However, just because there is no tax on the ship, doesn’t mean you can bring home everything you want. Duty-Free Doesn’t Always Mean Completely Tax-Free (Despite the Signs) There’s a wide selection on many ships, making it tempting to stock up your liquor cabinet. If bought while in shore, it will be taken by the cruise staff when you get back on board and returned at the end of the trip. Your purchase will be held by the cruise staff and delivered to your room the last night of the trip. If you buy a bottle of alcohol either on the ship or in port, you don’t get to enjoy it right away. Some spots even have passengers walk through the shops as they walk off the ship into port.ĭon’t go thinking, however, that you can buy discounted goodies to enjoy on the ship. For those who like to have a drink or a smoke, you will be like a proverbial kid in a candy store.Īs well, often when you head into port, duty-free shopping will be prominently featured. There will be a shop on any large cruise ship you sail, attractively outfitted with a wide selection of alcohol, cigarettes, and other goodies. There’s no missing duty-free shopping on a cruise. (We offer a price comparison of several example items below.) How Duty-Free Shopping Works on a Cruise Ship or in Port Since duty-free shops get a pass on these rules, they can offer savings compared to back home. Of course, all that tax is then passed on to the final consumer in the form of a higher price. So depending on where you live, there can be taxes at the federal, state, and city level. Most consumers never see these taxes or even know they exist as they are added into the price. In addition, many jurisdictions have heavy import taxes on things like alcohol or cigarettes, that are produced in another country. Since a set of special rules apply for places like airports and cruise ships, they are able to sell goods in these stores without consumers having to pay the same taxes on them that you’d see on land.įor example, if you were to buy a bottle of alcohol in Miami, it would cost you not just the price of the bottle, but also the sales tax (7.0%) that’s tacked on. You’ll find fancy jewelry, alcohol, cigarettes, perfumes, chocolates, and more.

Heading inside these stores is like a trip to a sinner’s paradise. If you’ve traveled on a cruise before or been to an international airport, you’ve likely seen the bright signs for duty-free shopping. So what exactly is duty-free shopping on a cruise? And does it really save you money? What Is Duty-Free Shopping? With duty-free shopping on a cruise, you can purchase some of your favorite items for potentially less money than back home. The labyrinth of regulations and rules regarding what is taxed and what isn’t can give you a headache.Īt the same time, however, you can use these rules to your advantage and potentially save money on things like alcohol, cigarettes, and other pricey goods that are for sale in the duty-free shops aboard nearly every cruise (and in many ports of call). When it comes cruising and duty-free shopping, don’t feel alone if you’re left confused.

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