When to ship by sea?

It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like… Shipping Season!
The winter holidays may still seem far away, but if you’re planning to send gifts to family and friends by sea, now is the time to start preparing your parcels.

Sea shipping is a cost-effective option for international delivery, especially for larger and heavier parcels containing gifts, clothing, household items, and other permitted goods. Since sea shipping takes longer than air delivery, planning ahead is especially important during the holiday season.

To help you plan, Meest has prepared recommended 2026 sea shipping cut-off dates for Christmas and New Year from our New Jersey and Chicago hubs.

Recommended 2026 Holiday Sea Shipping Cut-Off Dates

To increase the likelihood of your parcel arriving in time for the holiday, it should arrive at the Meest hub in New Jersey or Chicago no later than the recommended date below:

* These dates are recommended guidelines and do not guarantee delivery by a specific holiday. Actual delivery times may vary due to circumstances affecting international transportation, customs clearance, or local carrier operations.

Please note: The dates in the table indicate when your parcel should already be at the corresponding Meest hub. If you are sending your parcel to a Meest hub from another U.S. state, please allow additional time for domestic transit.

What is a cut-off date and why does it matter?

A cut-off date is the recommended latest date by which your parcel should arrive at the corresponding Meest hub to allow sufficient time for delivery before a specific holiday under standard shipping conditions.

International delivery involves several stages: transportation to a Meest hub in the U.S., preparation for international shipment, overseas transportation, customs clearance, and final delivery to the recipient in the destination country.

Shipping and customs volumes typically increase during the holiday season. That’s why we recommend avoiding the last-minute rush and, whenever possible, getting your parcels to Meest before the listed cut-off dates.

Why choose sea shipping?

If speed isn’t your top priority, sea shipping can help you save on international delivery costs, especially for larger or heavier parcels.

It’s a convenient option when you want to send gifts, clothing, shoes, household items, and other permitted goods to your loved ones ahead of the holidays.

Before creating your shipment, we recommend checking the current rates and shipping conditions for your destination country, as they may vary by destination.

How to prepare your parcel for international shipping

A few simple steps can help reduce the risk of delays:

• Check the recipient’s information. Make sure the name, address, and phone number are correct.
• Declare the contents accurately. List all items in the parcel, including their quantities and actual values, and provide any required documents.
• Check shipping restrictions. Review the list of prohibited and restricted items and the import regulations of the destination country.
• Pack your parcel securely. Use a sturdy box, remove old shipping labels, and provide extra protection for fragile items.
• Consider additional insurance. For valuable shipments, check the available additional insurance options.

How to Ship a Parcel with Meest

Choose the option that works best for you:

• Online: Create and pay for your shipment through the Meest Customer Portal, then hand over your parcel using one of the available drop-off options.
• Meest App: Create your shipment right from your phone. Download the Meest App from the App Store or Google Play.
• At a Meest location: Find the nearest Meest location and prepare your shipment in person.

Don’t leave your holiday gifts until the last minute. Just imagine: by sending your parcels early, you can enjoy the holiday season with one less thing to worry about while your gifts are already on their way to your loved ones.

Fall is for shipping. Winter is for gifting! Prepare your parcels ahead of time and leave the delivery to Meest.

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