Fyi on board buyer beware

[peanutbutterjelly]

No bashing please. This is just a quick FYI for those that may not know. If you buy anything onboard of high value ie;diamonds, gold, watches, jewelry be advised although you may think your getting a good deal you will have to pay customs more money when you get off the ship.

We specifically asked and were told "no worries, it will be no problem" however when getting off the ship apparently RCL turns in a rooster with every large purchase made to customs and we were flagged, needless to say it cost us an additional $500 we weren't prepared for.

Best bet is to buy from reputable dealer in the islands DON'T buy onboard.

[gfd201]

No bashing? You've just advised everyone to break the law by lying on the customs form!

[LMaxwell]

No bashing? You've just advised everyone to break the law by lying on the customs form!

 

They did not advise anyone to lie on the customs form

[normr]

They didn't tell people to lie, In fact they warned people not to since Customs will know who purchased expensive items on board and better make sure they list it

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[leaveitallbehind]

No bashing please. This is just a quick FYI for those that may not know. If you buy anything onboard of high value ie;diamonds, gold, watches, jewelry be advised although you may think your getting a good deal you will have to pay customs more money when you get off the ship.

We specifically asked and were told "no worries, it will be no problem" however when getting off the ship apparently RCL turns in a rooster with every large purchase made to customs and we were flagged, needless to say it cost us an additional $500 we weren't prepared for.

Best bet is to buy from reputable dealer in the islands DON'T buy onboard.

 

It is your legal responsibility to claim the value of all items purchased outside of the country while traveling upon reentry to the US with liability to pay a customs fee once a certain dollar value threshold is reached.

 

That has nothing to do with who you purchased the items from and does not make the on board retailers disreputable simply because they filled out a sales declaration. Why would an island retailer be more reputable than an on board retailer if they did not do this?

 

And by the way a roster is a list of individuals - a rooster is a male chicken. ;) :D

Edited July 11, 2016 by leaveitallbehind

[reallyitsmema]

No bashing please. This is just a quick FYI for those that may not know. If you buy anything onboard of high value ie;diamonds, gold, watches, jewelry be advised although you may think your getting a good deal you will have to pay customs more money when you get off the ship.

We specifically asked and were told "no worries, it will be no problem" however when getting off the ship apparently RCL turns in a rooster with every large purchase made to customs and we were flagged, needless to say it cost us an additional $500 we weren't prepared for.

Best bet is to buy from reputable dealer in the islands DON'T buy onboard.

 

You have to fill out a customs form before you leave the ship, so whether the cruise line provided a list to customs or not, you would have had to declare you purchase and pay whatever duty was due. If you buy from a dealer in the islands, you have to report those purchases also.

[LMaxwell]

You have to fill out a customs form before you leave the ship, so whether the cruise line provided a list to customs or not, you would have had to declare you purchase and pay whatever duty was due. If you buy from a dealer in the islands, you have to report those purchases also.

 

I think they are saying that onboard the ship Royal lead them to believe there would be no more taxes owed, because it was purchased "onboard" and thus they may have spent more on the ship than on an island. But the information they received was not accurate.

 

You can still get better prices in the islands from reputable dealers who will not mislead you on tax obligations just to make a sale. NOWHERE did I see OP advise to try to cheat the tax man.

[matj2000]

I didn't realize people really bought the expensive stuff on the ship.

 

Just about anything I have seen is way overpriced....

[ggo85]

Customs duties typically aren't that bad -- something like 3% over personal exemption. Thus, if you had to pay $500, you must have bought a very, very expensive item.

 

Regardless, as others have said, it's a crime to falsify a customs declaration. Any time you buy something outside the US and bring it into the US, you must declare it. If it's over your personal exemption (pooled for families), the purchase is subject to a customs duty.

 

Cruise lines do track what you purchase on board and tell US Customs. I've heard that can also happen for purchases at "recommended" stores in port where you give enough info for them to ID you. Could be wrong about that.

 

Realize the "duty free" does NOT mean that you don't have to pay US customs duty -- typically, it means that the price you pay does not include the duty the seller would have to pay. If the cruise ship is telling you that your purchase is not subject to customs duties, then they are misleading you and that is an issue.

 

However, it is also your responsibility to know the law. It's a lesson for anyone -- be sure you know what the law is before you make any purchases abroad.

Edited July 11, 2016 by ggo85

[foxgoodrich]

Cruise lines are required by federal law to report any onboard purchases (like jewelry) that are above $800. I know I've seen this information in writing, but I don't remember if it was in a cruise compass, shopping guide, or something else????

 

Anyway, the US Customs per person exemption from duty is $800, so RC is required to report all individual purchases above that amount. This reporting is also done by many of the cruise line recommended jewelry stores in the Caribbean and in US Territories.

 

The term "duty free" simply means that you pay no sales tax of any kind at the time of purchase. If you were told your purchase onboard was "duty free," that was correct since they did not add any sales tax or excise tax. If your purchase (or the aggregate of your purchases) onboard or from outside the USA exceeds the allowed exemption amount at US Customs, you will be charged duty on the balance. It's always a good idea to educate yourself on Customs regulations before making a major purchase on a ship or outside the US!:o

Judy

Edited July 11, 2016 by foxgoodrich

[silentbob007]

I've been stopped because it looked like I was wearing a new watch and was specifically questioned about it (I had purchased it beforehand on Amazon). It seemed like I got extra questions because I declared little to nothing (I don't buy many souvenirs). The employees on the ship will always say it's no big deal (for most it probably isn't) ... they are not going to tell you that you may get hassled and they certainly are not going to give you tips for avoiding making an honest declaration.

[Retired LEO]

I was once flagged at the end of a 14 night TA. My wife went on a nice shopping spree for 14 nights. :eek: As we were going through security getting off the ship it was Ding, Ding, Ding, (Ok my turn) BUZZ. I was quickly pulled out of the line and put behind a rope. Nobody told me anything at first. A ships officer arrived and explained to me what was going on.

 

I was then escorted past the huge customs line to a Customs Agent who was waiting for me. All they wanted to see was the receipts of the items purchased. Everything was good to go, they apologized for the inconvenience and I was on my way. Needless to say I bypassed the entire Customs line.

 

The couple that we were with wouldn't even acknowledge that they knew us. :cool: Once I buzzed they just kept on walking. Even my wife started walking away and I had to yell for her to come back since she was holding both passports. Since she dinged out before I did so I don't think she knew that I was flagged. But I'll never know. :)

[Mysschevous]

I bought my husband a nice Breitling watch on our last cruise. The watch was $6K and the duty was less than $100 IIRC. I can't even imagine what you bought!

[kmdreamcatcher]

The couple that we were with wouldn't even acknowledge that they knew us. :cool: Once I buzzed they just kept on walking. Even my wife started walking away and I had to yell for her to come back since she was holding both passports. Since she dinged out before I did so I don't think she knew that I was flagged. But I'll never know. :)

 

 

Off the topic I know but I got a good laugh out of this! This happens all the time when I travel with my sister and nephews. The 3 of them (more my sister) always get stopped at security. And that is why I hate flying with them...when I do fly with them I go away from them like I don't even know them until they clear. :D

[A&L_Ont]

I bought my husband a nice Breitling watch on our last cruise. The watch was $6K and the duty was less than $100 IIRC. I can't even imagine what you bought!

 

Your comment makes me laugh in a good way. I always get a chuckle at the people who buy expensive stuff and then don't want to pay the customs. We returned from Paris to see a husband and wife on the plane talking about not declaring her new Louis Vuitton purse. DW declared her's to the Canadian officials and paid the taxes on leather are marginal, totalling a few hundred dollars. I just wonder if you can spend thousands on goods, why can't you spend hundreds and on the duty.

 

We have always paid and never had any issues with customs. I'd like to think doing this helped us in getting Nexus/Global Entry.

[Big_G]

We buy next to nothing on a cruise and I'm waiting for the day when they finally put us in a dark room and grill us for consistently having a zero on the declaration form.

[msmayor]

Years ago I brought an expensive camera with me on a cruise and I made sure I carried the receipt with me along with my vacation documents...just in case I had to prove I bought it BEFORE the trip.

 

On our most recent Carnival cruise we bought three bottles of liquor on board fully expecting to have to pay duty on one of the bottles. I asked at the shop about the duty process and was told that I might not even be asked to pay as it was just one bottle extra, but at that point she held up a long receipt for a purchase of a dozen bottles and said "but this person will...we are required to list large purchases on a manifest for customs so they have an idea of what to expect coming through the lines".

 

I listed the three bottles on my customs form, ready to pay...we were waved right through.

[Tommy3putts]

No bashing please.

...... apparently RCL turns in a rooster with every large purchase made to customs and we were flagged, needless to say it cost us an additional $500 we weren't prepared for.

 

Best bet is to buy from reputable dealer in the islands DON'T buy onboard.

 

 

That was one expensive chicken [emoji16]

[troykahack]

I believe the $500 probably included a fine above and beyond any taxes for not reporting. Now they are likely to be on a list for future sailings. It's not worth breaking the law. My lady bought a bunch on nice perfume and cologne last trip to the Bahamas. The Customs officer wanted to see the perfume she bought that she reported $600. Lol. It was more humorous then anything else. He said please don't tell his wife that there was perfume so expensive. It was not one bottle, but several. Nothing else happened other than a bit of a delay but we made fun out of it.

[Tralynn222]

The one and only time my husband and I were flagged at customs was the time my husband forgot to sign his name at the bottom of the form. Now, he makes sure he ALWAYS signs his name. It wasn't fun watching them go through all our dirty laundry. :eek:

[alfaeric]

Years ago I brought an expensive camera with me on a cruise and I made sure I carried the receipt with me along with my vacation documents...just in case I had to prove I bought it BEFORE the trip.

 

On our most recent Carnival cruise we bought three bottles of liquor on board fully expecting to have to pay duty on one of the bottles. I asked at the shop about the duty process and was told that I might not even be asked to pay as it was just one bottle extra, but at that point she held up a long receipt for a purchase of a dozen bottles and said "but this person will...we are required to list large purchases on a manifest for customs so they have an idea of what to expect coming through the lines".

 

I listed the three bottles on my customs form, ready to pay...we were waved right through.

 

Our experience is was the same, but 5 bottles for 2 people. Listed them all, and we were ok.

 

Once, we were questioned why we didn't check the "food importing" box on the front of the form when we had duty free food. From then on, we've been very careful of listing everything, and having receipts handy. Never been an issue.

 

OP- seems like if you want to avoid paying Duty, you need a NON-reputable place to buy things. The ones who will make sure that they tell nobody that you bought something expensive.

 

On a side note- it would be interesting to pay duty on an item that was made in the US. Quite possible, as there are high end watches that are made in the US and sold abroad. Probably a good idea to buy them in the US....

[Paul65]

I listed the three bottles on my customs form, ready to pay...we were waved right through.

 

I think that's pretty typical, as they don't really want to waste time holding things up, just so they can collect a couple dollars duty on a bottle of booze. I've done this several times - bought a little more than the duty free allowance, and declared it properly on customs forms. So far, I have not be asked to pay the extra duty.

 

For small quantities, it's just not even worth the time and paperwork for them to deal with it. They're looking for those who are significantly above the limit. So, my advice to people when I've seen questions about this is always to be honest on your forms. If you're honest, worst case is that you have to pay some import duty. If you're dishonest, you might get in some legal trouble in addition to having to pay the duty.

[BillOh]

No bashing please.RCL turns in a rooster with every large purchase made to customs

 

Good luck with the no bashing thing :D I thought Royal only had to turn in a rooster in Fallmouth :p The custom regulations are printed on your declamation form, your only gripe is you go caught? :D [/bashing]

[TravelerThom]

... If you're dishonest, you might get in some legal trouble in addition to having to pay the duty.

And you'll probably never be getting Global Entry:

 

"You may not be eligible for participation in the Global Entry program if you:...Have been found in violation of any customs, immigration or agriculture regulations or laws in any country;..."

 

Duty on a bottle of liquor over the limit is something like $3; it cost $12 to process the form, so sometimes they will let more than one through without charge, but if they find undeclared bottles you will be paying considerably more than $3. IMO it does not pay to mess with CBP. You can stop at CBP before leaving the US and register items that might be questioned: I did this years ago on some camera equipment.

 

Thom

[markeb]

 

On a side note- it would be interesting to pay duty on an item that was made in the US. Quite possible, as there are high end watches that are made in the US and sold abroad. Probably a good idea to buy them in the US....

 

???

 

I'm aware of one company that manufactures complete watches (movements, cases, etc.) for some of its watches in the U.S., 2-3 more that assemble watches from Swiss components, that I'd consider moderately high end. Not aware that any of them do any significant exporting. Those scratch the surface of high end.

 

There is one company assembling quartz watches in the several hundred dollar range that recently agreed to remove "made in America" from its products as the FTC determined they were not significantly made in the US or from US materials. Not something I'd consider high end.

 

Duty on watches is actually pretty complicated, and once you've exceeded your exemption and flat fee duty, is a complex formula considering the movement, case material, and band or strap. You could come close to paying more on the 3% flat rate than you would without it on an uncomplicated stainless steel watch...