Yes. Next NCL cruise out of Southampton is Star on Sunday 21st.
We will be there.
Dawn is at Belfast today, then Liverpool Saturday, Portland Tuesday and back into Southampton Wednesday.
5 cruise terminals and one of them can service 2 ships if necessary. There are also extra berths for visiting cruise ships. The record is 7 cruise ships boarding at the same time. 4 or 5 cruise ships a day is not unusual this time of year.
Yes, VAT can't be a problem otherwise they would have to stop serving soft drinks too. Alcohol in the UK has had UK Duty levied on it (as well as VAT) for many years (even when the UK was in the EU) so it shouldn't have been a surprise to NCL.
That is prertty much what my NCL Cruise Consultant said when I asked about the situation. The local rules are constantly changing and help desk can verify.
Trouble is, the UK rules haven't changed for years. Other cruise lines are serving alcohol while in UK ports. Even the Isle Of Wight car ferry serves alcohol.