If on a cruise, do you shop on the ship or purchase things at attraction spots?

We usually check prices on ship and then on shore. We hardly ever buy anything more expensive on vacations than perfume. We buy tourist stuff for family and look for one nice souvenir for our selves to remember the trip.

If you are on honeymoon or celebrating an anniversary, I would strongly consider purchasing your most expensive gifts and resort-style clothing before leaving home.

Our experience was that the goods aboard ship varied greatly in quality and were no bargain. Ditto gift items at port destinations. Port gifts are flown or barged in from the U.S. at great expense, then sold to you, the captive market.

Of course you will want trip momentos but "nothing more expensive than perfume" is good counsel.

On the cruise ship, the goods sold are bound to be authentic and of good quality. Sometimes they even have short seminars about their wares, like for example diamonds. This is my opinion at least. when you buy from attraction spots it depends whom you buy from. From the open markets goods are cheaper but you never know about the quality