Time for a little honesty.

[luckyoldsun]

Got off the Liberty today. The dear wife bought some jewelry from the shops on the boat. Carnival employees told us it is best to be honest when filling out your Homeland Security declaration form. They told us most agents will tell you glad you had a good time and will let you through. Unfortunately we got the agent this morning who took his job way to serious and charged us full duty tax on the purchase.....$ 300.00 tax bill. Our porter who helped us with our luggage told us it must not be our day as he rarely witnesses what he saw today. I made the purchase and understand you have a chance of paying the full duty which is fine.

 

So the question I have is......is it worth it to be honest in filling out the form correctly.

 

Fess up and let here any other stories.

[5waldos]

It does happen. I never buy enough to be charged duty but have seen it. It is hard when it happens though- but you will both enjoy your memories and the purchases for many many years to come.

[firefly333]

I would have been upset with a $300 tax bill. I know to wear it or hide it if I ever bought anything that expensive (unlikely as Im no judge of good gems).

[CWcruisers]

It was my understanding that the gift shop gives them the records of the purchases made on board. I was debarking a ship in Miami and my card buzzed as I tried to get off. I was held aside and eventually escorted to the customs officer. Meanwhile, they told my husband to go on through, which he did, collected the luggage and put it on the bus because we had purchased the after tour of the Everglades. They made him get all the luggage, and bring it back to the customs area. Meanwhile, he had already turned in the customs form, which they could not find, so I had to fill out another. Once I did, they told me that I was picked because of my purchase in the gift shop, which they learned from the gift shop, not my customs card. My purchase was under the allowed limit so they did not charge me nor did they search my luggage which was the purpose of making us bring it all back inside. Then the moron told me that their reasoning is if you bought one expensive item, you may have bought more and that he hoped he had not ruined my day, which of course, he had.

 

So it had nothing to do with your customs card. They may have pulled you anyways, and I've also been told, it is common in FL ports.

 

Bottom line for me, I never buy jewelry, ever, on a ship. Who needs that hassle?:(

[QLUVS2CRUZ]

Hmmmm...tough question...I haven't ever purchased anything that would put me above the limit, but if I did, I'd probably claim it.

[vacruizer]

Paying the duty is a much less penalty in the end than if you had been dishonest. The ship gives a list of large purchases to the customs people so they will know if you lie.

 

On our 10th anniversary cruise a few years ago we bought some jewelry. Not enough to put us over the limit but still a large amount. The agent saw that I listed jewelry and the $ amount on the form, asked me several questions about the jewelry itself, then went to his computer and looked me up to be sure I wasn't on that list and underdeclaring. :eek:

 

There was also a post here several years ago where a guy got detained after he didn't declare and they had him flagged.

[Busy Barge]

man ... that bites

[luckyoldsun]

Carnival did tell us they have to supply a manifest of onboard purchases. So I would alway be honest on the form....not worth the penalty.

 

I was just wondering if anyone had an agent really say to them glad you had a good time and let you through without paying the duty tax.

 

Looks like the next cruise will not include any larger on board purchase.

[CWcruisers]

Carnival did tell us they have to supply a manifest of onboard purchases. So I would alway be honest on the form....not worth the penalty.

 

I was just wondering if anyone had an agent really say to them glad you had a good time and let you through without paying the duty tax.

 

Looks like the next cruise will not include any larger on board purchase.

 

In California, yes.

[arcone]

i hought the ship store

s were Duty Free. Can some one explain how duty free shops work and how it effects custom. Thanks

[CCLNCLRCICRUISER]

i hought the ship store

s were Duty Free. Can some one explain how duty free shops work and how it effects custom. Thanks

 

This might help from the carnival site, if you go over the duty free allowance you might be charged duty on the overage.

 

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).

[5waldos]

You are allowed to bring in only so much duty free into the US (and other countries for that matter). I don't remember the exact amounts right now but after that amount you are required to pay duty. There are all kinds of exceptions- the list goes on and on. So many cigarettes, so much alcohol, art from various places, woven goods from other places- the list is extensive.

 

But I am surprised that the ships are required to provide manifestos of purchases. Doesn't that breach some privacy laws or something?

[scgamecock]

I would never buy anything that expensive on the ship. I have brought back a lot of liquor twice. Honest on the customs forms both times. Had to pay the fees one of the times.

[Cruzin2paradise09]

Got off the Liberty today. The dear wife bought some jewelry from the shops on the boat. Carnival employees told us it is best to be honest when filling out your Homeland Security declaration form. They told us most agents will tell you glad you had a good time and will let you through. Unfortunately we got the agent this morning who took his job way to serious and charged us full duty tax on the purchase.....$ 300.00 tax bill. Our porter who helped us with our luggage told us it must not be our day as he rarely witnesses what he saw today. I made the purchase and understand you have a chance of paying the full duty which is fine.

 

So the question I have is......is it worth it to be honest in filling out the form correctly.

 

Fess up and let here any other stories.

 

Sorry you paid so much in taxes ... as for honesty, are you honest when you have your income taxes done? I sure hope so.

 

I've personally never bought anything major on a cruise ... no point - I can't return it or have it fixed if I do. I will purchase alcohol to bring home and yes, I only purchase the alloted amount duty free. No, I'm not perfect, I drive 3 to 5 miles over the speed limit and know the consequences if I get caught.

 

And as a side note, because of my job with the federal government, it is NOT in my bet interest to lie and not pay taxes.

[CWcruisers]

I would never buy anything that expensive on the ship. I have brought back a lot of liquor twice. Honest on the customs forms both times. Had to pay the fees one of the times.

 

The ships have an excellent return policy and price guarantee, so there is nothing wrong with buying on the ship, until you try and get off the ship.

 

5Waldos, the ships are foreign registered, who's rules would they be breaking?

[Cruzin2paradise09]

Here is all of the information from Customs and Border Patrol, happy reading!

 

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

[scgamecock]

The ships have an excellent return policy and price guarantee, so there is nothing wrong with buying on the ship, until you try and get off the ship.

 

Oh, I didn't say there was anything wrong with it. If people have that kind of money to drop on that type of stuff, more power to them. I just personally don't go cruising to shop other than perhaps a few small souvenirs. :)

[luckyoldsun]

The jewerly bought on the ship is from Effy. Purchase comes with a lifetime warranty and certificate. Effy is based out of New York and has multiple stores around the U.S. and the Carribean.

 

Would not buy something on a ship if it wasn't from a reputable company and the warranty.

[TM&K]

My DH purchased me jewelry in St. Marteen while on a land based vacation for my birthday. It was over the limit and we filled out the customs forms honestly. When we went through customs we were flagged and had to go through a different line than most of the other passengers. The customs agent asked what jewelry we bought and I showed it to him (I was wearing it) he just smiled and sent us on our way.

[golfadj]

Not a good thing to commit fraud.

[sarahleebones]

I don't even remember dealing with customs coming off the ship....is it maybe because I'm Canadian? I seriously don't remember.

 

Myself, I always declare everything. I can't afford to be flagged as I import raw goods into Canada that I personally clear through customs....I do not use a brokerage. So I truly CANNOT be flagged. It could affect my business.

[kelkel2]

We purchased 3 liters of liquor, which we knew was over the limit and knew we could possibly get taxed on it. We put it on our customs form because we didn't want to get caught lying and he asked us when we went through how many bottles we had. We flat out said 3. He smiled at us and said welcome back to the US and let us go. I think it probably wasn't worth the trouble for him.

[hermitstyle]

It was my understanding that the gift shop gives them the records of the purchases made on board. I was debarking a ship in Miami and my card buzzed as I tried to get off. I was held aside and eventually escorted to the customs officer. Meanwhile, they told my husband to go on through, which he did, collected the luggage and put it on the bus because we had purchased the after tour of the Everglades. They made him get all the luggage, and bring it back to the customs area. Meanwhile, he had already turned in the customs form, which they could not find, so I had to fill out another. Once I did, they told me that I was picked because of my purchase in the gift shop, which they learned from the gift shop, not my customs card. My purchase was under the allowed limit so they did not charge me nor did they search my luggage which was the purpose of making us bring it all back inside. Then the moron told me that their reasoning is if you bought one expensive item, you may have bought more and that he hoped he had not ruined my day, which of course, he had.

 

So it had nothing to do with your customs card. They may have pulled you anyways, and I've also been told, it is common in FL ports.

 

Bottom line for me, I never buy jewelry, ever, on a ship. Who needs that hassle?:(

Jeez. the guy was just doing his job. No need to call him a moron. You even said that he said he hoped he hadn't ruined your day. It's not like he did it on purpose, and said "Oh, just let me see how I can ruin this person's day". Let's hope I never have to sail with you. Just by that comment, you sound like one of those people who is high and mighty and can't believe that some peon ruined your day....

[beerman2]

my wife was stopped and searched by the rudest agent( female) out of the Port of Miami in 2005. A couple of other agents who were watching what was happening looked at me and just shook their head.

 

Eventually said to me there was nothing they could do, but definately thought the agent was making it more difficult than it should have been.

 

I know they all have a job to do but be respectful. My wife did/said absolutely nothing to warrant her rudeness.

[chasinraynbowz]

My brother in law bought my sister a ring onboard during one of our cruises and as they went to disembark, the buzzer rang for him too. They hadn't had a chance to turn in their customs declaration yet, so the information did come from the shop on board. They were pulled aside and escorted somewhere. (I had already left, so I missed all this).

 

Good thing they were honest. :D