What do I need to know about customs?
Answer: In order to make returning home as smooth and easy as possible, please take note of the following tips. For more information, consult your Customs Agency. Guests returning to the United States can also check the official website of U.S. Customs and Border Protection at https://www.cbp.gov.
Registering Your Valuables
We strongly recommend that you register your valuables with Customs before leaving home. This should be done well in advance of travel at a Customs office near your home. Items that should be registered generally include those not manufactured in your country. If you cannot prove that you owned an item prior to departure, Customs officials may charge you duty to bring it back into your country. Customs pays particular attention to cameras (including special lenses and video equipment), binoculars, radios, laptop computers, foreign-made watches and other similar appliances. Customs officials will not be available at the ship during check-in to register valuables.
Transportation of Currency
You may take as much currency or as many monetary instruments as you wish on your trip. However, if you take out or bring into the United States more than US$10,000, you are required by law to file a report with the U.S. Customs Service. Please remember that many other countries have a similar policy when going ashore and you will be subject to their currency allowances at the current exchange rate.
Customs Allowance
United States
Each U.S. resident is usually allowed a duty free exemption of US$800; it may be more or less depending upon your itinerary and recent travel outside the country. An additional US$1,000 worth of articles may be brought in and taxed at a reduced flat duty rate.
Canada (by trip length)
- Less than 24 hours: No exemption
- 24-48 hours: CAD$200 exemption (excluding alcohol and tobacco)
- 48 hours or more: CAD$800 exemption (includes maximum of 40 ounces of liquor or wine and 200 cigarettes)
- 7 days or more: CAD$800 exemption; eligible goods may be shipped separately
- Guests who are neither U.S. nor Canadian citizens should check with the Customs agency in their country for allowance information before departing.
Tobacco & Alcohol
A traveler may include up to 100 cigars and 200 cigarettes (one carton) in the US$800 exemption from duty. Additional cigars and cigarettes may be brought into the country, but they will be subject to duty and taxes. Cigarettes may also be subject to a tax imposed by state and local authorities. Bidis — essentially flavored cigarettes — are not generally permitted entry.
Generally, one liter of alcohol per person may be entered into the U.S. duty-free by travelers who are 21 or older, although travelers coming from the U.S. Virgin Islands or other Caribbean countries are entitled to more. Additional quantities may be entered, although they will be subject to duty and IRS taxes.