Tourist Refund Scheme

[Aus Traveller]

6 hours ago, Stickman1990 said:

Did you check it out?

 

Is anyone able to tell me how TRS is processed at Cairns cruise terminal - its our last port in Australia before we head to PNG so I'm hoping to make a TRS claim at the cruise terminal and would appreciate any feedback on how easy that is going to be

On our cruises to Cairns via Willis Is (June-July and Aug-Sept), I looked carefully to see if there was a TRS desk in the Cairns terminal. There was not. I also enquired when we boarded in Brisbane and I was told that there would be TRS on 'proper international cruises'.

 

On our Pacific Island cruise on 5th Nov, the TRS in the Brisbane terminal was set up just after the Border Force desks.

[Stickman1990]

4 minutes ago, Aus Traveller said:

I also enquired when we boarded in Brisbane and I was told that there would be TRS on 'proper international cruises'.

Thanks - I’ve sent the TRS an email asking about Cairns - we leave Australia from Cairns on Silver Muse next month so I’m hoping I can make a claim at the cruise terminal as we pass through customs processing 

[Aus Traveller]

Just now, Stickman1990 said:

Thanks - I’ve sent the TRS an email asking about Cairns - we leave Australia from Cairns on Silver Muse next month so I’m hoping I can make a claim at the cruise terminal as we pass through customs processing 

Good idea. That is the best way to find out if TRS will be operating in Cairns during your cruise. It is possible that it just wasn't organised for our cruises last year.

[Zetta83]

On 7/31/2022 at 3:59 PM, Porky55 said:

I think the “Duty Free” circuit around Willis Island is for the purchase of alcohol and a minimal few cigarettes.

 

In all reality it is a domestic cruise.

Hi, digging up this thread for a question. What is the criteria for claiming GST? My understanding is it needs to be international. But beyond that, it is very unclear to me.

 

We talk about cruises and duty free shops operating in open waters, does this mean that a 3 days open water cruise can claim GST? Or does it need to be around the waters of say Willis island?

 

Will be travelling on a 12 days South Australia cruise and unsure if it meets the criteria:
https://www.princess.com/cruise-search/details/?voyageCode=8339

[Stickman1990]

10 minutes ago, Zetta83 said:

Will be travelling on a 12 days South Australia cruise and unsure if it meets the criteria:
https://www.princess.com/cruise-search/details/?voyageCode=8339

Never leaves Australia - sorry it won’t qualify 

[Zetta83]

5 minutes ago, Stickman1990 said:

Never leaves Australia - sorry it won’t qualify 

All good. Never ask never know.

[arxcards]

They haven't come up with a surrogate island to cruise around and qualify for southern itineraries for duty free. For QLD and Willis Island it works via a long standing agreement, as it doesn't meet all the rules either.

[Zetta83]

T

2 minutes ago, arxcards said:

They haven't come up with a surrogate island to cruise around and qualify for southern itineraries for duty free. For QLD and Willis Island it works via a long standing agreement, as it doesn't meet all the rules either.

Thanks. Being a greenhorn to TRS, I wonder the difference between the cruise selling duty free on international waters vs us claiming GST leaving Australian waters.

 

Maybe it is to do with the actual sale taking place in international waters by Princess vs me buying in Australia and bring it to international waters.

[arxcards]

13 minutes ago, Zetta83 said:

T

Thanks. Being a greenhorn to TRS, I wonder the difference between the cruise selling duty free on international waters vs us claiming GST leaving Australian waters.

 

Maybe it is to do with the actual sale taking place in international waters by Princess vs me buying in Australia and bring it to international waters.

For those QLD coastal cruises going outside Willis Island, you can claim TRS. It is impractical for alcohol as you only get to claim GST back (1/11th of the item cost). Given alcohol is taxed with a whole lot of extra taxes, TRS won't make it duty free.

[Zetta83]

38 minutes ago, arxcards said:

For those QLD coastal cruises going outside Willis Island, you can claim TRS. It is impractical for alcohol as you only get to claim GST back (1/11th of the item cost). Given alcohol is taxed with a whole lot of extra taxes, TRS won't make it duty free.

I meant cruise selling alcohol. The ones you can only purchase on international waters and collect on leaving the ship.

 

I guess I got my answer. Like casinos, these products will not need to follow Australian laws/taxation whilst on international which is completely different from a product purchased in Australia leaving Australia. 

 

As the product hasn't reached another country, TRS cannot apply.

[arxcards]

1 minute ago, Zetta83 said:

 

As the product hasn't reached another country, TRS cannot apply.

Yes, it can.

You can claim TRS on a Willis Island QLD Coastal. It is more problematic now though. You used to be able to claim during embarkation in Brisbane, but now you need to do it at your final domestic port prior to Willis Island.

[Zetta83]

48 minutes ago, arxcards said:

Yes, it can.

You can claim TRS on a Willis Island QLD Coastal. It is more problematic now though. You used to be able to claim during embarkation in Brisbane, but now you need to do it at your final domestic port prior to Willis Island.

I believe thats the rule where it has to be at the last australian port.

[Vader1111]

The reason you can re-claim GST, and the ship can make duty-free alcohol sales, is that Willis Island is in Australia's Coral Island Territories.  The Coral Island Territory is considered to be an external territory (unlike NT, ACT, or Jervis Bay Territory), thus cruising around Willis Island means you have gone overseas.

 

They probably should setup a TRS stand in the Cairns cruise terminal, but are too lazy to do so.