I have a HUGE problem. I’m going away to the carribbean in a little while and would like to bring some with some champagne to consume while I’m there. I have been to the island many times before and know that due to their small population, they do not have access to vintage/fine wines/champagnes outside of pricey restaurants (where one would pay double what my liquor store here at home charges).
So my question is simply, is there any way to safely transport a couple bottles of vintage champagne (worth about $600/bottle) from north american to the caribbean. I’m thinking that the checked-luggage is a stupid risk. Plus with the the pressure changes and whatnot its just plain dumb. Meanwhile, my understanding of the TSA’s current policy
is that bottles containing more than 3 Ounces are not allowed.
I’ve checked with Fedex and they’re not willing to transport alcohol without both parties having liquor licenses.
So is there really no way to get this champagne to the carribbean?
Which Carribbean? Saying that you’re going to the Carribbean, is like saying you’re going to the Europe.
Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands are United States territories. US citizens don’t need a passport to go there.
Cuba - entirely off-limits to US citizens.
Other parts - you’ll need a passport.
If you’re going to PR or USVI, it’s like going to a different state, but the TSA 3 ounces of liquid/gel limit will stop you unless you’re willing to pack the wine in your checked luggage. BTW, it’s bottles or containers with capacities of more than three ounces that are prohibited - ahalf-gone, four ounce bottle of shampoo will be confiscated, for example. And all of it must fit into a single one-quart ziplock bag.
My first thought would be to ask any hotels or restaurants if it would be possible for them to order some champagne ahead of time. You could even offer to pick up the tab.
I would bet that, even though the island is small, they still work with a liquor distributor based on a larger island nearby.
Umm, surely the same TSA regulations apply regardless of where in the Caribbean I’m going? It so happens I’m off to Aruba, but I figured that was extranious information. And yes I’m aware that US citizens can’t goto Cuba, but that couldn’t be less relevant to my situation.
So it seems abundantly clear that I can’t carry-on the bottles. And would everyone agree that putting two $600 bottles in my checked luggage would be stupid? Is there any method of protecting them from droppage, pressure-changes etc while checking them?
Is there no alternative solution to getting the bottles to Aruba, short of tossing them in the ocean and hoping they end up on the beach?
“The passport requirement does NOT apply to U.S. citizens traveling to or returning directly from a U.S. territory. U.S. citizens returning directly from a U.S. territory are not considered to have left the United States and do not need to present a passport. U.S. territories include the following: Guam, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Swains Island, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.”
For visiting Aruba, however, a passport is necessary. Their regulations for checked and carry-on baggage apply for both domestic and international travel. Carrying champagne aboard a flight will not be allowed, regardless of destination. If you absolutely must have your vintage champagne, you need to either ship it, or you need to check it. I’m unsure how the change in pressure would affect the checked luggage.
This is what I might end up doing though as I mentioned in the OP, it will cost probably twice as much, if not more. Which means the two bottles will end up costing $2400 instead of $1200.
I just have to say, if whether or not you can carry $600 a bottle champaigne with you on your travels is a HUGE problem, you have what my Mama would have called “rich folks’ problems.”
I’d say your best bet would be to pack the bottles in your checked baggage. They will obviously need to be well boxed and padded - assume the suitcase will at some point be tossed onto the pavement from a height of 10 feet.
I’d suggest you remove the labels and substitute something off very cheap bottles (Cold Duck?) - should reduce the chance of thievery.
Never mind, I overlooked the NOT in the document. It was actually months ago that I read the full thing and just briefly scanned it this time. I’ll stick to just giving opinions and not trying to find facts till I’m off this damned cold medicine.
The ‘huge problem’ comment was made in jest as I am well aware of the relitive insignificance of this issue as it fits into the grand scheme of things. If you’ll notice, I also labelled this thread ‘champagne EMERGENCY’ which, dire though my situation may be, was also intensional hyperbole.
I’m not going to take anything cliché like Dom Perignon or Cristal (the latter of which I don’t even care for) and so I wouldn’t anticipate that the baggage handlers would be able to discern the value of the bottle from the obscure chateau’s label.
