NCL - Spanish VAT or not on drink packages etc if leaving from Barcelona

[podgeandrodge]

NCL - Spanish VAT or not on drink packages etc if leaving from Barcelona - according to many threads on this site the VAT is only charged if you don't visit a non EU port.

 

However, the NCL site, in relation to the unlimited beverages package, simply states that: "On cruises from/to Spain/Italy we are required to charge an additional 15% VAT" - no mention of an exception if you are visiting a non EU port.

 

Can anyone confirm once and for all? :p

 

NCL page here:

 

http://www.ncl.eu/already-booked/gifts-and-more/

Edited September 8, 2013 by podgeandrodge

[podgeandrodge]

Another page states:

 

" Please note that in order to comply with Spanish tax regulations we are required to charge Spanish VAT on applicable items purchased on board on cruises from/to Barcelona as well as on all cruises whilst the ship is in Spanish waters. Applicable items are, amongst others, alcoholic beverages, items from the minibar, retail items and cover charges in our speciality restaurants"

 

If that's true it will add some serious cost.

[Cubechick]

If you make your purchases while on the ship, you are charged Spanish VAT. However, anything you pre-pay does not get charged VAT.

 

If you book and pay for the UBP ahead of time, you wouldn't pay VAT. ;)

[Demonyte]

NCL - Spanish VAT or not on drink packages etc if leaving from Barcelona - according to many threads on this site the VAT is only charged if you don't visit a non EU port.

 

However, the NCL site, in relation to the unlimited beverages package, simply states that: "On cruises from/to Spain/Italy we are required to charge an additional 15% VAT" - no mention of an exception if you are visiting a non EU port.

 

Can anyone confirm once and for all? :p

 

As you self said, this has been discussed in several threads already, and everyone of those (that I've seen) has given answer "once and for all". :D

 

It's quite simple:

 

If you are departing from Spain, you always have to pay the VAT in their national waters (also when in port) - this applies to all cruises, f.ex. TA, Morocco/Canary Islands and Turkey or Egypt itineraries.

 

If the ship doesn't call any ports outside EU tax area (while a part of Spain and therefore EU, Canary Islands are excluded from EU tax area) then the VAT is charged during all cruise regardless of ship's position - this applies to f.ex. Epic's summer cruises that only visit ports in Italy, France and Spain.

[podgeandrodge]

 

If the ship doesn't call any ports outside EU tax area (while a part of Spain and therefore EU, Canary Islands are excluded from EU tax area) then the VAT is charged during all cruise regardless of ship's position - this applies to f.ex. Epic's summer cruises that only visit ports in Italy, France and Spain.

 

Thanks Cubechick and Demonyte. I find it very strange that if it's as simple as pre-purchasing the beverage packages that NCL aren't pushing this (as far as I know the beverage package can't be pre-purchased online for EU bookings you have to ring them up).

 

As for why they would make blatantly wrong statements on their site when this could affect sales is beyond me!

 

Anyway does this mean if you wait to purchase the packages until an hour after sailing that you are ok?

Edited September 9, 2013 by podgeandrodge

[nomad098]

NCL - Spanish VAT or not on drink packages etc if leaving from Barcelona - according to many threads on this site the VAT is only charged if you don't visit a non EU port.

 

However, the NCL site, in relation to the unlimited beverages package, simply states that: "On cruises from/to Spain/Italy we are required to charge an additional 15% VAT" - no mention of an exception if you are visiting a non EU port.

 

Can anyone confirm once and for all? :p

 

NCL page here:

 

http://www.ncl.eu/already-booked/gifts-and-more/

 

Hi there

 

Just returned from a trip on the Epic all EU ports and we pre purchased the ultimate beverage package and this is what we were charged:

 

UBP $49 plus 15% gratuity no Spanish vat on the package

 

A pack of sweets after leaving Marseilles France was cost of sweets plus 21% Spanish Vat

 

We were told by the guest services anything per purchased was not liable for Spanish VAT

 

Anything purchased on board and this included UBP, speciality restaurant bookings, Spa treatments, items from the shops and excursions are liable for Spanish VAT for the whole cruise

 

The DSC was not liable for the Spanish VAT

 

We were told that if the cruise visited a non EU port the Spanish vat was only charged in Spanish territorial waters or if the ship was travelling between two Spanish ports

 

I hope this clears things up for people

 

This is not just NCL but all cruise lines departing from Spain

 

Damon

Edited September 9, 2013 by nomad098

[podgeandrodge]

Damon, that is great thanks for the clarification. I'm guessing that given our first stop after Barcelona is Casablanca that if we wait a couple of hours after sailing we should be ok!

 

Edit: strike that, it's 2 day's before arriving at Casablanca and I don't know where Spanish territorial waters finish so I think I'll prebook if I can!

 

I'm surprised anyone would purchase the package onboard with an extra 15% as it's barely worth it as it is!

Edited September 9, 2013 by podgeandrodge

[mypleasure]

Damon, that is great thanks for the clarification. I'm guessing that given our first stop after Barcelona is Casablanca that if we wait a couple of hours after sailing we should be ok!

 

Edit: strike that, it's 2 day's before arriving at Casablanca and I don't know where Spanish territorial waters finish so I think I'll prebook if I can!

 

I'm surprised anyone would purchase the package onboard with an extra 15% as it's barely worth it as it is!

 

 

Yes you will need to wait just a couple of hours for the ship to get out far enough for the shops and casino to be opened. That was the case when I sailed on the Spirit last winter. Even though we sailed along the Spanish coast everything was running after about 2 hours. I would still pre-book though as I would like a drink at sailaway/before dinner that day. Actually we drink very little and don't consider the package offers us anything but if we did I would want a couple of drinks early on before it might be possible to buy the package.

 

Sidebar: We pay 20% VAT here in the UK and there are plenty of countries that charge higher rates than that.

 

You will have a great time on the Spirit it has an amazing crew and leadership team.

[podgeandrodge]

Great thanks Jean!

[Daisyduke70]

Damon, that is great thanks for the clarification. I'm guessing that given our first stop after Barcelona is Casablanca that if we wait a couple of hours after sailing we should be ok!

 

Edit: strike that, it's 2 day's before arriving at Casablanca and I don't know where Spanish territorial waters finish so I think I'll prebook if I can!

 

I'm surprised anyone would purchase the package onboard with an extra 15% as it's barely worth it as it is!

 

Oh, I am a bit gutted! I have purchased $700 of OBC over the past four months to use on the UBP when we board in BArcelona, not realising that there was the additional 15% tax to be added or the fact that you could pre-book it.

 

Not sure what to do now :confused::(:(

[nomad098]

Oh, I am a bit gutted! I have purchased $700 of OBC over the past four months to use on the UBP when we board in BArcelona, not realising that there was the additional 15% tax to be added or the fact that you could pre-book it.

 

Not sure what to do now :confused::(:(

 

Would it be worth a call to NCL to see if you can use you OBC to pre purchase the UBP or if you can get your OBC refunded to purchase it?

[Daisyduke70]

Would it be worth a call to NCL to see if you can use you OBC to pre purchase the UBP or if you can get your OBC refunded to purchase it?

 

Yes Nomad, I emailed them last night....fingers crossed!

[podgeandrodge]

It seems even NCL are confused about this one. I rang them last night and asked them to email me with the position.

 

It appears from this that they believe VAT is charged for the whole cruise at 15% because the ship leaves from Barcelona - regardless of visiting non EU ports - at least that is my reading of it - see below:

 

NCL

Good morning,

Further to our conversation yesterday, I got the information for you about the 15 % VAT for cruises from Spain and Italy.

This tax will be charge once you get on board the ship. And as it says on the website is only for cruises sailing from Spain or Italy.

Best wishes,

xxxxxx | Reservations Consultant

ME

Hi xxxxxx, thanks for your response. My cruise on 4th November on the Spirit leaves from Barcelona but visits some non-EU ports like Casablanca. Is the VAT only charged in Spanish waters or for the whole cruise? Thanks.

NCL

Hello,

Let’s say if you buy the drinks package which is $49pp plus 15% gratuities will be a total of $59. But because this cruise is sailing FROM Barcelona, another extra 15% VAT will be charge. It doesn’t matter where is going is more where is sailing from.

Best regards,

xxxxxx | Reservations Consultant

ME

Thanks xxxxxx. Final question! I have read that the tax is ONLY while in EU waters so in Casablanca the tax will NOT be charged? Regards.

NCL

Hello,

The VAT Tax will be charge if is sailing from Spain or Italy. So even if is going to be in Morocco the VAT will be charge because is coming from Barcelona.

Thanks

xxxxxx| Reservations Consultant

[nomad098]

It seems even NCL are confused about this one. I rang them last night and asked them to email me with the position.

 

It appears from this that they believe VAT is charged for the whole cruise at 15% because the ship leaves from Barcelona - regardless of visiting non EU ports - at least that is my reading of it - see below:

 

I had the same problem when I phoned first chap told me if I pre payed I would have the 10% added to my onboard account for every drink throughout the cruise so I said thank you very much and hung up. Phoned back 5 minutes later spoke to a different person who told me no 10% would be added

 

It all depends on who you talk to at NCL there are those in the know and those that are not:eek:

 

Just out of curiosity which office are you phoning?

[podgeandrodge]

The UK office.

[Demonyte]

Weird, I'd assume that the people that live every day under the influence of these VAT rules would be aware of the real applications of them. UK even has their own VAT exemption area of Channel Islands. :D

Edited September 10, 2013 by Demonyte

[nomad098]

The UK office.

 

I would try phoning again at a different time possible during the day as the EU and UK booking are in the same place the first time I phoned the chaps command of the queens English was not the best as I believe he was Spanish the second chap was from Yorkshire no problem getting a straight answer and he was right:D

 

Weird, I'd assume that the people that live every day under the influence of these VAT rules would be aware of the real applications of them. UK even has their own VAT exemption area of Channel Islands. :D

 

What I find weird is that there is no mention anywhere on the internet of a recent Spanish Vat(IVA) or Italian increase yet NCL have increased the amount they say they have to charge on future cruises from 10% to 15%:confused::confused:

 

I checked live EU vat rates and it still says 4%, 10% and 21% for both countries so where are NCL coming up with 15% I do not know?:confused:

[davejura]

I have always been aware of the VAT being charged when sailing from Spain, but did not know about Italy. We are sailing on the Jade to the Greek Islands departing Venice and am wondering what the position is. Bit of a bummer and an unexpected expense possibly!

[40yearcruiser]

Is this something new? We cruised from Barcelona last year on a transatlantic to Miami (on Carnival Breeze) and there was no VAT charged on anything we spent on the ship.

[SteveH2508]

Is this something new? We cruised from Barcelona last year on a transatlantic to Miami (on Carnival Breeze) and there was no VAT charged on anything we spent on the ship.

 

Because the cruise visited a non EU port - (Miami) - thus no VAT chargeable outside of territorial waters.

[podgeandrodge]

We are sailing on the Jade to the Greek Islands departing Venice and am wondering what the position is. Bit of a bummer and an unexpected expense possibly!

 

Ahh, now that you mention it, myself and my wife did this a couple of years back and I recall that she purchased a wine deal and there was no extra VAT. So seems like I was just wasting my time dealing with NCL customer services :p

[mypleasure]

Of the last 5 cruises I have been on 1 was Venice-Barcelona, 1 was Canary Isles ex Barcelona round trip, 1 was Barcelona to Venice and 1 was Western Med Barcelona round trip on Epic.

The only one of those cruises where we were charged VAT was the trip on Epic which never left the EU visiting only Spain and Italy. The other 3 were on Spirit and no VAT charges once we were about 2 hours out of Barcelona even the trip to the Canaries which did not visit Casablanca last winter.

 

Jean

[podgeandrodge]

Of the last 5 cruises I have been on 1 was Venice-Barcelona, 1 was Canary Isles ex Barcelona round trip, 1 was Barcelona to Venice and 1 was Western Med Barcelona round trip on Epic.

The only one of those cruises where we were charged VAT was the trip on Epic which never left the EU visiting only Spain and Italy. The other 3 were on Spirit and no VAT charges once we were about 2 hours out of Barcelona even the trip to the Canaries which did not visit Casablanca last winter.

 

Jean

 

You should work for NCL Jean. At least you have more information than them! :D

[meltingmoments]

I have always been aware of the VAT being charged when sailing from Spain, but did not know about Italy. We are sailing on the Jade to the Greek Islands departing Venice and am wondering what the position is. Bit of a bummer and an unexpected expense possibly!

 

We did that cruise last month and I've just checked some receipts.

I have some photos that had an additional 21% VAT added and I bought some headphones in the gift shop that also had 21% VAT added.

In contrast, I looked up last years Epic receipts ( I know.......I'm sad to keep them!! :o ) VAT was charged at 18% on purchases but also our bar bills all had 8% VAT added........not so on the Jade!

Hope this helps. :)

[mypleasure]

You should work for NCL Jean. At least you have more information than them! :D

 

Thanks, I sometimes think I do with my knowledge of the Spirit and all my friends on her.