NCL Ultimate Beverage Package

[isdoo]

I am 99.9999% sure than no part of the TA will be subject to VAT until the next cruise departs Barcelona.

 

VAT applies on cruises departing Barcelona that do not call at a non-EU port.

[KeithJenner]

Not sure if anyone knows, but on a transatlantic when we enter Spanish waters will drinks brought on UBP have tax added??

 

 

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As isdoo says, the big VAT problem in Barcelona is only on cruises which don't leave the EU, so there is no problem with that on the TA.

 

Even if you are drinking when in port (ie during port stops) then there is no tax issue with the UBP even if tax would be payable if you were buying the drinks. This will be because the purchase will be deemed to have occurred at the time you bought the UBP.

 

Basically, you shouldn't have to pay any tax. Just make sure you don't get caught out paying the tax in Miami by purchasing it before leaving US waters, as some have mentioned this being a problem.

[kirsty_r]

As isdoo says, the big VAT problem in Barcelona is only on cruises which don't leave the EU, so there is no problem with that on the TA.

 

Even if you are drinking when in port (ie during port stops) then there is no tax issue with the UBP even if tax would be payable if you were buying the drinks. This will be because the purchase will be deemed to have occurred at the time you bought the UBP.

 

Basically, you shouldn't have to pay any tax. Just make sure you don't get caught out paying the tax in Miami by purchasing it before leaving US waters, as some have mentioned this being a problem.

 

I know we pay tax if we buy whilst in Spanish waters regardless of the non-EU ports, (this only means we don't pay this silly tax on the WHOLE 11 day cruise). So unfortunately there will be tax on gifts, drinks, spa services etc etc as soon as we enter Spanish waters. I wasn't sure if having UBP will avoid Spanish water tax on drinks when in these waters, or if they add charges per drink (8%) I think.

 

The issue with the EU cruises and EPIC is that the tax is still payable even in Italian waters for instance if the cruise leaves and returns to a Spanish port, with no EU port in the schedule.

[isdoo]

I know we pay tax if we buy whilst in Spanish waters regardless of the non-EU ports, (this only means we don't pay this silly tax on the WHOLE 11 day cruise). So unfortunately there will be tax on gifts, drinks, spa services etc etc as soon as we enter Spanish waters. I wasn't sure if having UBP will avoid Spanish water tax on drinks when in these waters, or if they add charges per drink (8%) I think.

 

The issue with the EU cruises and EPIC is that the tax is still payable even in Italian waters for instance if the cruise leaves and returns to a Spanish port, with no EU port in the schedule.

 

No - am 99.9999% sure there will not be any tax whilst 'in Spanish waters'.

 

The VAT will only apply if departing from Spain involving no EU ports.

 

So unless some people have just one booking reference, they will be subject to VAT on the 3 day cruise when it leaves Barcelona.

 

In reality the cut-off will be whenever they change over the accounts from one cruise to another.

 

The UBP is not valid on the last day anyway (I think) so that is academic and the shops would normally be shut as well until the next cruise starts.

 

if people have just one booking number, then they are on a continuous cruise, and they will not be subject to VAT (I think) at any point including France etc. Hence my question on the roll-call as to whether anyone had one or multiple booking references.

[Clem Kadiddlehopper]

Well said!!

 

Mind you, I will admit to getting a bit drunk on a ship, but it was New Years Eve ;) - I do not regret it for a second. I did not annoy anyone else. Would I have done it if I was paying for individual drinks - probably not, but it was money well spent.

 

Yes, we got our monies worth and had a good time.

 

The blasting of the ships horn about 20 times at midnight will be a memory I will have for the rest of my days :)

 

 

Most drunks who are annoying others have no idea at all that they are doing so. Just saying...

[triptolemus]

Most drunks who are annoying others have no idea at all that they are doing so. Just saying...

 

Most people who are annoying others have no idea at all that they are doing so. Just saying...

[isdoo]

Had plenty of non-drunk people annoying others - like drinking and smoking in hot-tubs, or having no control over their children at dinner or on the deck.

 

Sure people can get annoying if they are drunk - but from experience they are not usually an issue.

 

However holier than thou type people who judge others can be far worse.

 

If people want to drink heavily let them - they are putting hard cash into the cruise line so that others can benefit from lower fares.

 

Funny how people criticise people who like to drink, yet never criticise those who spend hour upon hour in the casino. Both contribute heavily to the financial success of a cruise line / ship.

[KeithJenner]

I wasn't sure if having UBP will avoid Spanish water tax on drinks when in these waters, or if they add charges per drink (8%) I think.

 

 

If you are asking whether you will be charged just the VAT (no charge for the drink, as you have bought the UBP) then the answer is no.

 

You purchased the drink when you bought the UBP. At that point you would be outside Spanish waters, so no VAT payable.

 

If you did get charged the tax in port (or any countries waters) then this would happen all the time, but it doesn't. There is nothing unusual about Barcelona unless you are on an all EU cruise which starts there.

 

 

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[kirsty_r]

No - am 99.9999% sure there will not be any tax whilst 'in Spanish waters'.

 

 

 

 

 

The VAT will only apply if departing from Spain involving no EU ports.

 

 

 

 

 

So unless some people have just one booking reference, they will be subject to VAT on the 3 day cruise when it leaves Barcelona.

 

 

 

 

 

In reality the cut-off will be whenever they change over the accounts from one cruise to another.

 

 

 

 

 

The UBP is not valid on the last day anyway (I think) so that is academic and the shops would normally be shut as well until the next cruise starts.

 

 

 

 

 

if people have just one booking number, then they are on a continuous cruise, and they will not be subject to VAT (I think) at any point including France etc. Hence my question on the roll-call as to whether anyone had one or multiple booking references.

 

 

 

 

 

 

from last years TA reviews, you are charged VAT in Spanish water. So last couple of days i think.

 

 

 

For UBP sounds like there is no extra charge which is all i wanted to know.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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[wasiii]

.....so here it is. I just booked an August cruise on the Getaway and received the Ultimate Freesome Package (UDP + UBP) as part of the deal. Now I know if you purchase the package that you pay $49 per day + 15% gratuity.

 

1. Since I received the package as part of the cruise fare, is the 15% included in that or will I have to pay that? Would it be a 1 time fee or each time I get a drink.

 

2. I read previously in this thread that they do not itemize the drinks that you only saw the charge for the whole package. Does the same hold true by getting the package included?

 

:confused:

 

wasiii

Edited March 13, 2014 by wasiii

[isdoo]

.....so here it is. I just booked an August cruise on the Getaway and received the Ultimate Freesome Package (UDP + UBP) as part of the deal. Now I know if you purchase the package that you pay $49 per day + 15% gratuity.

 

1. Since I received the package as part of the cruise fare, is the 15% included in that or will I have to pay that? Would it be a 1 time fee or each time I get a drink.

 

2. I read previously in this thread that they do not itemize the drinks that you only saw the charge for the whole package. Does the same hold true by getting the package included?

 

:confused:

 

wasiii

 

It would be 15% of what you paid, so 15% of nothing is.... nothing :)

 

So yes, it will have been included in your cruise fare.

[wasiii]

It would be 15% of what you paid, so 15% of nothing is.... nothing :)

 

So yes, it will have been included in your cruise fare.

 

.....do you know this for a fact by having been on a cruise that you got that as a perk or are you just hypothesizing? No disrespect, but a lot of things I would surmise I usually get them wrong.

 

:o

 

wasiii

[isdoo]

.....do you know this for a fact by having been on a cruise that you got that as a perk or are you just hypothesizing? No disrespect, but a lot of things I would surmise I usually get them wrong.

 

There can't be anything else to pay as the 15% is worked out on a sales price, not a value.

 

So for example of they gave a 50% discount on a package the 15% would be on the price they sold it at.

 

Likewise if there was a price increase the tip portion would also increase.

 

Yes, I have been on cruises where the beverage package is 'free' and no there has not been a 15% tip to pay. Not on NCL, but as the tip is a percentage of the price paid, it can't be any other way.

 

If you wish to tip extra on each drink you can :)

[wasiii]

There can't be anything else to pay as the 15% is worked out on a sales price, not a value.

 

So for example of they gave a 50% discount on a package the 15% would be on the price they sold it at.

 

Likewise if there was a price increase the tip portion would also increase.

 

Yes, I have been on cruises where the beverage package is 'free' and no there has not been a 15% tip to pay. Not on NCL, but as the tip is a percentage of the price paid, it can't be any other way.

 

If you wish to tip extra on each drink you can :)

 

Thanks, much appreciated.

 

wasiii

[wasiii]

.....so here it is. I just booked an August cruise on the Getaway and received the Ultimate Freesome Package (UDP + UBP) as part of the deal. Now I know if you purchase the package that you pay $49 per day + 15% gratuity.

 

1. Since I received the package as part of the cruise fare, is the 15% included in that or will I have to pay that? Would it be a 1 time fee or each time I get a drink.

 

2. I read previously in this thread that they do not itemize the drinks that you only saw the charge for the whole package. Does the same hold true by getting the package included?

:confused:

 

wasiii

 

.....with the answer to question number 2?

 

:)

 

wasiii

[isdoo]

I can't see that it would be any different if the package was free or not.

 

The same method would apply.

 

Likewise if your TA gifted you the package, they would pay the 15% and the on-board experience would be the same.

[wasiii]

I can't see that it would be any different if the package was free or not.

 

The same method would apply.

 

Likewise if your TA gifted you the package, they would pay the 15% and the on-board experience would be the same.

 

.....but I asked for someone who has been on 1 of the 2 ships, not someone taking an educated guess.

 

If you read this as being snotty, please don't, I'm not.

 

wasiii

[kirsty_r]

.....but I asked for someone who has been on 1 of the 2 ships, not someone taking an educated guess.

 

If you read this as being snotty, please don't, I'm not.

 

wasiii

hasn't the offer just started though?? Maybe people haven't been onboard yet. Howabout ringing NCL to check?

[wasiii]

hasn't the offer just started though?? Maybe people haven't been onboard yet. Howabout ringing NCL to check?

 

.....but I figured I would throw the questions out now so if someone remembers while they are on the ship they might come back and report it to the 'pain in the neck' asking the questions when they returned.

 

:rolleyes:

 

wasiii

[isdoo]

.....but I asked for someone who has been on 1 of the 2 ships, not someone taking an educated guess.

 

If you read this as being snotty, please don't, I'm not.

 

wasiii

 

 

Why not ask NCL if you can't be bothered to accept a response here.

 

Maybe they have more time for you.

 

You will not be told anything different.

[wasiii]

Why not ask NCL if you can't be bothered to accept a response here.

 

Maybe they have more time for you.

 

You will not be told anything different.

 

.....the NCL reps don't always know and or give the correct answer to questions.

 

So I figured if someone had actual experience about it, I would probably trust that answer more than someone who has not or hit or miss NCL rep.

 

Did I say something wrong?

 

:confused:

 

wasiii

[JuneauMe]

Hi,

I was just looking for some clarification because I'v seen conflicting posts.

 

I have seen that if I buy the UBP while in port in NY, I will be charged tax, but if I wait till we in international waters, no tax, but other post said "No tax in port & yet another post said "Pay tax in port or out @ sea"

 

Then I read that the drinks bought prior to the purchase of the UBP will be included. Yet another post said "Nope"

 

Anyone out there with a clear answer??? Beuler?... Beuler?

Thans

[KeithJenner]

There doesn't seem to be a clear answer.

 

If you buy the UBP when at sea then you shouldn't be charged tax (unless you are on an all EU cruise, live the Epic from Barcelona).

 

If you buy it in when in port then you may get charged the tax, but some people haven't. That is probably because the purchase didn't go on the system until after the ship had left.

 

If you buy drinks before getting the UBP then you should get charged for them. However some people haven't been charged. Others have got the charges removed at guest services.

 

You won't get a definitive answer because different people have had different experiences. All you can do is be aware of the potential problems.

 

One thing that, as far as I'm aware is pretty well guaranteed is that if you purchase beforehand then you won't get charged tax, nor will you be charged for any drinks as you have the package right from the start.

[JuneauMe]

One thing that, as far as I'm aware is pretty well guaranteed is that if you purchase beforehand then you won't get charged tax, nor will you be charged for any drinks as you have the package right from the start.

 

Well there's another one that is unclear. The person I learned about the UBP from told me she purchased it online before the cruise & was definitely charged tax, LOL. One reason I was trying to find a clear answer is because, if the drinks I get before buying the package are not included, than I think it might be a "wash" with buying the package first & paying the tax. I'm going to need a drink by the time I figure this out:confused:

[KeithJenner]

Well there's another one that is unclear. The person I learned about the UBP from told me she purchased it online before the cruise & was definitely charged tax, LOL. One reason I was trying to find a clear answer is because, if the drinks I get before buying the package are not included, than I think it might be a "wash" with buying the package first & paying the tax. I'm going to need a drink by the time I figure this out:confused:

 

Maybe I'm wrong with that one then (I'm from the UK and we certainly don't pay any tax), but I don't recall anyone saying they paid the tax on a pre purchase. Perhaps someone else will confirm their experiences one way or the other.

 

It still may not help though. These things really do appear quite random.