What is a 'customs declaration form'?

What is a 'customs declaration form'?

Dan Ilves (Dan Ilves, CTC, MCC) gives expert video advice on: What are the steps for disembarkation? and more...

For most ports of call, and most cruises, you will have to fill out a customs declaration form - it's a simple form that identifies who you are, where you live for customs, and whether or not you have made any purchases that you have to declare. Just like traveling anywhere outside the country, we're allowed a certain amount of tobacco that we can bring into the country, a certain amount of liquor that we can bring into the country, and so you have to declare this. All of the cruise ships have stores on board, and they have duty-free shops. It's not uncommon for people that enjoy alcoholic drinks to buy a bottle of their favorite liquor, because they can buy it on board the ship for duty-free prices. However, they can't buy a case of it because we're not allowed to do that. Otherwise you will have to pay heavy customs on it. It's simply to declare your purchases, and if you've traveled outside the country and spent a tremendous amount of money on a variety of things. You need to declare them.