Tax & Duty Free shopping for Australian coastal cruises

[Ashleigh]

Happy New Year! The "Tasmanian Wonders" cruise, departing Bne on 30/1, only visits ports in Australia. As passengers don't need a passport, I had assumed that tax and duty free shopping wouldn't be available but I've been told otherwise from friends who've said duty free shopping is offered on board when at sea. I'd appreciate advice please on what actually happens. Thanks.

[rkmw]

Happy New Year! The "Tasmanian Wonders" cruise, departing Bne on 30/1, only visits ports in Australia. As passengers don't need a passport, I had assumed that tax and duty free shopping wouldn't be available but I've been told otherwise from friends who've said duty free shopping is offered on board when at sea. I'd appreciate advice please on what actually happens. Thanks.

 

hi Ashleigh, there will be no duty free shopping whilst onboard as you dont go outside Australian waters but they will have the casino open whilst at sea

 

with travellers insurance you need international insurance just incase you didnt know

 

rkmw

[Ashleigh]

hi Ashleigh, there will be no duty free shopping whilst onboard as you dont go outside Australian waters but they will have the casino open whilst at sea

 

with travellers insurance you need international insurance just incase you didnt know

 

rkmw

 

Many thanks for the information. I had assumed correctly then re the duty free which is a bit disappointing as the household rum stocks could have been replenished. Good news though about the casino :D. Yes I'd already fully investigated the insurance and we have comprehensive international insurance - that area is certainly a deep pitfall if not known. Thanks again. Cheers.

[Australian family]

Happy New Year! The "Tasmanian Wonders" cruise, departing Bne on 30/1, only visits ports in Australia. As passengers don't need a passport, I had assumed that tax and duty free shopping wouldn't be available but I've been told otherwise from friends who've said duty free shopping is offered on board when at sea. I'd appreciate advice please on what actually happens. Thanks.

 

The cruise will go out of Australian waters as they can't open the casino until it does. You should have an opportunity to do duty free shopping onboard. Maybe ask your travel agent.

[rkmw]

The cruise will go out of Australian waters as they can't open the casino until it does. You should have an opportunity to do duty free shopping onboard. Maybe ask your travel agent.

 

we have cruised to Tassie with Princess and there is NO duty free and i think p&o would be the same

 

if you wish to buy smokes over the bar they are cheaper than at home

 

rkmw

[aussie57]

The whitsunday cruises have both the casino & duty free shopping open - maybe because of Willis island though

[rkmw]

The whitsunday cruises have both the casino & duty free shopping open - maybe because of Willis island though

 

on that cruise you can duty free because they go to Willis island but not for the Tassie cruise

 

rkmw

[Australian family]

When we cruised on the Volendam from Sydney to Melbourne, duty free was open the day at sea. I don't recall what happened between Melbourne and Burnie.

[rkmw]

When we cruised on the Volendam from Sydney to Melbourne, duty free was open the day at sea. I don't recall what happened between Melbourne and Burnie.

 

hi Australian family, on the Volendam wasnt you cruising to NZ thats why you could duty free but the OP was asking about p&o cruising to Tassie only

 

you will find if you cruised to Tassie on the Rhapsody they can duty free but they are US ships and they can get away with it but we cant

 

rkmw

[woodscruise]

Hi,

 

We did the Tasmania cruise in 2008 and the weekend cruise on Pacific Dawn last July and to our surprise found the shops open on board, but you could not buy alchol or cigarette's.

 

When I did previous coastal cruises upto and including Fair Princess the shops were all closed and the locks had customs sticker tape over them.

 

Happy New Year to all

 

Michael

[Skyrules]

On Australian Coastal Cruises on P&O and Princess Australia the following applies;

 

 

• The shops/boutiques will be open on sea days (not port days) selling jewellery, perfume, clothes, souveniers etc, etc.
  
• Duty Free Cigarettes and Alcohol will not be available UNLESS the ship calls at Willis Island (the 7nighters out of Brisbane) or at some other international port (eg Bali on the cruises out of Fremantle).
  
• The Casino will open on sea days and when the ship is > 12 nautical miles off shore. The only exception to this is ships that sail of Western Australia where gambling rules prohibit the Casino from opening within 200 nautical miles of the WA Coast.
  

From what I understand, Royal Carribean (Rhapsody) and Holland America (Volendam) have different restrictions regarding the sail of Duty Free Alcohol and Cigarettes, but not sure about that. I've heard people say that they were able to buy duty free on these ships, even on the 2/3 night cruises to nowhere.

[kymbo32]

I don't know if this is a stupid question or not (probably is :D):

 

if you're going on a domestic cruise which doesn't require a passport to board but the duty free shops are open, do you need to provide a passport to buy duty free in these shops or can just any passenger on board shop there? We're doing the Qld cruise and don't have passports but would love to shop:)