P&o from southampton

[Chubby cruisers]

Going on Britannia next June to med from Southampton,we are calling at Gibraltar,does this mean duty free will be open on ship for selling spirits and cigs

:confused:

[Essiesmom]

Not sure I am understanding your question....Duty Free shops onboard are open while the ship is sailing, but not while in port. Casino also closed while in port. EM

[John Bull]

Yes, because your cruise includes a port outside the EU duty zone d/f shop will be open when at sea.

Because the d/f has been subbed-out to a third party you can no longer collect your d/f drinks when you buy - you collect them on your last day of the cruise. Pretty silly but that's the rule. But there's no limit on taking a reasonable amount of alcohol - wines,, beers, spirits, etc) aboard at embarkation or at ports of call for drinking in your cabin. PandO reserve the right to confiscate but only do so when folk (usually groups of young lads) abuse the system by taking aboard enough to make it a booze-cruise.

 

UK Customs limit for bringing back duty-free from the ship or from Gib or from the Canaries is one litre spirits and two of wine plus 200 cigs per adult.

The limit for EU duty-paid from an Eu port such as mainland Spain, Balearics, Portugal, Madeira, is much much higher so although EU prices are higher than D/F they're still way cheaper than the UK and there are much bigger savings due to the quantities involved.

Customs officers in Southampton target ships which have visited Gib or Canaries, so keep to the two limits and keep receipts.

 

JB :)

[jocap]

As JB has said, yes, d/f is open on a Gib cruise, and spirits bought on board are kept until the last night on P&O....but not an eyebrow was raised at the litre of Spanish brandy brought on board by us from Malaga....:cool:

[FlossStevo]

Hi Chubby Cruisers we are going on the same cruise. This is our 7th cruise but our 1st with P&O UK. We are a little unsure as we are loyal Princess cruisers and have heard a few negative points about Britannia but this has the ports we want to visit. P&O Australia is not so good so we are hoping for much better with such a new ship.

[majortom10]

Britannia is a beatiful ship with excellent facilities but my advice is dont fall for P&O sales push about price of duty free spirits and cigarettes and buying before going to Gibraltar. We have found that Gibraltar is much cheaper and a lot more choice.

[tom_uk]

I'll second the point about choice - with some effort in looking I was able to get a couple of specific bottles of malt whisky at Gibraltar a couple of weeks ago that definitely weren't available from d/f on Azura.

 

One other question: when you return to Southampton, presumably it's OK to have both stuff bought d/f in d/f port (or on board) and stuff bought duty paid in a 'normal' port? In addition to the scotch bought in Gibraltar, we also bought some win in Italy, and therefore bought duty paid.

[terrierjohn]

Going on Britannia next June to med from Southampton,we are calling at Gibraltar,does this mean duty free will be open on ship for selling spirits and cigs

:confused:

You will be subject to the normal rules regarding the amount of alcohol or tobacco you bring back to the UK. If you purchase in Gib, or any other duty free port, you will be limited to the current excise limitations. If you purchase duty paid, for your own consumption, in any EU country you can bring back as much as you like.

I imagine that prices on board ship for a med cruise will include duty, but check out the Q&A section on P&O's website for the accurate facts.

[tartanexile81]

Not sure I am understanding your question....Duty Free shops onboard are open while the ship is sailing, but not while in port. Casino also closed while in port. EM

 

The OP was asking because there is legislation for ships travelling within the EU. If your cruise is travelling to, or coming from another country which is located outside the European Community, you will be able to purchase duty free goods on board. You will not be able to buy if your ship is travelling to the same country on a domestic service or within the EU. Gibraltar is not in the EU.

Edited October 1, 2015 by tartanexile81

[pete14]

If you buy an item in Gibraltar which is sold in ships duty free shop and drink it during your cruise, keep the receipt and preferably a photo of the bottle on the shelf in Gib and duty free shop aboard will price match if you want to take a full bottle home (or they did in March this year).