What to take as snack on excursions / advices & tips?

[UniPac]

I cruised the Med in October (visited a few Eastern European ports) and it was clearly indicated in the daily newsletter that passengers were not to take prepared foods, fruits and vegetables off the ship.

 

Earlier you mentioned you were not doing this to save money. So if that's the case why got just buy some snacks to take with you? Many people in this thread have already given some great suggestions.

 

I don't insist on taking food off the ship and if the are clear informations i won't do that of course. That's why I asked. It's more about convenience instead of trying to buy snacks on the ports - if you are on an excursion you might not have time for that and even if it is with lunch you might get hungry before lunch time.

 

However, it's not a big problem - and not that i want to cause fights on everything i posted. Didn't know that I will get burnt for my postings :)

[fizzy1]

your replies back are vey polite compared to the replies I got on the same question. Cant remember when I posted question, but just look me up on here, fizzy1, I think I headed it taking picnic ashore .You will not believe how rude some people were

[CraftyEC]

many just ignore the fact that some countries (including the US) have very strong laws about bringing food into the country. Bringing meats or vegetables into the US can find you with a very large fine and even jail time. It is similar in some other countries.

 

Yours is the first post I have noticed that is exaggerated. There has not been a single mention of prison in any post. In the U.S. the minimum fine is $300, but can be quite steep. You certainly can be detained if caught bringing non declared food items into the U.S. that are illegal. There are countries where fines can be as high as $10,000 (possibly more).

 

In actual fact there was a mention in post #3 (ie the second response to the original post) of 'jail time' which I for one would equate to a 'mention of prison'.

 

Many years ago we nearly fell foul of this when travelling with small children, flying to the US. We packed some fruit for them to eat on the plane, never intending to 'import' it to the US, but they didn't eat it all and we forgot about it. Yes we had some stern words (and the offending article was removed with a VERY long pair of tongs!) spoken to us, and that was right. We had, albeit uninentionally, broken the laws / regulations regarding bringing in food, and we regard ourselves as fortunate to have got off so likely. The effects of bringing parasites or infections into an agricultural area (this was Florida) can be devastating.

 

I do not think the OP has been exaggerating. They asked a question in ignorance. That is generally the point of asking a question, to get information which you do not already know.

 

They have been correctly advised that taking any sort of fresh fruit or produce into many countries is not allowed. It has been suggested that taking packaged foods is OK, and this is usually, but not always true. It is actually quite unclear in Europe, as we can take cheese, meat etc into and out of Ireland, France, Italy etc from the UK, but I have seen 'trash cans' at ports (and airports) asking travellers to deposit any fresh foods.

 

Several posters have suggested getting snacks in port, and this is something to consider, but will need some planning. If you have a morning excursion you will be unlikely to have time to get something first thing (shops may not be open) but it can be useful to get something pre-packaged for the next port before getting back on board. In fact we often seek out a little shop, as, despite the almost constant availability of food, the one thing I miss is a little snack with my pre-dinner drink in my cabin, so we buy small packs of crackers or nuts.

[Ma Bell]

Is it really possible that people without some kind of medical problem are going to be starving in a couple of hours? I'm amazed at the big to do about having to take food on an excursion.:confused:

[STLCRUISIN]

Let me post a little lighthearted humor to this post. In February, while taking an excursion in the Amazon with Azamara Cruises we had breakfast before leaving the ship but our excursion was over an hour last leaving. In addition, since the tide was low the ship could not dock at its original port so we were bused an hour from where our excursion began. Needless to say, during the excursion I started getting hungry but I only had a bottle of water. Well, this guy sitting by me proceeds to pull out what I thought at the time was the longest sandwich I had ever seen...it just kept coming out and coming out of his bag....it reminded me of Mary Poppins pulling the lamp out of her bag!!!! I couldn't believe it...here I was starving and this man had made a sandwich big enough to feed the whole boat and probably some of the fish too.

 

Getting serious, we now bring wrapped snacks since we don't know the local laws. But I don't think, except in the US, that the local authorities are very strict.

 

By the way, he ate the whole dang thing!!!:eek:

[lovemylab]

I don't insist on taking food off the ship and if the are clear informations i won't do that of course. That's why I asked. It's more about convenience instead of trying to buy snacks on the ports - if you are on an excursion you might not have time for that and even if it is with lunch you might get hungry before lunch time.

 

However, it's not a big problem - and not that i want to cause fights on everything i posted. Didn't know that I will get burnt for my postings :)

 

I don't see where anyone has burnt you for your postings. You asked a question - several people provided some information to help you. You then came back trying to justify how it might be okay since you're cruising in Europe. I was simply pointing out that even in Europe, this practice is not permitted :)

 

The most convenient solution (that doesn't break any laws) is to buy your snacks before you board your cruise. I have friends who travel with small children and they do this for all of their trips. Before they leave home they go to the grocery store to buy the snacks they'll need for their. If you're travelling to your embarkation port a few days early you could even visit a local grocery store to buy the snacks you'll need.

[legalwife]

 

 

So maybe we can relax again, i wasn't trying to be offensive to anyone. If it reads like that, sorry was no intent - maybe it's because my english is far from perfect :)

 

Unipac:

 

I think your English is pretty darn good! I don't feel you were being offensive and you were just asking/commenting about something you wanted to know about how others felt. I think you must understand clearly by now how many of the other folks feel about this so use your judgment and do as you think is best for you. Just remember about those jails in Istanbul if you visit. ;) Seriously, it really is something to think about when you are in another country. :eek: Have fun wherever you travel!

[UniPac]

Thanks for the new replies giving me back some of my lost self-confidence in this thread :)

I was a litte bit suprised how fast some replied in what i call harsh and called me exaggerating, overlooking some facts like prison/jail thing.

But it seems that this topic raises much emotions on some, I really didn't expect that.

 

I respect the ones explaining what harm can be done to nature and I know of the risks.

I heard from some sort of snake "imported" to Florida that is a big danger to the huge orange plantation, so laws are useful. However, they should also bring more transparency to this subject.

 

Thanks for EVERY reply, i took out useful information of every answer. Even the on that prison in istanbul is nice this time ;)

 

Have a nice day everyone and thanks for reading :)

[villauk]

Definitely don't take anything that isn't a pre-packed sweet on an Australian/New Zealand cruise. You are interviewed, by their customs officers, one-by-one on entering NZ waters and asked if you are taking any kind of food into their country. I can totally understand their practice.

 

Having children, we always find taking a few sealed biscuit snack packets with us on excursions helps with the hunger/snack pains :). They have never been confiscated (the sweet biscuits that is, not the kids :D), we have declared them at each destination, and we have travelled widely across the world with our kids ;).

[uktog]

Is it really possible that people without some kind of medical problem are going to be starving in a couple of hours? I'm amazed at the big to do about having to take food on an excursion.:confused:

 

Indeed, and every stop we have been enforced to take on a ship run excursion has been at a place where edibles were available

 

If snacking is critical for you and there is not a medical reason that it has to be a particular food at a given time, I suggest you take the requisite cash with you rather than taking items off and on the ship

[uktog]

Is it really possible that people without some kind of medical problem are going to be starving in a couple of hours? I'm amazed at the big to do about having to take food on an excursion.:confused:

 

Indeed, and every stop we have been enforced to take on a ship run excursion has been at a place where edibles were available

 

If snacking is critical for you and there is not a medical reason that it has to be a particular food at a given time, I suggest you take the requisite cash with you rather than taking items off and on the ship

[odysee]

Is it really possible that people without some kind of medical problem are going to be starving in a couple of hours? I'm amazed at the big to do about having to take food on an excursion.:confused:

 

Well, I don't have a medical condition, at least none that I know of, and run into this problem sometimes. I thought it was hunger, but now know that it really has to do with the blood sugar level (and no, I do not have diabetes). Î feel kind of hungry, then headache, then nauseous and if I am travelling in a car or bus can get sick. I have learned to control this by eating nothing sweet at breakfast (no honey, jam, fruits, white bread or pastry) and take some nuts or dry crackers along just in case.

[Jade13]

What you are proposing is illegal in many countries; do NOT do this unless you research in advance and determine you are not breaking the law. Even bread in some countries is illegal and you face stiff fines and possible detention if caught.

 

 

We know someone who got stopped in Chile. They had an Apple they had brought off of a plane. They spent the entire day at the police station and had to pay a large fine. The police even went with them to an ATM to collect the money.

 

I wouldn't recommend taking anything off of a ship (except for bottled water) unless you have a medical reason (such as diabetic and need to take insulin with food), and especially in South America or Australia/New Zealand.

[ghstudio]

Just to reinforce my comment about jail time, which apparently was questioned:

 

New Zealand:

 

All food items brought into New Zealand, even the smallest amounts, need to be declared. These items include:

• Meat
  
• Eggs
  
• Dairy products
  
• Dried mushrooms & fungi
  
• Honey and honey products
  
• Seeds for human consumption and processing into food
  
• Nuts, spices, herbs and un-popped popcorn
  
• Dried, cooked or preserved fruit and vegetables
  
• Fresh fruit or vegetables
  

Warning: People failing to declare biosecurity risk goods can receive an instant fine of $400, be fined up to $100,000 and/or face up to five years in prison.

I don't make this stuff up....now, in reality it doesn't happen often, but you don't want to be the example case, do you?

[jomf]

Living in an area which was devastated by a foot & mouth epidemic ( the cause of which could have been food brought in from a country that has F & M), I would hope that people abide by the rules set down for each country.

I think that a little research into each country that you are visiting would show you the laws and customs that they request you adhere to. ( Don't get me started on clothing for church visits!!). It will help you not to fall foul of the regulations.

The cruise lines do provide info, not that it is always read or followed.

 

If in doubt, don't take it!

[NLH Arizona]

Since you said you have already been taking food off on your cruises, just continue doing what you are doing. You'll find out if there are any problems, as they will tell you to drop the food into a trash can before you can come ashore.

[Gonzo70]

Since you said you have already been taking food off on your cruises, just continue doing what you are doing. You'll find out if there are any problems, as they will tell you to drop the food into a trash can before you can come ashore.

 

Horrible advice; not only does that potentially cause danger to the host country (as not everybody is searched), but sometimes local authorities do search people (or dogs trained to sniff for forbidden agricultural products) and if caught in that manner that is where one may be subjected to a find and/or detained by local authorities for questioning.

[NLH Arizona]

Horrible advice; not only does that potentially cause danger to the host country (as not everybody is searched), but sometimes local authorities do search people (or dogs trained to sniff for forbidden agricultural products) and if caught in that manner that is where one may be subjected to a find and/or detained by local authorities for questioning.

The OP obviously knew what they were doing. Didn't really think that they were looking for advice, based on their posts (here is an example: Well thanks for this open words. However, some of them are not correct or a little bit exaggerated). They said they have done it before, meaning that they obviously knew what they are doing and will continue to do it no matter what anyone says (because the OP gets hungry), be it legit or not.

[spookwife]

Is it really possible that people without some kind of medical problem are going to be starving in a couple of hours? I'm amazed at the big to do about having to take food on an excursion.:confused:

 

yes, for a variety of reasons. many people actually PREFER to eat smaller portions throughout the day instead of three huge meals morning, noon and dinner time.

 

I myself need salt and/or protein in extra quantities if the excursion is particularly strenuous or the temperature is higher. My go to choice is a Pay Day bar.

[Ma Bell]

yes, for a variety of reasons. many people actually PREFER to eat smaller portions throughout the day instead of three huge meals morning, noon and dinner time.

 

I myself need salt and/or protein in extra quantities if the excursion is particularly strenuous or the temperature is higher. My go to choice is a Pay Day bar.

 

The point is that it is not usually more than a couple of hours before one could buy something on the excursion. They always stop along the way.

[CathyCruises]

We often buy small bags of trail mix at home and throw one into our daypack when going off the ship. However, we never take ship excursions (hate the forced stops among other reasons) and prefer to DIY. This allows us to pop into a café for a mid-morning cappuccino and cornetto, as well as a potty break. On the rare occasion that we join a roll call group for an organized tour, we have never had trouble asking for a stop when anyone in the group needs one.

 

This is all part of why we prefer to DIY--we also feel that we get a much richer experience vs. riding around in a 50 person bus:eek:

[hcat]

sealed items only!!!!

 

I am diabetic so I bring sealed granola bars or the sealed peanut butter/cheese crackers...

 

I've seen many sad folks pulled off line for violating local laws!

saw one woman pulled off line at port in FLL for re-entereing US with an apple... fines are high and the process can slow you down!

 

a banana would be among the worst choices--fruit is a "no no" in almost all ports...

[Travel2Learn]

I take a snack (no meat, cheese or fruit) only when going directly from the ship to a bus for a long ride, such as Florence or Rome in Italy. Due to allergies, I can not eat most pre-packaged snacks or most snacks at highway stops. The 5+ hours from breakfast to lunch is too long to go without something. Also, many stops barely leave enough time to wait in line at the restroom and grab a quick espresso.

 

Australia and New Zealand and other countries that protect their agriculture have some of the most strict laws for very good reasons. I would not bring food from the ship there. Same rules apply to arriving by plane.

[Onessa]

I have a minor medical issue that doe require me to eat several smaller meals and is also controlled with med that is most effectived if taken with a small amount of food. I do attempt to check pre-travel what restrictions I may enounter. I also will check on-board with the desk if they are aware of restrictions. I will also attempt to check at any customs or border area; and will clearly declare what I am carrying.

 

Due to climate, storage and likely restrictions, I tend to limit my snack selections to cereal, cookies (biscuits), or crackers -- all pre-packaged in small amounts. Nothing that will melt, nothing with nuts (although I love nuts)

 

As others have indicated there are not always a lot of options or foods that can be easily identified as "safe" for folks that have dietary restrictions. We tend not to take a lot of ship's excursions, but may still encounter some difficulting finding the "right" food sometimes when in a foriegn land.

[miched]

We always carry some sort of energy bar that is not coated in chocolate because of the melting issues. My wife is always afraid that she will "miss" a meal. She gets headaches if she goes too long between eating. She claims that I am like a camel as I can go on and on without eating or drinking. For me eating is more of a nuisance and just gets in the way of doing other activities.

 

 

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