Questions regarding Carnival cruise ending in Hawaii

I have asked on other threads and googled the world over for answers but never have got one, either because I couldn't find it as the situation only occurs 1-2 times a yr or nobody clearly understood my question. This is by no means life or death, just curiosity is all. So here I go:

We are cruising on Carnival this fall from Vancouver to Hawaii, ending with an overnight in Honolulu. I understand that we actually go through US Border/Customs at the cruise port in Vancouver, Canada at embarkation and declare any goods purchased in Canada prior to boarding. So my questions are:

1. Are the shops on the ship still open during the cruise? If so are they still duty free? I know this question would typically make no sense, however since the passengers already clear US Customs at the start of the sailing, I don't understand how you could make any duty free purchases on board since you won't be clearing Customs again, thus not declaring them and/or paying any duty taxes for items over the allowed limits (jewelry, alcohol, ect).

2. With debarkation in Honolulu- since we won't be going through Customs and we will have been there overnight with on/off 24/7 privileges, how does debarkation work? Is there still a formal coordinated debark process with zones read and such? Just wondering how this works since anyone can come and go on an overnight stop- does everyone have to be back on the ship by 9am the day the sailing ends and then await zone numbers?

The shops will be open- they aren't going to pass on the opportunity to sell you something.. Can't answer about duty free.

You will be able to disembark, (carrying your bags off) and potentially head home or elsewhere anytime after the ship is cleared on your first day at Honolulu. They will probably use the zones on the final day just as a method to control the flow.

The shops will be open- they aren't going to pass on the opportunity to sell you something.. Can't answer about duty free.

 

You will be able to disembark, (carrying your bags off) and potentially head home or elsewhere anytime after the ship is cleared on your first day at Honolulu. They will probably use the zones on the final day just as a method to control the flow.

I figured the shops would be open regardless- a lot of $$ involved in all that. Was just curious with how they handle taxes because someone (certainly not me) could spend a small fortune in the jewelry shop and skirt around a lot of excess duty. Perhaps an honor system huh? ;p

1. Are the shops on the ship still open during the cruise? If so are they still duty free? I know this question would typically make no sense, however since the passengers already clear US Customs at the start of the sailing, I don't understand how you could make any duty free purchases on board since you won't be clearing Customs again, thus not declaring them and/or paying any duty taxes for items over the allowed limits (jewelry, alcohol, ect).

Duty-free as soon as you pass 12 nautical miles from the US coastline and are in international waters. I imagine Canada is similar.

But in this case, you have cleared US Immigration and Customs when you board the ship at Vancouver...so you have technically entered the US. So if you purchase something on the ship, you aren't really buying it outside of the country. At least that would seem to be the interpretation.

But in this case, you have cleared US Immigration and Customs when you board the ship at Vancouver...so you have technically entered the US. So if you purchase something on the ship, you aren't really buying it outside of the country. At least that would seem to be the interpretation.

And the allowances are pretty high anymore.

And the allowances are pretty high anymore.

I agree and it certainly wouldn't be an issue for me with my shot glass and t-shirt I'll be grabbing, just curiosity is killing the cat here. I do know people who do go over the allowances even just on the ship with jewelry and art. Just on our last sailing we had a few people in our group who went over the duty allowance just on watches they bought on the ship. Most typical allowances are $800 pp, which is way more than I'll ever need of course.

Are the shops on the ship still open during the cruise? If so are they still duty free?

Just remember that no matter where you shop, duty free does not necessarily mean you are getting a bargain. Some people think duty free and tax free items are automatically a good deal when they may not be so if you shop around. Caveat emptor.

Just remember that no matter where you shop, duty free does not necessarily mean you are getting a bargain. Some people think duty free and tax free items are a deal. Caveat emptor.

Totally agree. For that reason, we rarely look at duty free.

The shop would most likely report a large purchase and give you a declaration form to mail in.

This happens in situations in a casino when one wins a large jackpot- once you’re over the taxable amount the casino is obligated to report and withhold.

Just remember that no matter where you shop, duty free does not necessarily mean you are getting a bargain. Some people think duty free and tax free items are automatically a good deal when they may not be so if you shop around. Caveat emptor.

Indeed and I agree. But that's not why I'm asking, I'm merely curious about how the duties are handled since the shops would be selling those items post-customs. If I buy anything even duty free it's shot glass for a couple bucks. Though I have found their booze is about 1/2 price for what we pay at home, but it's not worth the hassle.

The shop would most likely report a large purchase and give you a declaration form to mail in.

 

This happens in situations in a casino when one wins a large jackpot- once you’re over the taxable amount the casino is obligated to report and withhold.

Perhaps that's the answer. What's really crazy about the duty question is even U.S. Customs either don't know the answer, or this is one of those situations where the convenience of Customs clearing passengers in Canada out weighs any excess tax owed on ship purchases and it's a scenario they just avoid because their answer was "you will clear U.S. Customs and Border Protection at Canada Place in Vancouver, BC, Canada during embarking your ship as once the ship sails it's considered to be entering U.S. territory. At that time you will declare all items you purchased for yourself or as gifts while in Canada." ----I told them I knew that but what about the duty free items purchased between Canada and Hawaii on the ship, never got an answer back after emphasizing on that point. As I said earlier on the thread- this is out of mere curiosity and now the curiosity has grown after exploiting the fact even U.S. Customs acts as if they either don't know about this gap or just ignore it.

"you will clear U.S. Customs and Border Protection at Canada Place in Vancouver, BC, Canada during embarking your ship as once the ship sails it's considered to be entering U.S. territory. At that time you will declare all items you purchased for yourself or as gifts while in Canada."

To be duty free, goods have to leave the country after they are sold (such as when you leave Canada). When you enter into the U.S. (in this case by ship), buy some things while onboard and then leave the ship in the U.S., those goods purchased onboard have never left the country, so they do not qualify as duty free. This is only our interpretation though. Please do your own research too.

To be duty free, goods have to leave the country after they are sold (such as when you leave Canada). When you enter into the U.S. (in this case by ship), buy some things while onboard and then leave the ship in the U.S., those goods purchased onboard have never left the country, so they do not qualify as duty free. This is only our interpretation though. Please do your own research too.

International waters count as being out of the country- it’s the same reason there’s no taxes on alcoholic drinks purchased aboard.

Its clear that I probably won't get an answer, which is no big deal. I'll find out in a few months.