Alcohol and tobacco sales on Explorer.

[edinburgher]

Sorry if this has been asked before, but we are flying out to Explorer in Barbados in a few days time and would like to know if there will be cigs/tobacco and/or alcohol for sale in the onboard shop on the first  sea day, or any other day for that matter.

 

Given the pricing at Glasgow Airport we are thinking this would be a cheaper option- or is it?

 

If none for sale onboard, what does Barbados Airport offer.?

 

Thanks

[Pensioncruiser]

Always was on all the other ships in the Caribbean and with very good prices, you can drink them in your cabin also.

[bishop84]

2 hours ago, edinburgher said:

Sorry if this has been asked before, but we are flying out to Explorer in Barbados in a few days time and would like to know if there will be cigs/tobacco and/or alcohol for sale in the onboard shop on the first  sea day, or any other day for that matter.

 

Given the pricing at Glasgow Airport we are thinking this would be a cheaper option- or is it?

 

If none for sale onboard, what does Barbados Airport offer.?

 

Thanks

 

There is no duty free allowance for taking cigarettes into Barbados - you have to pay duty on them. You may or may not be checked by Customs at the airport depending on the transfer arrangements but as per travel websites they can charge duty/fine you/confiscate the cigarettes if you get caught without declaring them. Probably much easier to wait and buy them on the ship and the shops are usually open as soon as leaving port (past experience but not on Explorer!)

[Vitalsign]

Cigarettes are really cheap on board and sometimes they offer a 15% discount too - usually in the Cruise news for the sea day. (Approx £22.50 per 200) Booze is cheap in Barbados port shops as well as on board but have a greater selection. Don't buy at your departure airport - too expensive Any you take home pack in your suitcase which is bonded and you won't see your case after leaving it outside your cabin the night before disembarkation until you arrive at your home airport

[edinburgher]

Thank you to all three of you as you gave really helpful info.

 

We have found that the onboard shops offer some really good deals so good to know they should be available.

[Brummijam]

Just returned from Explorer repositioning cruise to Barbados, Tobacco sales on board are good value. Golden  Virginia rolling tobacco @ £31 for 250 g that was including 15% discount. Equivalent uk price £120 plus. Everybody who was buying seemed pleased with the pricing.

enjoy your cruise 👍. We loved it.

[Wee Magoo]

Sorry for asking a very stupid question for my very first question but here goes....we are due to sail on the Explorer 2 (24 November 2019 'Paradise Islands/Seven Shores b2b cruise) which is also our first cruise - where do we find information about the shopping available on the Explorer (obviously the Explorer 2 information won't be available yet) or stores, prices etc? Can anyone enlighten a pair of cruise newbies

[Pensioncruiser]

40 minutes ago, Wee Magoo said:

Sorry for asking a very stupid question for my very first question but here goes....we are due to sail on the Explorer 2 (24 November 2019 'Paradise Islands/Seven Shores b2b cruise) which is also our first cruise - where do we find information about the shopping available on the Explorer (obviously the Explorer 2 information won't be available yet) or stores, prices etc? Can anyone enlighten a pair of cruise newbies

Hi Wee Magoo and welcome to the world of cruising, what a great cruise you have chosen for your first, sorry cant really help with the shopping on board but can tell you the duty free is a very good price and they do sell most essentials if you forget something. It may be of some help as a newbie if I pass on some info that I have found useful over the years, pack some summer clothes in your hand luggage as it will be hot when you arrive and your luggage is bonded so it may be a hour or two before you receive it and its nice to have a change. On change over day try to get off the ship as its very busy with the new arrivals and departures, they do trips or you can get a taxi to one of the many local beaches also on this day, if you like the idea of the speciality restaurant,  this is a good day to book as they usually have offers on and its more relaxing, book asap as they do fill up. One final point again as a newbie I suggest you take the ships excursions until you have the confidence to go on your own remember the ship will sail without you if you are not back on time, we have seen this and its not nice.

If you have any questions just ask you will find cruisers on here are only too pleased to help and they all have good ideas well most do😉 

 

[edinburgher]

Best advice to a cruise "newbie" is to read, read, read.

 

You will have so many questions but many of them can be answered by reading info already available, which means you only need ask very specific questions on the boards.

 

We find it useful to start a document for each of the ports to be visited, then you can input your plans for each, print off and take with you.

 

Day of the week can affect plans, also the number of ships in each port with you.

 

You could read about where you dock, distance to town, facilities, transport, things to do etc on several sites. They will often also say if there are taxi tours from the dock , but if not, the ports of call threads will say (see below) .

 

On CC go to the RESEARCH drop down at the top of the page and choose DESTINATIONS, also look at eg whatsinport, a personal favourite, although there are several others including cruisemapper. For more specifics go to the CC PORTS OF CALL Caribbean section where there are Q and A's for individual ports. And Tripadvisor and several others.

 

There are also the official Tourist Info websites for each location to read.

 

Even if you don't want a shorex you will also get an idea of what there is to do and see by looking at the shorex for your itinerary.

 

Hope some of these suggestions are helpful.

[Wee Magoo]

Pensioncruiser & Edinburgher - thanks for the replies and advice.                                                My wife & I are both veterans of Caribbean holidays - 13 plus visits - so are familiar with five of the port of calls but we will no doubt have other questions to ask about excursions etc - in fact already know a few that we will be booking through TUI/Marella before we sail. Thanks again and any other information you or anyone else can pass on will be gratefully received