Wine Purchase

[Whitnee1]

Driving from Seattle to Vancouver and want to pick up wine to bring on our Princess Cruise. Does anybody know if there is a duty free shop over the border or where would be best to purchase it?

[martincath]

Yes, there's Duty Free available right at the border (at the 'Truck Crossing' on 543 through Blaine rather than the Peace Arch on I5, which still has a sign up but the building closed years ago so the sign just points you onto a sideroad that gets you into Blaine!) but frankly the discount on the limited selection of wine just aren't worth it IMO - better to buy at a well-stocked wine shop somewhere else on the way (e.g. Total Wines have Seattle area branches, and you'll get access to many more products and some excellently-priced deals that beat anything Duty Free can offer).

 

NB: Duty - you only get 2 bottles of regular table wine per person across the border, just in case you weren't aware. This dovetails nicely with Princess policy on no-charge wine being brought onboard, but if you were planning to buy e.g. a case and pay the Princess charges then stick to US-produced wine as the Duty on that is much less than imported thanks to NAFTA.

Edited May 5, 2019 by martincath

[boom_boom]

There is also a reasonably well stock liquor/wine store a short walk from Canada Place. Reasonable prices, but as i recall from a couple of years ago, more Canadian wine than US.