Prescriptions and foreign ports

[Honeyroastedmelnut]

I’m a few weeks away from my next cruise (yay!!) but have a situation I’ve never dealt with on previous cruises. I feel like I should either know this or am way over-thinking it but ... is it legal for me to bring medication in the original prescription bottle off ship and into the Bahamas?

I probably could skip or delay a dose while on shore if needed but at the same time, i don’t want to throw anything out of whack needlessly.

[payitforward]

As long as it's in the original bottle, it should be legal. If it wasn't, I would never be able to travel. lol

[steveru621]

Bring a small pill case.  Unless you are arrested no one will care.

[Ashland]

No one will ask, care or look in your bag. Just remember to bring your photo ID and of course SeaPass card.

 

[klfrodo]

Bahamas?

Nobody will care. Take in a daily planner case.

 

Singapore or UAE? Might be a different story

[BirdTravels]

Just have a little pill case with your next dose. No need to have an original bottle,,,, no two bottles look alike and it would raise more suspicion than clear it up. 

[JamesEM]

No need to have an original bottle, however to be on the safe side I bring a copy of the RX label.

[SRF]

I have carried pills in a pill organizer into 145 different countries.

 

Never even been asked about them or had them looked at.

 

Bring in hundreds of pills, and yeah, that will get their attention.

[kochleffel]

Some medications are totally banned in certain countries, but as far as I know this is not a problem with the Bahamas.

 

General rule: carry ashore only the dose(s) you will need to take on shore. Leave the rest in your stateroom (in the safe if you want, and definitely with any narcotic).

 

Don't worry about prescriptions in a closed-loop cruise leaving from your home country. If you have to cross an international border to get to the departure port, or back from the arrival port, it's prudent to have prescription drugs in the original bottles.

[Honeyroastedmelnut]

Thanks everyone. It is reassuring to know that I will be fine taking my meds. Will keep them in the original bottle more for my comfort that way I do have proof that they are prescribed to me just in case.

Thanks for the tip to use the safe ... easier to keep staff honest if they don’t have the temptation. 

[cb at sea]

No one in Bermuda or the Caribbean is worried about your daily meds.  You can bring a pill box or planner.

[voyager70]

16 hours ago, klfrodo said:

Bahamas?

Nobody will care. Take in a daily planner case.

 

Singapore or UAE? Might be a different story

 

Yep.  We did a cruise out of Dubai several years ago & I did extensive research as to what was and wasn't allowed.  They don't mess around over there and you could end up in jail if you're caught with a forbidden item.

 

[SRF]

13 hours ago, voyager70 said:

 

Yep.  We did a cruise out of Dubai several years ago & I did extensive research as to what was and wasn't allowed.  They don't mess around over there and you could end up in jail if you're caught with a forbidden item.

 

 

Did anyone ever check to see what you were carrying?

 

I have been through Singapore several times.  And Dubai a couple of times.  I have never been asked, or had them even looked at.

[Tony O]

Traveling Abroad with Medicine

https://www.cdc.gov/features/travel-medicine/index.html

[grapau27]

On 12/29/2018 at 2:26 AM, Honeyroastedmelnut said:

I’m a few weeks away from my next cruise (yay!!) but have a situation I’ve never dealt with on previous cruises. I feel like I should either know this or am way over-thinking it but ... is it legal for me to bring medication in the original prescription bottle off ship and into the Bahamas?

I probably could skip or delay a dose while on shore if needed but at the same time, i don’t want to throw anything out of whack needlessly.

Bring your doctor's note and prescription to prove it is for you if in any doubt.

[voyager70]

4 hours ago, SRF said:

 

Did anyone ever check to see what you were carrying?

 

I have been through Singapore several times.  And Dubai a couple of times.  I have never been asked, or had them even looked at.

 

Not incoming, but at security for the outgoing flight our carry on bags were completely emptied and searched.  I had 2 bottles of unopened water and a lighter taken.  

 

[boscobeans]

When we cruise we use the plastic daily medication holders and put each in a vacuum sealed bag. We bring that on board in our checked bags. 

We also pack the original prescription bottles with meds in them in vacuum bags in our checked bags, as a back up just in case.

 

[nelblu]

Highly scrutinized in Cozumel.  The local police/customs have sniffing dogs by the exit as you leave the pier.

[Joseph2017China]

The posters question is this......On a closed loop cruise leaving the USA, and visiting an island in the Caribbean, am I allowed to take my Noon Time medicine with me off the ship in a small container or do I need an original bottle. 

 

The answer is that you can take your noon time doze in a pill bottle, off the ship, in the Caribbean, and you will not have an issue!

 

All the other answers are pretty far off the targeted answer.  Yes, it is recommended if you are going on any travel that you carry your original bottles and prescriptions, in particular if you are flying.  Will you be questioned ever?  Who knows, but people will say it didn't happen to them so it must be ok.  HaHaHa until you are questioned.  But that's not the answer you were looking for.  For the person going to Dubai, and wants to really risk not bringing the original container, and a list of medications that you need to keep you healthy just because one poster said they were never asked?  Do you plan on winning in the casino also because one person hit the jackpot? 

[mattpro]

FYI: For those Americans traveling to Aruba with a doctor's hand written prescription you are allowed to purchase your prescriptions there, with up to 5 refills, at a great cost savings since Aruba (Dutch) is part of the European Union.

 

For example, a 90 day supply which costs $476 in the  U.S.A can be bought in Aruba for $52.

 

Their pharmacy is located in Oranjstad at the end of their railway roundabout, approximately a mile away from the ship.

[CruiseMomTX]

40 minutes ago, mattpro said:

FYI: For those Americans traveling to Aruba with a doctor's hand written prescription you are allowed to purchase your prescriptions there, with up to 5 refills, at a great cost savings since Aruba (Dutch) is part of the European Union.

 

For example, a 90 day supply which costs $476 in the  U.S.A can be bought in Aruba for $52.

 

Their pharmacy is located in Oranjstad at the end of their railway roundabout, approximately a mile away from the ship.

 

Good information & does anyone know if you can do this in St. Maarten?

[SRF]

16 hours ago, voyager70 said:

 

Not incoming, but at security for the outgoing flight our carry on bags were completely emptied and searched.  I had 2 bottles of unopened water and a lighter taken.  

 

 

That is because of the water bottles showing up on the x-ray.  And possibly something else looked suspicious.  If they see something, they will search the bag.

 

Water bottles are not allowed, even if sealed.

 

Lighters are "allowed" but you mileage may vary.  Some airports will allow one per person.

 

Some airports or flights will search every bag.  Air France out of 3rd world countries actually carry security personnel from France and they physically search every bag and pat down every passenger. 

 

And I have had my carry on bag searched MANY times, but NEVER a question about my meds in pill organizer boxes or any med in a blister pack (like typical over the counter).  They don't even take a look at them.

[SRF]

13 hours ago, mattpro said:

FYI: For those Americans traveling to Aruba with a doctor's hand written prescription you are allowed to purchase your prescriptions there, with up to 5 refills, at a great cost savings since Aruba (Dutch) is part of the European Union.

 

For example, a 90 day supply which costs $476 in the  U.S.A can be bought in Aruba for $52.

 

Their pharmacy is located in Oranjstad at the end of their railway roundabout, approximately a mile away from the ship.

 

A lot of countries, you don't need a prescription for most meds.

 

Just have a list and they will sell them to you.   And they are cheap not just because of EU, they are cheap because they do not need to go through FDA approval.

[gatour]

21 hours ago, nelblu said:

Highly scrutinized in Cozumel.  The local police/customs have sniffing dogs by the exit as you leave the pier.

I am sure they are their for marajuina and for a couple of pills, esp since there are all kinds of pharmicies catering to the tourist trade.

[SRF]

Which is why, if you are taking any narcotic drugs, that you absolutely carry then in an original, in date, prescription bottle, and a letter from your doctor.

 

Also, do not carry any more than you need for the trip, plus a reasonable extra for unforeseen delays.  But off the ship in port, ONLY what you need for that day.