mafig Posted September 2, 2015 #1 Share Posted September 2, 2015 Do you get to use your beverage package as soon as you board? Wondering because I read on another board (another line) that if you do they charge tax on the drink before sailaway. (this was NCL ... you know how they are.:() Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greeneg Posted September 2, 2015 #2 Share Posted September 2, 2015 Yep, once you have the card. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
helen haywood Posted September 2, 2015 #3 Share Posted September 2, 2015 Yes, you can order right away but yes, they will charge you the taxes applicable for that port. Isn't going to stop me...however, if I were thinking about ordering a bottle of wine I'd wait until we're sailing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soxfan2013 Posted September 2, 2015 #4 Share Posted September 2, 2015 Do you get to use your beverage package as soon as you board? Wondering because I read on another board (another line) that if you do they charge tax on the drink before sailaway. (this was NCL ... you know how they are.:() On our cruise to Bermuda on Summit last we week, they were selling drink packages using your Room Card at a drink sales desk located on the jetway just prior to boarding...the cost is charged to your room and you pay when your account is settled, like other charges incurred during the cruise. You should be able to use your card right away. If any charges show up, I am sure you can have them removed. You can view a running total of your charges on your interactive TV. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soxfan2013 Posted September 2, 2015 #5 Share Posted September 2, 2015 (edited) Yes, you can order right away but yes, they will charge you the taxes applicable for that port. Isn't going to stop me...however, if I were thinking about ordering a bottle of wine I'd wait until we're sailing. Hmm, that's interesting...I wasn't aware that the cost was any different buying on the jetway or the ship before departure or on board just after the ship has sailed. They do offer a glass of free champagne upon boarding... Edited September 2, 2015 by soxfan2013 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blueboro Posted September 2, 2015 #6 Share Posted September 2, 2015 Yes, you can order right away but yes, they will charge you the taxes applicable for that port. Isn't going to stop me...however, if I were thinking about ordering a bottle of wine I'd wait until we're sailing. Have never had taxes added prior to leaving FLL or in any other port. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alabaster Cruiser Posted September 2, 2015 #7 Share Posted September 2, 2015 Have never had taxes added prior to leaving FLL or in any other port. It's just a few cents. All the Texas ports do it also. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rufferto Posted September 2, 2015 #8 Share Posted September 2, 2015 I was charged Spanish VAT tax on my drink when I boarded in Barcelona in 2012. Then in 2014, I boarded in the same port and I wasn't charged. Both cruises had ports of call that were not part of the EU at the time and I had the premium beverage package. Still can't figure it out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare cruisestitch Posted September 2, 2015 #9 Share Posted September 2, 2015 But…..if you have purchased the beverage package prior to boarding, they don't add any tax, do they? That's what the OP was asking, it appears to me. It's only when you are buying drinks one at a time, or purchasing a new beverage package once on board that the issue of taxes arises, AFAIK. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blueboro Posted September 2, 2015 #10 Share Posted September 2, 2015 Well, after having the package on 3 cruises that left from FLL not a penny in tax was charged but guess it depends on the port. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare cruisestitch Posted September 2, 2015 #11 Share Posted September 2, 2015 Florida isn't one of the states that adds tax. Texas and New Jersey do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luv2cruisecats Posted September 2, 2015 #12 Share Posted September 2, 2015 You must immediately head for the nearest bar before can you order and then start consuming. The current record is 3 minutes and 12 seconds after first stepping aboard based on reliable sources. Your results may be different. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colliercruiser Posted September 2, 2015 #13 Share Posted September 2, 2015 You must immediately head for the nearest bar before can you order and then start consuming. The current record is 3 minutes and 12 seconds after first stepping aboard based on reliable sources. Your results may be different. Is that record for arriving at the nearest bar or the drink reaching you lips? [emoji1] Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jagoffee Posted September 2, 2015 #14 Share Posted September 2, 2015 Yes, you can order right away but yes, they will charge you the taxes applicable for that port. Isn't going to stop me...however, if I were thinking about ordering a bottle of wine I'd wait until we're sailing. Just to clarify. You had a drink package prior to the start of your cruise and when you used your package to get an included drink before the ship left port you were charges a tax only? Never happened to me and I am really surprised that this happened to you. When was this and what departure port? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vulcan1971 Posted September 2, 2015 #15 Share Posted September 2, 2015 Do you get to use your beverage package as soon as you board? Wondering because I read on another board (another line) that if you do they charge tax on the drink before sailaway. (this was NCL ... you know how they are.:() I don't believe this is a cruise line specific issue. It depends on where you are boarding from. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lakelorain Posted September 2, 2015 #16 Share Posted September 2, 2015 Florida isn't one of the states that adds tax. Texas and New Jersey do. We have sailed from NJ many times. No tax was ever added. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mafig Posted September 2, 2015 Author #17 Share Posted September 2, 2015 I don't believe this is a cruise line specific issue. It depends on where you are boarding from. Not all cruiselines have beverage packages and since I have one and it's on Celebrity it it cruise line specific .... to me.:p:) Not a big deal. Just curious. I know if you order a drink while in port in Florida before sail away it includes tax, but didn't know if this applied to the beverage package. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gimletgal Posted September 2, 2015 #18 Share Posted September 2, 2015 You are "good to go" from the minute you step on board. No tax charged since you already have the package from Celebrity. Enjoy!! :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sleepless Posted September 2, 2015 #19 Share Posted September 2, 2015 Not all cruiselines have beverage packages and since I have one and it's on Celebrity it it cruise line specific .... to me.:p:) Not a big deal. Just curious. I know if you order a drink while in port in Florida before sail away it includes tax, but didn't know if this applied to the beverage package. I was not charged tax on alcohol purchased in Florida before sail away. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dkjretired Posted September 2, 2015 #20 Share Posted September 2, 2015 We have sailed from NJ many times. No tax was ever added. What they are talking about is actually buying the package on board before the ship leaves port. There are some ports where this occurs and especially as someone mentioned where the Vat taxes are involved. I have also sailed out of NJ a number of times and don't know either way if they do and yes this is not cruise line specific, it is required by the local authorities. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BEAV Posted September 2, 2015 #21 Share Posted September 2, 2015 But…..if you have purchased the beverage package prior to boarding, they don't add any tax, do they? That's what the OP was asking, it appears to me. It's only when you are buying drinks one at a time, or purchasing a new beverage package once on board that the issue of taxes arises, AFAIK. I agree. Within the past year we bought pre-departure drinks in the Port of San Francisco on two different cruise lines. On Princess, we didn't have a drink package and were charged a local tax on the bill. On Celebrity, we did have a drink package and there was no tax charged (nor invoice even generated for that matter). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sleepless Posted September 2, 2015 #22 Share Posted September 2, 2015 What they are talking about is actually buying the package on board before the ship leaves port. There are some ports where this occurs and especially as someone mentioned where the Vat taxes are involved. I have also sailed out of NJ a number of times and don't know either way if they do and yes this is not cruise line specific, it is required by the local authorities. My previous cruise experiences have been on Royal Caribbean. I have sailed out of New Jersey and Florida (Ft. Lauderdale). On each cruise, I have purchased a "dinner wine package", shortly after boarding - but before sail away. Each time, the sales person who sold it to me took my sea pass/ID and room key card for my information, then handed me a ticket to give to my waiter at dinner. My waiter "rang" up the sale in the dining room. My sea pass card was not charged until after sail away. I was not charged a tax on these purchases. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
virginialucy Posted September 2, 2015 #23 Share Posted September 2, 2015 Do you get to use your beverage package as soon as you board? Wondering because I read on another board (another line) that if you do they charge tax on the drink before sailaway. (this was NCL ... you know how they are.:() There is a tax on drinks purchased before sailaway. The difference is that if you have the beverage package, Celebrity covers the tax in your drink allowance, but NCL makes you pay the tax separately. On my recent NCL cruise I had to pay about $3 for taxes on drinks I had before we left port. Not a huge deal but one of many little reasons that made me not like NCL at all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lakelorain Posted September 2, 2015 #24 Share Posted September 2, 2015 What they are talking about is actually buying the package on board before the ship leaves port. There are some ports where this occurs and especially as someone mentioned where the Vat taxes are involved. I have also sailed out of NJ a number of times and don't know either way if they do and yes this is not cruise line specific, it is required by the local authorities. 9 trips out of NJ. Some with pre-purchased drink package. Some purchased before sail away on board. Some with an individual drink purchased before sail away. Never had to pay tax. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mafig Posted September 2, 2015 Author #25 Share Posted September 2, 2015 There is a tax on drinks purchased before sailaway. The difference is that if you have the beverage package, Celebrity covers the tax in your drink allowance, but NCL makes you pay the tax separately. On my recent NCL cruise I had to pay about $3 for taxes on drinks I had before we left port. Not a huge deal but one of many little reasons that made me not like NCL at all. OK, thanks. That's what I was getting at and probably what the poster meant when I read this on the other thread. I agree, it's not a big deal, but I usually go over my charges, I would be asking myself "what's this $.90 charge? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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