A little miffed with Carnival

I just got off Carnival Ecstasy last saturday coming back from Bermuda into Charleston. We were late getting in due to bad weather which is understandable. But I got a letter overnight telling me i had to report to the Neon Bar at 1030 because I owed customs. I had bought 2 cartons of cigarettes on board and spent some money at the jewelry store. I was under any limits even with the few bucks I spent on shore. My daughter was traveling with her family seperately and spent like 1300 on jewelry on board. She got a letter saying she was over limits also and to report the same as me. There were easily 30 or 40 people standing in line. We waited for over an hour untill a custom guy came on and started to see people. He asked about the jewelry and the cigarettes but saw i was in good shape in about 45 seconds. Of course leaving the ship security was turning someone around that was suppose to see customs also and held up the line. then when i got to him he stopped me and asked to see the card and the stamp the customs placed on it. My question is "Is this something new?" and why were we selected when things are calculated by number in party. For me I was with my wife , hence 2 cartons without duty. For my daughter 4 persons hence 3200 and she didnt have more than 2000 total. Just wandering if this is something i need to consider on the next cruise. It was a PITB. And really delayed our departure. Thanks

Ive been hearing that they are reporting sales to customs. I bought 3 bottles of expensive scotch but I got thru, but I think they are reporting things to customs these days.

And the guys in the shops assured me that it was a gallon, or 2 bottles with no tax coming into Galveston. Surprise, now its every bottle into Galveston is taxed. Its now cheaper to just buy it here.

The guys working in the shops will lie or dont know and say sure buy this, you wouldnt be taxed. I asked the cruise director on Freedom if he knew the rules last dec when i cruised, i even went to the debark talk which i usually skip to find out (and i even stood in line to only be told to read the form myself) He told me to read the paper and could get it from my cabin steward to declare. I asked my cabin steward so i could see what i was supposed to declare and he told me to go to guest services lol. Though he did finally get the paper that said what needed to be declared, and sure enough no bottles were exempt. the people giving the debark talk dont even know the home port rules of where they sail from. If the cruise director doesnt know who does?

I wasnt impressed with the CD to be honest. I came home debating about cruising, but came up with a friend who was interested so im cruising, but only because a friend said yes.

But Big Brother is breathing down on you more and more.

Im glad you posted this, as I had been thinking they were doing this, and now we know. thanks for the post.

Im long since finding less fun in crusing and think you are right.

I also had a incident where i found a bottle of the scotch i bought onboard cheaper in the port of cozumel and they wouldnt let me take a picture of the price to price match, they said their manager has a policy of no pictures allowed.

Interesting. Now coming into the country they do not even have you fill out the slip of paper declaring what you bought.

Pretty pathetic the CD does not even know what is now happening.

Hi

I am just trying to understand.

For the OP...how is this something that Carnival is responsible for?

For Firefly...how does this make cruising "less fun".

I go to shop and now if every bottle is taxed coming in, guys I was bringing stuff home for say dont bother.

I know its probably only Galveston that taxes every bottle

But there were other things. I was on the top casino event cruise it seems and over 500 priorty onboard. priority wasnt very priorty lets say. with over 200 diamonds and over 300 platinum, nothing was fast. I will avoid casino top event cruises from now on lol

I havent been on RCL for even more years it seems. They changed the whole loyalty program since I been on and I didnt even realize it.

I guess I miss being online and its so expensive on the ship, just little things. But i dont have as much fun, been to all the close by ports. Though I havent done the partial panama transit, but id like to find a roomie to share the cost and not pay double.

used to be as a solo i could pay 1 1/2 if I booked a 1a, now its all double. Im tired of paying double.

i was crusing up to 8 times a year on various lines, then just got bored with it all. and dont hardly cruise now.

Some times you just get to where you know every menu so well and it looses its fun so you take a break. Now I just cruise a little bit.

The tax that the republic of texas collects is not related to duty that the Feds might collect.

Anyway, Carnival doesn't control either.

Isn’t this a Galveston thing and related to the reason they don’t have cheers day 1 out of Galveston? Cruise out of New Orleans.

The tax that the republic of texas collects is not related to duty that the Feds might collect.

 

 

Anyway, Carnival doesn't control either.

someone asked why cruising is less fun for me and I gave some of the reasons.

The shows used to be better. the last cruise i did one of the signers was off key. Now the main singers have to also dance, before all they had to have was a good voice, now the quality has gone down because they have to be good dancers too. the pit orchestra is gone.

i know its to keep prices down and appreciate the low prices. Just stating i dont have to like all the changes. i got bored with cruising so i dropped down. when i used to be on this site all the time, i knew the lay out of most every cabin on carnival ships and had pictures to post, i was totally into it, now not so much. People change. Not blaming carnival.

You are miffed with Carnival because of taxes?

I go to shop and now if every bottle is taxed coming in, guys I was bringing stuff home for say dont bother.

 

I know its probably only Galveston that taxes every bottle

 

But there were other things. I was on the top casino event cruise it seems and over 500 priorty onboard. priority wasnt very priorty lets say. with over 200 diamonds and over 300 platinum, nothing was fast. I will avoid casino top event cruises from now on lol

 

I havent been on RCL for even more years it seems. They changed the whole loyalty program since I been on and I didnt even realize it.

 

I guess I miss being online and its so expensive on the ship, just little things. But i dont have as much fun, been to all the close by ports. Though I havent done the partial panama transit, but id like to find a roomie to share the cost and not pay double.

 

used to be as a solo i could pay 1 1/2 if I booked a 1a, now its all double. Im tired of paying double.

 

i was crusing up to 8 times a year on various lines, then just got bored with it all. and dont hardly cruise now.

 

Some times you just get to where you know every menu so well and it looses its fun so you take a break. Now I just cruise a little bit.

We have "only" cruised 6 times, all on carnival. On our last cruise in August, it was clear that many things have become predictable and were bordering on routine. Neither are words you want to use when describing a vacation. No doubt we will be taking a break from cruising for a couple years. And who knows, maybe during those years we will find other vacations and/or interests that we will like better than cruising. Would not surprise me if we never cruise again.

someone asked why cruising is less fun for me and I gave some of the reasons.

 

The shows used to be better. the last cruise i did one of the signers was off key. Now the main singers have to also dance, before all they had to have was a good voice, now the quality has gone down because they have to be good dancers too. the pit orchestra is gone.

 

i know its to keep prices down and appreciate the low prices. Just stating i dont have to like all the changes. i got bored with cruising so i dropped down. when i used to be on this site all the time, i knew the lay out of most every cabin on carnival ships and had pictures to post, i was totally into it, now not so much. People change. Not blaming carnival.

Hi

I hear what you are saying, but those things you mention...the singing, the dancing, the food, were always somewhat secondary. Going to the ocean, stepping onto the ship, knowing that tomorrow I will be somewhere different. Standing on deck, enjoying the sea breeze, watching the waves. Watching those sunrises and sunsets. Staring up at the sky at night looking at the moon and the stars, as well as anything else I can pick out, doesn't seem to get old for me.

I understand the thing about travelling solo. My wife died last year and change is really hard.

As you said, you find a balance. Instead of sailing many times, you just go it feels right. I can't see the food or the entertainment, or the taxes, turn me off from cruising. When I hear people complain about "another cutback" :), all I can think is, please, get real, find something important to complain about.

have a good day

Hi

 

I hear what you are saying, but those things you mention...the singing, the dancing, the food, were always somewhat secondary. Going to the ocean, stepping onto the ship, knowing that tomorrow I will be somewhere different. Standing on deck, enjoying the sea breeze, watching the waves. Watching those sunrises and sunsets. Staring up at the sky at night looking at the moon and the stars, as well as anything else I can pick out, doesn't seem to get old for me.

 

I understand the thing about travelling solo. My wife died last year and change is really hard.

 

As you said, you find a balance. Instead of sailing many times, you just go it feels right. I can't see the food or the entertainment, or the taxes, turn me off from cruising. When I hear people complain about "another cutback" :), all I can think is, please, get real, find something important to complain about.

 

have a good day

You have a beautiful perspective on life!!

We enjoy all types of vacations and take normally two a year besides several long weekends and day trips. We will take one cruise once about every two to four years, maybe that's why we never had a disappointing cruise or nitpick the small stuff.

After a brief internet search, it seems the rule of thumb is still 1 liter per person for spirits. Not sure about jewelry. But you still have to make a declaration. At least you had Customs on board. My experience is usually lots of walking through this maze where you grab your bags then get in line to see a customs officer who looks really bored and wants another coffee break.

After a brief internet search, it seems the rule of thumb is still 1 liter per person for spirits. Not sure about jewelry. But you still have to make a declaration. At least you had Customs on board. My experience is usually lots of walking through this maze where you grab your bags then get in line to see a customs officer who looks really bored and wants another coffee break.

Except out of Galveston. Texas has their own rules.

I threw out the form so I cant ss it here, but there was no exception for 1 liter pp like other ports.

No big deal as I am not a big drinker and its just something to bring home for friends.

The good news is there is no limit on cigars and the same friends who like scotch smoke cigars at a meet up group I attend. They are happy if I bring home cigars and skip the customs hassle.

Ill get a copy of the customs form next cruise out of Galveston and ss it so people have the information and dont assume all ports are the same.

The other good news is it seems taxes buying booze in Texas are much less than other states. When I lived in Florida it cost almost double to buy similar bottles of German wine, so it all works out.

I wasnt complaining other than the fact I think the CD should know the rules for the ship he is on. It wasnt a big deal, just saying the CD was not knowledgeable. Telling me to go read the form because he didnt know the rules out of Galveston ... oh well. He wasnt a memorable CD in other ways too.

I hear the one on Vista is really good, so Im looking forward to having a good CD next cruise.

Your duty free exemption is at the Federal level and doesn't matter what state. No duty if under the limit.

https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/246/~/duty--free-exemption

Texas levies a tax, not duty, in addition. Not that there is any difference to you pocket, and it doesn't matter if you live in Texas or not.

I just got off Carnival Ecstasy last saturday

Sufficiently large purchases are reported; the cruise line doesn't matter. Whatever an onboard shop (they are outsourced to third parties) tells you doesn't matter. You mentioned jewelry. I might suspect that.

Anyone who makes large purchases outside of the country might want to get it appraised back home for insurance and so you know how much you overpaid.

[quote name=firefly333;57125933

I wasnt complaining other than the fact I think the CD should know the rules for the ship he is on. It wasnt a big deal' date=' just saying the CD was not knowledgeable. Telling me to go read the form because he didnt know the rules out of Galveston ... oh well. He wasnt a memorable CD in other ways too.

I hear the one on Vista is really good, so Im looking forward to having a good CD next cruise.[/quote]

Agreed, the CD should know the 'rules' of the port he/she is sailing in and out of.

YES, if the CD on your cruise (the Vista) is Matt Mitchum, he is the BEST of the BEST!! While the CD was great the Vista (to us) was our least favorite ship of all times.....crowded, closed in (no windows - just more cabins packed on a ship the same size for a higher pax count but few 'ocean views'), an abomination of a theatre (lots of obstructed pillar views, movable seating making it a multi purpose room on a flat main floor making viewing the stage hard from anywhere but up front, yuck!), comedy theatre WAY too SMALL for the crowds and long lines waiting to enter way before showtime (clogging the narrow, dark hall for other pax going elsewhere).....are just a FEW reasons!!

Agreed, the CD should know the 'rules' of the port he/she is sailing in and out of.

I don't think there is a "written rule" by port. It seems somewhat arbitrary by whoever is in charge that day. Just because they want to inspect, does not mean they with assess duty.

What is the tax rate on alcohol charged in Galveston?

someone asked why cruising is less fun for me and I gave some of the reasons.

 

The shows used to be better. the last cruise i did one of the signers was off key. Now the main singers have to also dance, before all they had to have was a good voice, now the quality has gone down because they have to be good dancers too. the pit orchestra is gone.

 

i know its to keep prices down and appreciate the low prices. Just stating i dont have to like all the changes. i got bored with cruising so i dropped down. when i used to be on this site all the time, i knew the lay out of most every cabin on carnival ships and had pictures to post, i was totally into it, now not so much. People change. Not blaming carnival.

Welcome back, Firefly. Missed you while you were gone.

I don't like a lot of the cutbacks - ie. production shows, pit orchestra, etc., but I still enjoy Carnival.

We did a Journey's cruise in Jan. on Pride and will be doing a Journey's Cruise in Feb. 2019 on Glory. In 2020 we're doing a partial Panama Canal transit Journey's cruise on Glory from NO. Love the journey's cruises because of new ports offered. Otherwise, for the last few years, it's been same old, same ol.

What is the tax rate on alcohol charged in Galveston?

https://help.carnival.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/1382/~/texas-tax-declaration%3A-the-texas-alcoholic-beverage-commission-(tabc)

It is the guest responsibility to know the rules. Not by anyone else.

Personally, I don't understand why you would buy Alcohol, cigarettes, or jewelry on a ship. The island prices are much better and no one is reporting you to customs. The watch prices on the ship are outrageous compared to St.Thomas, not the crap $10 watches, good watches

We have "only" cruised 6 times, all on carnival. On our last cruise in August, it was clear that many things have become predictable and were bordering on routine. Neither are words you want to use when describing a vacation. No doubt we will be taking a break from cruising for a couple years. And who knows, maybe during those years we will find other vacations and/or interests that we will like better than cruising. Would not surprise me if we never cruise again.

Your not alone on that one.cruising is too predictable doesn't matter the line .some lines have better amenities than others.i may do one more cruise but I'm pretty well done.it will depend on my wife..