Craxe77 Posted July 9, 2021 #1 Share Posted July 9, 2021 Hi all, Booked on our second cruise and the first to the southern Bahamas next year. I was planning on (secretly) saving a larger amount of spending money so that I could surprise my wife by letting her buy/shop without having to worry about the budget. I am the cruise lover and she is "so-so" about cruising, so looking to make it even more enjoyable for her as well. Have any of you readers (Cruise Critics) shopped while cruising and visiting areas like Aruba, the Dominican republic, Curacao, etc.. ? Was curious on the types of things that people shop for while cruising. My first cruise I really wanted a watch that I bought onboard, more as a memento than for needing the watch. Are there those must see items from those areas that we should see while shopping? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rkacruiser Posted July 9, 2021 #2 Share Posted July 9, 2021 52 minutes ago, Craxe77 said: Have any of you readers (Cruise Critics) shopped while cruising and visiting areas like Aruba, the Dominican republic, Curacao, etc.. ? Was curious on the types of things that people shop for while cruising. In Curacao, I imagine that you will find a store offering a taste of their famous liqueur. If you like it, that is an item that I have bought. In Aruba, there is a Company that makes excellent Aloe products. Dominican Republic produces good cigars (I am told), but I doubt your wife would be interested in those. Throughout the Caribbean, Tortuga Rum products are available. I always return home with a Rum Cake or two. I have bought a watch in St. Thomas in 1984 and a cashmere cardigan sweater in 1970 that are in better physical condition than I am. Used to buy liquor in the Virgin Islands, but the savings are no longer available as compared to buying it here. Celebrating a special milestone for HAL, I purchased a crystal, numbered goblet that seemed expensive at the time, but has increased in value. And, I purchased a crystal model of the Amsterdam celebrating HAL's Golden Anniversary World Cruise with the Captain's and the Hotel Manager's signature written on the model in gold ink. I also am a book store shopper and have found titles that I was seeking that were not available in the United States. I don't buy much anymore. But, sometimes, I will see an item that "catches my eye" for some reason. I have learned not to buy on impulse, but I have also regretted a decision as to why didn't I buy an item at times. Don't overlook the ship's shops. Sometimes, some very nice items can be found and are reasonably priced. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rkacruiser Posted July 9, 2021 #3 Share Posted July 9, 2021 1 hour ago, Craxe77 said: Aruba, the Dominican republic, Curacao, Just thought of this for Curacao and Aruba: Being a part of the Netherland Antilles, Dutch products are available and many people like to shop for food items that are made in Holland. Dutch cheese is a popular item. I have not bought any, but it must travel well without being refrigerated. Chocolates and cookies are also items I know people have bought. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
norboy76 Posted July 10, 2021 #4 Share Posted July 10, 2021 I don't shop a lot on the islands, I find a lot of those tourist trap shops sell the same things over and over again and try to gouge you. I did a cruise to St Thomas, Puerto Rico and when was there, one of the tourist stalls was asking $50 for a wood statue, and down the road I went to a name brand shop and saw an almost duplicate statue for only $25. I usually buy souvenirs only on the ship with the ship's name and company logo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
norboy76 Posted July 10, 2021 #5 Share Posted July 10, 2021 Oh wait, I did find an antique shop in Alaska at one of the ports our ship stopped at and found some neat Ocean Liner and Cruise Ship items though, which was interesting. Found some menu covers (No menus inside though) for the Alaska Steamship Company from 1941 and some On Board photos from the Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth (The original ones, not the ones out now), as these are really old black and white photos. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
better_at_sea Posted July 10, 2021 #6 Share Posted July 10, 2021 I always like purchasing a few bags of the local coffee wherever we stop. Honduras and Dominican Republic have had my favorite coffee so far. Also so much cheaper than what’s sold in the US. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Mary229 Posted July 10, 2021 #7 Share Posted July 10, 2021 My husband who at home won’t buy a banana unless it is in the markdown bin becomes a shopping maniac and big spender on vacation. I usually research the local specialties be it food, beverage, textiles or whatever and we seek those items. We also collect unique gemstones and crystals. We usually have a great time meeting up with our fellow mineral collectors worldwide. One special item we have started collecting are high quality cat art since he is a cat person. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rkacruiser Posted July 10, 2021 #8 Share Posted July 10, 2021 (edited) On 7/9/2021 at 2:42 PM, Craxe77 said: Was curious on the types of things that people shop for while cruising. OP, a couple of other items that I just remembered that I have bought are Christmas ornaments that have the "flavor" of the place where I am buying it. I have found some very nice ones in St. Thomas at small shops or kiosks down some of the alleyways off Main Street. Also, CDs of the music of the Caribbean; some of my favorites were recorded by local musicians and purchased from them. Edited July 10, 2021 by rkacruiser 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Mary229 Posted July 10, 2021 #9 Share Posted July 10, 2021 4 minutes ago, rkacruiser said: bought are Christmas ornaments that have the "flavor" of the place where I am buying it. My parents bought Christmas ornaments. It was a beautiful way to show off and remember their adventures 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geocruiser Posted October 29, 2022 #10 Share Posted October 29, 2022 I like buying local hand made crafts and jewelry. Nothing that cost much. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
George C Posted December 27, 2022 #11 Share Posted December 27, 2022 My wife gets Christmas cards from jewelry stores in St Thomas. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sassycruiser Posted January 26, 2023 #12 Share Posted January 26, 2023 I buy Christmas ornaments from each island if I can find hand made items. Have also bought inexpensive paintings, mugs etc. Not a huge shopper, but like to have items that are unique. Every year when we decorate the tree I love looking at all the ornaments and having good memories. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
donaldsc Posted January 10 #13 Share Posted January 10 Does buying 2 expensive fountain pens in Japan count? DON Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare theminnow Posted February 2 #14 Share Posted February 2 Wife will usually buy a Christmas ornament of the ship and some ornaments at the ports. I like to get a poker chip from the ship. Will also buy shot glasses of the ship and ports. And if it is a Caribbean cruise, I will purchase some rums. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
norboy76 Posted February 22 #15 Share Posted February 22 (edited) I always buy a souvenir spoon from the ship’s gift shop on board, I’ve gotten a lot from thrift stores too or found some on the islands when lucky enough to find an antique shop at the islands, or spoons given to me by my parents and friends, I have around 260 I think ship spoons in my personal collection now. These are my spoon racks in the photos. Many of the lines for these spoons are for no longer exist and have disappeared from the ship scene. *Not all the spoons are on racks as the handles are to thick to fit on the racks as you’ll see *Lines: Cunard, Canadian Pacific, P&O, Anchor Donaldson, Shaw Savil, NYK, Chandris, Royal Caribbean, NCL, Celebrity, Hamburg America Line, Sally Cruises, Townsend Thoreson, Princess, Greek Line, Carnival, Orient Line, Holland America, Sun Cruises, Regency Edited February 22 by norboy76 Updated information 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slhealea Posted May 22 #16 Share Posted May 22 I enjoy buying magnets from the ports that we visit and also of the ships that we cruise on. I also buy magnets while on our road trips while we go camping in our van. I love them and they make me happy reliving memories. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare CDNPolar Posted May 29 #17 Share Posted May 29 We are not souvenir people at all. We don't buy t-shirts, or fridge magnets, or anything with the name of the country, city, or whatever. We did at one point start to buy a small piece of art that we would find at a street market and from an actual artist themselves... this then became, where to put these, and overall too much to dust, so we stopped that. I appreciate all who have collections and have spent time commemorating their trips, but not for us now. We proudly now come home with nothing. We don't even buy duty free on the way home. Other than tours that we take, the cities and countries that we visit are not benefiting from our money at all. The only way that they are is often we will have lunch on shore to experience the cuisine locally. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mangrove Snapper Posted June 11 #18 Share Posted June 11 If I see something I like, I'll buy it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Azure Moon Posted June 29 #19 Share Posted June 29 I used to buy post cards of the ship, the ports, the country, etc. I don't do that much anymore. A card that shows the country and facts about it still catches my interest. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
olemissreb Posted July 6 #20 Share Posted July 6 I like to get a Christmas ornament to commemorate the cruise...got a handmade one in Alaska, an Adventure of the Seas ornament for the first one I took with my boys and a handblown Nova Scotian crystal ornament from the cruise with my mom. On the cruise with my mom, I also got a couple pieces of cookware I'd been looking for. In Curacao (on the first trip with my boys) I got a Christmas tablecloth. I've also gotten the cruiseline cookbooks since I love to cook. Other than the ornaments, I try to get something I can use often and by doing so, it brings back a whole lot of wonderful memories. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare nancy1031 Posted July 12 #21 Share Posted July 12 I buy Absolut Vodka as it's 1/2 the price and tranfer it to 3 ounce bottles- I've also bought alot of jewlery at Diamonds International, Little Switzerland & Cardow in St Thomas as the quality & designs are much better then at home and 1/2 the price (also not paying sales tax is a great bonus)I've helped the economy out alot over the past 42 years!!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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