Box lunches available

[westcoastcruiser]

We are on the Eurodam later this summer and have booked a couple shore excursions in which we will be spending time traveling rather than stopping at a restaurant to eat. Just want to be sure the ship will pack a box lunch we can take with us. Anyone done this or heard that it can be done?

[1025cruise]

Nope. In most places you cannot take food off of the ships due to agricultural concerns. You will not be able to get a boxed lunch to take with you.

[cb at sea]

Plan on buying lunch out, if you can't wait until you're back on the ship. Eat a BIG breakfast and try to go without. You can't take any produce, fresh meat, uncured cheese or flowers into any county.

[peaches from georgia]

The shore excursion itself may provide something or even stop where you can get something. They're not going to let anyone starve.

[Protseq]

We are on the Eurodam later this summer and have booked a couple shore excursions in which we will be spending time traveling rather than stopping at a restaurant to eat. Just want to be sure the ship will pack a box lunch we can take with us. Anyone done this or heard that it can be done?

Just off of the Eurodam, and it was common to see fellow passengers pulling out small sandwiches while on our excursions. Small rolls, cold cut meats and cheeses are easily available at the Lido buffet. People brought along zip-lock plastic bags to store these goodies. No announcements were ever made banning taking food off of the ship during port calls.

[K&RCurt]

Just off of the Eurodam, and it was common to see fellow passengers pulling out small sandwiches while on our excursions. Small rolls, cold cut meats and cheeses are easily available at the Lido buffet. People brought along zip-lock plastic bags to store these goodies. No announcements were ever made banning taking food off of the ship during port calls.


They were just lucky no one from customs in the ports was checking.

You do NOT want to get into the ensuing 'discussions' if you are discovered taking food off the ship in some ports.

[Big Dawg CC]

I was told on our last cruise by the MDR manager that the ship would prepare a box lunch for us. We never asked for one, however. Given that most have dismissed the concept (and I am talking about an "above the table" box lunch as opposed to the "zip-loc" ones), has anyone actually tried this?

[Taxguy77]

Have only been to one or two ports that really check for food being taken off ship. One port was looking in most of the ladies purses and the garbage bins were filling rapidly, even though there had been multiple announcements on board! :eek:

[gdpups]

I'd like to know too. Don't you just love how everyone DOESN'T answer the questions posed!

[Boytjie]

I'd like to know too. Don't you just love how everyone DOESN'T answer the questions posed!

Or people that don't like the answers given. ;) No, and can't take food off the ship most ports...

[SadieN]

Commercially prepared food is the answer. We bring some bars & hard candy from home. We usually grab a few boxes of cereal and a bottle of water onboard.

*********
Food isn't allowed off the ship even if it was just brought on.
Some examples-

>A few years ago we had a very late embarkation while security, the Coast Guard and other uniformed individuals went looking for a couple who decided to leave the previous cruise early. Turns out they left on a sea day.:eek: The ship was only allowed to bring water & lemonade into the building.

>about 20 years ago California was invaded by the Mediterrean Fruit Fly. Vector Control decided the only way to combat them was to aerial spray Malathion. EVERYTHING outside had to be brought indoors or completely covered. Animals had to be brought in. Swingsets had to be plastic wrapped. By the third time I got really good at making sure it stayed in place. Two times scrubbing sticky Malathion off of the swingset was horrible. Of course it was hot and we couldn't open the windows nor run the air conditioner.
We threw out all of our backyard fruit- 5 trees full of lemons, limes and oranges.
Wouldn't want to have anybody else go thru what we did.

>Lately I've been seeing insect traps in the neighborhood. At times we cannot give fruit away.

>San Diego has at least one Agriculture Dog at port each debarkation day. I've seen people having to tear apart their suitcases (on the asphalt) because of the dog. Lots of avocados in San Diego, they are already expensive.
Many of the roads into California have Ag checks.

I had one alert on a lemonhead that had fallen into the bottom of my tote bag.:D

[celle]

I'd like to know too. Don't you just love how everyone DOESN'T answer the questions posed!

Maybe that's because the question posed is too vague. The OP wants to know if boxed lunches will be available, but has not said which ports/ countries will be visited.

The answer to the question depends very much on this - some countries have much stricter agriculture policies than others.

Boxed lunches may well have been available in the past, and may be so in the future, but we can't tell whether they will be available on the OP's cruise.

Just because one cruiser has been able to take a boxed lunch ashore in one port, it does not mean that the OP will be able to do the same.

Try bringing food ashore in Australia, New Zealand, or some South American countries and see how popular and successful you are! Those sniffer dogs will get you and you will have to pay an instant fine.

[petrakae]

Why would someone deliberately disregard the quarantine laws?:confused: It just seems to be thoughtless to me. No country wants to risk financial problems of letting pests and diseases into their borders. It would be nice to take a boxed lunch, but that would be improbable, but to deliberately carry zip-lock bags with the intention of 'smuggling' food ashore???? I like to save money where I can, but not at the expense of others. We are on the same cruise Westcoastcruiser, and doing an impatient countdown, see you there.:)

[Spinner2]

We went on one Eurodam shore excursion earlier this month (a HAL one) where there was a meal icon in the description but nothing mentioned in the text. When we reached the castle where there was a "look around at your own pace" kind of hour, box lunches were produced from refrigerated containers in the bus's baggage compartment. They had a restaurant logo on the boxes so I don't think the ship prepared them; they purchased them. So, if you have a HAL excursion look and see if the meal icon is there; if so they are going to feed you but not stop at a restaurant perhaps.

Bottled water was included in the lunch, along with a very nice salmon sandwich, some sort of salad, packaged shortbread cookies and 3 pieces of local toffee (this was in Scotland).

We took the boxes with us and ate whenever we wanted during the hour we were at the castle.

Because of no mention in the text many people on the tour were surprised to even get a lunch! I really think that if the tour is HAL's and lasts across the lunch hour there will either be a restaurant stop (included in the tour price), a "lunch on your own" stop (and they always mention this so you'll be prepared to pay) or if nothing is said, it might be a box lunch.

[Protseq]

Or people that don't like the answers given. ;) No, and can't take food off the ship most ports...

Well I threw in my two cents when the "No, you can not take food off the ship" comments were added. No announcements were made in the ports about food quarantines, such as you would hear in the tropics or USA ports. I was on Spnner2's cruise and took a similar excursion where salmon sandwiches were included in a box lunch. As for box lunches, I never heard of them offered in any of the cruises we have been on, and that goes back 25 years. I guess I should apologize for wasting your valuable time with my comments. :rolleyes:

[schoolinmy3]

We went on one Eurodam shore excursion earlier this month (a HAL one) where there was a meal icon in the description but nothing mentioned in the text.

Similar thing happened to us in Athens. Also on a HAL tour. I was so set on booking the excursion that went to the new Acropolis museum I didn't even notice the lunch icon. We ate at a beautiful outdoor cafe. Three different types of local food similar to our lasagna (sorry, can't remember the name :o).Even had wine with lunch. It was a pleasant surprise since I had completely overlooked that in the tour description.
Diane

[Randyk47]

Granted it's been a few cruises ago but I do remember announcements, or maybe it was a slip of paper in the room, in some Caribbean ports about not taking food products, particularly fruit and meat, off the ship. We've never been tempted to do take anything but water off a ship so if there have been announcements we probably have just mentally dismissed them as it never crosses our mind to do that. The only box lunches I've ever seen were those provided by the tour/excursion operator and quite frankly they weren't very good. Really depends on the length of the tour, the location, the time, etc., but we have eaten on shore during, before, or after an excursion.

[gregdude]

The only food I have had during an excursion was provided by the excursion company or a stop at a restaurant, never provided by HAL. I can't remember an excursion where at least water was not provided by the tour guide.

[sail7seas]

It is mentioned in the daily program about no food being brought ashore and there are often signs at the gangway indicating........ do not bring food ashore.

Why would someone 'smuggle' food and risk an infestation to a country that has permitted you to visit? The cost to their agriculture can be immense. We are visitors in all these ports and should behave a guests with respect for their rules, regulations and laws.

Sorry but this subject deserves a 'rant' IMO
These rules are for everyone. Not just some of us.

Don't do it, please. Skip a meal. Buy a snack in a local place. Stop in a grocery market and buy something to eat if you don't wish to patronize a restaurant.

NOT to mention what an expensive misstep you could be taking. If you are caught violating this law in some countries, you could be hit with a very steep fine.

[piscesgal223]

If they don't have a meal, I'll just have a big breakfast and then a small lunch when I get back to the ship. I have to say-my mom brought food with her( snacky stuff for us to eat on the plane on the way to Florida),but she never took it(AFAIK) onshore. A ready made lunch sounds really good(sounds as if it's tailored for where you are-like the salmon sandwich in Scotland.I would love that.)

[peaches from georgia]

We always find one of the most enjoyable aspects of a port day is having lunch locally. A good way to make a connection with the local people and also enjoy a little of their culture and food. We never think of going back to the ship or taking anything with us (even if allowed).

[Jade13]

Plan on buying lunch out, if you can't wait until you're back on the ship. Eat a BIG breakfast and try to go without. You can't take any produce, fresh meat, uncured cheese or flowers into any county.

There are exceptions in some countries. I think Egypt has been mentioned.

[Jade13]

Have only been to one or two ports that really check for food being taken off ship. One port was looking in most of the ladies purses and the garbage bins were filling rapidly, even though there had been multiple announcements on board! :eek:

Which port?

[lettienets]

Which port?
Santiago Chile is one. You will be lined up and the sniffer dog and handler come by everyone.

[Jade13]

Well I threw in my two cents when the "No, you can not take food off the ship" comments were added. No announcements were made in the ports about food quarantines, such as you would hear in the tropics or USA ports. I was on Spnner2's cruise and took a similar excursion where salmon sandwiches were included in a box lunch. As for box lunches, I never heard of them offered in any of the cruises we have been on, and that goes back 25 years. I guess I should apologize for wasting your valuable time with my comments. :rolleyes:

A "box lunch" will be on one of our HAL excursions. But, I assume it is being preparded by the excursion company.

[Randyk47]

Which port?

Jamaica was very strict five to six years ago.

[1 HappyCruiser]

I've never had anyone approach me nor have even seen signs banning any food on any of the Caribbean islands. Some ships will inform their passengers about the food & others will not. The changes of being stopped for carrying off food on any of the islands is practically non existent so many people do take items from the buffets & get away with it.

[RoupMom]

As is becoming clear from the sequence of posts, I believe it depends largely on which port in which country. Perhaps the ship will prepare box lunches if requested in Alaska, for example, as it is another state in the US, with ships leaving from US ports (Seattle). In Europe they are very strict. When we were there each port had stringent requirements, and even sniffer dogs, checking all bags and purses even for packaged food as we disembarked for shore days.

[realnurse2]

New Zealand also- very strict about bringing food ashore; sniffer dogs and $200 fine!

[Randyk47]

I've never had anyone approach me nor have even seen signs banning any food on any of the Caribbean islands. Some ships will inform their passengers about the food & others will not. The changes of being stopped for carrying off food on any of the islands is practically non existent so many people do take items from the buffets & get away with it.

I would hate to be the one who introduced a plant disease because I could "get away with it". :)

[1 HappyCruiser]

I would hate to be the one who introduced a plant disease because I could "get away with it". :)

If the islands were serious about it they would require all cruise lines to post their regulations without question in their newsletters and also be vigilante about letting people know as they disembarked the ships. As it stands now there's not even so much as a sign to warn anyone. (in the Caribbean)

[surfsidemary]

Which port?

There were dogs looking for agricultural products/food in all 4 ports I visited in Australia last Fall. (Cute little beagles.) Australia was very serious about it.

[trvlcrzy]

As is becoming clear from the sequence of posts, I believe it depends largely on which port in which country. Perhaps the ship will prepare box lunches if requested in Alaska, for example, as it is another state in the US, with ships leaving from US ports (Seattle). In Europe they are very strict. When we were there each port had stringent requirements, and even sniffer dogs, checking all bags and purses even for packaged food as we disembarked for shore days.

I can share from personal experience that I had to stand by the gangway to finish an almost consumed cone of ice cream before I was allowed to leave the ship in Skagway, Alaska, but we did embark in Vancouver for that particular trip. It was ship's security personnel who handled that situation, not those employed by the port.

[sail7seas]

If the islands were serious about it they would require all cruise lines to post their regulations without question in their newsletters and also be vigilante about letting people know as they disembarked the ships. As it stands now there's not even so much as a sign to warn anyone. (in the Caribbean)

All of us reading this thread now know so I'm sure none of us will bring food ashore in any port.

HAL DOES print it in their Daily Program and I have seen SIGNS at the gangway saying, 'Do not bring any food ashore in port.'.

[catl331]

The only food I have had during an excursion was provided by the excursion company or a stop at a restaurant, never provided by HAL.

A "box lunch" will be on one of our HAL excursions. But, I assume it is being preparded by the excursion company.We've had a couple of excursions where a pile of box lunches were available on a table just before the gangway, if you wanted one. They weren't very good in either case - something like a half ham/cheese sandwich, and apple, a candy bar, and a small bottle of water. In Amalfie Italy most people tossed the boxes they took and ate in town!

[1 HappyCruiser]

All of us reading this thread now know so I'm sure none of us will bring food ashore in any port.

HAL DOES print it in their Daily Program and I have seen SIGNS at the gangway saying, 'Do not bring any food ashore in port.'.

That might be 2 or 3 dozen people out of 3,000. Not a very large percentage.

[innlady1]

We always find one of the most enjoyable aspects of a port day is having lunch locally. A good way to make a connection with the local people and also enjoy a little of their culture and food. We never think of going back to the ship or taking anything with us (even if allowed).

I'm with you....we always look forward to having having lunch in port for a little local culture! Never have gone back to the ship for lunch.....

[Arwen]

The shore excursion itself may provide something or even stop where you can get something. They're not going to let anyone starve.

Actually, I have been on shore excursions where it started early and went way past lunch time, say 2:00 p.m. and only water and soft drinks were served. No stops at stores or snack bars either. That was when we went to see Mayan ruins in Costa Maya.

It is important to note if lunch is mentioned. If it is not, likely you won't get anything to eat. I always take sports bars or snack bars with me whenever I am on an excursion and always bottled water.

[Tripper10]

All of us reading this thread now know so I'm sure none of us will bring food ashore in any port.

HAL DOES print it in their Daily Program and I have seen SIGNS at the gangway saying, 'Do not bring any food ashore in port.'.

lol@^

[cruisemom42]

I'm a little surprised at some of the knee-jerk vitriolic replies given to the poster.

The Eurodam is sailing in the Baltics in the time frame given by the poster, so it has nothing to do with agriculture laws in Mexico, the Caribbean, Australia or anywhere else.

Agriculture laws do vary by country and in general European countries seem to have a much more lenient approach.

I have been on cruises where boxed lunches -- even containing fruit -- have been provided for passengers to take off the ship in various European ports. I haven't done it in the Baltics, but someone who posts regularly on the Baltics boards (and whose opinion I trust) has posted numerous times that on a Baltic cruise, his ship willingly prepared boxed lunches for passengers upon request in at least some ports. (They actually used the boxed lunches in St. Petersburg.)

Westcoastcruiser, if you want more specific advice, I suggest having a look at the Baltics forum here on Cruise Critic where others may be able to help you with actual experience. :rolleyes:

[westcoastcruiser]

Just to clarify my reason for posing the question -- we have arranged a private tour in St Petersburg. With the tour confirmation came a list of meal options. They are "1)eat in any city bistro or cafe along the tour route with seating subject to availability 2) Have a pre-arranged lunch where seats and meals are reserved in advance 3) Lunch boxes might be provided by the ship or we can arrange them for you"

In light of our tour guide's options in HER country, I raised the question in this forum about a box lunch from the ship. My thought is if bringing food off the ship was not permitted, it would not have been suggested in her paperwork. Based on that and in the interest of time since there is so much to see in St Petersburg, our tour group was going to bring boxed lunches. Also as part of our tour we are eating an evening meal with a Russian family.

Much of the information shared has been helpful and enlightening. At no point would we consider sneaking food off the ship or breaking any laws. Because of these concerns, I have written to our contact person with our tour to explore other options.

Thank you to those who raised valid points and provided input.