Stone dye vats of a traditional leather tannery in Fez, Morocco

Local Crafts & Markets

Souvenirs made where you bought them.

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The best souvenirs are made where you bought them. Markets and craft cooperatives put money straight into local hands — and give you something no one else at home will have.

Crafts Worth Seeking Out

Straw work, the Bahamas

Woven bags, hats and baskets at Nassau’s straw market. Ask which pieces were made locally.

Silver and pottery, Mexico

Sterling silver should be stamped .925; hand-painted ceramics and textiles are widely sold.

Larimar and amber, Dominican Republic

Local stones set in silver at shops in Puerto Plata and beyond.

Spices and cocoa, Grenada

Nutmeg, cinnamon and cocoa sticks, light and easy to pack.

Alaska Native art

Carvings, baskets and jewelry; look for the state’s Silver Hand emblem.

Leather and ceramics, Morocco

Slippers, bags and tiles in the medinas, reached on tours from Moroccan ports.

Authentic or Imported?

In busy cruise ports, some “local” crafts are made elsewhere. Ask where and by whom a piece was made, look for the artist’s name or mark, and favor cooperatives, galleries and markets where makers sell their own work. In Alaska, the Silver Hand program, run by the Alaska State Council on the Arts, helps buyers identify authentic Alaska Native art. For more ideas in Alaska’s ports, see Alaska Port Excursions.

The medina in Fez — In Morocco’s old towns, leather is still dyed in open-air tanneries.

Souvenirs You Should Never Buy

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service warns Caribbean travelers that jewelry and other products made from sea turtle shell cannot be imported into the United States, and that many countries restrict the sale and export of coral and shells. Other risky buys include crocodile and snake leather, some orchids and cacti, and mounted butterflies. If you are not sure, do not buy it — items may be seized at the border. Read the Caribbean “Buyer Beware” guide before you go.

Fishing boat and nets in Essaouira — Harbor towns sell crafts, but always ask what a souvenir is made from.

Market Day Tips

Go early, when it is cooler and stallholders have the full range out.
Carry small bills in local currency or U.S. dollars where accepted.
Ask before photographing people or their goods.
Keep valuables in a front pocket or a zipped bag.
Buy food only where it is cooked hot and fresh, and check what you can bring home.

Art and Galleries

Many ports have galleries selling work by local painters, sculptors and photographers, often a short walk from the shopping streets. Buying directly from an artist or a reputable gallery gives you a story as well as a picture. CBP’s guidance notes that fine art is duty-free, which can make an original painting a sensible splurge; ask the gallery for a receipt describing the work and the artist. Large canvases can usually be rolled or shipped, but agree the packing and shipping terms in writing before you pay.

Find Ports With Great Markets

Love markets, crafts and meeting makers? Tell us where you would like to go and our cruise advisors at Mister Cruise will suggest itineraries.

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