Bar service in Greek ports

[KeithJenner]

When we sailed on the Jade back in April, we had read reports from the previous cruise, where there was no bar service on embarkation day until a while after we left Athens. There was talk that this would apply at all Greek ports, but that wasn't the case.

 

The following week, we experienced the same thing. No bar service on embarkation day until a while after sail away.

 

I haven't seen any comment on this since, so assumed that it had been resolved, but today I have seen a couple of posts on Facebook from people who are in Santorini today saying that there is no bar service there, and in other Greek ports.

 

Obviously, this is a significant thing for cruises around the Greek Islands, especially as there are some late port times in some places.

 

We never did work out what the problem was, and I don't know what can be done about it, but anyone sailing Greece in the coming weeks should be aware that this could be a problem.

[hawkeyetlse]

Recent Star cruise had one stop in Greece (Corfu) on the way from Trieste to Barcelona, and there was nothing out of the ordinary with bar service on that day. 

 

However (totally different issue) on the last night of the cruise around 11 pm, they did start charging Spanish sales tax on drinks. This was many hours before we were scheduled to arrive in Spain (I don’t know if they shut down the casino at the same time, seems unlikely).

[willetstravel]

I am very interested in this topic as we are booked on the Jade leaving on the 12th.  It really feels like that would be unfair to cruisegoers as many opt to stay on the ship and utilize the onboard amenities - including (especially!) drinks.  I know that I would feel a bit ripped off if that were to be the case!!

[purplecow15]

It would definitely be a rip off if that is the case  especially for those who may have upgraded to premium plus package. The ship leaves several Greek ports pretty late which means no drinks with dinner?

[Cardex]

Currently on the Gem in Corfu. This is our 4th Greek port and can confirm that NO alcohol is allowed to be sold on the ship while docked/tendered in Greece. I have heard this is a very new law. No one is happy with this including the staff/crew. We have learned to stock up on beverages before docking 😁

[purplecow15]

18 hours ago, KeithJenner said:

When we sailed on the Jade back in April, we had read reports from the previous cruise, where there was no bar service on embarkation day until a while after we left Athens. There was talk that this would apply at all Greek ports, but that wasn't the case.

I wonder what has changed since then since you only sailed a few weeks ago.

[KeithJenner]

The other reposts that I had heard of this didn’t state the ship, but I think that it was the Gem. As I haven’t heard anything about this from the Jade since we disembarked I had assumed that it was a misunderstanding that had been resolved.

 

As this is the first visit to Greece for the Gem (it has only just arrived in Europe) it does seem that it is having the same issue as the Jade did, although escalated by including every port in Greece, not just embarkation.

 

If the Jade had been having this problem at every port then we would have heard something my now, as it is a major issue in Greece. Late port times mean that people wouldn’t be able to have a drink with their meals for example.

 

Hopefully this will get resolved soon, although that won’t help the people on the ship now. If it is a permanent thing that this would have serious implications on the Greek Isles as a cruise destination. I’m booked to go back next year and would have to consider cancelling if this was the case.

 

Any feedback from others who have sailed to Greece in the past few weeks would be appreciated, as well as those who do so in the coming weeks.

[hawkeyetlse]

No alcohol or no bar service at all?

 

Best thing would be for someone on board an affected sailing to ask the General Manager or F&B Manager for an explanation. Sounds like a tax issue to me, but if it's not happening on other cruise lines then it's something that NCL will be working to resolve ASAP.

[KeithJenner]

5 minutes ago, hawkeyetlse said:

No alcohol or no bar service at all?

 

Best thing would be for someone on board an affected sailing to ask the General Manager or F&B Manager for an explanation. Sounds like a tax issue to me, but if it's not happening on other cruise lines then it's something that NCL will be working to resolve ASAP.

When we were onboard you could get coke when eating, but all bars were closed. Apparently the week before the only drinks available were from the machines in the buffet.

 

The staff were asked on the Jade and they said they had been told they couldn’t serve whilst in port. We did wonder whether someone was getting mixed up with duty free shop sales.

[tony s]

I think when folks start asking for credit as they could not use their paid for beverage package NCL will get creative fast.

[willetstravel]

19 minutes ago, tony s said:

I think when folks start asking for credit as they could not use their paid for beverage package NCL will get creative fast.

Right?  I was already just thinking about how much I would be asking for...

[KeithJenner]

37 minutes ago, tony s said:

I think when folks start asking for credit as they could not use their paid for beverage package NCL will get creative fast.

I upgraded to Premium Plus on the Jade. If we had been restricted in multiple ports then I would certainly have been asking for a credit.

[Yesimapirate]

1 hour ago, KeithJenner said:

When we were onboard you could get coke when eating, but all bars were closed. Apparently the week before the only drinks available were from the machines in the buffet.

 

The staff were asked on the Jade and they said they had been told they couldn’t serve whilst in port. We did wonder whether someone was getting mixed up with duty free shop sales.

Personally,  I prefer my illicit drugs AFTER dinner.

 

We're sailing the Jade in Greece in October.   I'm not sure what my response would be if I was told to buy a soda from a vending machine with my meal but it very well might get me thrown in the brig.

[barbuda]

wow - thats a little concerning.  You would think that NCL would make note of no service during these ports as they are the ones promoting the drink packages to entice their customers!  Guess we just have to go ashore and imbibe locally 🙂

[Cardex]

4 hours ago, hawkeyetlse said:

No alcohol or no bar service at all?

 

Best thing would be for someone on board an affected sailing to ask the General Manager or F&B Manager for an explanation. Sounds like a tax issue to me, but if it's not happening on other cruise lines then it's something that NCL will be working to resolve ASAP.

 

Some bars are open but no alcohol can be sold or served

It has been explained. It is not a tax issue. Greece wants people to drink on land not on the ship.

Edited May 17, 2022 by Cardex

[HBCcruiser]

Just now, Cardex said:

 

Some bars are open but no alcohol can be sold. 

It has been explained. It is not a tax issue. Greece wants people to drink on land not on the ship.

I guess I'll be stocking up on bottles of wine using the Premium Plus beverage package! 

[KeithJenner]

2 minutes ago, Cardex said:

 

Some bars are open but no alcohol can be sold or served

It has been explained. It is not a tax issue. Greece wants people to drink on land not on the ship.

If they push it then they will end up with less tourists to do the drinking.

 

We went to a bar in Greek ports all four days when we were there last time. If they try to force it then it will be zero.

[willetstravel]

5 minutes ago, Cardex said:

 

Some bars are open but no alcohol can be sold or served

It has been explained. It is not a tax issue. Greece wants people to drink on land not on the ship.

Was it explained on board?  I hadn't seen an explanation for any of it anywhere and haven't gotten anything from NCL either.  Thanks.

[willetstravel]

6 minutes ago, HBCcruiser said:

I guess I'll be stocking up on bottles of wine using the Premium Plus beverage package! 

We didn't do the Premium Plus... wondering if we should now.  Definitely going to be bringing way more bottles on board than previously planned.

[KeithJenner]

Just now, willetstravel said:

We didn't do the Premium Plus... wondering if we should now.  Definitely going to be bringing way more bottles on board than previously planned.

It''s difficult to get unopened bottles of wine with Premium Plus. They will want to open them (although experiences do vary).

 

We took along a few bottle stoppers just in case and I planned on getting some beers in advance. Luckily it wasn't needed.

 

Taking bottles onboard sounds like a good plan.

[Cardex]

12 minutes ago, willetstravel said:

Was it explained on board?  I hadn't seen an explanation for any of it anywhere and haven't gotten anything from NCL either.  Thanks.

 

We asked many bar staff. All said it is Greece wanting people to drink on land. We asked why don't they add a tax like other countries and always the same answer, that they want to help the local bars and restaurants.

[willetstravel]

Just now, Cardex said:

 

We asked many bar staff. All said it is Greece wanting people to drink on land. We asked why don't they add a tax like other countries and always the same answer, that they want to help the local bars and restaurants.

 

Thanks for your reply - appreciate you taking the time!  

[Cardex]

17 minutes ago, KeithJenner said:

If they push it then they will end up with less tourists to do the drinking.

 

We feel the same. It we had known we would have done a different itinerary and avoided Greece.

[Cardex]

We were able to get unopened beer this morning before we were in port and put them in our fridge. We are back on the ship now drinking our beer. 😁

[willetstravel]

1 minute ago, Cardex said:

We were able to get unopened beer this morning before we were in port and put them in our fridge. We are back on the ship now drinking our beer. 😁

Smart!  Please feel free to share any other tricks that people are doing to help with this!