NCL Spirit Canaries & Casablanca - 18% Spanish Tax question

[workingtocruise-59]

Agreed but I think the poster may not be accurate - just a thought as Spanish VAT is 21%

 

 

I think that general Spanish VAT for goods etc is 21% but there is a reduced rate for food ( that is consumed immediately) and some drinks (incl. alcohol) of 10%.

 

Do I understand this correctly? If you have the UK beverage package and order a drink for $15 then you would be charged 10% of 15 + 3 (20% service) so $1.80.

[KeithJenner]

Do I understand this correctly? If you have the UK beverage package and order a drink for $15 then you would be charged 10% of 15 + 3 (20% service) so $1.80.

 

 

No, you get charged 10% of the cost of the drink, which is more likely to be about $1, although it does of course vary depending on the drink.

 

 

 

 

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[workingtocruise-59]

No, you get charged 10% of the cost of the drink, which is more likely to be about $1, although it does of course vary depending on the drink.

 

 

 

 

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Thank you!

[room with a view]

Do other ships cruising the Med. (RCI/ Celebrity/MSC ) apply the " Spanish Tax" ??

[Deep-Blue-Iris]

P&O do, although they don’t offer all inclusive drinks.

 

 

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[KeithJenner]

My understanding is that most lines charge tax on purchased drinks, and there doesn’t seem to be much dispute about whether this is correct.

 

The issue is whether the tax should be charged on drinks consumed using the beverage package, especially when this is included in the fare.

 

 

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[teamflames]

Do other ships cruising the Med. (RCI/ Celebrity/MSC ) apply the " Spanish Tax" ??

 

 

 

From other threads I have read Celebrity doesn’t if you have the drinks package. Carnival apparently didn’t on drinks package and then changed it so they did but after a lot of backlash changed it back.

Please don’t take these as facts simply what I have noticed on other threads.

Have seen on other ncl threads people who have been charged have asked for the vat certificates onboard and they refuse and say it is all sent to Miami for processing.

I personally think it is another of those instances where ncl seems to charge more than other lines : their taxes are always higher when we compare same cruises over other lines); when we sailed Asia on celebrity and ncl, celebrity Vietnam visa was $6 and Ncl was $69 ... yep 11 times the price. Also on the ill fated Star cruises they continually refused to refund port charges and any queries about what port charges were was not answered; only line to charge gratuities on top of drink packages (which are already the most expensive). That is why they have nickel and dime reputation. Having said all that we sail them because despite these dirty tactics the net price tends to be agreeable.

 

 

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[KeithJenner]

I’m on the Spirit in Barcelona now with the promo UBP.

 

No tax charged on any drinks. :)

 

 

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[steamboats]

Do other ships cruising the Med. (RCI/ Celebrity/MSC ) apply the " Spanish Tax" ??

 

MSC does include the tax in the bar prices so you don´t get charged extra (just the service charge). RCI and Celebrity do charge the 10% on drinks next to the 18% service charge (and 21% on internet packages, spa services or 10% on specialty restaurant charges). RCI/X do charge the 10% on the drink packages (also when purchased online). When you have the drink package there´s no extra charge for a single drink (neither the 10% VAT nor the 18% service charge - this is all added on the price of the package itself).

 

steamboats

[Iggy68]

I’m on the Spirit in Barcelona now with the promo UBP.

 

No tax charged on any drinks. :)

 

 

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That’s really good news - we’re on the next cruise on the Spirit. Perhaps you should have a drink in every bar onboard, just to check it’s the same all over the ship? You know, just for research purposes :-)

[KeithJenner]

That’s really good news - we’re on the next cruise on the Spirit. Perhaps you should have a drink in every bar onboard, just to check it’s the same all over the ship? You know, just for research purposes :-)

 

 

I can confirm Henry’s Pub and Galaxy. I’ll try to make sure I try as many others as possible during the next few days. :)

 

 

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[room with a view]

Hi Keith - there has been so much discussion on this topic.

For research purposes .. have NCL stopped this "tax" across all the bars ?

We will be on the Spirit later this year (with UBP) and wonder if this is "one off" and the charges will be in place for cruises later in the year :(

[KeithJenner]

Hi Keith - there has been so much discussion on this topic.

 

For research purposes .. have NCL stopped this "tax" across all the bars ?

 

We will be on the Spirit later this year (with UBP) and wonder if this is "one off" and the charges will be in place for cruises later in the year :(

 

 

Unfortunately, there is just no way of knowing. It has varied in the past and may vary again in the future.

 

I always say, go expecting to be charged and treat it as a bonus if you aren’t.

 

Having said that, I cruise of Barcelona fairly regularly and I haven’t been charged tax with the UBP for many years, if ever. However, others say they have fairly recently.

 

 

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[room with a view]

Thanks, Keith - hope you are enjoying the Spirit.

I have a question about the cost of the dining package - I'll post that on a different thread .

[Flickjax]

My son (my travel agent) phoned NCL today and they think it is chargeable...but weren't sure...he raised it with their main contact after that and has an update that he will give me tonight I will let you know.

 

When I called they also said chargeable so hopefully I will have some better news tonight as sailing Wednesday next week :)

[snowyboy]

My son (my travel agent) phoned NCL today and they think it is chargeable...but weren't sure...he raised it with their main contact after that and has an update that he will give me tonight I will let you know.

 

When I called they also said chargeable so hopefully I will have some better news tonight as sailing Wednesday next week :)

 

 

I am just of Spirit on the first day in Main dining room waiter added 10% and we had to sign for it, later during our meal she returned saying they were no long charging 10% on UDP and I sign a credit note. After that all DRINKS no 10%. Will it Last :eek::eek:

[rsachek]

I'll add a data point to this thread.

 

We were on the Spirit February 23 - March 5, 2018 with an UBP and most certainly did pay the VAT. It was 10% of the menu price of your "free" drink. In fact, it was a bit of a double whammy because our cruise had a massive itinerary change that resulted in additional time in Spanish waters. Beside the money aspect, it was also a nuisance because the servers/bartenders had to print a receipt with the VAT amount for you to sign instead of just a quick card swipe.

[workingtocruise-59]

We were also on the Spirit 15th March cruise out of Barcelona.

 

From Freestyle Daily DAY 1 Thursday March 15

 

"SPANISH VAT

Spanish tax regulations stipulate that VAT will apply once the ship is in 12 Nautical Miles of Spanish waters. 10% will be assessed on all Food and Beverages excluding Beverage Package consumptions (my italics). Note: There is no tax applicable on Spa Service/Shore Excursions/Casino Gaming/Art/Telecom. Tax on roughly at 3.00a and off at 7.45p."

 

We had the UBP and were never charged the Spanish VAT on this cruise.

[rsachek]

We were also on the Spirit 15th March cruise out of Barcelona.

 

From Freestyle Daily DAY 1 Thursday March 15

 

"SPANISH VAT

Spanish tax regulations stipulate that VAT will apply once the ship is in 12 Nautical Miles of Spanish waters. 10% will be assessed on all Food and Beverages excluding Beverage Package consumptions (my italics). Note: There is no tax applicable on Spa Service/Shore Excursions/Casino Gaming/Art/Telecom. Tax on roughly at 3.00a and off at 7.45p."

 

We had the UBP and were never charged the Spanish VAT on this cruise.

 

Does anyone else find this incredibly inequitable how the policy changes so frequently? What the heck?!? Really sours me on NCL.

[workingtocruise-59]

Does anyone else find this incredibly inequitable how the policy changes so frequently? What the heck?!? Really sours me on NCL.

Yes, completely unfair and inequitable. We had read all the CC posts and were resigned to having to pay the extra 10% but when, during the first night, leaving Barcelona we were not presented with a bill to sign we realised the tax was not going to be charged.

Do you still have your receipts? (I realise that this is unlikely) If so, perhaps you could request a refund?

[Flickjax]

My son has informed me after speaking with NCL's business development manager that we wont be charged if we have pre paid for the ultimate beverage package.... however he also added that if I am charged he will ensure i am refunded from receipts.

 

So clear as mud :)

[room with a view]

Very interesting - NCL should clarify this as there seems to be a discrepancy between dates on the same ship.

 

We were on the Spirit Christmas and New Year 2017/2018 and were charged as soon as the ship sailed from Malaga until out of Spanish waters - and we had the UBP.

 

Considering the Spirit for this Christmas.

[Pooston]

We disembarked from our ten day cruise on the 4th April. We had the UBP. During our time on board we were NOT charged the 10% Spanish tax.

Edited April 10, 2018 by Pooston
Additional information

[teamflames]

Just got off Star, the Spanish taxes were not applied to beverages under the UBP but were for those purchased individually. BUT, as is often the case it was not applied consistently some bars did charge it and guest relations continually told passengers it was correct despite the beverage management constantly telling them it did not apply. Refunds required 3 to 4 visits to correct, of course no apologies by guest relations when proven they were wrong. Left hand and right hand clearly not talking to one another and amazingly the F&about manager did not know what the correct policy was.

 

 

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