Do Cruise Lines share Onboard Purchase info with US Customs??

Cruise No. 26 - docked March 1. As I was swiping my room card to exit the ship, I was immediately pulled aside by a HAL Representative for "escorting me to Customs." First. Time. Ever.

When it was my turn with the CBP Agent, he asked me before even looking at my declaration, "Did you buy any jewelry?" Well, yes, I did. I made an obscenely large purchase onboard, and was assured and given paperwork which said it was "US goods returning" with no duty owed. I had properly declared this on the form, and handed him the paperwork. He had to go show it to someone else, then said that's fine. Have a nice day. Did not even look at my suitcase.

The only way they would know that even before I signed off the ship, is if HAL told them. Has anyone else had that experience? Am I paranoid?? I know I will never buy anything significant on a ship again.:eek:

Yes, they do routinely report. There is a threshold amount for reporting. The ship will obey to law as to this situation. Customs officials have latitude as to whether to charge you for exceeding your exemption -- the one you encountered let it go.

"Duty free" goods that you purchase on the ship simply means the store on the ship did not have to pay import duty or some taxes, so they can offer a lower price to you than you would get at a department store at home, who would pay duty and pass the additional cost on to you. It is a common misconception a duty free purchase means you are not required to declare the items to US customs, or to pay an appropriate amount if you are beyond the exemption allowance.

A few years ago we were on the final segment of a world cruise where a lady spent about $10k on jewelry at the ship store. She was shocked, shocked that the ship disclosed the purchase to customs and she had to pay. Lesson learned.

They most certainly do! I had a similar situation on Princess...met at the gangway and escorted to Customs.

I was also told the jewelry I bought was "US Goods Returning" and luckily had it on my card. Unfortunately, the sales people were wrong. It was not US goods returning, so our passports were taken while Customs read the Princess rep the riot act and determined the duty we needed to pay. Not a pleasant experience!

Never again! I'll stick to t-shirts and a bottle or two!

Royal Caribbean also shares info with customs.

Cruise No. 26 - docked March 1. As I was swiping my room card to exit the ship, I was immediately pulled aside by a HAL Representative for "escorting me to Customs." First. Time. Ever.

 

When it was my turn with the CBP Agent, he asked me before even looking at my declaration, "Did you buy any jewelry?" Well, yes, I did. I made an obscenely large purchase onboard, and was assured and given paperwork which said it was "US goods returning" with no duty owed. I had properly declared this on the form, and handed him the paperwork. He had to go show it to someone else, then said that's fine. Have a nice day. Did not even look at my suitcase.

 

The only way they would know that even before I signed off the ship, is if HAL told them. Has anyone else had that experience? Am I paranoid?? I know I will never buy anything significant on a ship again.:eek:

Of course they report large purchases to customs. The real problem, however, is the reality that those onboard bargains really aren't. Get your stuff appraised when you return home and you'll have quite the "aha experience."

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About reporting. If you're lucky enough to win big in the Casino you'll need to supply your Social Security number. Uncle Sam wants his money no matter where it's earned.

Yes, large purchases are reported - as are large casino winnings ( to the IRS).

Thanks! Fortunately I did have the paperwork with all the right laws / treaties cited showing US Goods returning so I did not have to pay anything. We did have a friend with us who did win big in the casino, and got the IRS form in hand before leaving the ship. Another "gotcha" is that they pay off in cash, so if you win more than $10K, you have to report that you are bringing back in that much in cash on the customs forms.

Yes.. On a HAL cruise. We made a few fairly large jewelry purchases and we got a notice to report on the last morning of our cruise to a room where our documents were checked over.. Wasted a bit of our morning and STILL HAD TO GO THROUGH THE REGULAR C AND I LINE AT THE PIER..

bosco

Everybody is a Snitch these days!

I'm going to tell on you.

Thanks! Fortunately I did have the paperwork with all the right laws / treaties cited showing US Goods returning so I did not have to pay anything. We did have a friend with us who did win big in the casino, and got the IRS form in hand before leaving the ship. Another "gotcha" is that they pay off in cash, so if you win more than $10K, you have to report that you are bringing back in that much in cash on the customs forms.

What kind of paperwork was given, and by whom, that states the purchased item was US Goods Returning with no duty owed?

Many of the shops in the Caribbean will report large purchases to US Customs..We bought an emerald ring in St Thomas. Declared it upon our return. Customs agent went to check a list they had of purchases. He was very surprised that our ring was not on the list. I got the impression that most purchases are reported to customs.

Just to echo what others have said - yes. On board purchases are shared with US customs. And unless you are trying to avoid the regulations and possible associated taxes due, so should you.

Yes. We traveled with an older friend and her daughter on HAL. She purchased several pieces of jewelry. They were called to customs the last morning to give a list of the liquor they had purchased, which was none. She thought it quite strange that they didn't want to believe an 85 year old woman would like jewelry and not liquor.

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An appraisal with the photo of the piece (this was a Zultanite), showing the price paid (interestingly enough it was an "appraisal" with the price paid, not the original price, which was considerably more). It said in small print, that it was made in Ft Lauderdale, and quoted the U.S.C.A section showing that US goods returning are not subject to duty.

A few months ago, I purchased some Colombian Emerald jewelry at a store in Cartajena Colombia, and had that paperwork with me when I went through Customs (regular line). I declared it, and when showing the papers in Spanish, found out that I did not have to pay duty (due to NAFTA), but had I purchased it on the ship, I would have.

A few months ago, I purchased some Colombian Emerald jewelry at a store in Cartajena Colombia, and had that paperwork with me when I went through Customs (regular line). I declared it, and when showing the papers in Spanish, found out that I did not have to pay duty (due to NAFTA), .

Would be interesting as Colombia isn't a signatory to NAFTA.

Yes, we do report all onboard purchases over a relatively low amount. US Customs insists that we do this.

Is there a threshold amount on onboard purchases that US customs require to be reported?

Is there a threshold amount on onboard purchases that US customs require to be reported?

Depends on the country (countries) you are traveling to. I believe for the Caribbean for example, you are allowed $800.00 duty free exemption and two bottles of alcohol. For the Virgin Islands the rule is different. You can visit the US Customs web page for this information.

Depends on the country (countries) you are traveling to. I believe for the Caribbean for example, you are allowed $800.00 duty free exemption and two bottles of alcohol. For the Virgin Islands the rule is different. You can visit the US Customs web page for this information.

Thanks.

I was asking the threshold amount required by US Customs from cruise ship to submit to them their passenger purchases, not the amount to be declared by the passenger on the Customs Declaration Form.

There is no general threshold number. Unfortunately, each area Commander of the US Customs Service has the freedom to make and interpret his own version of US laws and policies.

In some US ports, they want a report on all onboard duty free purchases. In other ports, they give us a number - usually quite low ( $300+/- ) - and want all purchase records over that number.

Some ships just give them a report of all duty free sales. This is easier than sorting out just the ones they want.

Thanks for the response.