di T

Maybe it’s a British thing,but I can afford to cruise often and do so with a number of lines,When I pay in advance for something which I try to do each cruise tips,drinks.etc.I do so so I don’t have extra charges I don’t usually haveOBC.So on a long cruise or b2b for two of us the extra few dollars mount up!NCL in my opinion should just cover this vat in the same way as all the other lines I have traveled on do.Will be very surprised if Celebrity in two weeks charge this vat.This will again be leaving Barcelona as was Oceania.

Wasn’t offered on our last cruises, unless we missed it lol

No sail away bubbly for our last 4 cruises! We get free coffee at Cafe Bacio if we want it as Elite plus.

Wow that’s not good! I was going to book a b2b next year again for the med out of Barcelona 19 nts don’t like the idea of paying extra tax for two of us over the two sailings, might just stick with Celebrity or Royal

If that is the case and the Spanish Vat is only charged in Spanish waters, it would be like my cruises earlier in the year.But I did read that someone had been charged for the full trip.Maybe their cruise ended in Barcelona as well as it being the port the cruise sailed from.Bit confusing but NCLhave been doing this for a while.At least this time they have sent emails to warn folk.

But why is it only NCL charging these taxes? Travelled on a b2b with NCL in Feb/ March we were charged Spanish tax while in Spanish water.Traveled in June on Oceania round trip from Barcelona no extra charge! Will be doing b2b from Barcelona in two weeks with Celebrity in the past we have never been charged.NCLbooked in the Med from Barcelona to Italy in November and looks like we might be charged for the full voyage on all drinks etc.So free at sea is not what we thought we were being sold in the UK

On our Reflection cruise in a couple of weeks Prime Rib is on the last night, In the past it was on first night so we never did the specialty restaurants on boarding day! My husband’s favourite MDR meal.

Thanks for the feed back, we are on Celebrity Reflection soon b2b from Barcelona I will post the experience

This is the same email I received over the weekend!

So were you charged on every drink even if not in Spanish waters? Was this with the free at sea? Thanks,Dianne

Received an email a couple of days ago from NCL We are cruising from Barcelona in November all ports are EU,The email said there would be charges to all applicable purchases while onboard.21% on retail items from the shops, and 10% added to all drink and food bills.Including purchases made on the unlimited open bar and speciality dinning packages.I expect this to apply even on the pre purchased free at sea as we were charged on our last cruise in March on these while in Spanish waters. Strange on Oceania in June we were not charged the extra VAT even though we sailed from Barcelona.

Yes I also thought sail away had no free at sea but it seems it does in the UK, I’ll take the gamble on where we will end up as the stateroom allocated to me wasn’t great! No big deal it’s just a cheeky extra cruise we have added to this years jaunts! Thanks,Dianne

Love it Chemmo! We are young at heart too.3 weeks to our Reflection cruises, can’t wait.I really like a nice mix of ages and think Celebrity do have that. Also like a mix of nationalities, we are all so fortunate to cruise this year we have went a bit daft ( blame covid lockdown) we have sailed 5 times plus 3 to come on 3 totally different lines. Large fun ships small luxury, and of course Celebrity.Not so loyal anymore but just enjoying.

We are on the Dawn in November, booked a gty inside around May.The cabin we were allocated a few weeks ago I did not like.So put a low bid to upgrade to an OV, Today I saw for a wee bit less than the bid I could change to a sail away OV, So back to not knowing what our cabin will be, but still have the free at sea and all my dinning reservations as in the original booking, plus the prepaid gratuities.Never have booked a sail away but hey this is just an extra cruise for us this year and a short one for us(10days) so will hopefully be fine.What are your experiences on sail away? Dianne

So agree I would not use them again!

Hi, I have been in touch with ABTA and received a reply to say they have corresponded with NCL who are a member of ABTA. Will see if this helps. Dianne

Not big meat eaters but could not remember on the last NCL which restaurants we enjoyed! Been on Oceania recently and have a couple of Celebrity cruises soon, but we enjoyed the Norwegian cruises early this year.

Have booked Le Bistro think we had a nice meal there on another ship! Thanks for the recommendation

Going on The Dawn in November, free at sea no idea about which restaurants are good

Will definitely post!

I got nowhere with NCL Uk they said try insurance! Insurance said it was cruise line to pay out of pocket expense, emailed NCL in Miami and they replied they would as a good will allow up $300 for lost flight fares, I had to send proof of booking and cancellation of the flights.British airways were very prompt at emailing the proof,butTAP were hard work,eventually I forwarded the details to NCL and they said I would receive the refund into my account asap.This was two weeks ago. Dianne

Naples! Been there 15 times or more and always find something to see. Even the city just love it❤️

Les43 just looking at the forecast for Italy and lots of that area 🥵 so hot! Have the best of times though! Just 7weeks to we leave we are flying from Manchester but Glasgow or Edinburgh would be around the same 3hour trip.Can’t wait😊😊

Really? The last 3 Celebrity cruises we have been on in 2 yrs the fizz has been missing! But no drink package next cruise will check out😊🥂