Cigar Availability on Western Carribean Cruise

[trench123]

Mornin' everyone,
My family and I will be crusing through Cozumel, Jamaica, and the Grand Cayman Islands later this year. Looking for advise for where to shop for the "best" cigars available. Additionally, what are some of the rules I should know in advance pertaining to bring cigars and liquor back into US (via Galveston, TX). Thanx in advance!!

- Steve -

[Cigary]

You are going to have a great time. If you are going with your family eachperson can bring back to the states this much: U.S. Customs allows every traveler over age 21 who has been out of the country for at least 48 hours to bring back up to $400 worth of purchases duty-free. That can include one-liter bottle of alcohol. It was and still is permissible to pack up to five liters of alcohol into luggage that will be checked into the hold of the plane, but duty charges will be assessed on the additional amounts. No liquor stronger than 140 proof (70 percent alcohol) can be brought back, which leaves out potions such as strong Jamaican rum.

What I do is have the store where you buy your liquor to ship it to your home address if you don't have room in your luggage ( it might break so I would carry it on instead)

Bring your own cigars if you can,,,I always do.

[Jonesee]

Cigary gave you great advice.

The wife and I have been on a bunch of cruises. I have always taken a humidor of my own cigars with me. Each time we cruise I will look for cigars at different ports and have never found anything worthwhile to buy at anything that approached a reasonable price. Real CCs are hard to find and mostly only in reputable resort areas. You will really pay for them if you want some. As for bringing CCs back, it isn't allowed. Period. The fine is something ridiculously high. I know I was shocked the first time I read about it before disembarking. The very first cruise I ever went on, the night before we returned to port there was a ship-wide announcement that basically said: "if you got it smoke it..." I still laugh about it and never knew if they meant CCs or a certain other tobacco product prevalent in the islands...

I take my own sticks and share and have a blast. If you can still buy cigars on the ship you are cruising on, the price will floor you. And, check and see if your ship has a designated area to smoke cigars other than oustside. Fewer and fewer do now.

I have carried my humidor with leftover sticks in it off the boat through customs and have never been asked to open it or even questioned about it. Still, I get nervous that someday they will want me to prove I brought them from the states.

As for liquor... That my friend is the bargain!!! Rum and other distilled spirits are dirt cheap. You will have to check your alcohol when getting back on board after you buy it unless you have it shipped back. The cruise line wants to make sure to sell you theirs...

As for bring alcohol onboard prior to the trip to save money, I've always done it and it really isn't worth the worry and effort. Every time I wanted a drink I would have to walk back to the cabin to make it and it is SOOOOO much easier to have a waiter bring one to me...

[golfermd]

As already metioned, you can bring liquor back. 1 liter is correct for duty free status. Some ships companies demand that you turn over liquor purchased ashore to them for storage. The ship makes a ton of money via drink sales (wait till you get your bill at the end of your cruise!). You will get your bottle(s) back when you get to your destination port.

As to cigars, you already know that it is illegal to bring Cuban cigars into the US. Be warned! Smoke them before you get to your destination and have to clear customs. The ship's library doubled as the smoking room on our NCL cruise. They did not sell Cuban cigars on board because our port of entry was Puerto Rico, a US territory.

I am serious about watching your drink consumption on ship. At $4 to $10 a drink (and up) it doesn't take that long to add up quickly, especially if you buy your dinner table a round of drinks or bottles of wine. Even sodas were $1.25 per can and added to your bill. All goods and services are signed for and you pay at the end of the cruise, except for the casino where you pay for the chips in cash.

[Jonesee]

Golf is right on target. The Sail and Sign card is painless, and ohhh sooo convenient.... Until you get the bill. No matter how you try to keep track of what you put on it, double it!!

And, one more hint. When you sign for something on your card it has the tip included. If you add a tip it is just additional. I believe this to be the case on every cruise I have been on. I usually just keep a pocket full of dollar bills and tip a buck or 2 or 3 to the waiter on top of the card's tip. That way he doesn't get taxed, the cruise line doesn't get a cut, and he remembers who paid him...

[craigchilds]

In the Cayman Islands, you MUST MUST MUST try the Tortuga Rum. Most excellent stuff.

If you are cruising with Carnival, check to see if the ship allows cigars in their cigar bars. As crazy as it sounds, the last cruise we took with them, cigars had been outlawed in Winston's Cigar Bar. The result was an absolutely empty cigar bar. Hopefully. that policy has been reversed.

[Nickerson]

Study up on Cubans so you can pick up some authentic Cubans to smoke while your there (don't bring em back to the U.S though! (can if bands are off)).

Whats cool about going out of the country is Cubans are legal in other places. Good opportunity to enjoy one.

As for the Rum and stuff, its not the proof of the Rum, its what the "bottle says". "Oh hello there Jack Daniels bottle!"

[MickeyFinn]

All I know is that on Royal Caribean (cruised twice). They have a club on board called the Schooner, cigars and pipes are welcomed and the views are incredible. They also sell cigars on board. Never had one so they are a mystery.
Smooth sailing
Dave

[calhounhusker]

Grand Cayman has 2 legit cigar shops that I know of. La Casa Del Habana and Churchills Cigars. Both are pretty close to the pier. Be forewarned though, they aren't cheap.

[pcozad1]

When you get off the ship in grand cayman there will be a statue of a pirate across the street ( his name is big black dick ) Go down that hall and turn left at the Iguanas cage. There will be a shop straight ahead. They roll some of their own there . Not a bad cigar but everything is high priced. In Jamaica again get some of the local stuff I like Jamaica Boy.In Cozumel , bring your own . The humidors suck and most of sticks are pretty rough. I love the caribean time flies when your havin rum. Pat