The Head of Household must declare all merchandise purchased or acquired abroad and which he/she is bringing back into the United States. That includes items purchased in duty-free shops (on board) and in port as well as items received as gifts. It also includes items the guests have begun to use or are wearing.

Upon returning from a cruise in 2026, you must declare any items you acquired abroad that you are bringing back into your home country. For U.S. citizens, this includes all souvenirs, gifts, and duty-free purchases (such as alcohol and tobacco) that exceed your personal exemption, which is typically $800 per person for most Caribbean itineraries. You must also declare currency exceeding $10,000, commercial merchandise intended for resale, and any "agricultural products" including fruits, vegetables, seeds, or meat. A grounded "reality check": even if you bought a "duty-free" bottle of rum on the ship, you must still list it on your declaration form to ensure you stay within the tax-free limits (usually 1 liter per adult). In 2026, most major cruise ports utilize Mobile Passport Control (MPC) or facial recognition kiosks, which make the declaration process much faster, but failing to be honest about that expensive watch or those unique seeds can lead to heavy fines or the permanent seizure of your items.