Duty Free On-board Shopping Question

[tallpaul86]

Hello all, hope you’re doing well!

 

Me and my wife are booked to go on a Royal Caribbean cruise in and out of Southampton port to Spain, Portugal and the Canaries and was wondering what the deal is with duty free shopping on board (specifically liquor/alcohol)

 

Any cruise I’ve been on involving Europe (regardless of departure port) means there is no traditional duty free shopping like liquor/alcohol and tobacco on board the ship at all for the entire length of time the ship is cruising around Europe.

 

I assume this is still the case?  Ive gotten into bourbon and was looking to take home a memento!

[VMax1700]

3 hours ago, tallpaul86 said:

Ive gotten into bourbon

• Falkirk, Scotland

Sacrilege!!  Even a sasanach wouldn't put that into print 😂

 

Seriously though..........Cruises around Europe do have duty free sales when at sea (been there, done that, bought the bottle 😉).  Also, since Brexit, the UK is no longer within the EU customs union.  We can even buy duty free flying/sailing from Ireland to UK and back.  Booze cruises have returned.

[MBP&O2/O]

The last time I looked at 'duty free' alcohol, it was cheaper to buy from a supermarket! 🙂

 

[chipmaster]

Just got off a European, there were lots of duty free in port right at the dock.  I'd never buy from the ship what you can get in port for cheaper and more selection, just saying...

[edinburgher]

6 hours ago, tallpaul86 said:

what the deal is with duty free shopping on board (specifically liquor/alcohol)

You mentioned Spain, Portugal and the Canaries.

Note that the Canary Islands have different tax rates from elsewhere in the EU, therefore "duty free" on any of those islands costs less, meaning you may find lower prices ashore than on the ship.

Edited February 27 by edinburgher