Anyone Know Why.......

If they open the Casino as soon as they reach international waters after leaving Galveston, they could open the cheers program.

If they open the Casino as soon as they reach international waters after leaving Galveston' date=' they could open the cheers program.[/quote']

 

as I get from reading the responses here, though, if they did that they would charge you for 7 days total and you would only get to drink after a certain point...passengers would then probably complain they had to pay full day price and only got to drink under package for a partial day

 

thanks all for the great responses here to help me understand!

If they open the Casino as soon as they reach international waters after leaving Galveston' date=' they could open the cheers program.[/quote']

 

If they did this though, they would charge for that first day. I would not want to pay full price for one day of Cheers for a half day of it. Waiting until the beginning of next day clears up any doubt.

From the article ... If you sail on Royal Caribbean (Liberty of the Seas), then you can use a drink package from the moment you step on the ship. There is no waiting period to start using the package.

 

So it is a Carnival rule and not a Texas rule

You're right, except for the fact that you're wrong.

I've always heard other lines use booze purchased in U.S. and taxed on day one and then switch to the nontaxed bottles on day 2...on cruises from ports in question. Thus allowing them to obey state liquor laws and still offering the package from day one.

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From the article ... If you sail on Royal Caribbean (Liberty of the Seas), then you can use a drink package from the moment you step on the ship. There is no waiting period to start using the package.

 

So it is a Carnival rule and not a Texas rule

That is true. It amounts to 2 different companies each determining its own way to comply with the same laws. The real question should be why Texas and New York have such archaic laws instead of which company is better. Personally I purposely choose not to cruise from either place, and that's how I interpret those archaic laws.

On Princes they only sold alcohol that was purchased in Texas.

I wonder how recent the Texas law is. I remember lots of brunch places in Houston and Austin had "Bottomless Mimosas" back in the aughts.

 

The distributor thing is such a stupid law. It's a relic of a long ago need that was questionable at best then and outright parasitic now, surviving only on inertia and campaign donations.

There was a place we used to go to for brunch on Sundays on the south side of Houston which has since closed. We went there from around 2001 until the closed about ten or so years ago. Their way around it was to offer the first drink at full price and refills were five cents.

From the article ... If you sail on Royal Caribbean (Liberty of the Seas), then you can use a drink package from the moment you step on the ship. There is no waiting period to start using the package.

 

So it is a Carnival rule and not a Texas rule

No, it's Carnival's interpretation of a Texas law versus RCCL's interpretation of a Texas law. The law was created by Texas and can only be enforced in Texas which is why you see the booze flowing from the getgo on a cruise out of Florida.

It is very likely that Carnival reduces the liability risk by following the law as written whereas other cruise lines may bend the law a little or ignore it completely, hoping they don't get caught.

You reach international waters after 12 nautical miles.

Sure' date=' but that's not pertinent. Texas state waters only goes out 9 nautical miles. Any further, and the Texas law no longer applies.

You're right, except for the fact that you're wrong.

How are they wrong? Unless it has changed since May of this year when I was on LOS, RCI does allow for their beverage packages to start immediately upon boarding.

How are they wrong? Unless it has changed since May of this year when I was on LOS, RCI does allow for their beverage packages to start immediately upon boarding.

The poster was wrong because they claimed it was a Carnival thing, not a Texas thing. If it were a Carnival thing then the same would happen in Florida, South Carolina, Virginia, California, Washington, Massachusetts, Alabama, and Louisiana. Since it doesn't happen in those others states, it's a Texas thing, not a Carnival thing.

The poster was wrong because they claimed it was a Carnival thing, not a Texas thing. If it were a Carnival thing then the same would happen in Florida, South Carolina, Virginia, California, Washington, Massachusetts, Alabama, and Louisiana. Since it doesn't happen in those others states, it's a Texas thing, not a Carnival thing.

I don't totally agree. I think it's both a Carnival and a Texas thing. If RCI allows it and Carnival doesn't, that would be a Carnival thing. My theory is that the 2 lines interpret the law different, probably based on the "all you can drink" part of it. RCI probably looks at it different because the packages actually have limits. But either way, if 1 line does it and the other doesn't, that would be a cruise line thing.....based on a Texas thing.

www.sla.ny.gov/unlimited-drink-specials:

 

"The [New York] ABC Law prohibits from selling, serving, delivering or offering* to patrons an unlimited number of drinks during any set period of time for a fixed price. ... The statute also prohibits licensees from creating drink specials which, in the judgment of the Authority, are attempts to circumvent the law. This includes offerings of free drinks, or multiple drinks for free or for the price of a single drink, or for a low initial price followed by a price increment per hour or other period of time."

 

This is confusing to me because I live in NY and every Sunday there are tons of bottomless brunches where for two hours you get unlimited drinks for a set price.

Sure, but that's not pertinent. Texas state waters only goes out 9 nautical miles. Any further, and the Texas law no longer applies.

 

 

 

How are they wrong? Unless it has changed since May of this year when I was on LOS, RCI does allow for their beverage packages to start immediately upon boarding.

They're wrong in their assertion that "So it is a Carnival rule and not a Texas rule"

Just because Carnival chooses to enforce it and RCI does not does not make it any less Texas law.

www.sla.ny.gov/unlimited-drink-specials:

 

"The [New York] ABC Law prohibits from selling, serving, delivering or offering* to patrons an unlimited number of drinks during any set period of time for a fixed price. ... The statute also prohibits licensees from creating drink specials which, in the judgment of the Authority, are attempts to circumvent the law. This includes offerings of free drinks, or multiple drinks for free or for the price of a single drink, or for a low initial price followed by a price increment per hour or other period of time."

 

This is confusing to me because I live in NY and every Sunday there are tons of bottomless brunches where for two hours you get unlimited drinks for a set price.

 

Here's an easier way of thinking of it for NY. Either everyone in a particular venue drinks inclusively (gratis with fare or "cover charge") like at an open bar or everyone needs to pay as they go for their alcohol, like at a cash bar. A company with freely roaming customers can not offer to some all inclusive alcohol while charging other for the same. Of course there are exceptions like banquet halls that can run multiple receptions or events at 1 time, but each "room" needs to be booked by a separate host.

 

Here's an easier way of thinking of it for NY. Either everyone in a particular venue drinks inclusively (gratis with fare or "cover charge") like at an open bar or everyone needs to pay as they go for their alcohol, like at a cash bar. A company with freely roaming customers can not offer to some all inclusive alcohol while charging other for the same. Of course there are exceptions like banquet halls that can run multiple receptions or events at 1 time, but each "room" needs to be booked by a separate host.

 

Sooo....why does NCL let you use the drink package and not CCL? As the other poster mentioned, likely interpretation or the law.