Cigarette sales onboard?

[SydneyD'Augstralia]

Hi Kids -

Just a question, not intended to start the ubiquitous smoking/nonsmoking debate - do HAL ships sell cigarettes onboard? In the bars....duty free shop?

Promise to smoke them courteously :eek: maybe in the closet!:p

[prescottbob]

Ahoy!

...individual packs, cartons or 'mondo' box (multi cartons). Selection limited (e.g.Marboros, etc.). Cigars also available (better selection).

Inexpensive (generic) packs are available to use while visiting ports to pass out to the children.;)

Hope this helps.

Bon Voyage & Good Health!
Bob:)

P.S. Visit the closet only when you must.

[rich_cathybrock]

I prefer Newport lights - available in the US, harder to find overseas. A call to Holland in advance seemed to do the trick - great prices by the carton on board - just couldn't brng myself to use up all that room in the suitcase to bring them back.

NY wants to tack on another dollar a pack in tax (making 75% of the cost tax) - may bring back three suitecases full this time :eek: .

[babyher]

I prefer Newport lights - available in the US, harder to find overseas. A call to Holland in advance seemed to do the trick - great prices by the carton on board - just couldn't brng myself to use up all that room in the suitcase to bring them back.

NY wants to tack on another dollar a pack in tax (making 75% of the cost tax) - may bring back three suitecases full this time :eek: .


Hey Neighbor :)

Don't feel like the Lone Ranger. CT is not far behind you. Our Governor was on the news moaning the blues that we are broke. So God knows what we will get hit with.

Just got back last week from a cruise and cartons were like 18.00 a carton with some of the multi pack specials.

Makes it worth bringing an empty steamer trunk or two :)

[kakalina]

they have a 5 cartons for $79.90 in a convienent carrying pack. Remember US Customs limits pax to brining back just 100 cigarettes pp. That's one carton each.

[babyher]

they have a 5 cartons for $79.90 in a convienent carrying pack. Remember US Customs limits pax to brining back just 100 cigarettes pp. That's one carton each.

You know what I have never understood ?

Customs says you can only bring back 1 carton per person. Yet the ships stores sell 2 and 5 carton packs.

The same with liqour, You can only bring back 1 liter person , but they sell 2 and 3 liter bottles of liqour or offer two bottle specials.

[NoNoNanette]

I like the prices, but I'm used to Marlboro Ultra Light 100's.

Can't find 100's on a ship or a duty-free shop in the Caribbean. :(

[49holding]

On my one HAL cruise ( Nov 2007) CIGARETTES WERE ONLY SOLD BY THE CARTON only( No single packs in the shop or at the bars). And of course the selection was limited.

[Sundagger]

they have a 5 cartons for $79.90 in a convienent carrying pack. Remember US Customs limits pax to brining back just 100 cigarettes pp. That's one carton each.

There are 200 cigarettes in a carton. The allowance is:
"A traveler may include up to 100 cigars and 200 cigarettes (one carton) in the $800 exemption from duty."

[m steve]

We found them in St. Martin and occasionally in St. Thomas. Nanette and my friend Michele can search together for them on our 20 day cruise this Nov. a request to HAL might find them in DFS on board?

[Mary Ellen]

You know what I have never understood ?

Customs says you can only bring back 1 carton per person. Yet the ships stores sell 2 and 5 carton packs.

The same with liqour, You can only bring back 1 liter person , but they sell 2 and 3 liter bottles of liqour or offer two bottle specials.You can bring back more, you'll just pay duty.

[ahwahoo2006]

HAL also had half cartons (5 packs) of most major brands on our April 2008 cruise for $14.

[doone]

On the Veendam you could get individual packs at the Ocean Bar, which my mother did. Cartons are sold in the store. If you are going to St. Thomas, cigarettes there I believe were $16.99 per carton.

[kakalina]

There are 200 cigarettes in a carton. The allowance is:
"A traveler may include up to 100 cigars and 200 cigarettes (one carton) in the $800 exemption from duty."

Ooops, those pesky math skills, they were right, you lose it if you don't use it :o

ps we never had any problem getting 100's on a cruise although on long voyages they do sell out faster.

[JerseyJaguar]

You can bring back more, you'll just pay duty.
What's the duty? Since I live in one of the states that are solving all their financial woes with taxes on cigarettes, it's still got to be cheaper. Is it different on different cruise itineraries?

I figured I can fly RT to Florida, buy six cartons of cigarettes and the money I saved is equal to the price of the flight.

[doone]

If you buy your cigarettes in St. Thomas, which is a US Virgin Island, you are allowed 5 cartons per person.

[cubzter]

If you buy your cigarettes in St. Thomas, which is a US Virgin Island, you are allowed 5 cartons per person.

That is correct. Here's the information, direct from U.S. Customs:

$1,600 Exemption
If you return directly or indirectly from a U.S. insular
possession (U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, or
Guam), you are allowed a $1,600 duty-free exemption.
If you travel to a U.S. insular possession and to one
or more of the Caribbean Basin or Andean countries
listed above, let’s say on a Caribbean cruise, you may
bring back $1,600 worth of items without paying
duty, but only $800 worth of these items may come
from the Caribbean Basin or Andean country(ies).
Any amount beyond $800 will be dutiable unless
you acquired it in one of the insular possessions. For
example, if you were to travel to the U.S. Virgin
Islands and Jamaica, you would be allowed to bring
back $1,600 worth of merchandise duty free, as long
as only $800 worth was acquired in Jamaica.
Also, you may include 1,000 cigarettes as part of the
$1600 exemption, but at least 800 of them must have
been acquired in an insular possession. Only 200 cigarettes
may have been acquired elsewhere. For example,
if you were touring the South Pacific and you stopped
in Tahiti, American Samoa, and other ports of call,
you could bring back five cartons of cigarettes, but
four of them would have to have been bought in
American Samoa.
Similarly, you may include five liters of alcoholic
beverages in your duty-free exemption, but one of
them must be a product of an insular possession. Four
may be products of other countries (see section on

[martinimadam]

Who did you contact at HAL for your cigarettes? I only smoke ultralight menthols, and would love to be able to avail myself of the cheaper prices for duty-free. Not sailing til October (it seems soooo far away! :( )

[cubzter]

What's the duty?

The answer is, it depends on where you bought the cigarettes AND where the cigarettes themselves were made (are you, basically, trying to reimport a previously exported U.S. product, like Marlboro cigarettes, for example). Here's what Customs has to say (my comments in parenthesis and in red):

Travelers may import previously exported tobacco products only in quantities not exceeding the amounts specified in exemptions for which the traveler qualifies (currently 1 carton/200 cigs per person purchased in foreign countries or 5 cartons/1000 cigarettes if purchased in a U.S. territory--like St. Thomas USVI, with one of those allowable from a foreign country). Any quantities of previously exported tobacco products not permitted by an exemption will be seized and destroyed (in other words, for reimported cigs you can't simply buy over your limit and pay duty...though it appears--based on the example below--that you CAN buy over your exemption and pay duty if the cigarettes are foreign made such as Dunhill, Silk Cuts, etc.). These items are typically purchased in duty-free stores, on carriers operating internationally, or in foreign stores. These items are usually marked “Tax Exempt. For Use Outside the United States,” or “U.S. Tax Exempt For Use Outside the United States.”

For example, a returning resident is eligible for the $800 exemption, which includes not more than 200 cigarettes and 100 cigars:
• If the resident declares 400 previously exported cigarettes, the resident would be permitted 200 cigarettes tax-free under the exemption and the remaining 200 previously exported cigarettes would be confiscated.
• If the resident declares 400 cigarettes, of which 200 are previously exported and 200 not previously exported, the resident would be permitted
to import the 200 previously exported cigarettes tax free under the exemption and the resident would be charged duty and tax on the remaining
200 foreign-made cigarettes.

[prescottbob]

Ahoy!

I will keeps posts serious for a change.

Thanks again for the info.

Bon Voyage & Good Health!
Bob:)

[JerseyJaguar]

So if I'm on an Alaska cruise, what category do I fall into? (thanks for posting all the duty stuff, cubzter but I'm bad at gov't jargon).

[kakalina]

Alaska is an American state and therefore subject to all US taxes and levies. You would be limited to 200 cigs pp. As they would not be reimported you could choose to pay the taxes on the excess.

[Avril]

Ahoy!

...individual packs, cartons or 'mondo' box (multi cartons). Selection limited (e.g.Marboros, etc.). Cigars also available (better selection).

Inexpensive (generic) packs are available to use while visiting ports to pass out to the children.;)

Can you buy individual boxes at some/all of the bars onboard that you can use during the cruise? That's how it's done on Carnival as what you buy in the Duty Free shops on board they keep for you till the end of the cruise (at least, that's been my experiance). :( I was just wondering if HAL does it the same way. I just don't want to fill my luggage with enough ciggarette boxes to last the entire cruise and end up with not enough room for all the clothes I want to take!! :eek: I'd rather bring 1-2 boxes and buy other onboard as I need them.

Thanks!! :D

PS - I promise to be courtious (sp) to all non-smokers aboard the Eurodam's New Years cruise!! :D

[JORAY]

Can you buy individual boxes at some/all of the bars onboard that you can use during the cruise? That's how it's done on Carnival as what you buy in the Duty Free shops on board they keep for you till the end of the cruise (at least, that's been my experiance). :( I was just wondering if HAL does it the same way. I just don't want to fill my luggage with enough ciggarette boxes to last the entire cruise and end up with not enough room for all the clothes I want to take!! :eek: I'd rather bring 1-2 boxes and buy other onboard as I need them.

Thanks!! :D

PS - I promise to be courtious (sp) to all non-smokers aboard the Eurodam's New Years cruise!! :D

You can buy a pack in the HAL bars that allow smoking and you can by cartons in the HAL duty free shop and take them with you.

Just off a 18 day cruise (4/15/08 TO 5/2/08)

Ray

[Avril]

You can buy a pack in the HAL bars that allow smoking and you can by cartons in the HAL duty free shop and take them with you.

Just off a 18 day cruise (4/15/08 TO 5/2/08)

Ray

Thanks!! :D It's good to know that they let you keep what you buy in the Duty Free shops (at least for cigarrettes). Does that go for booze as well?

I hope you had a great time on your 18 day cruise. I went on a 17 day one once and it was wonderful!! :D

[sail7seas]

Any liquor you buy in the ship's shop is held until the last night of your cruise.

[Avril]

Any liquor you buy in the ship's shop is held until the last night of your cruise.

I figured that. :( Oh well, just thought I'd ask!! :)

[TomAndJane]

Do they sell Marlboro Light 100s? I know Carnival did, NCL didn't.,...

[JORAY]

Do they sell Marlboro Light 100s? I know Carnival did, NCL didn't.,...

YES :D They are what I smoke.

Ray

[SydneyD'Augstralia]

Thanks for all the response!

Now I know I need to pack enough deathsticks to last the two weeks :p

I was more concerned with having them than bringing th em back, but now I know EVERYTHING there is to know.......

I once ran short on a transatlantic and had to buy onboard and ended up changing brands....

And Bob, don't you think that apples with razor blades might be a mite better for the local children than ciggies? ;)

[prescottbob]

Ahoy!


...is your not allowed to take produce off the ship.;)

Now don't get me started joking arounding. We're trying to maintain some decorum on this board.

Seriously, have a WONDERFUL CRUISE (cough, cough)!

Bon Voyage & Good Health!
Bob:)

[NoNoNanette]

YES :D They are what I smoke.

Ray

Lucky you, Ray! :)

No Marlboro 100's- either Light or Ultra Light on both the Volendam and the Amsterdam. (2006 and 2007)

I ended up with, and am still smoking, Marlboro Lights... :(

[ekerr19]

I figured that. :( Oh well, just thought I'd ask!! :)

You can pre-order liquor fairly inexpensively and have it delivered to your cabin. We do it all the time. :)

It's not as cheap as duty-free, but since we don't/won't smuggle, it's a nice alternative for us. A liter of Absolut and 4-5 tonics is about $35 with the gratuity.

[Vic The Parrot]

Thanks!! :D It's good to know that they let you keep what you buy in the Duty Free shops (at least for cigarrettes). Does that go for booze as well?




You can buy booze, but at a premium.

You'll notice two prices ... "Buy-it-know", which will be more expensive. And duty-free, at the cheaper rate.

If you know that you and yours will finish the entire bottle by voyage end, go for it. For less expensive options to take home, you'd be better off making those purchases in port.

Enjoy! :)

[RuthC]

You'll notice two prices ... "Buy-it-know", which will be more expensive. And duty-free, at the cheaper rate.

If you know that you and yours will finish the entire bottle by voyage end, go for it. For less expensive options to take home, you'd be better off making those purchases in port.
Hi, Vic. Long time, no "see".

It must have been a while since you've purchased liquor in a HAL shop. You can no longer purchase there to take with you to the cabin to enjoy while cruising. Purchases are held until the last night of the cruise when they are delivered to your cabin.

[Vic The Parrot]

Hi, Vic. Long time, no "see".

It must have been a while since you've purchased liquor in a HAL shop. You can no longer purchase there to take with you to the cabin to enjoy while cruising. Purchases are held until the last night of the cruise when they are delivered to your cabin.



Time does fly when you're having fun ... ;)


Had no idea they changed that. But it doesn't effect me either way since I don't bother purchasing thier hooch. (Unless it's a good deal, and I don't have to fly ... )

Nice seeing you again, and hope all is well! :)

[gillianrose]

It must have been a while since you've purchased liquor in a HAL shop. You can no longer purchase there to take with you to the cabin to enjoy while cruising. Purchases are held until the last night of the cruise when they are delivered to your cabin.

My husband and I were on the Zuiderdam last August and sampled some liqueurs at the shop onboard. We didn't buy any, but one of the chief selling points made by the fellow selling it was that whoever bought any could take the liquor back to their cabin and enjoy it for the rest of the cruise. I don't know whether it applied only to these liqueurs, but it was clear from his repetition of "you can take it back to your cabin tonight and enjoy it there," that he knew how important to purchasers that was.

Has the liquor policy changed so much since then?