Customs Allowances

[Hamburg Avon Lady]

:confused: We are doing the Caribbean for two weeks in Jan. on the Solstice. Stops

include San Juan which is a US territory --- I have read that it is a "duty-free" port --- is this correct ??? Will my purchases made there count towards my duty allowances ??? or are they exempt ??

 

by the way --- what exactly am I allowed --- ????? ;)

[movin' on]

Duty Free means there is no duty in the price when you buy the item. It is still subject to duty when you enter the U.S. Basically you have a $1600 exemption if returning directly from an Insular Possession (Virgin Islands), $800 if from other countries. See the Know Before You Go pamphlet on the Customs website (www.cbp.gov). You have to declare everything even if your total purchases are below the exemption limit. Your duty will be 10% of everything over the limit so if you saved more than 10% on the purchase you still have a bargain.

[kitty9]

The term Duty Free is probably one of the most misunderstood term. Duty Free just means the store were you purchase items did not pay tax on their items and therefore you aren't paying taxes either. But, that does not mean you don't have to declare your purchases when you return home.

 

BUT, since Puerto Rico is a Commonwealth of the US, you don't have to declare purchases from there. This is from the government website:

 

Since Puerto Rico is a commonwealth of the United States, traveling to the island isn't any different than traveling from one state to another in the U.S. So, U.S. citizens won't need any special documents when coming from the mainland

 

Just as you don't declare purchases made when you cruise in Alaska, it's the same for PR.

[Hamburg Avon Lady]

:) Thanks for the clarification --------how are the prices in San Juan, anyway ?

 

I have read that some cruisers have bought liquour in PR and it has

NOT been taken from them upon return to the ship --- is that because

of the US Commonwealth designation ??

[Hypo]

:) Thanks for the clarification --------how are the prices in San Juan, anyway ?

 

I have read that some cruisers have bought liquour in PR and it has

NOT been taken from them upon return to the ship --- is that because

of the US Commonwealth designation ??

 

Nope, if it wasn't taken it was the luck of the draw. If they spot it they will take it, and you get it back at the end of your cruise.

 

Hypo

[jackdiamond]

The term Duty Free is probably one of the most misunderstood term. Duty Free just means the store were you purchase items did not pay tax on their items and therefore you aren't paying taxes either. But, that does not mean you don't have to declare your purchases when you return home.

 

BUT, since Puerto Rico is a Commonwealth of the US, you don't have to declare purchases from there. This is from the government website:

 

Since Puerto Rico is a commonwealth of the United States, traveling to the island isn't any different than traveling from one state to another in the U.S. So, U.S. citizens won't need any special documents when coming from the mainland

 

Just as you don't declare purchases made when you cruise in Alaska, it's the same for PR.

Does this situation also apply to St. Thomas?

[kitty9]

No, St Thomas is a different situation. For that island, you must declare everything you purchase, and it is subject to the usual and customary charges for duty. But, when traveling to St Thomas, your individual exemption does increase, from $800 to $1600 per person, but of that amount, you must purchase at least $800 in St Thomas. For example, if your total purchases for the entire cruise is $2000 but you only spent $200 in St Thomas, your exemption will only be $800 because you didn't spend enough in St Thomas.

[jackdiamond]

Thank you Darcie,

Vis-a-vis the booze situation in St. Thomas-I was told by customer service on the Enerald Princess that you could purchase 12 liters per couple, if two liters were of U.S.V.I., origin. As a matter of fact, she also advised that you could actually purchase 14 liters, since if you were U.S. citizens, you would not have to declare the first two liters. Anything in excess of that would be subject to duty etc., if customs felt inclined to charge same.

[crusing couple]

we just booked the South America cruise while on Rhapsody of the Seas in Australia. Has anyone else out there booked yet? We were told that the "early dinner seating" was full and we are on the wait list. Hard to believe 10 months in advance that this is so.

Pat and Bill

[kitty9]

we just booked the South America cruise while on Rhapsody of the Seas in Australia. Has anyone else out there booked yet? We were told that the "early dinner seating" was full and we are on the wait list. Hard to believe 10 months in advance that this is so.

Pat and Bill

 

Your post has nothing to do with the original question of this thread. You may want to start a whole new thread for your post.