Carrying food ashore?

[Swigs]

Hi everyone!

 

This is my first post, so please bear with me. I have not seen this topic dealt with in other posts, so hope you can offer some advice.

 

We are booked on the Caribbean Princess this March (our second Princess cruise), and wondered if we would be able to visit Horizon Court and pack up a little "picnic" to take ashore with us while visiting St Thomas and St Maarten. Is this allowed?

 

Thanks for your help!

 

Swigs

[chrysalis]

I recall seeing signs on the ships that state that taking food ashore is prohibited.

[Pam in CA]

We are booked on the Caribbean Princess this March (our second Princess cruise), and wondered if we would be able to visit Horizon Court and pack up a little "picnic" to take ashore with us while visiting St Thomas and St Maarten. Is this allowed?

Thanks for asking. No, you are not allowed to pack a little "picnic" and take it ashore anywhere. It's against the laws of just about all countries and there will be notices in the Patter to that effect. Even coming into the U.S. and bringing something from your flight into the terminal could get you arrested. I once saw a woman forget that she had an apple in her carry-on. The dogs found it and she and her luggage were escorted away from baggage claim by very official-looking people.

 

I know that there are many who think it's ridiculous and think nothing of bringing something from the buffet with them to save money while on shore. Bad idea. At best it'll be confiscated; at worst, who knows?

 

FYI, this does NOT apply to sealed and packaged goods as long as the seal is intact.

[MaryPoppinz]

I don't believe you'll be permitted to take fresh food ashore in either of those places. You'll have to buy your picnic supplies ashore. I believe there is a deli at Crown Bay Marina near your dock in St. Thomas, but I can't recall the name. It's a place that provisions some of the yachts and day charters.

[smeyer418]

It really depends. Package food is ok. Sometimes they will also allow you to bring stuff back as well. Yes the dogs are looking for agriculture products(if its a DA dog). We brought a blueberry pie on a coastal cruise back to NY from Maine--it was from a bakery not a prepackaged one, I showed to the DA employee and he asked if he could have a piece I smiled he said go ahead. We tend to bring dried flowers back from Europe- we keep them out and show them they put on gloves and hand inspect them. Hawaii will shoot you over fruit as will most Islands since they don't want the bugs you carry with them. Did you ever notice that on some shore excusions they get lunches packed from the ship? Sandwiches and drinks and fruit sometimes....but you need to watch the signs as some Islands are much more uptight about this...

[MaryPoppinz]

There definitely are places that don't care about food coming off the ship (as mentioned, some of the shore excursion meals are provided by the ship's galley) but I don't believe you can do this in either St. Thomas or St. Martin

 

This is the deli I was thinking of........

http://www.crownbay.com/dinghy/gourmet.html

[Psee]

The official policy is no food taken from the ship. That being said we have seen quite a few folks onboard that take a wrapped sandwich or other food snacks with them in their beach bag when disembarking. Never heard or seen anyone caught but I'm sure it happens. Returning to the US is a different story since US Customs is more diligent than most of the ports of call.

[Swigs]

Thanks, everyone for your help and speedy responses! I had a feeling that it might not be permitted, so I'm glad to get the information in advance so we can make our plans. We will either return to the ship for lunch, or will buy food ashore.

 

Thanks again!

 

Swigs

[Swigs]

Mary Poppinz, thanks for the link to the deli in St Thomas - I'll save that site!

 

Swigs

[dforeigner]

Yep, these are some hard working little fellows!