Magic, Drinks sold while in TX waters

[TEXASMUNK]

1. Texas collecting taxes after disembarkation. ONLY Texas residents. They ask, they DO NOT search.

2. Carnival has a national contract with a liquor supplier which does not include sales taxes for Texas. Thus, Texas requires all alcohol sold in the State of Texas to pay sales taxes. REMEMBER, we do not have a state INCOME tax and our state and local revenues are partially obtained via sales tax.

3. The selection is limited due to the fact that the liquor/beer sold is only for a short period of time (ie, noon to 6pm) on embarkation day, then the bars open with the contracted beverages for the balance of the cruise.

[Bimmie Girl]

I wouldn't be so sure about that. I seem to recall something say that Fun Shop deliveries won't be made until the next day for Galveston departures. I would definitely read the fine print before finalizing any order.

 

this is true. I have ordered the bon voyage cooler pack with 4 beers for sail away but they cannot deliver until they enter international waters.

[Bimmie Girl]

Wen sail in the Magic this Sunday and will check it out for you. Hopefully I don't forget to let you. You can always bring on a bottle of wine for sail away.

 

Thanks, and I am not concerned for me per say, but for people NOT familiar with the rules/laws. I would like to let them know for SURE if that particular AFT BAR is closed then they need to buy a drink from another bar and bring it to the sail away.

 

Basically I am trying to find out so I can share the information with others on our roll call list. PLEASE LET ME KNOW AND HAVE A MAGICAL CRUISE!!!!!

[BenjiRodney]

I doubt it would stop someone from cruising from Galveston, but it definitely could leave a bad taste in their mouth. I could definitely see people preferring other ports of the rate and cost of travel is identical or near identical.

 

It isn't so much the money as it seems minor. More the inconvenience and the principal of the thing. I don't live in Texas, I just took a cruise and I'm on my way home. Why do I need to pay money to Texas for the mere privilege of taking my purchases home?

 

It's the simple fact that a state is taxing something the US govt said I could purchase duty free. That's why the only cruise I am doing from Texas is the one way repo cruise on the Magic to Florida.

[PlanoTim]

Thanks, and I am not concerned for me per say, but for people NOT familiar with the rules/laws. I would like to let them know for SURE if that particular AFT BAR is closed then they need to buy a drink from another bar and bring it to the sail away.

 

Basically I am trying to find out so I can share the information with others on our roll call list. PLEASE LET ME KNOW AND HAVE A MAGICAL CRUISE!!!!!

 

Every time I've sailed on the Magic out of Galveston, the aft, port-side bar was open when we boarded. I presume they close down during muster drill. I can't speak to what they have available while in Texas waters.

 

I hope that helps some. Enjoy your cruise.

[dave_k58]

Well that is bad news. I was on Triumph beginning of May and it was one lady out there asking. I got off early too. Gawd, maybe they hired more people to pay. What do you think the odds are the revenue collected even covers the salaries of the people they hired? Such an ill conceived venture. I think I'm going to complain to my state rep.

 

 

here's my bet - slim to none. I will complain to mine too. This is a huge waste of money to hire those extra people to come in on WEEKENDS ( overtime) to catch a few people

[BallFour4]

It's the simple fact that a state is taxing something the US govt said I could purchase duty free. That's why the only cruise I am doing from Texas is the one way repo cruise on the Magic to Florida.

 

 

I agree. It's interesting to note this law is not new. It's been in place for decades. Texas just decided to enforce it.

 

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[tunes3540]

The aft pool bar was open in Texas, both times I sailed on the Magic.

[Bimmie Girl]

The aft pool bar was open in Texas, both times I sailed on the Magic.

 

Good to know, thanks for taking the time to let us know!!!

[forwardcabin]

...the only cruise I am doing from Texas is the one way repo cruise on the Magic to Florida.

...the repo cruises have been cancelled.

[BenjiRodney]

...the repo cruises have been cancelled.

 

Already rebooked on the Magic roundtrip out of Port Canaveral during the same time frame, so won't have to worry about Texas Liquor Laws.:)

[TxChick]

You aren't out of texas waters until late in the evening, usually after 8 or 9pm. I've never had an issue getting served any beverage while on board during this time. Just know that if you pre purchase alcohol from Bon Voyage (Fun Shops) they won't deliver it until then either.

[BallFour4]

The bar change ice happens at the 5 mile point. The casino opens soon after.

[Sheeba67]

Wen sail in the Magic this Sunday and will check it out for you. Hopefully I don't forget to let you. You can always bring on a bottle of wine for sail away.

 

Yes, the aft bar was open. Wen had our meet and greet there about an hour before Muster (around 2:30). I think the only bars not open were Casino and Ocean Plaza, if I remember correctly. Good luck and have a great cruise, we did.

[Bimmie Girl]

Yes, the aft bar was open. Wen had our meet and greet there about an hour before Muster (around 2:30). I think the only bars not open were Casino and Ocean Plaza, if I remember correctly. Good luck and have a great cruise, we did.

 

thanks for checking it out for me! Can't wait for our cruise in Dec.

[DayattheMovies]

Re: Cheers and TX waters...Just got off the phone with Carnival and a rep told me that now they dont "bill" your Sign and Sail card until day 2, but you still get to use the program from the time you "register" for it just after you get on the ship.

 

So basically they are saying that Carnival now allows you to use CHEERS! from the moment you get on the boat, but have finagled the rules so they dont *bill* you until Day 2.

 

Can anyone verify this? I am sailing on July 26 and plan to get CHEERS...but will bring a bottle of wine for 1st night if CHEERS isnt available until day 2...

[Retired_to_Cruise]

There is a limited menu they can serve from when in Texas waters as well but I can't find it online right now.

 

Cruise lines have to sell alcohol that was purchased in the state of Texas while in port, and then change over the bars once they have sailed some distance from the port. I know there are other ports that have to charge state sales tax while they are in port, but I do not think there is any other that have to sell alcohol purchased in the state that the ship ports in.

 

Texas has no state personal income tax so they have to make up the tax shortfall by taxing everything else at a higher level. Personal property taxes on a $250,000 house will run you over $8000.00 a year - almost double what you pay for on a $500,000 house in California.

 

I have also heard on cruise sites that there is a tax on duty fee items that are taken off a ship, even those that are NOT staying in Texas. But have never encountered that.

[Hawaiifrank]

1. Texas collecting taxes after disembarkation. ONLY Texas residents. They ask, they DO NOT search.

 

I was on the Magic in March. You may be correct, but I understood that it was everyone, residents and non-residents of TX. They were taxing the importation of liquor and tobacco into the state. It doesn't matter where you were going afterwards.

 

The cost is not insignificant either. As I recall, my SIL paid $1.50 per pack for cigarettes. I paid $3.50 per liter for my Tequila. Next time, I was thinking about taking my 3 liter Crown Royal bottle to refill it. The tax on a single 3L bottle is something like $4.50, but the tax on 3 x 1 L bottles is $10.50. The actual tax is small, like 50 cents per L. The $3 "administrative" fee PER STAMP that drives up the cost.

 

They don't need to see the bottles either BTW. They ask what you have, take your money and give you these little stamps to place on the bottles or cigarette packs at your convenience.

[Raring to go]

When we were on Freedom, we could only get 12oz cans of Miller Lite until we got further out. Then we were able to get the 16oz cans, which we prefer, since you can put the twist top on if you aren't drinking it down quickly. I just don't get it.

 

 

That is strange, since there is a Coors/Miller brewery in Fort Worth, hence it is a Texas brewed beer. Perhaps Carnival chose not to buy the beer brewed in Texas.

[Raring to go]

When we were on Freedom, we could only get 12oz cans of Miller Lite until we got further out. Then we were able to get the 16oz cans, which we prefer, since you can put the twist top on if you aren't drinking it down quickly. I just don't get it.

 

It's the simple fact that a state is taxing something the US govt said I could purchase duty free. That's why the only cruise I am doing from Texas is the one way repo cruise on the Magic to Florida.

 

The liquor stamp is for Texas residents only. If you are from out of state, you don't have to pay it. We have crossed the border many times with out of state guests. When they show their out-of-state driver's license, they don't have to buy the stamp. Texans are also limited on how much alcohol they can bring in during a certain calendar period. That being said, I will pay my $2.00 for a bottle of rum rather than pay a state income tax.

[Raring to go]

The liquor stamp is for Texas residents only. If you are from out of state, you don't have to pay it. We have crossed the border many times with out of state guests. When they show their out-of-state driver's license, they don't have to buy the stamp. Texans are also limited on how much alcohol they can bring in during a certain calendar period. That being said, I will pay my $2.00 for a bottle of rum rather than pay a state income tax.

 

OK, after a little research at the TCLB (Texas Liquor Control Board), it turns out that I was in error about the exemption for out of state travelers. House Bill 1936 raised the administrative fee from .50, to $3 per container. Importation limits now apply to both Texas and non-Texas residents. Texans can now bring in a gallon every 30 days. No taxes are owed to the state. I will be the first to agree that this sucks for out of state residents. Those of us who live in the state are used to paying for the privilege of bringing liquor in. There was nothing said about how they checked to see whether or not you have liquor, but the penalty for not declaring is $1000, so if you do decide not to declare, keep it under cover until you are out of their sight!

[txmom11]

Don't think it's so much as the state as many counties and cities have their own little things they add on to it. I worked in a city where half the city was dry and the other half wasn't.

 

I worked in a town in SE Texas where it was dry on one side of the highway and not on the other. We do have some weird liquor laws here. Reminds me--I need to go grab a bottle of Jack before nine o'clock.

[danacline]

I had also heard it applied to residents of other states, which is sad. I plan on bringing back 7 Fathoms Rum from Grand Cayman ($40/bottle, but oh so worth it). I'll pay the tax but I'll complain rather loudly about it and threaten to never come back to Texas. Doubt it'll help.

[Taylor's Nona]

How much is the Cheers program for and 11 day cruise?

[BenjiRodney]

No worries anyway since it was a one way cruise leaving Texas, but Carnival cancelled the repo Breeze and Magic cruise so we switched to a cruise out of Port Canaveral. Airfare will be cheaper to MCO anyway.

 

 

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