Custom allowance-cruises to nowhere

[MARYVB]

If you are on a cruise to nowhere (Eurodam 8/29) does the standard customs allowance apply? Can I buy jewelry or whatever aboard and bring it back to the U.S. duty free when no foreign port is being visited?
Does anyone know?
Mary

[sail7seas]

You can verify but the ship becomes your 'port' and assuming you qualify in that you have not used the $800 duty free exemption in the last 30 days and have been out of the country at least 48 hours, you should be able to use the duty free examption. The Officials are aware there are shops on the ships in which we can purchase various articles including jewelry and liquor.

[Snook]

I don't think so. In order to qualify for an exemption, you must have returned from at least one foreign port.:mad: In addition, you (the passenger) probably will not even be going through Customs on your return since you have not been anywhere.

[sail7seas]

I'm not sure either way but there is definitely duty free shopping available on the ship so those articles were bought out of the country and being imported by the cruiser. They have to be declared I would think.

You can't just buy a $2,000 duty free bracelet and never report it to Customs. The ship will be considered the 'port' I think.

There is always the chance the shops may be kept closed and that would be the end of the issue. I would think HAL wants the shops open as do those on that cruise.

[hammybee]

How far does a ship need to sail to be out of U.S. waters?

I am speculating that the international waters thing is what makes a difference, else gaming and NY state taxes could also be an issue.

[sail7seas]

The ship will go past the limit for sure. They want to open the casino. On every cruise, it isn't very long until the shops and casino can be opened after we leave port. What is it ?? An hour?
There is a Gambling Boat that sails out of a city nearby that goes out each night. They can open the casino something like 30 minutes after they leave the dock so it must be something like 10-20 miles off shore?

[Essiesmom]

I took a CTN one nighter on NCL from NYC and was warned ahead of time that it would be a booze cruise: As soon as you clear the harbor, basically, they open the Duty Free shops and you can buy as much as you can carry off, no limits. But I don't think jewelry is considered duty free...It isn't sold in the duty free shop...just tobacco, perfume, alcohol. At least, that's what I think of as duty free.
As an aside, if you were on a regular cruise, the ship notifies customs about passengers who have exceeded their duty free limit in the ship's shops, and you will have a letter to report to customs before debarking...At least, that's what happened to us on Star Princess after a 26 day cruise. EM

[jtl513]

... and casino can be opened after we leave port. What is it ?? An hour?
There is a Gambling Boat that sails out of a city nearby that goes out each night. They can open the casino something like 30 minutes after they leave the dock so it must be something like 10-20 miles off shore?Usually HAL opens the casino about 30 minutes after leaving the pier, but from NYC it will take about 30-40 minutes just to get to Verrazano Narrows bridge, and it will probably be another 30 minutes from there. But it's irrelevant anyway, as they will definitely be going into international waters! :)

[cf_chuck]

Usually HAL opens the casino about 30 minutes after leaving the pier, but from NYC it will take about 30-40 minutes just to get to Verrazano Narrows bridge, and it will probably be another 30 minutes from there. But it's irrelevant anyway, as they will definitely be going into international waters! :)

FWIW, the territorial jurisdiction for this question is 12 miles from the coastal shoreline. Your estimate of 30 minutes after going under VN seems pretty close assuming they're booking it.

[sail7seas]

I took a CTN one nighter on NCL from NYC and was warned ahead of time that it would be a booze cruise: As soon as you clear the harbor, basically, they open the Duty Free shops and you can buy as much as you can carry off, no limits. But I don't think jewelry is considered duty free...It isn't sold in the duty free shop...just tobacco, perfume, alcohol. At least, that's what I think of as duty free.
As an aside, if you were on a regular cruise, the ship notifies customs about passengers who have exceeded their duty free limit in the ship's shops, and you will have a letter to report to customs before debarking...At least, that's what happened to us on Star Princess after a 26 day cruise. EM


What is a CTN one nighter? :confused:

One night cruise...but CTN?

[lorekauf]

What is a CTN one nighter? :confused:

One night cruise...but CTN?

Cruise to nowhere

[sail7seas]

Thanks. :)