It's Just Not Worth It

[FritzG]

Anything you buy on the ship is being bought out of the country. As such, it needs to be put on the customs form.

 

I wondered about this. The ship is registered out of the US, but Princess Corp. is in California. How do they determine that anything you buy on the ship is being bought out of the country when you're paying with US $ to a US company? If so, why don't they inform you when the declaration forms are being distributed? We've never claimed things we bought onboard, but it's never been much more than t-shirts and hats.

[BruceMuzz]

The US Government has pressured all the cruise lines and most of the jewelry shops in the Caribbean to report any large purchases by US Citizens on a cruise.

 

A day or so before the ship arrives in it's final US Port, the ship is required to send a list of purchases (over a certain amount) with it's other reports, to the US Customs people.

The US Customs Officials then have several options:

 

1. They frequently instruct the ship to contact several pax and advise them to wait in their cabins on the final morning. Customs officials visit them for an "interview".

 

2. They usually have a list of pax who should be stopped at the gangway. The computer is programmed to flash a message when the passenger tries to disembark. Customs Officers are usually waiting nearby.

 

3. There is another list of big spenders who are not contacted. But the ship gives their photos and other details to the Customs Officials. When these passengers go through Customs/Immigration in the terminal, the officials are waiting for them. If the details on their customs forms do not match their reported purchases, they are in for a very long day with US Customs people.

 

Anytime you but something "Duty Free" - it probably IS duty free so far as the selling price is concerned. But it probably is NOT "Duty Free" when it comes to the government in your home country. That is an issue between you and your government. The seller has very little to do with it at that point.

 

Your tax dollars at work..............................................

[whiteheather]

OK .... last year we bought T shirts on the ship that sailed out of FLL and a couple of watches as gifts for family, nowhere did we receive any paperwork to say that these things had to be declared as bought while on the hsip and our cards certainly didnt throw up any problems when leaving the ship! so maybe it is just for USA passengers!

 

I don't know about any forms you fill in on the ship but when entering the UK on your return flight from outside the EU you have to declare all purchases or gifts with a total value over £300 (not including liquor, cigarettes, perfume etc.which you make a seperate declaration for)... so if your on board purchases and any others that you made pre or post cruise in Florida came to more than £300 (very easily done) you should have declared them when entering the UK....but if it was last year you should be safe from the Tax Man now :D

[Cruzman]

From the "whatever it's worth dept", if the OP had merely purchased unmounted stones, there would have been no import duty at all. The stones could have then been mounted domestically for a nominal charge.

[CZEE]

The US Government has pressured all the cruise lines and most of the jewelry shops in the Caribbean to report any large purchases by US Citizens on a cruise.

 

 

I didn't quote your entire post.

 

How do you know this? I'm not disputing the knowledge. Just curious since I'll be going to the Caribbean next spring.

 

Thanks.

[Terre]

Sorry, I'm not with you on this. What declaration are you talking about, and where do you get the form from. Don't think I've ever had one?

The Customs form you get the last night of your cruise. You list your purchases over a certain amount, but I always list everything just in case. You give the form to the Customs agents on the way off the ship.

[BruceMuzz]

I didn't quote your entire post.

 

How do you know this? I'm not disputing the knowledge. Just curious since I'll be going to the Caribbean next spring.

 

Thanks.

 

Good question.

Easy Answer.

I have been working on cruise ships sailing the Caribbean for several decades.

That's the way we have been doing it for quite some time.

[Greselda]

Hey Folks.....here it is from US Customs..

 

What is our Duty Free allowance?

 

 

Regulations from ATF: Cigarettes and Tobacco Products Foreign-made cigarettes and tobacco products may still be brought into the U.S. in personal-use quantities (exemption: 1 carton per person).

 

The following guidelines pertain to U.S. Residents only. Non-U.S. Residents must comply with customs allowance guidelines set-up by the Customs Office in their particular country. Specific information will be provided on board the ship.

 

All Heads of Households are required to complete one U.S. Customs Declaration Form, to include those family members traveling with them who reside at the same address.

 

The Head of Household must declare the total value of all articles acquired abroad that they are bringing into the United States, including those items purchased on the ship, in foreign ports and any duty free stores. All purchases including tax free items (ex: artwork, unset precious gemstones, perfume, cosmetics, antiques and U.S. made products) must be listed on the back of the U.S. Customs declaration form. Undeclared merchandise is subject to seizure and/or penalty.

 

If the family has exceeded the U.S. Customs exemptions, the Head of Household must present him or herself with receipts to the Customs Agents on the last morning of the cruise before the debarkation process begins.

 

Duty-Free Allowance: Ship itineraries that include any of U.S Virgin Islands: St. Thomas; St. Croix; St. John.

 

$1600 (retail) of duty-free purchases per person may be spent. Note: of the $1600, no more than $800 can be purchased outside the U.S. Virgin Islands or on board. 5 liters of alcohol per person (21 years or older).

 

Note: 1 liter of alcohol must be a product of the U.S. Virgin Islands. 5 cartons of cigarettes containing 200 cigarettes each (18 years or older). Note: 4 cartons of cigarettes must be purchased in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

 

100 non-Cuban cigars (18 years or older).

 

Duty-Free Allowance: All other ship itineraries.

$800 (retail) of duty-free purchases per person may be spent.

1 liter of alcohol per person (21 years or older).

Note: On certain itineraries, an additional liter may be purchased.

1 carton of cigarettes containing 200 cigarettes (18 years or older).

100 non-Cuban cigars (18 years or older).

[caribill]

So Bob, you're saying that the large amount of an on board purchase triggered the alarm?? I've never heard of such a thing. On the Tahitian Princess debarking in Papetee, I had made several pearl purchases on the ship and nothing happened.

 

That is because you were not disembarking to a port in the USA.

[WinnieinWA]

Some men wear earrings ;). (Not me though :).)

 

That made me giggle! :D

 

There's nothing in the world I would ever do to upset any US Government Official.. as Bob said:

 

IT'S JUST NOT WORTH IT!!!!!

 

I don't know why anyone would even try. Once you're on their "list" your life may never be the same!

This happened to a friend..not me!

 

I think instead of asking for clarification on a message board some folks may want to go to their Government's web site and get their answers from the horses mouth. :-)

 

Welcome home Bob..can't wait for the full review and the pictures!:)

[jfv379]

From the "whatever it's worth dept", if the OP had merely purchased unmounted stones, there would have been no import duty at all. The stones could have then been mounted domestically for a nominal charge.

 

This is the second time I have seen this comment on unmounted stones(I don't remember if yours was the first post I read). I'm not questioning the veracity of your statement, but how does this work?

 

Can you explain what makes unmounted stones different as far as customs is concerned? Why aren't they still considered a purchase made outside the US?

 

Just wondering.

[Buddy604]

This is the second time I have seen this comment on unmounted stones(I don't remember if yours was the first post I read). I'm not questioning the veracity of your statement, but how does this work?

 

Can you explain what makes unmounted stones different as far as customs is concerned? Why aren't they still considered a purchase made outside the US?

 

Just wondering.

US Customs treats unmounted stones as rocks, believe it or not, with no duty. However, you still have to ensure that your "rocks" aren't conflict stones - i.e. blood diamonds - or you'll have a whole lot of other trouble.

 

I'm not sure if it's all gemstones - I know the phrase "Imports of diamonds, pearls, rubies, sapphires and emeralds from countries with normal trade relation status are duty free as long as they are not permanently strung, set or mounted" applies, I'm just not sure if it applies to all gemstones.

 

By the way, for non-US citizens, customs only cares about any items you intend to leave in the United States - like gifts. Since I'm usually hooping on a plane, my left behind amount has always been zero.

[Woobstr112G]

What's interesting about this is that it was the CRUISE CARD at disembarkation that triggered the alarm, not the declaration form at customs. Usually the card alarm is triggered only if money is owing to the ship.

 

So Bob, you're saying that the large amount of an on board purchase triggered the alarm?? I've never heard of such a thing. On the Tahitian Princess debarking in Papetee, I had made several pearl purchases on the ship and nothing happened. I wonder what the $$ cut off is for the alarm.

 

The Customs' Officer told me they asked for a report from the ship on anyone who made an individual purchase over $1000.00. He also told me they could ask for repoorts on any amount. The $1000.00 was an arbitrary amount they decided upon.

 

Bob

[Murphey]

We usually go over our liquor alottment....we always declare it....never been a problem. It always pays to be honest. One time, (we were driving, not flying), we had 12 bottles with us. The guy asked how many (I declared a total $ amount, not # bottles). I told him and he seemed just a tad startled, then laughed. Off we went! If he had wanted us to pay the duty, we would have.

[sunshine nana]

Thanks for the info. By the way, I noticed your CC name, did you graduate from COW by any chance?

[m steve]

but our customs form listed all the purchases and they just looked at it and passed us thru. Always declare!

[linda_22003]

We never do but I have heard people saying just wear the jewelry home, how would they know if it was new or old.

 

People have been caught this way; if they suspect, they really put the item under a "microscope". They can see if there are small scratches, signs of wear, even body oils on the piece. I wouldn't bank on that working.

[G'ma]

People have been caught this way; if they suspect, they really put the item under a "microscope". They can see if there are small scratches, signs of wear, even body oils on the piece. I wouldn't bank on that working.

 

I agree. These people are pros who've been doing it for years. They know all the tricks and can usually spot the persons or the merchandise by just looking.

 

They aren't fools.

 

Just be truthfull in your declaration, be prepared to pay any taxes that might be required and you'll never have a problem with customs.....

[jfv379]

People have been caught this way; if they suspect, they really put the item under a "microscope".

 

I was told some time ago that if a customs officer suspects anything unusual they can confiscate any and all items you have even if you purchased them in the US. It is then incumbent on you to provide proof that you purchased the items in the US before they will be returned to you.

 

I found this PFD file, Things You Should Know Before Leaving, from the CBP (Custome Border Patrol) web site and it specifcally states that you should register all items whith CBP that you are leaving the States with i.e. cameras, laptops, jewelry,gold, etc. and always have the form with you when you travel outside of the US.

 

http://www.cbp.gov/linkhandler/cgov/travel/vacation/kbyg/kbyg_regulations.ctt/kbyg_regulations.pdf

 

The rules goes sofar as to tell you that if you have alterations done to a suit which was purchased in the US you have to declare the cost of the alterations.

 

The bottom line is DO NOT AGGRAVATE THE CUSTOMS PEOPLE. It's not worth it and they can make your life miserable.

[KAR3600]

I just got off the Emerald on Sunday. We were traveling with another couple. He put his cruise card in and the big bong sound and both screens turned RED. A customs agent came over, and escorted them from the boat. They bought literally nothing (some t-shirts from the boat)! According to the agent they go through the manifest and pick randam names to check. His luggage was suppose to go right to Jet blue....well it was sitting right at the customs desk. They spoke to him briefly, I think he was asking them more questions than they asked him. They did not open his luggage and he was on his way. His luggage did make it to his final destination.

[caribill]

I found this PFD file, Things You Should Know Before Leaving, from the CBP (Custom Border Patrol) web site and it specifcally states that you should register all items whith CBP that you are leaving the States with i.e. cameras, laptops, jewelry,gold, etc. and always have the form with you when you travel outside of the US.

 

 

Another official form that does not meet reality. Actual past experiences:

 

a) Tried to register items at JFK airport. To do this I had to receive permission to enter the customs area (past all those do-not-enter doors). Found the customs agent who was eating lunch at his desk. He said no need to register the items and they would not be checked when returning to the US. Waste of 30 minutes for me.

 

b) At the San Juan airport before a cruise, tried to register some jewelry. When I found the customs agent, I was told that if it did not have a serial number (most diamond jewelry, bracelets, etc. do not), they could not register it.

[sirwired]

Coming back to the states once from the UK, there was one lady on our flight who had customs agents disassembling her luggage. She had declared nothing, yet walked off the flight with two armloads of bags from duty-free in Gatwick. I suspect she wasn't trying fraud, she just didn't understand that "duty-free" just means "duty hasn't been paid".

 

SirWired

[Desert Cruizers]

At the end of our Caribbean Cruise back in 2004 and going thru the Customs off the ship, we witnessed the police, escorting a couple and their children off to an area. My husband asked the man at the Customs window what the problem was and informed, there was a warrant for the mans arrest. What a terrible way to end a cruise and the children must have been frightened.

[#1PrincessFan]

I recently got off the Ruby Princess and also had the alarm go off and was escorted to Customs. I had bought a watch in the islands (not the ship) which did put me slightly over my limit. I had declared it on the form. The only other item I had purchased was some perfume on board. When I arrived at the Customs office, the agent questioned me about the form and said this was my last chance to report ALL items purchased. I told them that these were the only items purchased. My bags which were supposed to go straight to US Airlines were in the customs room. My bags were all hand searched by the agents and I was asked for receipts for my purchases which I produced. Apparently, large purchases off the ship are also now being reported to customs. I finally was asked to pay the small duty amount I owed, and they did send my bags on to the airlines. It was not a pleasant experience for me, as I had never had anything like that before. It didn't matter that the customs form had been accurately completed - not sure what they were searching for, but they sure tried! I literally had to repack my luggage once they had taken everything out.

[paul929207]

First, your bags go straight to the airport after going thru customs.

 

I assume the customs folks were checking anyone close to or over the limit to see there was more they could collect on.