DUTY FREE question

[NoNoNanette]

This has never occurred to me:

Do "Duty Free" prices vary from Port to Port?

I'll be buying some high-end perfumes, and wonder if prices are the same???

Also.... duty free prices on board, vs. in port.

:confused::confused::confused:

Booze, I usually just pick up on board, but never thought about price differences with perfumes!

[billsrobb]

For, some things yes and some things no. I found a great difference in Gin and B&B. B&B was cheaper at a Grand Cayman then the ship and the opposite was true for Tanquery in GT vs CCL Conquest.

I read some where that Super 99 duty free store in colon, Panama was cheaper. Is this still true??

Robb

[NoNoNanette]

I've never been to Panama, my friend.... couldn't tell you! :)

Barbados appears to have a nice port..... last year, got good prices on perfumes in St. Thomas.

Maybe I'll just find the best price on line, and simply buy wherever it's cheaper....

[sail7seas]

Yes. Duty Free prices vary from island to island/country to country.

[NoNoNanette]

Yes. Duty Free prices vary from island to island/country to country.



Thank you, Sail. That's kind of you to post. :) (You answer was the one that I did NOT want to hear!)

Do you suppose that perfumes would be better priced in St. Thomas?

[JimVrhovac]

Ever notice that most of the goods in the shops do not have price tags on them.

Prices do very.

St Thomas is good and the prices at Havensight Dock is better than downtown.

Grand Cayman has some good prices but a pain to get to the shops.

Ruth & Jim

[Orlandocruiser]

I have purchased perfume several times in St Thomas - unfortunately I don't remember the names of the stores but there are two shops on the main shopping street that sell only perfume ( and makeup such as Lancome and Estee Lauder). The advantage to these places is that they have a huge selection. One time I priced an item that the ship sold at Little Switzerland (in St Thomas) and found that it was cheaper on the ship. I would say the best thing to do is to price it at home if you know what you want and then go from there ( at least you save the taxes).

[Frick_&_Frack]

Since you're on the ship first, I always price items aboard (or comparables) and then go into port with those prices (and US Retail) in mind for comparisons.

With multiple "shopping" ports, sometimes the only thing you can do is go with your gut instinct on what is a "good" price based on the comparison shopping.

DH laughs when he goes to play golf at various ports and says - "OK, now you can go on your shore excursion - SHOPPING" :D (I just hide the receipts....)

[JimVrhovac]

REMEMBER hal SHIPS GURANTEE THE LOWEST PRICES.

Ruth & Jim

[Frick_&_Frack]

Ruth - I never invoked the guarantee before...does that only work with their "recommended" stores? Generally, I've never had the issue of seeing something cheaper on the ship for the same item.

Just curious (plus I can tell Mom when she calls in a few days from the Noordam)!

Thanks!

[NoNoNanette]

Thanks to those gracious enough to reply to my questions.....

I'll be "Googling" like crazy....

;)

[Krazy Kruizers]

We have noticed that prices do vary from port to port and country to country.

I have also noticed that the ship prices aren't always the lowest on some items.

[m steve]

The most famous parfumerie in St. Thomas is C & M Caron. Parents of Leslie. Most DF shops base their prices on competition and local prices. Some airports sell for a little less than local shops and others are a real savings.
On most ships I find Citizen and Seiko watches at 25% discount from tag prices. That is only about a 200% mark up. You can find the same prices or even less from Amazon or J&R on line. And no sales tax either. And you don't affect your allowance buying online.