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What could be better than doing a spot of retail therapy while you’re on your hols? The answer: not much, in our book at least. Not only can you score some real bargains for yourself, but your friends and family back home are in for a treat or two as well.
With that said, it’s not a total free for all. You can’t just pop open that pricey bottle of hooch you bought in port once you’re back on the ship. There are rules to be followed when it comes to purchasing and consuming things onboard.
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The good news is that these rules don’t apply to everything you bring with you onto the ship. The even better news is that there are plenty of top tips you can use to make your money go that extra bit further too.
Before you part with your cash, we’ll run through what you can expect from shopping and duty free during a cruise holiday, as well as those all-important hacks to help you on the hunt for a bargain.
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Duty-free items usually mean goods that are sold in a foreign country, which have entered the same country without those pesky local import taxes attached. For this reason, they’re a lot cheaper, but they’re only available in airports or ‘in-bond’ stores, after which they’re stashed in warehouses and not sold to the local population.
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This can all happen on cruise ships for the same reason, along with the fact that many cruise ship shops close while the ship is in port, in accordance with local customs laws. So, if you’ve been pondering the question “can you buy duty free on cruise ships?”, the answer is a great big thumbs up.
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If you’re travelling to the Caribbean, then you’re in luck. In this neck of the woods, you don’t pay VAT like you would in Europe. You also don’t pay sales tax like they do in the US. All of this means that if you spot an item in the Caribbean that’s 30% of the asking price, you’re actually really getting 38% off because of the additional sales tax savings. We like the sound of that!
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What’s more, British travellers can now claim back up to 20% VAT on purchases within the EU. Whether you’re shopping in Madrid, Paris, Lisbon, or anywhere else in the EU, as long as you take the purchase home with you, you’re able to claim back the VAT. Happy tax-free shopping!
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By all means, go for that rare rum or a local specialty you can’t find back home. But if it’s a bottle of hooch you can easily buy at the nearest Bargain Booze, we say avoid. Remember, you won’t be able to consume your new buy back on your ship either – you’ll have to wait to collect it from staff on your last day.
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If you’re a smoker, then cigars and cigarettes can be a worthy purchase, just don’t forget: the same rules that apply to alcohol also apply to tobacco products.
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Children’s items aren’t duty free, even if they’re sold in port shops that claim to be. Your best bet here is to head to nearby markets, boutiques and clothing stores and look for sweets, clothing and other little gifts there.
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The savings on these items aren’t much to write home about if we’re being honest. You might be able to find something that’s only available in duty-free shops, but if you’re hoping to find your favourites at knock-down prices, then you should only expect a few pounds off.
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Again, here is where comparing the same items online can help. You may just as easily find it for less on the web.
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Returning defective electronics that you bought abroad is a headache that nobody needs. And if the price is heavily discounted or suspiciously cheap, it’s probably a fake. We say avoid.
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