Trixie21 Posted May 11, 2016 #1 Share Posted May 11, 2016 I am on harmony in July for 7 days and just tried to book a 4 device surf and stream Internet package priced at 27.99 per day on the website ( this is advertised as 30% off onboard pricing) . This should be 195.93 but when I put it in the cart and go to checkout it is trying to charge me £232 . Am I not seeing something or is there a glitch ? Is ringing them the only way to resolve this? Sent from my iPad using Forums mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clarea Posted May 11, 2016 #2 Share Posted May 11, 2016 (edited) Is it possible that you are being charged some sort of VAT tax? Edited May 11, 2016 by clarea Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ken at the beach Posted May 12, 2016 #3 Share Posted May 12, 2016 (edited) I am on harmony in July for 7 days and just tried to book a 4 device surf and stream Internet package priced at 27.99 per day on the website ( this is advertised as 30% off onboard pricing) . This should be 195.93 but when I put it in the cart and go to checkout it is trying to charge me £232 . Am I not seeing something or is there a glitch ? Is ringing them the only way to resolve this? Sent from my iPad using Forums mobile app Odd that it is about 18% more than what it should be. Is it tax or are they trying to add gratuities to the Internet packages.:eek: Edited May 12, 2016 by Ourusualbeach Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trixie21 Posted May 12, 2016 Author #4 Share Posted May 12, 2016 Is it possible that you are being charged some sort of VAT tax? Yes that's what I thought but it doesn't work out exactly at 20% ( British vat rate ) - it is actually closer to 18% - like service charge . I was not aware of Internet having either and I have purchased it both in advance and onboard before and have no memory of this happening. I think I will have to make a phone call to clarify. Sent from my iPad using Forums mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clarea Posted May 12, 2016 #5 Share Posted May 12, 2016 Yes that's what I thought but it doesn't work out exactly at 20% ( British vat rate ) - it is actually closer to 18% - like service charge . I was not aware of Internet having either and I have purchased it both in advance and onboard before and have no memory of this happening. I think I will have to make a phone call to clarify. Well, I would not put it past Royal adding gratuity to the internet charge, but it's never happened before. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trixie21 Posted May 12, 2016 Author #6 Share Posted May 12, 2016 Maybe anyone who has prepaid Internet before their cruise can tell me if they had tax of any sort added to it? Sent from my iPad using Forums mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davelliott Posted May 12, 2016 #7 Share Posted May 12, 2016 I got a 1 device surf and stream package for my September cruise on Freedom. It charged me exactly $12.59 per day for the 7 days. Total was $88.13 with 0.00 listed by service charge. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChipLondon Posted May 12, 2016 #8 Share Posted May 12, 2016 It may be Spanish Vat as the sailing is from Barcelona, the same is added to drinks on those sailings. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare little britain Posted May 12, 2016 #9 Share Posted May 12, 2016 From Ovation. Prices as seen. If you pre book online your C&A discount is NOT applied. Sent from my iPad mini 4 using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cruising Forever! Posted May 13, 2016 #10 Share Posted May 13, 2016 We are Diamond plus in C&A and found that the D+ coupons on our cruise made it far cheaper than the online price with 30% off. Something to think about if you are D+ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Illmaxict Posted May 13, 2016 #11 Share Posted May 13, 2016 Wow 27 per day. Man they got a good thing going on the business side of things. Almost adds up to the price I pay per year here in Spain for fiber optic wifi[emoji79] Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trixie21 Posted May 13, 2016 Author #12 Share Posted May 13, 2016 We are Diamond plus in C&A and found that the D+ coupons on our cruise made it far cheaper than the online price with 30% off. Something to think about if you are D+ Sadly not diamond plus but diligently working our way towards it[emoji41] Is there an email address for crown and anchor I could use to get clarification on this? If the extra is tax then fair enough I will pay it but I would just like to know I am not paying for a glitch! Sent from my iPad using Forums mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clarea Posted May 13, 2016 #13 Share Posted May 13, 2016 Sadly not diamond plus but diligently working our way towards it[emoji41]Is there an email address for crown and anchor I could use to get clarification on this? If the extra is tax then fair enough I will pay it but I would just like to know I am not paying for a glitch! crownandanchor@rccl.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trixie21 Posted May 13, 2016 Author #14 Share Posted May 13, 2016 crownandanchor@rccl.com TY! Sent from my iPad using Forums mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clarea Posted May 13, 2016 #15 Share Posted May 13, 2016 (edited) TY! You're welcome, and be prepared for a delay in receiving a real (non-automated) response. Edited May 13, 2016 by clarea Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare steamboats Posted May 14, 2016 #16 Share Posted May 14, 2016 As you´re cruising out of Barcelona a 21% VAT will be added to the advertised price. This has been the same for the Allure last year. steamboats Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trixie21 Posted May 14, 2016 Author #17 Share Posted May 14, 2016 As you´re cruising out of Barcelona a 21% VAT will be added to the advertised price. This has been the same for the Allure last year. steamboats Thanks steamboats . We are actually cruising out of civitivecchia but I suppose since Barcelona is the main port of embarkation we still get charged Spanish tax. If we had been cruising out of the U.K. Or USA does that mean no tax would be added? Last question I presume if I waited until we were onboard the tax would still be added? Sent from my iPad using Forums mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clarea Posted May 14, 2016 #18 Share Posted May 14, 2016 Thanks steamboats . We are actually cruising out of civitivecchia but I suppose since Barcelona is the main port of embarkation we still get charged Spanish tax. If we had been cruising out of the U.K. Or USA does that mean no tax would be added? Last question I presume if I waited until we were onboard the tax would still be added? Not sure about the UK, but no tax is added to the internet purchase when cruising out of the US. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare steamboats Posted May 14, 2016 #19 Share Posted May 14, 2016 Thanks steamboats . We are actually cruising out of civitivecchia but I suppose since Barcelona is the main port of embarkation we still get charged Spanish tax. If we had been cruising out of the U.K. Or USA does that mean no tax would be added? Last question I presume if I waited until we were onboard the tax would still be added? Yes, Barcelona is regarded as the main port of embarkation. Civitavecchia is an interporting port. Therefore the Spanish VAT. Out of the UK you also have to pay VAT as long as your cruise has no non-EU port (most cruises out of UK do have a non-EU port like Guernsey). But as an example the Harmony cruise from Southampton to Barcelona on May 29th does not have a non-EU port and all those guests have to pay the VAT too (anyway, looks like RCI is charging the Spanish VAT although it should be the British). Out of the US you have to pay an additional State Tax in Florida and New Jersey but usually only as long as you are in port and within the 3 mile zone (and not for purchases made online). For EU cruises even when you have a non-EU port you still pay the Spanish VAT for all Spanish ports (and within the 3 mile zone). The VAT thing is an EU law so all EU countries have to claim the VAT for cruises. steamboats Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trixie21 Posted May 14, 2016 Author #20 Share Posted May 14, 2016 Yes, Barcelona is regarded as the main port of embarkation. Civitavecchia is an interporting port. Therefore the Spanish VAT. Out of the UK you also have to pay VAT as long as your cruise has no non-EU port (most cruises out of UK do have a non-EU port like Guernsey). But as an example the Harmony cruise from Southampton to Barcelona on May 29th does not have a non-EU port and all those guests have to pay the VAT too (anyway, looks like RCI is charging the Spanish VAT although it should be the British). Out of the US you have to pay an additional State Tax in Florida and New Jersey but usually only as long as you are in port and within the 3 mile zone (and not for purchases made online). For EU cruises even when you have a non-EU port you still pay the Spanish VAT for all Spanish ports (and within the 3 mile zone). The VAT thing is an EU law so all EU countries have to claim the VAT for cruises. steamboats Thanks steamboats. It would be useful if RCI explained this on the website instead of randomly adding taxes - I don't mind paying as long as I am clear what I am paying for. Sent from my iPad using Forums mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hexdragon Posted May 14, 2016 #21 Share Posted May 14, 2016 Almost adds up to the price I pay per year here in Spain for fiber optic wifi[emoji79] You get Fiber??? The US is supposed to be the leader in all things, yet we always seem to be behind the rest of the world.. I guess it costs too much money to upgrade our infrastructure. We need the money to build planes the air-force doesn't want, refurb tanks the army doesn't need, and bail out all the ponzi schemes... :mad: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare steamboats Posted May 14, 2016 #22 Share Posted May 14, 2016 It would be useful if RCI explained this on the website instead of randomly adding taxes - I don't mind paying as long as I am clear what I am paying for. I´m totally with you! They advertize a price and as soon as you click on "buy" there´s a much higher amount than it should be without any kind of explanation. It´s even worse with the drink packages. Without the 20% discount the advertized price did include both 18% Service Charge and 10% VAT. Now with the offer obviously it´s just the VAT included and they add the 18% when you click on "buy". No explanation at all but a lot of frustrated customers who are getting completly different answers when they call in and ask. And of course none of the answers is correct. steamboats Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iluvit! Posted May 17, 2016 #23 Share Posted May 17, 2016 Is the VAT added to all onboard purchases--gift shop, specialty restaurants, shore excursions? A Mediterranean cruise is my dream but it seems that one might have to add up to 20% to the cruise budget to cover this. Is there any strategy to avoiding VATs? Sent from my iPad using Forums mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare little britain Posted May 17, 2016 #24 Share Posted May 17, 2016 [quote=iluvit!;50008972Is there any strategy to avoiding VATs? Sent from my iPad using Forums mobile app Make sure the itinerary calls into Gibraltar or another non EU port, then there is no VAT. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare steamboats Posted May 17, 2016 #25 Share Posted May 17, 2016 Yes, the VAT is added to everything. Even with a non-EU port like Gibraltar you have to pay the VAT for all Spanish ports on your itinerary (as soon as you enter the 3 mile zone). You´re "safe" on an Eastern Med itinerary including a Turkish port. steamboats Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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