Duty free items purchased onboard can be taken to your room and enjoyed during your holiday. However, duty free alcohol and on some sailings, cigarettes, will be delivered to your stateroom on the final day of your voyage. *Please see all applicable Terms & Conditions for Promotions here.

Excellent question! The short answer is yes, you can purchase duty-free items on Royal Caribbean ships, but there are important rules and limitations you must know about when and where you can use or consume them.

Here’s a detailed breakdown:

1. Purchasing Duty-Free Onboard

You can buy duty-free goods (primarily liquor, tobacco, and perfume) at the ship’s onboard duty-free shops. However, Royal Caribbean’s policy is very strict about when you get the items.

• Liquor & Tobacco: You cannot take these purchases immediately to your cabin. They will be held securely by the ship and delivered to your stateroom on the last night of the cruise. This is a standard policy to prevent underage drinking and to control consumption of alcohol not purchased through the ship’s bars.
• Other Items (Perfume, Souvenirs, etc.): These can typically be taken with you right away.

2. The “Duty-Free” Advantage

The “duty-free” price means you are not paying certain taxes and duties that would apply in a country. You get the best price advantage when: Comparing to your home country’s prices (especially for alcohol, if your home taxes are high). The ship is in international waters.

3. Crucial Rules for Taking Duty-Free OFF the Ship

This is the most important part. Rules are set by customs authorities of the country you are returning to, not the cruise line.

• Returning to the United States: You are allowed a duty-free exemption.
  • Alcohol: 1 liter