Bought a watch on the ship?

[Priusprof]

I purchased a Tissot on board Serenade last fall during the 15% off sale. I felt like it was a good deal but found it for slightly less online when I returned to the states. Difference is I was able to see it, feel it, and touch it before purchase. The staff on board adjusted the band, etc. So it was cheaper on line but not a better deal.

[BARNET]

I live in the UK and have been on many cruises in and out of the states and have never paid duty on anything as I have been told by many a customs agent that I am indeed in transit. The most I have been asked is when my flight leaves. I have also stayed in Florida for a week or two following a cruise and again have never paid duty. And I do declare stuff, before you think I haven't. Now England might want to know, but "they" never ask upon arrival.

The Customs form that you get when leaving the ship state that non US residents only have to declare items that will be remaining in the US. Living in the UK any goods that you have brought are declared on you return to the UK you declare what you have brought or take the chance.

[chadbeck]

I have bought watches on the ship and always saved at least $50 off prices online and in my area. A few things to keep in mind, the price on the first day will be the price on the last day. They don't have a "watch sale" the discount of 15%,40%, or whatever is the same each day. The price you see on the sticker doesn't factor the discount. So it really is better to get it one of the first days so if you're in port and see it less they will correct the price for you.

[BecciBoo]

We both bought Citizens, Eco Drive, runs on light! And love them.

 

We saw them and liked them on one cruise, but came home to research it online. And sure enough, the ship's price on sale day (also no taxes) was cheaper than any price online. So next cruise we got ours. We love these watches! They never lose time and run without having to worry about batteries! Check 'em out!

[Ourusualbeach]

We both bought Citizens, Eco Drive, runs on light! And love them.

 

We saw them and liked them on one cruise, but came home to research it online. And sure enough, the ship's price on sale day (also no taxes) was cheaper than any price online. So next cruise we got ours. We love these watches! They never lose time and run without having to worry about batteries! Check 'em out!

 

Same here. Bought one a couple cruises ago and could not find it cheaper anywhere. May look at getting another one. Saw a model I liked at Costco so I'll look for it on the ship.

[heyabbott]

is there a list of watches online that RCI carries with prices so I can compare before I leave?

 

Is the watch inventory tied to the ship, ship class or port? Better watches on more expensive ships?

[setsail]

is there a list of watches online that RCI carries with prices so I can compare before I leave?

 

Is the watch inventory tied to the ship, ship class or port? Better watches on more expensive ships?

 

These people run the shops onboard, you can try to contact them

http://www.starboardcruise.com/

[Bcshur]

I second that! My husband just bought a watch on board only to find out it's a ladies watch (doesn't look like it but the serial numbers state it is), and was about 100 dollars more then what Macy's had it for. The first watch purchase a few years ago was a good deal, or so we thought. I would compare prices for sure. Have a great time!

[Tennessee_Cruiser]

UPDATE

 

I'm the OP and long story short I bought the watch I wanted before the cruise. For watch geeks... it is the Omega Aqua Terra Master Co-Axial in white/silver. I LOVE it!

 

Once we got on the ship my boyfriend--side note: I propose to him on the ship and he said YES!!!--he saw a Tag Carrera Automatic Chronograph on board and loved it! List was $4,500 and they were offering 15% off which brought it down to $3,825. We walked and wanted to check in some of the ports. Saw a similar watch at one of the Diamonds Internationals, but it was the 2014 model so it was slightly more expensive, and my boyfriend liked the older model on the ship better.

 

After checking on Amazon and other sites I saw the watch was going for $3,200 and it could be had for $2,500 used so I thought we would wait until we got home. On night 6 of the cruise we went into the store to look at the watch again and a different salesperson helped us and said, "it's a great price." To which I replied, "$3,825 is just a bit too high for this watch." And to my surprise she countered with, "It is not $3,800 it is $2,800. Since it is the older model we are able to discount it further." She scanned the watch to make sure that was accurate and I swiped my SeaPass card!

 

When it was my turn to have my SeaPass card scanned to disembark, the machine did not make the sound every Royal Caribbean cruiser knows so well, but it made an alert sound. "Please wait here" I was told. Eventually someone was the ship took us to the front of a VERY long line to clear customs (we heard a few "CUTTERS" but kept going). I had a feeling this would happen so I had all of my paperwork filled out and receipts ready (including things I bought with cash in Mexico). After talking with the first (rude) customs agent I was sent to another (very nice) customs agent. He looked at my paperwork and explained how duty worked. He only made me pay $30 in duty, which was lower than it should have been since he did not calculate my other purchases and he just rounded the amount down to the nearest number. I gladly paid and went along my way.

 

I had a very pleasant experience buying the watch on board and it's something I plan to do again!

[steveru621]

It's always great to read a story that ends well. Also it reenforced the notion that you need to bargain and do your homework.

[Beardface]

Got a Stuhrling this past week on the Oasis. MSRP on the watch on the ship said $750, and I ended up paying $250. I almost didn't want to look on Amazon to see what the price would be there, but I'm glad I did, as their purchase price is currently $475. I think I did pretty good for myself.

[Tennessee_Cruiser]

It's always great to read a story that ends well. Also it reenforced the notion that you need to bargain and do your homework.

 

For sure! And I suppose I should tell you I have used your quote in your signature, "If you are expecting perfection, don't travel, you will surely be disappointed" many times since I saw it months ago on a thread. I love that motto!

 

Got a Stuhrling this past week on the Oasis. MSRP on the watch on the ship said $750, and I ended up paying $250. I almost didn't want to look on Amazon to see what the price would be there, but I'm glad I did, as their purchase price is currently $475. I think I did pretty good for myself.

 

Good find!

[Cruisin'Kim]

Citizen's watches are always cheaper than Macy's and even Amazon (with the ship standard 35% off). I have done extensive research on specific models and have never found a price anywhere in the US cheaper than the ship. Some models that Macy's sells are cheaper. But for the exact same model they are not cheaper.

 

I cannot speak for Invicta or CARNIVAL, but please don't use such a wide brush that says the merchant at Royal will rip you off.

 

I agree, my DH is a watch geek, and has bought several Citizen Watches much cheaper on the ship then anywhere else (and he always knows which model he's looking for when we go, so does tons of research). A couple of years ago we both bought Tisso's for a much better price then anywhere else for the same model. (Never hurts to get to know the jewellery people as well, they will do what they can when they like you).....

[markeb]

Congratulations!

 

Homework can pay off. And this is probably one of the places where the bizarrity of the cruise ship world really paid off for you! In the states, if you can't move last year's model at retail, you "move" it to a grey market dealer who sells it without warranty or papers. You really don't have that option on the ship, and you lucked into what sounds like a great deal.

 

Just out of curiousity, do you know what exact model you got? Unless there was a July 1st price increase (which is possible), none of those prices fit a current co-axial. I was just curious how you did compared to retail (which sound like you did great, BTW), and to keep in mind for future reference...

[Daghis]

I propose to him on the ship and he said YES!!!

Congratulations!!

 

Now, when you go on your honeymoon, go on a cruise and try to be the newlywed couple in the Love & Marriage game show. :D

[alfaeric]

Double congratulations!

 

Seems like figuring it out got a little harder recently, as we were on the Oasis recently, too- and saw that they added a bunch of different watches. Some expensive, some not so much- but none of them I'm aware of as a non-watch enthusiest.

 

I have an idea for a new watch, but after contacting the company, they will not be producing one like that for a year or so. But I'll keep looking. (now that I have a mechanical Hamilton, perhaps one more of those, but for sure, when Shinola makes a mechanical movement, I think I'll get one of them- they were the one who told me next year at the earliest).

 

It was a big step to get a $600 watch, and hard to wrap my head around getting one up to $1000, let alone more than that. maybe someday. :D

 

So is it safe to think that you will get some cool engraved watches as an engagement gift to each other? (other than rings, of course).

[Tennessee_Cruiser]

Congratulations!

 

Homework can pay off. And this is probably one of the places where the bizarrity of the cruise ship world really paid off for you! In the states, if you can't move last year's model at retail, you "move" it to a grey market dealer who sells it without warranty or papers. You really don't have that option on the ship, and you lucked into what sounds like a great deal.

 

Just out of curiousity, do you know what exact model you got? Unless there was a July 1st price increase (which is possible), none of those prices fit a current co-axial. I was just curious how you did compared to retail (which sound like you did great, BTW), and to keep in mind for future reference...

 

The model number of the watch we bought is: CV2013.FC6234

 

jomashop dot com has the watch with a list of $4,500 and they are selling it for $2,975. Since Jomashop isn't an authorized dealer it would not come with the factory warranty (aka grey market). So getting it at $2,8XX + $30 duty with the international factory warranty was a great deal!

 

Congratulations!!

 

Now, when you go on your honeymoon, go on a cruise and try to be the newlywed couple in the Love & Marriage game show. :D

 

Something tells me a honeymoon cruise will be in our future and I love the idea of going on the L&M show!

[Tennessee_Cruiser]

Double congratulations!

 

[...]

 

So is it safe to think that you will get some cool engraved watches as an engagement gift to each other? (other than rings, of course).

 

Thank you!

 

I could see watches in our future! The Omega Planet Ocean seems to be calling my name... :cool:

[markeb]

The model number of the watch we bought is: CV2013.FC6234

 

jomashop dot com has the watch with a list of $4,500 and they are selling it for $2,975. Since Jomashop isn't an authorized dealer it would not come with the factory warranty (aka grey market). So getting it at $2,8XX + $30 duty with the international factory warranty was a great deal!

 

 

 

Something tells me a honeymoon cruise will be in our future and I love the idea of going on the L&M show!

 

Ah. Misread the original post. You bought the TAG, not the Omega! Everything else I said still applies...

[foxgoodrich]

Congrats on the new watch! And I'm glad you were so well prepared for the customs experience. Since they did not add in your other purchases when they calculated your duty, it appears you got an additional "discount" on duty!

 

I knew the ship was required to report purchases over $800 to Customs, but I did not realize this would get you escorted to the front of the line. Hmmm…maybe the jewelry store should advertise this service.:p

Judy

[m*u*g*]

UPDATE

 

I'm the OP and long story short I bought the watch I wanted before the cruise. For watch geeks... it is the Omega Aqua Terra Master Co-Axial in white/silver. I LOVE it!

 

Once we got on the ship my boyfriend--side note: I propose to him on the ship and he said YES!!!--he saw a Tag Carrera Automatic Chronograph on board and loved it! List was $4,500 and they were offering 15% off which brought it down to $3,825. We walked and wanted to check in some of the ports. Saw a similar watch at one of the Diamonds Internationals, but it was the 2014 model so it was slightly more expensive, and my boyfriend liked the older model on the ship better.

 

After checking on Amazon and other sites I saw the watch was going for $3,200 and it could be had for $2,500 used so I thought we would wait until we got home. On night 6 of the cruise we went into the store to look at the watch again and a different salesperson helped us and said, "it's a great price." To which I replied, "$3,825 is just a bit too high for this watch." And to my surprise she countered with, "It is not $3,800 it is $2,800. Since it is the older model we are able to discount it further." She scanned the watch to make sure that was accurate and I swiped my SeaPass card!

 

When it was my turn to have my SeaPass card scanned to disembark, the machine did not make the sound every Royal Caribbean cruiser knows so well, but it made an alert sound. "Please wait here" I was told. Eventually someone was the ship took us to the front of a VERY long line to clear customs (we heard a few "CUTTERS" but kept going). I had a feeling this would happen so I had all of my paperwork filled out and receipts ready (including things I bought with cash in Mexico). After talking with the first (rude) customs agent I was sent to another (very nice) customs agent. He looked at my paperwork and explained how duty worked. He only made me pay $30 in duty, which was lower than it should have been since he did not calculate my other purchases and he just rounded the amount down to the nearest number. I gladly paid and went along my way.

 

I had a very pleasant experience buying the watch on board and it's something I plan to do again!

 

Great find. Thanks for sharing the story.

 

I also have a lower priced Tag and love it. Did not buy on a ship, but have gotten lots of others, mainly Citizen Eco Drives due to the discounts.

[Tennessee_Cruiser]

Ah. Misread the original post. You bought the TAG, not the Omega! Everything else I said still applies...

 

The Tag was for my boyfriend. The Omega was for me. Here is the model number for my Omega if you are interested: 231.10.42.21.02.003

 

Congrats on the new watch! And I'm glad you were so well prepared for the customs experience. Since they did not add in your other purchases when they calculated your duty, it appears you got an additional "discount" on duty!

 

I knew the ship was required to report purchases over $800 to Customs, but I did not realize this would get you escorted to the front of the line. Hmmm…maybe the jewelry store should advertise this service.:p

Judy

 

We were actually joking that we need to always buy something on the ship to jump to the front of the line!! :D

[mystik]

Hi, just a warning about buying invicta watches on board ships. Their office in florida.

I had a bad experience with them bought 3 invicta watches for x-mass presents. They are all on a one year warranty. My husband watch was 250.00 us it stop working and the big came off. I sent it to them in florida, they sent it to the main office in europe. Had to pay for shipping and handling in US$. After six months it came back not fixed not even opened. So went i called back florida he informed me that i had to pay for ship & handling. That's not ok with me.

WARNING DON'T BUY INVICTA THEY DON'T RESPECT THE WARRANTY.

[krisko]

I didn't read the thread so this may have been expounded upon previously.

 

Buying a watch on board isn't a terrible idea but I can't imagine a scenario where you get a better deal than you could get at home online. One upside is the memory of buying it on your cruise, you can look at the watch and remember the cruise.

 

I've had exactly one experience where I got a great deal on a watch on a cruise and it was in Nassau, not on the boat. I bought a Breitling Superocean Heritage. Breitling had a special offer that month, including the rubber band with the heritage bracelet. I was unable to duplicate that deal online one I got home, saved about $300. I've bought Omegas, Tags, etc and found I could get a better deal on a grey market watch once I got home.

 

On my last cruise I fell in love with a simple Citizen dive watch on a ship. $212 on board, exact same watch $156 on ebay. Hope this helps.

 

Edit: There are a few decent Invicta wathces but they're so few and far between that it's best to avoid the brand altogether. Citizen is a phenomenal watch for not much more than Invicta.

Edited October 30, 2014 by krisko

[tahqa]

I've had exactly one experience where I got a great deal on a watch on a cruise and it was in Nassau, not on the boat. I bought a Breitling Superocean Heritage. Breitling had a special offer that month, including the rubber band with the heritage bracelet. I was unable to duplicate that deal online one I got home, saved about $300. I've bought Omegas, Tags, etc and found I could get a better deal on a grey market watch once I got home.

 

On my last cruise I fell in love with a simple Citizen dive watch on a ship. $212 on board, exact same watch $156 on ebay. Hope this helps.

 

Edit: There are a few decent Invicta wathces but they're so few and far between that it's best to avoid the brand altogether. Citizen is a phenomenal watch for not much more than Invicta.

 

The thing with Citizen is that authorized American retailers are restricted by them in terms of how much they can discount. If you wait until the watch sale day onboard you can get better discounts on the ship. There was one particular Citizen watch I wanted to buy onboard and decided to wait until I got off and buy it online and I could never match the price that I was quoted onboard.