Bringing rum back

Lulu76 · Post by **Lulu76** » Fri Oct 10, 2008 8:35 pm

I am so confused on the rules. It seems I have gotten conflicting info.

Last year, I bought Cruzan at AH Riise, and they told me I was allowed to bring back five 1-liter bottles. However, when I looked at their Web site the other day, it said that if you bought USVI rum, you could bring back six 1-liter bottles.

As I was making adult beverages this evening, I realized we're getting low on several kinds of rum. I really need the correct answer on how many bottles of Cruzan I can bring back to plan accordingly.

What's the story, Morning Glory?

Margy Z · Post by **Margy Z** » Fri Oct 10, 2008 10:28 pm

As far as I know, you can bring back 6 bottles of liquor, as long as one of them is made in the USVI - so that would mean bringing back 6 bottles of Cruzan is just fine. The tough question is whether or not your airline is going to charge you for checking the box. American does not - they started to but then backed off due to protests that the USVI would lose too much revenue. Not sure what the other airlines are doing. If you are counting on bringing back some Estate Diamond (5 Year Dark), it may be difficult to find as Cruzan has discontinued that blend.

Hope your airline is not charging -

- Margy

Lulu76 · Post by **Lulu76** » Fri Oct 10, 2008 10:36 pm

My airline will charge me to check the box of rum, but it's $15, which is $2.50 per bottle if I can get six. That's still cheaper than I'd pay here.

benchill · Post by **benchill** » Fri Oct 10, 2008 11:00 pm

Here is what I have seen in the last few months of travel.

American Airlines and USAir both allow a checked liquor box for free.

Spirit charged $15 one time and then $25 the next. I asked why and was told the first time was wrong. Who knows!

Buy it at the airport. Their prices are good (10% off season discount now) and they do a great job of packing and boxing.

Lulu76 · Post by **Lulu76** » Fri Oct 10, 2008 11:01 pm

I'm flying Spirit, and she told me it is $15 as long as I pre-pay.

I need to go do that!

danoinvt · Post by **danoinvt** » Sat Oct 11, 2008 6:35 pm

You are allowed to take up to six liters of distilled spirits duty-free back to the states, as long as one of the liters was produced in the USVI (i.e., Cruzan). The airline policies seem to change daily, although I think one poster's experience with Spirit may have been that they initially charged $15 for the first checked bag (to ease the pain?) and then went up to $25 a couple months later. I was pleased to learn that AA does not charge for checked booze--wish I had know when I went north in late August.

Lulu76 · Post by **Lulu76** » Sat Oct 11, 2008 6:46 pm

Maybe I'll be surprised when I get to the airport (but I won't, because I will fight with them), but both the Spirit Web site and the person I talked to on their 800 number told me that it's $15 if you pay in advance.

I just wanted to make sure I was allowed to bring back six bottles, and there is no problem with it being Cruzan. It's the breakfast of champions!

danoinvt · Post by **danoinvt** » Sat Oct 11, 2008 7:12 pm

Oh, yeah, Lulu -- I do think Spirit charges less if you pay online.

usvi-on-line