All You Need to Know About Duty-Free

Those who fly regularly may already be familiar with the term, but what does ‘duty-free’ actually mean? Literally, it refers to products that are exempt from payment of duty, but it can be understood more generally as products that can be purchased without sales, import or other taxes. 

Duty-free products sold on cruise ships are spared these additional charges because they are sold in international zones. What makes them so desirable is that the lack of tax means they are available at lower prices, allowing cruise guests to get great deals on products like chocolate, perfume, alcohol and tobacco.

Many cruise lines offer guests the opportunity to purchase duty-free items from onboard stores. These shops tend to offer a wide variety of products, including clothes, alcohol, tobacco, chocolate and travel essentials. Duty-free shopping might also be available in port, depending on the cruise destination in question. 

Ahead of their cruise, guests must be aware of the rules governing the handling of certain duty-free items on board. Duty-free liquor will usually be stored by the ship’s crew and returned to passengers at the end of their cruise, and it cannot be consumed in public areas. Tobacco and cigarettes purchased on board may be taken away by the passenger at the time of purchase.

Duty-free allowances are regulations that restrict the quantities of duty-free products that cruisers can bring with them upon returning to the UK. Allowances vary depending on the type of goods being brought in, so it’s important for guests to know what they can bring home before they set sail.

Alcohol Duty-Free Allowances

Upon returning to the UK, guests can bring different quantities of duty-free alcohol depending on the type and strength. Here is our quick guide to what duty-free allowances are currently in place for alcohol:

• 42 litres of beer
• 18 litres of wine (still)
• 4 litres of spirits (and other liquors) over 22% alcohol
• 9 litres of alcoholic drinks up to 22% (not including beer or still wine)

Tobacco Duty-Free Allowances

Upon returning to the UK, guests can bring a maximum of 200 duty-free cigarettes. Other tobacco allowances include:

• – 100 cigarillos
• – 50 cigars
• – 250g of tobacco

For products not included under the alcohol and tobacco umbrella, a duty-free allowance of £390 applies. This includes products such as perfumes and souvenirs. These allowances apply per person for travellers aged 18 and above. 

It’s important to note that certain goods, such as firearms and endangered species, may require additional permits or be subject to strict restrictions. We recommend checking the official UK government website for any updates or changes to duty-free allowances before travelling.

If you purchase duty-free alcohol at one of the ports in your itinerary, you may be wondering whether it can be brought back on board. The general rule across all cruise lines is that alcohol purchased at any port must be put into the ship’s secure storage when brought back on board.

These restrictions are in place to ensure guest safety and to control alcohol consumption. Cruise lines take the utmost care with stored duty-free products, so fear not; your duty-free products will be looked after until you return to your port of departure. 

Get ready to book your next cruise getaway with all of the major cruise lines available here at Bolsover Cruise Club. If you need help booking a cruise, please don’t hesitate to contact us. A member of our team will be happy to assist you.