Duty free.

Topics that are specific to cruising
User avatar

Topic author
screwy
Senior First Officer
Senior First Officer
Posts: 2851
Joined: March 2013
Location: Lancashire

Duty free.

#1

Post by screwy »

Hi All.

Off on Britannia on Sunday, A Coruna,Bilboa,La Rochelle and Guernsey,

Anyone know the best duty free ?
Mel

User avatar

barney
Deputy Captain
Deputy Captain
Posts: 5607
Joined: March 2013
Location: Instow Devon

Re: Duty free.

#2

Post by barney »

There is no duty free in EU countries screwy, so by default, that leaves Guernsey. ............ if you can get off ;)
Empty vessels .. and all that

User avatar

Stephen
Commodore
Commodore
Posts: 15925
Joined: January 2013
Location: Down Souf. The civilised end of the country :)

Re: Duty free.

#3

Post by Stephen »

And it's not that cheap over there either.

User avatar

oldbluefox
Ex Team Member
Posts: 11305
Joined: January 2013
Location: Cumbria

Re: Duty free.

#4

Post by oldbluefox »

I find the idea of duty free a bit of a misnomer anyway as you can get it just as cheaply in UK. Gibraltar is probably the exception to the rule.
Of course I could be wrong but duty free onboard certainly seems no cheaper than local supermarkets.

User avatar

Dancing Queen
Senior First Officer
Senior First Officer
Posts: 3819
Joined: January 2013
Location: Derbyshire

Re: Duty free.

#5

Post by Dancing Queen »

Depends what you are after, as Foxy says spirits are nearly as cheap in local supermarkets, if it's tobacco you are after then there are lots of little Tabac shops scattered around La Coruna even with duty paid you still pay a lot less than in the UK, for a 200 pack expect to pay around 50 euros and of course you are not limited to what you can bring back ( within reason )
Jo

User avatar

Topic author
screwy
Senior First Officer
Senior First Officer
Posts: 2851
Joined: March 2013
Location: Lancashire

Re: Duty free.

#6

Post by screwy »

Ah Right, never thought of that, thanks all.
Mel


London Cruiser
Cadet
Cadet
Posts: 46
Joined: October 2016

Re: Duty free.

#7

Post by London Cruiser »

the ships shop ( puts back teeth) will supposedly be duty free because its stopping in Guernsey, I cant recall the other ports have a terminal tbh

User avatar

Mervyn and Trish
Commodore
Commodore
Posts: 15262
Joined: February 2013

Re: Duty free.

#8

Post by Mervyn and Trish »

The only times I've got "duty free" on the ship (and I'm talking booze here, not being a smoker) cheaper than a supermarket were special offers. Once got a good deal on Bombay Gin (can't remember the price but it was cheap) and the other was a very nice litre bottle of single malt whisky for £14 - even less after my Peninsular discount. But usually not worth the bother IMO.

User avatar

Stephen
Commodore
Commodore
Posts: 15925
Joined: January 2013
Location: Down Souf. The civilised end of the country :)

Re: Duty free.

#9

Post by Stephen »

Agree. .


Whynd1
First Officer
First Officer
Posts: 1832
Joined: February 2013
Location: Gower, Swansea

Re: Duty free.

#10

Post by Whynd1 »

Last November on the Arcadia a litre of Beefeaters Gin worked out after Caribbean tier discount at £9.

Bargain.

Lindsey

User avatar

qbman1
Captain
Captain
Posts: 12153
Joined: January 2013
Location: Oxfordshire

Re: Duty free.

#11

Post by qbman1 »

Mervyn and Trish wrote: 26 May 2017, 17:54
The only times I've got "duty free" on the ship (and I'm talking booze here, not being a smoker) cheaper than a supermarket were special offers. Once got a good deal on Bombay Gin (can't remember the price but it was cheap) and the other was a very nice litre bottle of single malt whisky for £14 - even less after my Peninsular discount. But usually not worth the bother IMO.
Tend to agree, Merv. I don't bother any more. Saving a pound here and a pound there is not really worth the bother of having to lug the stuff home

User avatar

david63
Site Admin
Site Admin
Posts: 9392
Joined: January 2012
Location: Lancashire

Re: Duty free.

#12

Post by david63 »

I think that the duty/tax free "offers" are there to tempt those who have not done their homework - but it does make you wonder if the ships sell it tax free at the same price as the supermarkets, which are not tax free, how much profit are the ships making? Logic would say that if the supermarket is selling a bottle at, say, £15 (tax paid) then tax free it should be around £12 on board a ship - or am I missing something?

User avatar

oldbluefox
Ex Team Member
Posts: 11305
Joined: January 2013
Location: Cumbria

Re: Duty free.

#13

Post by oldbluefox »

Technically they can sell it tax free and then pocket the difference in profit. Even selling at £12 they would still be making a profit but the tax difference gives them a greater profit. That's how I see it.
The same goes for perfumes and after shaves which are just as cheap ashore, and occasionally cheaper if on special offer. All in all I feel the 'Duty Free Shops' are a bit of a misnomer. My advice to anybody taking a cruise is to decide what you may be interested in and check your prices in UK before you leave.
Mind you there's nothing to compare with the scrum down at the special sales they have in the foyer, and sometimes in the corridors leading to the theatre so everywhere gets clogged up!!! It's an experience not to be missed!!!

User avatar

david63
Site Admin
Site Admin
Posts: 9392
Joined: January 2012
Location: Lancashire

Re: Duty free.

#14

Post by david63 »

oldbluefox wrote: 30 May 2017, 12:21
It's an experience not to be missed!!!
I do my utmost to miss it

User avatar

oldbluefox
Ex Team Member
Posts: 11305
Joined: January 2013
Location: Cumbria

Re: Duty free.

#15

Post by oldbluefox »

Be brave David. Shoulder pads and shinguards help.

User avatar

Mervyn and Trish
Commodore
Commodore
Posts: 15262
Joined: February 2013

Re: Duty free.

#16

Post by Mervyn and Trish »

Yes I hate the car boot sale too. What's the point in having shops then cluttering up the rest of the ship.

I know. Silly question. More money! The reality with price competition is cruise lines rely more and more on sales of stuff on board to keep profits up

User avatar

david63
Site Admin
Site Admin
Posts: 9392
Joined: January 2012
Location: Lancashire

Re: Duty free.

#17

Post by david63 »

Mervyn and Trish wrote: 30 May 2017, 16:00
The reality with price competition is cruise lines rely more and more on sales of stuff on board to keep profits up
That is not strictly true. The shops/tat stalls are run by the concessionaires not the cruise lines so, it will depend on the terms of the concession - it could be a "flat fee" or a percentage of sales

User avatar

bassman67
Second Officer
Second Officer
Posts: 266
Joined: January 2013
Location: Cambridge

Re: Duty free.

#18

Post by bassman67 »

Just off Oceana and last week they were selling Gordons Gin for £10/litre, with 15% off on the first sea day, so £8-50. Then with the Portunus discount (8.5% for us) it was £7.78. Cheaper than Gib!

User avatar

Stephen
Commodore
Commodore
Posts: 15925
Joined: January 2013
Location: Down Souf. The civilised end of the country :)

Re: Duty free.

#19

Post by Stephen »

bassman67 wrote: 12 Jul 2017, 09:44
Just off Oceana and last week they were selling Gordons Gin for £10/litre, with 15% off on the first sea day, so £8-50. Then with the Portunus discount (8.5% for us) it was £7.78. Cheaper than Gib!
Bargain :thumbup:

Did you pick up any scotch for me. No, thought not.

User avatar

qbman1
Captain
Captain
Posts: 12153
Joined: January 2013
Location: Oxfordshire

Re: Duty free.

#20

Post by qbman1 »

Can I get duty free in Liverpool ?

User avatar

Dancing Queen
Senior First Officer
Senior First Officer
Posts: 3819
Joined: January 2013
Location: Derbyshire

Re: Duty free.

#21

Post by Dancing Queen »

qbman1 wrote: 12 Jul 2017, 15:35
Can I get duty free in Liverpool ?
No :roll: but go to the right places in Liverpool and you can buy anything at much reduced prices :o

Apologies to any Liverpudlians on the forum I'm just winding cubie up :wave:
Jo

User avatar

Stephen
Commodore
Commodore
Posts: 15925
Joined: January 2013
Location: Down Souf. The civilised end of the country :)

Re: Duty free.

#22

Post by Stephen »

Dancing Queen wrote: 12 Jul 2017, 17:03
qbman1 wrote: 12 Jul 2017, 15:35
Can I get duty free in Liverpool ?
No :roll: but go to the right places in Liverpool and you can buy anything at much reduced prices :o

Apologies to any Liverpudlians on the forum I'm just winding cubie up :wave:
Don't forget your asbestos gloves though :D

Return to “Cruise Specific Discussion”