High-Quality Bargains Abound in Caribbean

Caribbean bargain-hunting is so good that many vacationers design island-hopping itineraries around shopping.

Prices on liquor, perfume, sweaters, woolens, famous-maker clothing, accessories, jewelry, china, crystal, linens and other labelled merchandise are similar throughout the islands, about 20% to 30% below U.S. mainland retail. Basic differences have to do with ambience and U.S. Customs regulations.

There is no dollar limit on merchandise that may be brought home duty-free from Puerto Rico. Imports from the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam and American Samoa are duty-free up to $1,200. From foreign Caribbean countries, $600 worth of goods may be imported duty-free, if citizens have been abroad at least 48 hours.

For greatest savings, know the prices at home and on board ship before island shopping. Principal shopping areas are usually near piers, and many ships provide shopping brochures, bulletins and/or maps for their ports of call.

Except in Puerto Rico, liquor and perfumes are cheaper if bought in-bond (for export only) and delivered to your ship. Most shops deliver free of charge before your departure.

When choosing your cruising-for-bargains itinerary, these top shopping ports deserve special consideration:

San Juan, Puerto Rico--La Plazoleta del Puerto, a crafts market opposite the piers, has stalls of folk art by local potters, needle workers and doll makers.

On nearby Calle Fortaleza, Barrachina Center (No. 104) has small but noticeable diamond rings for under $120. Ole’s (No. 105) handcrafts include Ecuadorian basketry, Chilean silver and Puerto Rican santos. The Butterfly People’s (No. 152) Lucite-encased arrangements of multicolored butterflies are $20 and up. Puerto Rican Arts & Crafts (No. 204) has pottery, woodcarvings, textiles jewelry and papier-mache masks, plus paintings and prints by Puerto Rican artists. Bared & Sons (No. 264) has designer crystal and china, watches and jewelry, but know the U.S. prices to assure yourself that their claim of 50% discounts is accurate.

On Calle Cristo, Casa Cavanagh (No. 202) sells English, French and Italian crystal and china at about 30% discount. Don Roberto’s (No. 205) offers Colombian leather goods, costume jewelry and gift items, plus antique Puerto Rican santos (wooden carvings pertaining to saints) and ceramics at fair but not cheap prices. Galeria Botello (No. 208), in the former home of artist Angel Botello, exhibits works by top Puerto Rican artists, plus antique santos.

Factory outlets are found on Calle Cristo: Hathaway (No. 203) has Christian Dior, Ralph Lauren, Chaps and other big-name labels for up to 50% off list. Ralph Lauren Polo (No. 205) offers men’s, women’s and boys’ clothes at 25% off list price for first quality or up to 50% off list for irregulars. Spend $300 or more and they’ll ship purchases home for free.

Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands--Havensight (at the dock) has branch shops for Little Switzerland, The Leather Shop, H. Stern and Royal Caribbean, plus Al Cohen’s Warehouse, which offers buys in liquor, perfume, T-shirts and souvenirs.

Downtown, on Main Street, Little Switzerland has three outlets with name-brand watches, crystal, china, fine jewelry and other luxuries. Bolero and Sparky’s, both well-stocked general stores, issue discount cards (obtainable from cruise directors at airports or by writing to the stores with the date that you’ll be in port) for 10% off on all merchandise, including already low-priced liquor and special sale items. Sparky’s sells discounted cameras, but before buying compare prices at the Royal Caribbean shop on Main Street. It has a bigger selection.

At A.H. Riise, designer labels include Bing & Grondahl and Wedgwood porcelain, A.C. Bang furs, Liberty of London scarves and ties, and ilias LALAoUNIS jewelry, all 25% to 30% less than mainland retail prices. A.H. Riise Gift Shop Alley has less expensive gift and souvenir items, plus many small shops with a wide variety of goods. Don’t miss Lion in the Sun, a terrific big-name boutique with discounts on attire by Yves Saint Laurent, Sonia Rykiel, Kenzo, Yojhi Yamamoto and other designers, plus superb hand-silkscreened T-shirts.

Back on Main Street, Boutique Riviera features Diane Freis dresses at 40% below U.S. prices, Pringle cashmere sweaters, English woolens, Missoni and Hermes silk ties, Ted Lapidus shawls and more. Gucci and Louis Vuitton both have Main Street boutiques with less than U.S. list prices. The Leather Shop offers Bottega Veneta and Fendi leather goods, also at less than U.S. prices.

Tropicana Perfume Shop’s two Main Street outlets have the biggest selection of fragrances, including American-made scents, at duty-free prices.

Cartier, at Palm Passage and Main Street, sells Cartier staples at up to 30% less than U.S. list. Other Main Street jewelers include Cardow (for discounted Piaget and Swatch watches and/or middle-range diamond bracelets and rings), H. Stern (two shops with a complete selection of H. Stern standards at hard-to-resist prices) and The Jewelry Vault (styles similar to H. Stern at lower prices).

In Palm Passage, an exclusive esplanade, chic boutiques sell Laroche, Courreges, Feraud, Mondi and other top labels at island prices. Island styles are sold at Java Wraps, a great source for batik fashions and fabrics. Mr. Tablecloth and Linen House compete on embroidered and/or cutwork tablecloths (from $25) and napkin sets.

Hamilton, Bermuda--Front Street, near the pier, features fine British emporiums.

Trimingham’s, nicknamed the “Harrods of the West,” has private-label clothing, including Egyptian cotton shirts (from $15), Madras shirts, trousers, shorts and blazers, plus famous-label Scottish cashmere, lambswool and Shetland sweaters, Hermes scarves (36-inch squares for $150), French perfumes, accessories and gift items, including Spode, Royal Worcester and Aynsley china and Waterford crystal.

H.A. & E. Smith’s has two-ply cashmere sweaters (from $165), plus lambswool, Shetland and cotton knitwear, fine woolens and tartans (including Smith’s own Bermuda Blue) by the yard, clothes by Burberrys and other labels, cashmere coats (from $350) and wool jackets (from $170), plus Royal Worcester, Royal Crown Derby and Royal Doulton (five-piece place settings from $150) and Waterford Lismore goblets ($30).

Archie Brown & Son offers Pringle or Barrie cashmeres, plus wool sweaters (from $25), mohair blankets (from $80), Harris tweed jackets (from $190) and hats (from $40).

William Bluck sells Spode, Royal Worcester, Royal Doulton, Minton, Royal Crown Derby, Wedgwood, Royal Copenhagen and Herend porcelain, plus Lalique, Baccarat, Daum, Royal Brierley and Waterford crystal at prices guaranteed 30% below U.S. retail.

A.S. Cooper & Sons has the islands’ largest Wedgwood selection, including exclusive items priced under $25, plus hand-knit sweaters (about $130), hand-woven coverlets (from $80) and woolen bedspreads (from $130).

Nassau, Bahamas--Rawson Square (within walking distance from piers) offers everything from T-shirts to designer gowns, personal and home accessories and perfumes.

On Charlotte Street, The Scottish Shop has tartans, kilts and crystal. The English Sports & Sweater Shop’s shetland sweaters (from $20), Burberry rain coats (from $375) and cruise-worthy clothes are good buys. Bahamas Fragrance and Cosmetic Factory makes 20 scents for women, 10 for men. Most popular are women’s La Te Da, Hibiscus and Frangipani ($10 for two ounces cologne, $14 for four ounces).

At the Straw Market on Bay Street, bargain for bags, lamp shades, chairs, toy animals and other straw items. Check items for workmanship before buying.

Prices quoted in this article reflect currency exchange rates at the time of writing .