Now, a question about sandwiches.
 

We've discussed smuggling wine on-board, now I want to ask about smuggling food off-board.

Let's say I don't want to go on a tour, exploring a new place on my own, and don't want to pay for lunch on the shore.

What are my options if I don't want to go back to the ship till sailing time? Can I take food with me? Will they check my purse?

Is taking food officially allowed or will it be stealing? Should I get room service, conseal it, and take along?

No one will say anything -- you will just get a few strange looks trying to wrap up your food/sandwich from the breakfast table. You will probably be the only on board doing that.

Eat lunch ashore and enjoy the local cuisine. ((b))

Budman: WHAT LOCAL CUISINE???? I live in San Francisco, so what is there in San Diego or Catalina I can't find here?

Besides, I don't eat meat nor seafood, fish and vegetarian are my choices - what is there to enjoy that I can't find in SF?

You could order room service then take that ashore with you. Then no one will notice. :-)

I'm sorry, I thought you were talking about a Viking river cruise which you posted about earlier.

I stand by my post. :-) ((b))

The ship food is yours, and cruise lines don't care where you eat it. Just bring back dishes, forks etc. if you take them out.

Many ports have agricultural regulations so be aware.

If you do not eat seafood, how could you eat fish?

IMO, local cuisine in some islands is quite good. And, yes, there are food items (including fruits and veggies) indigenous to the area that I have never seen in CA : - )

We've cruised only twice, third is coming up. Maybe a more seasoned cruiser can explain why it seems that many cruisers (on this board) feel the need to beat the system.

I have noticed that "stealing" and "smuggling" are terms that are used often here and wonder if this attitude is indicative of cruisers in general. Would anyone care to comment on whether the all-inclusive nature of cruising brings out these traits; or is it that cruising attracts the "thriftier" traveler?

Would you actually take food off the ship, wander around & plop down somewhere to eat what you've brought, like picnic-style? And not be embarrassed to wrap up food & take it with you? To save $10 or $20?

kfusto, Faina lives in the SF area. It looks like she might be taking a cruise along the California coast, but it's not clear from her original post.

If the cruise happens to stop in Mexico and she is vegetarian, she could always go for the refried beans (gosh, I don't like 'em when they fry 'em the first time) :-) ((b))

Yeah Budman but when she comes back on board and goes to dinner in the main dining room she might "fog" the room with wonderful aromas ...

Faina:

You asked a reasonable question. Most lines will gladly pack you a shore lunch if you call room service and order it in advance. It will come in the form of a "box lunch". I've seen it done many times, even on mass market lines like Carnival.

There can be very good reasons for this that have nothing to do with "stealing", "beating the system" etc. For example, you may wish to take a cab to a beach to spend the day where there is no food nearby.

Don't be afraid to ask when you get on the ship... enjoy your cruise.

I agree with Hold. There is nothing wrong with the question and I am sure a shore lunch can be arranged. If the OP prefers this so what?

Sue: I think you need a survey to answer the questions you posed, at least with any accuracy.
Bon voyage Faina. Enjoy yourself. :S-

I'll try to answer everybody's questions.

Sorry about confusion with 2 different cruises, at first I tried to find a reasonable river cruise in Europe, but they look very similar to the bus cruises I took on land, the only difference is that the "hotel" moves with you, so no unpacking.

I travel alone, so for me the price would be twice the price of the advertised "per person" except for the cheapest cabins at the bottom of the boat, where the add-on charge is 50%.

The price for me would be about $400 a day! I chose not to do the boat tour.

I will go to Europe at the time of the blooming tulips, I hope, signed vacations in April, searching Amsterdam, Brussels, Brugge, Luxemburg. My questions are/will be posted on the European board.

So instead of a river cruise I've decided to do a budget short sea cruise out of Los Angeles: San Diego, Catalina, Ensenada. I want to be as prepared as possible, so as the first-time cruiser I may be asking silly questions. We all have been there! Only a fool "knows it all".

I beleive sea cruises, especially the shorter ones, attract all sorts of people, including the budget crowd. And I am a budget traveler, and not embarassed by that. This is my money and it's up to me how to spend or not to spend.

The cruise is all inclusive, and no, I will not be embarassed to wrap up a sandwich and to picnic later watching the great views of the Pacific Ocean.

I did the same in Switzerland, watching the Matterhorn and Yungfrau, I plan to do the same in the Netherlands, what's the difference?

When I bring my lunch to work or get a sandwich to go, and later picnic in the Redwood Grove by the Piramide in San Francisco, nobody bats an eyelash. What's the difference if I'll be in San Diego or Ensenada?

I will ask the ship for boxed lunches. I didn't know they do it! Thank you for advising.

I wouldn't even bother to talk to a person whos name is Suerich...what a pity she wants to let everyone know that she wants to be rich.
Sue,
for your information, rich people do not advertise. They don't have to. You are really need a reality chack here.

Does someone have fire extinguisher to put out the fire in me...???

Its realy too bad that some here put others in a defensive position for simply asking a question that they don't approve of. The irony is this is a travel board where you would think perspectives would be different. JM2C.
Fiana have fun. :-)

Yes, Jacketwatch, perspectives are different.

However, Faina's exact words were "stealing"; "smuggling"; and "concealing", implying some wrongdoing. It was not a simple question such as "can I get a sandwich to go?".

Again, different perspectives.

Ahhhhhh, perception......

I think the bottom line is -- No one will stop you or search you at the brow if you decide to take some food off the ship. You will have to go thru a metal detector & your stuff thru an x-ray on your return.

I have never seen nor do I know of anyone having done this, nor am I aware that they will make you a box lunch. I guess it depends upon the cruise line. Call and ask.

If you decide to order room service, wrap up the food in a naptkin, and stick it in one of your bags, no one will be the wiser and you don't even have to sneak. And if you ask your cabin steward to bring you some wrap or foil, they will probably do that without question. ((b))

Come on, guys, gimme some credit - at least I'm not going to smuggle wine on-board... nor lagging cases of sodas :)

Now, how do I line my pockets with plastic to carry coffee :)) Naw, just kidding!

Sue: I don't equate taking food off a cruise ship to wrong doing such as shoplifting. Do you? This is a small potatoes issue I think. It doesn't bother me. Oh well. C'est la vie.

Speaking of coffee, one of my favorite beverages, on our last cruise I brought my one, Gevalia, aling with a French press and hot pot to make it with. :-)

Nor do I, J'watch. Again, Faina's words, not mine.

I would guess that in some places bringin produce off-ship would not be allowed for bug control issues (like the pears we had confiscated on our flight Bos-Bahamas many years ago and the "fruit police" stationed at California border)

Whats yours Sue is your interpretation of those words.

Faina
As far as the box lunches go, I do think it would depend on the Cruise Line or Local restrictions. We had asked this on one of our cruises, I don't remember which cruise it was, but we were told food was not to be taken from the ship.

Get a dictionary, honey.

Stealing, smuggling & concealing are words that only mean one thing.

And all is yellow to the jaundiced eye. Honey. :S-

Sue, can you get a shrink who will alter your sense of humor? Being so rich and so dull...must be helloova life!!!!!!!

Almost forgot, Faina, you do not have to specially line up pockets for your cofee, just put plastic in while empty and pour drink after which you can close it with a rubber band. You can still them at the front desk. Unless you want to smuggle them on board then you have to pay for it and they not sold in small quantities so you will have to buy like 1000, so you better 'get' it elsewhere, I hope you understand what I mean {wink}

You can aslo take a plastic shopping bag (make sure no holes in it) and hang it on your ears. Then cover your head with a large scarf and walk by those security people (do not lift your head proudly though - they might just spot a bag under your chin).

Happy traveling and let us know if there is anything you need help with stealing, smuggling (your words not Sue's)...and concealing of course almost forgot concealing...

Gosh, I hope the help here doesn't make me an abettor in this larceny! It'll be off to the brig. Arg!! :D :D

Geez, rough bunch!

Regarding the question about seafood versus fish, if one eats Kosher they can eat fish but not seafood.

And what difference does it make whether one eats their lunch on board the ship or on land unless laws do not allow food to be taken off the ship.

I truly believe, knowing Faina as I do who is a fine woman, she was making a joke so to speak when she used the word "smuggling".

To be able to understand jokes your name should be not Suerich...see?

LoveItaly: Does eating Kosher mean, inre to seafood that fish is allowable but shell creatures such as lobster, shrimp, snails, etc. are not? What about bottom feeding fish such as carp? I agree about Faina too.

Hello jacketwatch, hopefully Faina will come back to this thread and will answer your question regarding the foods. I have understood all shelled seafood is not permitted. I do not know about carp or snails. I am not Jewish so I am not an expert I just know a "bit" due to friends that do keep Kosher. Best regards.

Fish is kosher including carp but shell seafood is not because it is considered mean spirited.
Back to the main topic: taking food out is not stealing and bringing alcohol aboard is not smuggling. You are not breaking any law when bringing concealed alcohol. It is only cruise lines rule and the only reason for that to reach into your pocket. Enjoy your bootlegged booze.

LoveItaly and Roswalt: Thank you for the explanations. It would be interesting to learn how shellfish came to be regarded as "mean spirited"

It its crap...

I meant eats crap.

37 replies on a usually quiest forum. I am goooood :))

Now I need to apologize for my word choice. I should have asked simply if taking food off shore is allowed without using words like "smuggle", "steal" and "conseal". :-@

I promise not to steal. Not to smuggle. Not to conseal. :X

From now on I'll be tamed and polite, no trolling, not even partial. From 8 to 5. [(

See, SueRich, I've elevated my standards. Now it's your turn to up yours. :-o

As for food preferences... I eat fish, but no lobster, clam, what do you call those pink worms? Mean spirited? Sorry never heard of anything called that except some posters being mean spirited. 8-}

And if you guys want to know more about Kosher Food read the Old Testament. It repeats each word of The Torah. If this is not enough, www.aish.com is a great website. ((Y))

"Pink worms" = shrimp maybe? :D :D