Spanish IVA or Vat Tax?

[ponza17]

I know about 15% tax on drinks and spa treatments,but a ship that leaves from a Spanish port that does not go to non-Europen country has a 8% tax on top of 15% for all onboard purchases.Is this true?

[AttilaTheFun]

8% added for food/beverage/specialty restaurant cover charges and 15% additional for spa services (yes, that means 30% additional for gratuity and VAT!) :eek:

[teacher_md]

Makes you think twice before sailing out of Barcelona, right?

 

We sailed on the Epic last October out of Barcelona and loved it. I have to say though, the VAT tax definitely added to our on-board bill. Maybe it's better to cruise out of Rome for a Mediterranean cruise?!?!?!?!?

 

I was looking at the NCL Spirit that goes to the Canary Islands but I am afraid of that VAT tax again!

-aj

[4774Papa]

Makes you think twice before sailing out of Barcelona, right?

 

We sailed on the Epic last October out of Barcelona and loved it. I have to say though, the VAT tax definitely added to our on-board bill. Maybe it's better to cruise out of Rome for a Mediterranean cruise?!?!?!?!?

 

I was looking at the NCL Spirit that goes to the Canary Islands but I am afraid of that VAT tax again!

-aj

We did a Canary cruise on NCL and the SPanish VAT did not apply. Apparently the Canaries and Madeira have a different tax law.

[AttilaTheFun]

We did a Canary cruise on NCL and the SPanish VAT did not apply. Apparently the Canaries and Madeira have a different tax law.

 

Hm, maybe those ports are considered outside of the EU or something - I thought they were part of Spain, so I'd be curious to find out why the Spanish VAT didn't apply.

 

I've noticed for the Epic Western Med cruise, since there is embarkation in both Rome and Barcelona, the Barcelona prices seem lower - maybe people are avoiding Barcelona for reasons like the VAT tax? I certainly would carefully consider sailing from there in the future - maybe it will give the Spanish government a wake-up call that cruise passengers won't put up with such nonsense.

[ponza17]

Thanks for the info.I will be using CAS drink card in casino. Will they tax that too?

[SteveH2508]

Apparently the Canary Islands are not part of the EU VAT area (like Gibraltar; Vatican City and a few others) therefore VAT is not charged throughout the cruise - only in Spanish territorial waters. The Canary Islands have their own Sales Tax http://www.lowtax.net/lowtax/html/offon/spain/spncan.html

Spanish VAT.pdf

[SteveH2508]

Thanks for the info.I will be using CAS drink card in casino. Will they tax that too?

 

No cost therefore no VAT - also it will be outside territorial waters when the casino is open (see my reply above).

[ponza17]

Thanks Steve, Good info. We were on Epic last Dec.and loved the ship and it's crew.Have never made it to Med.countries but will be on Epic next month.Thanks again.

[Esperanza7]

We were on the Jade Canary Island cruise from Málaga 23rd March.

Just checking receipts and the only time we paid the extra 8% vat was when we made purchases whilst the ship was docked in Málaga and Cadiz (due to an itinerary change). This could maybe apply whilst the ship is also docked in Barcelona but we had no purchases there. From what I understood once the ship leaves port and is out of Spanish waters the 8% vat is no longer charged.

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