My Experience on Buying & Bringing Home Duty-Free Alcohol

[shellmybell]

This may have been covered but wanted to fill you in on my very recent experience as things may have changed.

 

We stopped in St. Thomas and I knew I could purchase additional bottles of liquor there duty free but I couldn't remember how much. I asked the clerk in the liquor store (carnival approved store) and he told me 6 per person. As we are having a pretty big holiday shin-dig, I figured I would stock up. So I bought 11 bottles of name brand (bacardi, absolut, etc. ) which totaled under $100. I think I saved close to 50%. I was psyched. My husband thought I was a lunatic and that the money saved would not be worth the hassle. Whateva!

 

When I got on board, they told me it was actually only 5 bottles per person and that I would have to pay a tax on the extra bottle but be sure to be honest about it to customs and maybe they won't charge. I was and there was no problem. The woman was kind of bitchy but she didn't charge me or make me go to another line so I was grateful. The problem was when I got to the airport. I totally forgot about the no liquids on board ( I was planning to carry on) ..which I am not sure how I could have forgotten...brain cramp I guess. The hotel porter told me to just fed-ex them (yeah right, I was going to leave them before I would get into all that) but then the porter told me that I could check them in but would have to wait in line. The reservations clerk then told me we could only check in 8 bottles ( 4 per person). It was such a hassle but she told us we could take them out of the pre-packed & taped boxes and put the three in our luggage. Makes no sense to me, take them out of the cartons and put them in baggage that has no protection. Can't fight the reservation clerks though.

 

So....that was me holding up the Jetblue line this past Monday morning. Sorry folks! My kids were so embarassed and the whole time I am thinking to myself...hubby is going to give me SO much grief once all this is over with. He didn't. I think he knew I was pretty embarassed....just kept making faces at me. ;)

 

All bottles arrived safely, and guess what hubby was doing last night...lining up MY bottles and taking pictures to email his buddies and exclaiming to me..."There is NO WAY you got all this for less than $100 bucks". Yes, I did. :p

 

It's going to be a fun holiday party!

[kdunn]

We brought ten bottles home and just packed them in our luggage and Saved tons of money for our Christmas party. We bought 4 on board the ship 4 in St Thomas and two in st Maartin.

Kim

[habby]

 

.........It was such a hassle but she told us we could take them out of the pre-packed & taped boxes and put the three in our luggage. Makes no sense to me, take them out of the cartons and put them in baggage that has no protection. ...........

 

This is exactly why we now make sure we have bubble wrap packed. Even having them in the cartons was not always secure though. Two years ago while waiting in the security line in San Juan, someone had their alcohol in the cardboard box, set on top of their rolling carry-on. Well, the box hit the floor and there was Crown Royal (seriously) everywhere.

 

Glad everything worked out well in the end. Have a great holiday!!!

[Dubsolute]

I was able to get 5 bottles home in my luggage with no problems at all. I wish my glass picture frames had made it. Oh well.

 

I bought 1 bottle of liquor while in Barbados and was able to carry it back to our stateroom. The security guards didn't confiscate nor even asked any questions. I thought they held any liquor bought in port.

[rt63]

My wife and I brought back nearly 30 bottles (22 liters) and a wheel of cheese this Sunday (Carnival Valor). We listed both items on the declaration clearly. She was worried about the booze, I was worried about the cheese, and we both got sore carrying them around. But once we got near the CBP officer, another officer pulled us out of line, checked our id and the customs declaration card, and escorted us around the line.

 

And straight to the parking lot... No duty, no questions... well, just one, the guy helped my wife manouever her large suitcase past a stanchion and noticed it was very heavy... he asked what was in it, she said bottles... :D

 

With so many people getting off at once they don't need holdups and collecting $20 in duty is a waste of time... we were in the non-citizen line and they just wanted to get all the green card holders out of the queue.

 

By the way, I'll post my detailed review in a few days with some details on what we bought where... and a tip on how to legitimately get (some) booze into your cabin!

 

Philipsburg (Sint Maarten) had all the common stuff at the very lowest prices.

[scperk]

Yeah ain't that the truth..I bought a liter of Seagrams 7 for $2.95 at store next to car rental place on St. Martin on main drag...Dennis