NCL Ultimate Beverage Package

[JuneauMe]

These things really do appear quite random.

Why yes, yes they do :) Thank you for your help.

[triptolemus]

Maybe I'm wrong with that one then (I'm from the UK and we certainly don't pay any tax), but I don't recall anyone saying they paid the tax on a pre purchase. Perhaps someone else will confirm their experiences one way or the other.

 

I pre-purchased the UBP from the US and paid $0 tax.

[JuneauMe]

I pre-purchased the UBP from the US and paid $0 tax.

I wonder if it has anything to do with what state you live in

[triptolemus]

I wonder if it has anything to do with what state you live in

 

California. The state which championed online purchase sales tax (aka the Amazon Tax). I'm sure it has nothing to do with what state I'm in! The laws and processes will take some time to mature, but for now, when you do your state income tax return in California, the form actually asks if you made out-of-state purchases and directs you to declare their value. Who the hell does that?

 

If CA could have taxed it, they'd have found a way.

Edited March 15, 2014 by triptolemus

[don't-use-real-name]

Pardon my interruption of this topic:

 

JUST THE FACTS:

Presume that this is occurring in a state that charges state sales tax.

Some states charge sales tax within its borders.

So if you purchase the taxable package in one of those states sales tax is charged.

If you bought the UBP outside of the state charging sales tax there would be no tax.

Therefore buy the package precruise outside of the state that charges sales tax or wait

until you are 12 miles (International waters) out to sea and purchase at that point.

 

-OR- not so factual - - -

Make upfront arrangements with NCL while the ship is in port to defer the

billing chargeable payment - try to make a credit card/cash payment for the

exact charge (no tax). Another payment method burn some OBC.

 

Don't give up easily - be a pirate on taxes without representation !

[cheese lover!]

Hoping to clarify tax issues on cruising out of Boston to Bermuda- I know Mass has a restaurant/bar tax, and we live in this state as well as depart from it. Am I clear in the fact that is it recommended to purchase once in international waters to guarantee there is no tax? It seems there are conflicting reports by those who purchased while still on dry land

 

 

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[don't-use-real-name]

Presents a problem in that you live in the state which charges a sales tax.

If you order something by mail or even ebay the merchant is by law required

to collect the tax - that is if the merchant has an actual business presence in your state.

Maybe a way around this by having a relative living out of state buy you your

UBP as a gift and then you simply pay or do something in exchange for that relative later.

 

If you do a precruise UBP and charge it or apply the charge to your onboard

account NCL may be obligated to charge the tax as a merchant doing business

in your state. All kinds of technical aspects to this.

Thus even at sea you maybe liable for the tax.

I am thinking if the UBP could be paid out of your OBC perhaps it would be

possible to put funds into that account and see what happens. The UBP maybe

paid out of the OBC without the tax.

 

In any event say your state tax is 8% and you take a 7 day voyage with $49

the individual daily charge for the UBP - 49 x 7 = 343 x 8% = $27.44 in taxes.

Total $370.44 - BUT WAIT THERE IS A GRATUITY FACTOR HERE !

49 x 7 = 343 x 15% gratuity = $51.45 --- add 343 and 51.45 x 8% = $31.56 in tax

Taxing a gratuity is a real kick in the you know what - but it would not be unheard of !

Thus a Grand Total of $426.xx for each person in the stateroom.

$51 bucks in taxes is more than the one day UBP.

Stuff like this makes for sobering thoughts.

 

Any comments from viewers about how they have been treated and billed ???

[isdoo]

If any tax is paid on pre-purchase surely that would only apply to Florida as NCL are based there?

 

Also there is never tax on gratuities. Tax can only be on the item purchased.

[Single Cruiser]

The first time I bought UBP was onboard Epic in Europe and paid the tax, times 2 and 3 I prepaid and was not charged the tax. ( I guess in theory NCL could process that payment on any ship/location that was tax exempt like in international waters).

 

Just recently as was told I couldn't buy UBP in spring break only to find Spirit and Jade are exempt I purchased onboard in Barcelona and had tax applied.

[isdoo]

Indeed - you will always pay the tax on both drinks, speciality restaurants, Spa, shops and UBP/UDP if purchased at any time on a cruise from Barcelona if it does not visit a non-EU port.

[KeithJenner]

Indeed - you will always pay the tax on both drinks, speciality restaurants, Spa, shops and UBP/UDP if purchased at any time on a cruise from Barcelona if it does not visit a non-EU port.

 

 

The Spirit stops at Casablanca, so isn't EU only.

 

 

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[Single Cruiser]

The Spirit stops at Casablanca, so isn't EU only.

 

 

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Exactly which is why both myself and Al queried it. But also the duty free shop in Barcelona just past check in was shut like on the Epic Med cruises but which is open for the transatlantic .

 

:confused:

 

But with the current exchange rates more favourable it was around £350 for the 9 nights which was reasonable

Edited March 15, 2014 by Single Cruiser

[isdoo]

The Spirit stops at Casablanca, so isn't EU only.

 

 

So no vat should have been charged. Surely?

 

Maybe possibly in Spanish waters?

[Single Cruiser]

So no vat should have been charged. Surely?

 

Maybe possibly in Spanish waters?

 

I did see at the bar another persons receipt which had an entry for tax but I think we were still in port at Malaga.

[KeithJenner]

Yes, my understanding on this cruise is that if you purchase the package in Spanish waters you will pay the VAT, but if you wait until after sailing (wait until the casino is open) then you shouldn't pay it, but you will probably be charged for any drinks you bought before the purchase.

 

I will be buying Viva Vino on this cruise, but will wait until the first evening before purchasing.

 

As I will be paying for my drinks during the cruise, I will try to keep a note of whether I get charged tax when we are in the various ports.

 

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Edited March 15, 2014 by KeithJenner

[phoenix1181]

I bought the UBP pre-cruise in 2013 and again 2 weeks ago. I'm a Massachusetts resident, a sales tax state, and I did not pay tax.

[Cruiser21484]

Wish it was worth it for me. I would get my moneys worth but my wife isn't a heavy drinker and my daughter didn't drink soda. Bummer that kids need get the soda package. Or I wish they had an alcohol only with no soda.

 

 

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[Greyhoundobsession]

Hi all! New here. :) Not sure if this got answered all the way or not as I didn't have time to read through it all...

 

But I have a trip planned for November 2014 and wanted to pay ahead for drinks and had other reasons for wanting the beverage pass.

 

I, too, could not find anything online about how to pre-purchase this. I thought maybe they didn't offer it on the Star. I had to call and ask.

 

Turns out they do, and you just have to call to purchase it in advance. You can't do it online.

 

The pass does included gratuities, at least when you buy ahead it does. One of the major advantages is pre-paying for the pass and not worrying about the cost when you go on the cruise. But if you want to wait you can buy it the first day, and sometimes second day of the cruise.

 

It includes soda, wine and other alcohol. It includes some juices but not others, I don't know which is which.

 

You have to buy one for each adult on the same trip who is traveling with you, whether they are in the same cabin or not, and each child needs the soda package.

 

Hope this helps!

[ZRC1MLC2]

Well there's another one that is unclear. The person I learned about the UBP from told me she purchased it online before the cruise & was definitely charged tax, LOL. One reason I was trying to find a clear answer is because, if the drinks I get before buying the package are not included, than I think it might be a "wash" with buying the package first & paying the tax. I'm going to need a drink by the time I figure this out:confused:

We will be on the Getaway in October and I am also interested in the facts about the UBP. On Carival and RCCL the package is offered on day 1 and 2. You purchase in port on day 1 and you are charged for 7 days of the program + tax. Purchase on day 2 and you are charged for only 6 days and no tax. No drinks are taken off from the first days purchases. This is where bringing on your own wine at embarkation is helpful. This only makes sense and I hope NCL works it out this way. We have purchased it and passed on it on other cruises. Not sure we will buy it this next time but there is a possibility.

[kirsty_r]

We will be on the Getaway in October and I am also interested in the facts about the UBP. On Carival and RCCL the package is offered on day 1 and 2. You purchase in port on day 1 and you are charged for 7 days of the program + tax. Purchase on day 2 and you are charged for only 6 days and no tax. No drinks are taken off from the first days purchases. This is where bringing on your own wine at embarkation is helpful. This only makes sense and I hope NCL works it out this way. We have purchased it and passed on it on other cruises. Not sure we will buy it this next time but there is a possibility.

 

 

 

 

 

 

ncl charges for the whole cruise regardless. Tax is dependent on when the receipt is put through your account. Prepay is the way to definitely avoid tax. Some people report if brought on day 2 some drinks are taken off.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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[sebas030]

I am from Canada, cruised from NYC last November and bought the package onboard about 3 minutes after we boarded ( so still docked ) and paid NO taxes.

 

I think there is confusion from a lot of people who prepay the package and are charged the price of the package and the 15% gratuity and confuse this charge with taxes.

 

Here our sales tax is 15% so it would be easy to confuse this with the gratuity.

 

 

 

 

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[Demonyte]

I think there is confusion from a lot of people who prepay the package and are charged the price of the package and the 15% gratuity and confuse this charge with taxes.

 

Here our sales tax is 15% so it would be easy to confuse this with the gratuity.

 

While the tax amount where you live might be the same, I have to disagree. The added gratuity of 15% is well known here and when any tax is charged, it is not usually 15% (10% in Spain, I think 6% in Florida, etc).

 

For me the most likely reason is that since the issue rose NCL has instructed the crew onboard to charge the packages to passenger's onboard account only later, after the ship has sailed, so the purchase will not be subject to sales tax - of course this does not apply to intra-EU cruises from Spain.

Edited March 31, 2014 by Demonyte

[kirsty_r]

While the tax amount where you live might be the same, I have to disagree. The added gratuity of 15% is well known here and when any tax is charged, it is not usually 15% (10% in Spain, I think 6% in Florida, etc).

 

For me the most likely reason is that since the issue rose NCL has instructed the crew onboard to charge the packages to passenger's onboard account only later, after the ship has sailed, so the purchase will not be subject to sales tax - of course this does not apply to intra-EU cruises from Spain.

 

 

 

 

 

 

very true, although some people are still reporting 15% plus sales tax from port. Safe way prepay with gratuity or wait till out of port.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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[Cruiser Who Knows Nothing]

You have to buy one for each adult on the same trip who is traveling with you, whether they are in the same cabin or not, and each child needs the soda package.

 

Hope this helps!

 

Darn - I thought I beat the system. We have two cabins and were only going to get the UBP for the DH. I don't drink enough to make it anywhere near being worthwhile.

 

Our reservations are not linked in any way.....even when I call NCL, to add something to the reservation, they don't even know I have 2 cabins. I keep begging them to link them and they won't/cant

[kirsty_r]

Darn - I thought I beat the system. We have two cabins and were only going to get the UBP for the DH. I don't drink enough to make it anywhere near being worthwhile.

 

Our reservations are not linked in any way.....even when I call NCL, to add something to the reservation, they don't even know I have 2 cabins. I keep begging them to link them and they won't/cant

 

If the two cabins are on separate reservations, I would imagine you only pay for the people on the one reservation.