Shopping for souvenirs in the Caribbean

[MtnGolf4]

We are Cruising to the Caribbean in March of 2025 for the first time. We have been on 2 Mexican Riviera Cruises so far, in 2020 & 2023. We do enjoy shopping for Local Souvenirs. From our first cruise to Mexico in 2020 to our following cruise in 2023 the Local Souvenirs seemed to All be "Made in China". We didn't end up buying hardly anything that trip.

 Does any know if "Made in China" has taken over Local Caribbean as well ?

We do enjoy supporting and Collecting from Local Merchants with Local indigenous items.

[BklynBoy8]

31 minutes ago, MtnGolf4 said:

We are Cruising to the Caribbean in March of 2025 for the first time. We have been on 2 Mexican Riviera Cruises so far, in 2020 & 2023. We do enjoy shopping for Local Souvenirs. From our first cruise to Mexico in 2020 to our following cruise in 2023 the Local Souvenirs seemed to All be "Made in China". We didn't end up buying hardly anything that trip.

 Does any know if "Made in China" has taken over Local Caribbean as well ?

We do enjoy supporting and Collecting from Local Merchants with Local indigenous items.

 

We will be sailing on the QM2 in 25 to the Caribbean to many of the Islands in the Carib Chain.

 

I have trust in them but will now look at items we take home and see if Made in tags are attached.

 

I do enjoy Made in America or local island vendors.

[mom says]

Of course the Made in China kitch is world wide.  If you want to know what local handmade items are for sale on any given Caribbean Island, go to their tourism website to research the possibilities.

[lenquixote66]

The last time we were in Barbados we went to a hand carving exhibit and purchased a hand carved wooden turtle.

[clo]

When we were on a Norwegian coastal cruise all the souvenir type things were "made in China.' We've had better luck when traveling to check for little pieces of pottery beaded bracelets/necklaces. We have 'stuff' all over our house from travels that don't necessarily fall into the "souvenir" category but are great reminders of trips.

[edinburgher]

15 hours ago, MtnGolf4 said:

We do enjoy supporting and Collecting from Local Merchants with Local indigenous items.

Should your itinerary include St Kitts, you could buy Caribelle Batik, hand made locally.  You can visit on site to watch some being crafted, and on the day of our visit there were highly coloured and patterned items hanging out to dry on lines in the very pretty gardens. It is not inexpensive, but genuinely  local and  handmade.

 

Their items can probably be found in retail outlets elsewhere in the Caribbean.

Edited April 7 by edinburgher

[shipgeeks]

I've noticed locals in some ports trying to sell conch shells.  I'm fairly certain they would be confiscated upon entering the ship, as would sand, sea glass, and shells picked up on the beach.

Then there are food and drink products, which I imagine would be okay if sealed (brown sugar in Barbados, coffee beans).  

[edinburgher]

23 minutes ago, shipgeeks said:

Then there are food and drink products, which I imagine would be okay if sealed (brown sugar in Barbados, coffee beans).  

Not forgetting RUM!!😁

 

There are various restrictions with conch shells and it would be prudent to read what the restrictions are before buying any.

[EatonDoolittle]

If you are going to Bonaire, the town market under the trees has locally made art, jewelry, and even fun t-shirts that benefit the local animal rescue. Also food and/or spa grade salts from the local salt pans. I always stock up on the delicious salt mixes for myself and a few foodie friends when I go.

 

It is one of the few places that I can think of that has not succumbed to the Made in China trash that you mentioned.

[wcook]

The ports are slowly pushing back. For example, Nassau just opened a huge port market with lots of space dedicated to Bahamian products. 

[ldubs]

18 hours ago, clo said:

When we were on a Norwegian coastal cruise all the souvenir type things were "made in China.' We've had better luck when traveling to check for little pieces of pottery beaded bracelets/necklaces. We have 'stuff' all over our house from travels that don't necessarily fall into the "souvenir" category but are great reminders of trips.

 

But that is what a souvenir is -- a reminder of the trip.  

[George C]

7 hours ago, shipgeeks said:

I've noticed locals in some ports trying to sell conch shells.  I'm fairly certain they would be confiscated upon entering the ship, as would sand, sea glass, and shells picked up on the beach.

Then there are food and drink products, which I imagine would be okay if sealed (brown sugar in Barbados, coffee beans).  

Conch shells are not allowed, a couple of decades ago I was on a Costa cruise that had two Italian groups , one person from one group informed the captain of our shore excursion that some from the other group had a conch shell , they started arguing with each other and a Jamaican crew member was falling down laughing, I recognized a couple of the curse words,

[wcook]

I was curious, so 

 

souvenir (n.)

1775, "a remembrance or memory" (Walpole), from French souvenir (12c.), from Old French noun use of souvenir (v.) "to remember, come to mind," from Latin subvenire "come to mind," from sub "up from below" (see sub-) + venire "to come," from a suffixed form of PIE root *gwa- "to go, come." The meaning "token of remembrance, memento, that which reminds one of an event, person, place, etc." is recorded by 1782.

[57redbird]

On 4/7/2024 at 1:54 AM, edinburgher said:

Should your itinerary include St Kitts, you could buy Caribelle Batik, hand made locally.  You can visit on site to watch some being crafted, and on the day of our visit there were highly coloured and patterned items hanging out to dry on lines in the very pretty gardens. It is not inexpensive, but genuinely  local and  handmade.

 

Their items can probably be found in retail outlets elsewhere in the Caribbean.

& do try any garments on -- I bought a blouse/top & unfortunately it runs small --- wish I would have followed my advice....it's hanging in my closet & has never been worn.

[ecs66]

On 4/7/2024 at 4:54 AM, edinburgher said:

you could buy Caribelle Batik, hand made locally

Do you know if you can buy yardage (for quilting), or is it mostly clothing?

[edinburgher]

2 hours ago, ecs66 said:

On 4/7/2024 at 9:54 AM, edinburgher said:

 

Do you know if you can buy yardage (for quilting), or is it mostly clothing?

Sorry, but as I  wasn't looking for fabric I  didn't notice if they sold fabric by the yard/metre off a roll, or even offcuts.  Maybe you could contact them directly (via their website?) and ask?

[mom says]

6 hours ago, ecs66 said:

Do you know if you can buy yardage (for quilting), or is it mostly clothing?

A couple of years ago I was able to buy a few precut lengths of their fabrics. I think they were 1 1/2 yds, but don't quote me. I can't remember if they had bolts available for custom cut lengths. If you buy fabric, make sure you prewash it before cutting. You'll likely see some excess dye bleeding out the first time.

Edited May 13 by mom says

[ecs66]

5 hours ago, mom says said:

If you buy fabric, make sure you prewash it before cutting.

Definitely -- with batiks.  With regular cotton, I don't pre-wash.  When washing the quilt for the first time, though, I throw a few color grabbers into the bottom of the washing machine.  So far, so good!

[Hlitner]

I think most places have some decent local/regional products.  But cruisers are notorious for throwing their money around on tourist-oriented goods that are overpriced (for the tourist market) and often made in Asia (i.e. China, Vietnam, India, etc).  We live in Mexico (Puerto Vallarta) for part of the year and DW seldom buys anything to bring home (i.e. we do not need more junk).  However, when we do buy it will generally be local/regional art/crafts.  For those coming to PV (or some other Mexican ports) you might want to look at Mexican works of art such as the interesting, beaded works made by the Huichol Indians.  There also are quite a few art galleries that feature works of art created by Mexican (some are well known).  However, if you are going to buy "junk" at a flea market such as pottery then so be it!  And for those who insist on going to Walmart (in Mexico) for their shopping...we have little sympathy.  As one who loves living in Mexico (and the Mexicans) we urge folks to support the local/regional artisans.

 

Hank

[clo]

5 hours ago, Hlitner said:

However, if you are going to buy "junk" at a flea market such as pottery then so be it! 

Rather judgmental. We have wonderful things that we've bought flea-market-esque type places and "others." We call them "Art with a capital A" and "art with a lower case a." And cherish them equally. Unfortunately we have no more walls or flat surfaces to display. The first is made from a small rock of the tram to St. Teresa in Rio and other from a some place 🙂

 

[Mum2Mercury]

On 4/7/2024 at 1:46 PM, ldubs said:

But that is what a souvenir is -- a reminder of the trip.  

I don't get the concept of needing (or even wanting) an item to remember a trip.  I'll only buy something if I actually have a use for it ... and cluttering up my house isn't a use. 

[clo]

1 hour ago, Mum2Mercury said:

I'll only buy something if I actually have a use for it .

But I'm in my 70s and there is little that I have a "use" for. We're even getting rid of 'stuff.'   Can you give an example and maybe I'll say "oh, right :)" 

[ldubs]

1 hour ago, Mum2Mercury said:

I don't get the concept of needing (or even wanting) an item to remember a trip.  I'll only buy something if I actually have a use for it ... and cluttering up my house isn't a use. 

 

Well, I understand the concept, but I kind of get what you are saying.  It has been a long time since we have bought any kind of  keepsake type things.  

 

The basic concept is something that will be a reminder of some place enjoyed.  I suppose the word souvenir is often associated with cheap junk, but they can really be any manner of things from fridge magnets to original carvings or artwork.   Some folk collect things from around the world like thimbles or mugs.  Besides being a keepsake and adding to the collection, they might enjoy the hunt for the addition.   In our early days of travel Mrs Ldubs bought Swarovski figurines each trip.  She stopped doing that some time ago because while the curio is large, it doesn't have limitless space.  

 

BTW, only recently I was told curio cases full of various collectables are considered more of an older generation thing these days.  

[ldubs]

41 minutes ago, clo said:

But I'm in my 70s and there is little that I have a "use" for. We're even getting rid of 'stuff.'   Can you give an example and maybe I'll say "oh, right :)" 

 

For me that would be caps & T-shirts.   I seem to always need a new supply of those.  

 

[clo]

1 hour ago, ldubs said:

 

Well, I understand the concept, but I kind of get what you are saying.  It has been a long time since we have bought any kind of  keepsake type things.  

 

The basic concept is something that will be a reminder of some place enjoyed.  I suppose the word souvenir is often associated with cheap junk, but they can really be any manner of things from fridge magnets to original carvings or artwork.   Some folk collect things from around the world like thimbles or mugs.  Besides being a keepsake and adding to the collection, they might enjoy the hunt for the addition.   In our early days of travel Mrs Ldubs bought Swarovski figurines each trip.  She stopped doing that some time ago because while the curio is large, it doesn't have limitless space.  

 

BTW, only recently I was told curio cases full of various collectables are considered more of an older generation thing these days.  

Did you see my #20?

I've also read tons of things that say "your kids don't want your stuff, get rid of it."