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Where to purchase real Cubans on my next trip??
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joe andrick Offline
#1 Posted: Sat, May 26 2001, 3:31 PM EST
Joined: 12-18-2000
Posts: 20
I've booked another cruise for January 2002 port's of call are St.Thomas,St.Martin,Curacao,and Aruba.I would like to know if anyone has had luck in purchasing authentic Cuban cigars at any of these Island's?If so could you give me the name and location's of these shop's?Just came back from a Western Caribbean cruise with success in Cozumel.Thanks for any help.
Smokey J Offline
#2 Posted: Sat, May 26 2001, 4:06 PM EST
Joined: 09-18-2000
Posts: 49
Are you a cop?
Slimboli Offline
#3 Posted: Sat, May 26 2001, 5:18 PM EST
Joined: 07-09-2000
Posts: 16,139
... and what does that comment have to do with anything? It just doesn't make any sense, right Rookie?
rookie139 Offline
#4 Posted: Sat, May 26 2001, 5:24 PM EST
Joined: 03-02-2000
Posts: 2,149
Paranoia...It can be a good thing...LOL
Mr.Mean Offline
#5 Posted: Sat, May 26 2001, 6:46 PM EST
Joined: 05-16-2001
Posts: 3,025
Go down about 4 or 5 blocks and you will see a car up on blocks. In it is my cousin. He can tell you where to get em. I ain't from around here. Im from the south side of Chicago. I'm just here on vacation.......
tailgater Offline
#6 Posted: Sat, May 26 2001, 7:25 PM EST
Joined: 06-01-2000
Posts: 26,185
Carribean store owners are very honest people. Just ask them. If you get lucky, the shop keeper will be of Cuban origin, and he may have some Authentic Habanas for less than retail because he has family members with connections. I got the BEST deal on REAL Cohibas for only $120 a box. I guess I was just born lucky...
RICKAMAVEN Offline
#7 Posted: Sun, May 27 2001, 3:35 AM EST
Joined: 10-01-2000
Posts: 33,248
slimboli: i remember you slapping me in the face via e-mail when we first made contact a while ago. some people are cautious, not wanting to be enticed into trouble by some govt agency. rookie is correct, a little paranoia never hurt anybody. you may just be less cautious than others, but it's impolite to chastise them.
rlprofant Offline
#8 Posted: Sun, May 27 2001, 5:03 AM EST
Joined: 02-18-2001
Posts: 23
I've seen ads from a Tobacco shop in the shopping mall by the casino in Aruba. Never been there. Try looking for it on line.
Slimboli Offline
#9 Posted: Sun, May 27 2001, 5:43 AM EST
Joined: 07-09-2000
Posts: 16,139
... "but it's impolite to chastise them"? I'm not chastising him. There's no law against anyone here telling him where to buy Cubans out of the US, if he's in that country on a visit. He can buy and smoke all he wants while he's there ... now bringing them into the US, that's intirely up to him, and he has to accept the risks involved and be willing to take them ...
bigbro94 Offline
#10 Posted: Sun, May 27 2001, 8:47 AM EST
Joined: 05-23-2000
Posts: 70
Any store with the official "Habanos" sign on its door..I would bet that most of the others are fakes ,,
Smokey J Offline
#11 Posted: Sun, May 27 2001, 9:57 AM EST
Joined: 09-18-2000
Posts: 49
I did an archive search for "buying cubans" and that was the most common answer. I was just trying to save Joe some trouble. Besides, cubans are everywhere in that area. Joe, the hard part will be finding them in good condition.
RICKAMAVEN Offline
#12 Posted: Sun, May 27 2001, 11:08 AM EST
Joined: 10-01-2000
Posts: 33,248
slimboli, you chastised me when i was reluctant to e-mail a link to a site in portugal that would ship to the US, when i asked you if you were in law enforcement. you have no idea what my background is, or why i asked, and said i should never contact you again. you implied there might be more to my e-mail than meets the eye. my apologies. i don't know your background either. i would prefer we could post without rancor.
jcrimmins Offline
#13 Posted: Sun, May 27 2001, 11:20 AM EST
Joined: 04-26-2000
Posts: 787
Rick. I can vouch for Desk Sergeant Slimboli. He's not in anyway affiliated with law enforcement. Buy Cubans from La Casa Del Habanos to be safe. They have shops in most tourist locations.
Slimboli Offline
#14 Posted: Sun, May 27 2001, 4:50 PM EST
Joined: 07-09-2000
Posts: 16,139
... no hatred, RICKAMAVEN. I don't hate, and besides, that was a long time ago. At that time, you made me very uncomfortable with all the suspicion, third degree, and double talk (that, and the ALL CAPS TYPING). Even if I was in law infrocement, you giving me a website is not grounds for an arrest to you, even if I was a customs agent. If I wanted to bust someone, it would be the site that exports into the US that I would go after. Maybe you were trying to protect that site. But I will tell you, there are sites all over the internet that export Cuban goods into the US, and freely admit 'guaranteed shipment anywhere in the word" in their ads ...
tailgater Offline
#15 Posted: Sun, May 27 2001, 7:01 PM EST
Joined: 06-01-2000
Posts: 26,185
I don't know for certain, but I think that it is OK for any company outside the US to ship Cuban cigars into the states. It is illegal to RECEIVE them. At least that's how I understand the law.
rookie139 Offline
#16 Posted: Mon, May 28 2001, 1:13 AM EST
Joined: 03-02-2000
Posts: 2,149
Cmon...Both of you...Quit threadjacking for chrissake
joe andrick Offline
#17 Posted: Mon, May 28 2001, 3:58 AM EST
Joined: 12-18-2000
Posts: 20
ya that's it a cop!@#$%^& no man sorry to disapoint i'm ruths husband from ci
joe andrick Offline
#18 Posted: Mon, May 28 2001, 4:00 AM EST
Joined: 12-18-2000
Posts: 20
LOL Just a question no need for sarcasim
Slimboli Offline
#19 Posted: Mon, May 28 2001, 5:29 AM EST
Joined: 07-09-2000
Posts: 16,139
Regulations on Cuban Cigars ...

The following is provided by and copyright of Bacchus Data Service, CompuServe Wine Forum, Cigar Section & reprinted with permission.

To find a definitive answer to our question of whether or not possession or importation of Cuban cigars is legal in the US we asked Hubey Plummer, one of our forum members who practices law, to investigate the issue and here are his findings:

It is illegal (and punishable by a fine of not more than $50,000 or imprisonmentfor not more than 10 years or both) for any person under U.S. Jurisdiction to purchase, import, transport or otherwise deal with merchandise which:
Is of Cuban origin...
Is or has been located in or transported through Cuba
Is made or derived in whole or in part from articles which are the growth, produce or manufacture of Cuba.
A transaction between a US citizen within the US and his agent, home office, branch, or correspondent outside the US is prohibited as if he made the transaction.

Gifts of Cuban goods are equally illegal, whether acquired by US citizens abroad or brought intothe US by another to be given as gifts within the US.

Clearly it is illegal to bring cigars made in Cuba (even when they were lawfully exported to another country) into the US via another country. It is equally clear that possession of Cuban cigars in the US is illegal.

To confirm that the interpretation of these laws were accurate, Hubey called Customs to ask thequestion directly and here is what he learned: "I just got off the phone with U.S. Customs.Absolutely NO! Cuban cigars may not be brought into the US by US citizens or anyone else. Hewas very clear on this issue."

I have NOT been able to find ANY cases in which a person was prosecuted for this crime. Iperformed a LEXIS (computer legal database) search and was rewarded with lots of cases aboutpeople trying to get money out of Cuba, but not cigars. I expect that when the issue comes up with customs, the person involved surrenders them and that is the end of it, but that is a guess.

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Hubey Plummer has not rendered a legal opinion on this matter. He has only provided us with his findings. You should seek counsel from your attorney on this matter if you cannot interpret the above findings on your own.
unklebill Offline
#20 Posted: Mon, May 28 2001, 7:07 AM EST
Joined: 12-29-1999
Posts: 729
Rick,

Like someone said, make sure you buy from a La Casa Del Habanos. These are officially liscenced Cuban cigar dealers. I would be very cautious about buying from someone who "has connections", as counterfeits are rampant and this is a common scam. Familiarize yourself w/ the halmarks of authentic Cubans and counterfeits. Some are listed on cA's website.
rookie139 Offline
#21 Posted: Mon, May 28 2001, 9:44 AM EST
Joined: 03-02-2000
Posts: 2,149
HA!...That's funny...Joe has connections at CI and even HE gets his posts censored by Gonz!...No favorites here..LOL...I've never had a problem with any of my shipments at CI but have heard great things about the customer service, especially Ruth (See post titled "Thanks" (or something like that, started by Heg(emonic)
rookie139 Offline
#22 Posted: Mon, May 28 2001, 9:46 AM EST
Joined: 03-02-2000
Posts: 2,149
Oh...Before I get accused of threadjacking myself, Joe, I agree with the others here regarding La Casa Del Habanos...I purchased Habanos from La Casa (in Cancun), to enjoy ONLY while I was in Mexico ;) (yeah riiiight!) and they usually have an excellent selection and impeccable customer service (like C-Bid)...Good luck and have a great time!....Keith
turdon Offline
#23 Posted: Tue, May 29 2001, 5:40 AM EST
Joined: 05-10-1999
Posts: 37
I had know of a couple places in St. Martin. One is a Casa del Habano which is in Marigot. The other was in a gift shop (all I can remember of the name is the word "Lucky") which was in a strip mall on the west end of the island just before the Dutch/French border. They had a certificate showing they were a certified dealer of Cuban cigars. Hope this helps.
kmonks Offline
#24 Posted: Tue, May 29 2001, 10:01 AM EST
Joined: 08-26-2000
Posts: 3
In Aruba, there's several "cigar stores" in the shopping centers surrounding the cruise ship dock. Of course, they are the real thing, but you'll probably pay more than necessary. I recommend going to a Souvonier store called Vibes on the second floor of the Royal Plaza shopping center (pink building right across L.G. Smith Blvd. from the cruise ship docks - you'll see Iguana Joe's on the second floor also). Vibes a walk-in humidor with, YES, REAL Cubans, at reasonable prices, including some hard to find smokes, such as Montecristo A's and No. 2's and Ramone Allones double coronas (try this smoke - A POWERHOUSE!). I paid $14 each for the MC No. 2's, $16 for the Ramone Allones, and the MC A's were $25 (out of my league). Also had an excellent selection of Cohiba's, Romeo y Julieta's, H. Uppman's, Hoyo de Monterrey's, Punch's, Sancho Panza's, Diplimatico's, and numerous other obscure Cuban brands I am not familiar with.

Also, they have a website (sorry, I don't have the address, but you should be able to find it with a search) where you can print a 10% off discount coupon.

Also, there's an excellent Cigar bar called Garufa across the street from El Gaucho steakhouse (both of which I highly recommend).

Fakes aren't as prevalent in Aruba as they are in Mexico, but I wouldn't buy any "Cubans" in the international market right along the water front.

Rule of thumb - if the deal sounds too good to be true, it probably is!

Happy herfing!!!
joe andrick Offline
#25 Posted: Tue, May 29 2001, 5:11 PM EST
Joined: 12-18-2000
Posts: 20
kmonk thanks for the info I'll try your suggestions.Have you shopped a place called Churchills in GrandCayman??Owned by a great british family.They actually had a Sale section {Hoyo de Moterrey}Le Hoyo du roi cabinet $120.00 a box.
hegemonic Offline
#26 Posted: Tue, May 29 2001, 5:31 PM EST
Joined: 01-17-2000
Posts: 1,294
Purchasing real Cubans?? Slavery, my friend, is illegal. :)
Parrothead Offline
#27 Posted: Fri, Jun 15 2001, 7:01 PM EST
Joined: 06-11-2001
Posts: 1
Buy them at Casa habanos shop in St.Martin.It's located right on the strip,walking distance from the ship.The Cuban cigars are located on the second floor.Every place along the strip has a sign for Cuban cigars and every one that I stopped at had fakes.Stick to the real deal,pay a couple of bucks extra and enjoy.
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