Liberty of the Seas **LIVE** Transatlantic Review - 7th to 20th April 2013

[drummerdavebmth]

Paid the Spanish tax on previous sailings out of Barcelona on Liberty (Including a westbound TA) but that was at 8%, didn't realise that had increased to 10%.

 

I'm doing a Western Med cruise from Barcelona on Liberty in September. In your experience, is the Spanish tax on drinks etc applicable for the whole cruise if sailing from a Spanish port, or just in Spanish waters?

 

If it's only applicable in the Spanish waters, when do you know that it is no longer applicable - at the first non-Spanish port (ie; for us that will be Tulon), or will they announce when the ship is no longer in Spanish waters?

[Mines]

 

INTERESTING POINT - I wasn't aware that while RCI ships sail within Spanish waters, a 10% local tax will be charged on all beverages and speciality restaurants

 

 

Could you please check on this? I have done many Transatlantics and never seen this tax. Is it something new?

[little britain]

I'm doing a Western Med cruise from Barcelona on Liberty in September. In your experience, is the Spanish tax on drinks etc applicable for the whole cruise if sailing from a Spanish port, or just in Spanish waters?

 

If it's only applicable in the Spanish waters, when do you know that it is no longer applicable - at the first non-Spanish port (ie; for us that will be Tulon), or will they announce when the ship is no longer in Spanish waters?

 

Spanish VAT is payable on the entire voyage, if ship leaves from Spain and returns to Spain, and if it is not visiting a non-EU country. I'm on LB this weekend which goes to France and Italy, and will post if there is anything different but I'm now fully expecting to pay 10% on top of the 15% for the duration:eek:

 

Could you please check on this? I have done many Transatlantics and never seen this tax. Is it something new?

No this is not new - when the ships enter Spanish waters you pay the tax. Some cruise lines don't pass this onto the passengers though - who were you with?

 

Mark - thank you for the info about the rose on board.

Edited April 18, 2013 by little britain

[Mines]

Spanish VAT is payable on the entire voyage, if ship leaves from Spain and returns to Spain, and if it is not visiting a non-EU country. I'm on LB this weekend which goes to France and Italy, and will post if there is anything different but I'm now fully expecting to pay 10% on top of the 15% for the duration:eek:

 

No this is not new - when the ships enter Spanish waters you pay the tax. Some cruise lines don't pass this onto the passengers though - who were you with?

 

Mark - thank you for the info about the rose on board.

We visited Spain on both Mariner last May and on Celebrity Silhouette in December. We did not have any Spannish Tax on either.

 

My understanding is that this is an EEC law, not specific to Spain. If the ship does not call at a non-EU port, Value Added Tax has to be added at the rate applicable to the country of the port of departure. A transatlantic will ALWAYS call at a non-EU port (in this case Fort Lauderdale) so the tax should not apply for the whole of the cruise.

 

In any case, after leaving port, the ship will sail into international waters, which is when they can open the casino and shops, so I do not see why Spannish tax should apply just because the last port of call was in Cadiz.

[peteukmcr]

We visited Spain on both Mariner last May and on Celebrity Silhouette in December. We did not have any Spannish Tax on either.

 

My understanding is that this is an EEC law, not specific to Spain. If the ship does not call at a non-EU port, Value Added Tax has to be added at the rate applicable to the country of the port of departure. A transatlantic will ALWAYS call at a non-EU port (in this case Fort Lauderdale) so the tax should not apply for the whole of the cruise.

 

In any case, after leaving port, the ship will sail into international waters, which is when they can open the casino and shops, so I do not see why Spannish tax should apply just because the last port of call was in Cadiz.

On our westbound Liberty TA, we paid this tax until after we left Cadiz and were on our way to the Canary Islands. It didn't matter whether the ship could open a casino or not, we were still off the coast of Spain.

 

What were your ports of departure on Mariner and Silhouette? When we sailed on Mariner last year, we departed from Civitavecchia and although we called at Barcelona, Palma and Valencia, we did not pay VAT as the ship sailed to/from Italy where this rule does not apply.

 

The rule is specific to Spain, so any cruise departing from and returning to a Spanish port and not visiting a non-EU port, then the tax has to be collected b the cruise line and paid to the Spanish authority.

[peteukmcr]

I'm doing a Western Med cruise from Barcelona on Liberty in September. In your experience, is the Spanish tax on drinks etc applicable for the whole cruise if sailing from a Spanish port, or just in Spanish waters?

 

If it's only applicable in the Spanish waters, when do you know that it is no longer applicable - at the first non-Spanish port (ie; for us that will be Tulon), or will they announce when the ship is no longer in Spanish waters?

As mentioned by others, it is applicable to the whole sailing, even if you call at ports in France (such as Toulon).

[Frankmac]

We are doing Liberty Naples to naples calling to Barcelona. Wonder how that works

[peteukmcr]

We are doing Liberty Naples to naples calling to Barcelona. Wonder how that works

Should be no tax. However, is this an 'interporting' cruise where passengers embark and disembark at different ports? Or is Liberty starting all cruises from Naples?

 

If they are starting from Barcelona, and you are joining part way through then I don't know, but suspect you will have to pay the tax. How are they to know who joined from which port?

[drummerdavebmth]

As mentioned by others, it is applicable to the whole sailing, even if you call at ports in France (such as Toulon).

 

Ok, thanks....I was hoping this wasn't the case. Oh well, best keep saving the pennies! :-)

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Mines]

Should be no tax. However, is this an 'interporting' cruise where passengers embark and disembark at different ports? Or is Liberty starting all cruises from Naples?

 

If they are starting from Barcelona, and you are joining part way through then I don't know, but suspect you will have to pay the tax. How are they to know who joined from which port?

 

There will be tax on this one, because the ship does not leave the EEC.

[Frankmac]

Should be no tax. However, is this an 'interporting' cruise where passengers embark and disembark at different ports? Or is Liberty starting all cruises from Naples?

 

If they are starting from Barcelona, and you are joining part way through then I don't know, but suspect you will have to pay the tax. How are they to know who joined from which port?

 

Yes the ship is based in Barcelona. We are joining the day before it starts and leaving the day before it ends if you can follow what I mean.

[MAShep]

Thanks for this great review brings back memories

We did this same cruise in 2012 and loved liberty and the crew especially champagne bar staff

Can't wait to do the reverse at in October 13 at least we will be heading to Caribbean just hope weather is good then

 

Mark

 

 

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[kimmy_bos]

Hi Ticktoneer

 

We are seriously considering this cruise next year! I honestly believe your reveiw has helped swing our decision.

 

With regards to your flights to Florida - when did you book them and who did you book them through (ie direct or agent)? I am not overly concerned about the flight back from barcelona but the single flight to the states gets me a little jumpy (especially as my hubbie is an awful flyer and if we go next may our DD will be 20 months which will be an experience on a long haul!) Because of the above I would like to have everything planned as quickly as possible with the flights

 

Keep it coming...

 

Only 14 days till I see liberty - will say hi from you

x

[Magicat]

- Magicat - as soon as I see Rich Edwards I'll ask him about the TA at the end of the year

 

Thank you - I appreciate it.

[Elmartellama]

On our westbound Liberty TA, we paid this tax until after we left Cadiz and were on our way to the Canary Islands. It didn't matter whether the ship could open a casino or not, we were still off the coast of Spain.

 

What were your ports of departure on Mariner and Silhouette? When we sailed on Mariner last year, we departed from Civitavecchia and although we called at Barcelona, Palma and Valencia, we did not pay VAT as the ship sailed to/from Italy where this rule does not apply.

 

The rule is specific to Spain, so any cruise departing from and returning to a Spanish port and not visiting a non-EU port, then the tax has to be collected b the cruise line and paid to the Spanish authority.

 

There is no VAT in the Canary Islands, they have a reduced tax called IGIC. Maybe that's why you stopped paying spanish VAT even if you were calling at the Canary Islands after Cadiz

 

Anyway, on the Liberty and departing from Barcelona you pay spanish VAT during the whole time. Nowadays the reduced VAT for recreational / touristic activities it's 10%, it used to be 8% until a few months ago.

[ticktoneer]

Sorry I've not posted days 11 & 12 review yet. My iPad went blank and stopped working :-(

 

I've had to wait to come home to type them and hopefully post them tomorrow.

 

Thanks for being patient :-)

[ticktoneer]

by the way, i'm dying to do a TA, but DH can't take that much time!!!

maybe one day...

or maybe i can organize a group of girlfriends!! :)

Do one this year with a group of girlfriends. Sounds like a plan !!!!

[ticktoneer]

Subscribed!

I'm also interested in how on Earth your one-way flights that cheap :eek:

My Mom hates flying and we'd love to take a TA one day so she'd only have to fly one way to the US ;)

Have you tried using RCI's Choice Air ? They're often very cheap for one way flights as well. We chatted to 2 guys onboard who flew from Zurich to Fort Lauderdale for only $430 each including taxes.

[ticktoneer]

I think you can only do one way - England to Sanford or return but the flight has to be England to Sanford and then Sanford to England.

 

Hope that makes sense ! Ha ha ha

[ticktoneer]

Loving your review. Almost makes me want to do a TA ! :)

Can you tell me if we could fly on Thomas Cook from Sanford to England & then back home? Also, do they only fly on certain days? Thanks for any help & enjoy your cruise.

I think you can only do one way - England to Sanford or return but the flight has to be England to Sanford and then Sanford to England.

 

Hope that makes sense ! Ha ha ha

[ticktoneer]

Hello Ticktoneer,

I hope you are feeling a little better.

Could you please find out if Rich Edwards will be the CD on the return TA? We have had him on the Liberty as the Assistant CD and really enjoyed him.

Thank you!

Hi, I asked Rich Edwards about the return TA and he said there are some changes to schedules after September so they aren't sure of rotation dates yet. Sorry I couldn't be more help.

[ticktoneer]

Please note. The kazoo is NOT a classical instrument. Just saying :p

Ha ha ha !!! Cheeky mare !

 

I play the classical stringed descant recorder actually !!!

[ticktoneer]

Hi Ticktoneer

 

We are seriously considering this cruise next year! I honestly believe your reveiw has helped swing our decision.

 

With regards to your flights to Florida - when did you book them and who did you book them through (ie direct or agent)? I am not overly concerned about the flight back from barcelona but the single flight to the states gets me a little jumpy (especially as my hubbie is an awful flyer and if we go next may our DD will be 20 months which will be an experience on a long haul!) Because of the above I would like to have everything planned as quickly as possible with the flights

 

Keep it coming...

 

Only 14 days till I see liberty - will say hi from you

x

I booked with the company direct online and also checked Choice Air to see if that was cheaper :-)

[rednancy1]

I am enjoying your review and can't wait to read more. Thank you. :)

[stazerd]

pinnacle in their 30s????????????? wow!!!! i am JEALOUS!!!!

 

Ah, the Miami Latins no doubt.