produced in the USVI. https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/424/~/bringing-alcohol-from-u.s.-insular-possessions-into-the-u.s.-(u.s.-virgin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AR Patriot Posted April 19, 2017 #17 Share Posted April 19, 2017 Of you sail out of Texas, you will get taxed for all alcohol and tobacco from Texas tax collectors. Sent from my Honor 8 on Forums mobile app. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tlwg04 Posted April 19, 2017 Author #18 Share Posted April 19, 2017 "Generally, one liter of alcohol per person may be entered into the U.S. duty-free by travelers who are 21 or older, although travelers coming from the U.S. Virgin Islands or other Caribbean countries are entitled to more. Additional quantities may be entered, although they will be subject to duty and Federal excise taxes, which will be assessed and collected at the port of entry." The key word is generally. I have brought back 4 bottles from St.Thomas and have never been charged any tax Thank you for this info! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Schoifmom Posted April 19, 2017 #19 Share Posted April 19, 2017 "Generally, one liter of alcohol per person may be entered into the U.S. duty-free by travelers who are 21 or older, although travelers coming from the U.S. Virgin Islands or other Caribbean countries are entitled to more. Additional quantities may be entered, although they will be subject to duty and Federal excise taxes, which will be assessed and collected at the port of entry." The key word is generally. I have brought back 4 bottles from St.Thomas and have never been charged any tax Sorry about that, we typically fly so we don't buy alcohol, except on our last cruise. That was a CA/NE cruise, so I guess I missed the general exception for Caribbean countries. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tlwg04 Posted April 19, 2017 Author #20 Share Posted April 19, 2017 This is great!! So.....five bottles in all, with one being made in USVI. Got it!! now.....what alcohol did yall buy? lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tlwg04 Posted April 19, 2017 Author #21 Share Posted April 19, 2017 Of you sail out of Texas, you will get taxed for all alcohol and tobacco from Texas tax collectors. Sent from my Honor 8 on Forums mobile app. sailing from port canaveral Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wemjam Posted April 19, 2017 #22 Share Posted April 19, 2017 This is great!! So.....five bottles in all, with one being made in USVI. Got it!! now.....what alcohol did yall buy? lol We personally use cruising to stock up on Kahlua and Bacardi Flavored rums... really good prices on these. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimsnapple Posted April 19, 2017 #23 Share Posted April 19, 2017 Soooooooooooooo looking forward to my cruise, it cant get here fast enough!! anyway, what are some of the bottles that are a Must Purchase for you? What have you found were the best deals? My ports are Amber Cove, St Thomas, Grand Turk and San juan. I think I read somewhere that you are allowed one liter per port, but are allowed additional bottles on one of these but I cant remember what's what. St. Thomas, 5 cartons, 6 bottles, 1,600.00 duty free. Sent from my XT1585 using Forums mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JawjaFatBoy Posted April 19, 2017 #24 Share Posted April 19, 2017 For your itinerary I would recommend: St.Thomas: Bones rum. Excellent! Made in USVI, so you meet the insular possession mandate, and not imported into US. I also recommend Cherry Marnier. Good stuff and also not imported. I got mine at Dynasty Dazzlers on the main street. You'll also find great prices on Cruzan rums in case you want to stock up. Good prices on other spirits as well. Grand Turk: Highly recommend Bambarra Gold and Reserve. Very good and also not imported! If you are a Jack Daniel's fan, you can get Silver Select here or in San Juan. Again, not imported. San Juan: We wanted to go to the Bacardi factory but wound up touring the forts instead. Maybe next time! I do remember that most of the Bacardi rums were going for around $5/liter, so might be a good time to stock the bar! Also, Don Q rums has a tasting room near port. Definitely worth stopping by. We (wife and I) brought back 14 liters from that exact itinerary. We declared all of it and the officer at the port never gave us a second look. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tvlworm Posted April 19, 2017 #25 Share Posted April 19, 2017 I'm not sure on island prices but I was shocked at how cheap even the bottles were on the ship. If we weren't flying, we might not have brought our clothes home! Here are a few pictures of the ship prices from last month. Sent from my iPhone using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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