LuckyStar Posted May 15, 2019 #1 Share Posted May 15, 2019 Wanted to follow-up after our cruise. The authorities were much more strict on tax collection than they had been on my last cruise in Jan 2018. We got off the boat and they steered us to a line to collect that tax on liquor purchases before we left the terminal. I suppose my sister could have lied and said she had no alcohol but she didn't and paid about $4 on the approx. $100 worth she purchased in Cozumel. We had not faced that much of a crackdown previously. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ssb Posted May 15, 2019 #2 Share Posted May 15, 2019 (edited) All of Us in Texas pay taxes on alcohol coming into State whether bought here or not . That is the law . I’m 75 years old , and have paid taxes at border crossing on alcohol purchases from Mexico when I was 21 years old . And also all my life from hunting and fishing and travel in Mexico. It has been a law from that long ago. Texas fairly recently started enforcing existing law of collection at cruise passenger entry into State of Texas . Edited May 15, 2019 by ssb Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ssb Posted May 15, 2019 #3 Share Posted May 15, 2019 $4 is negligible when spending 1000 to 3000 or so on a cruise . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fdthird Posted May 18, 2019 #4 Share Posted May 18, 2019 Does my other state but Texas do this when returning from a cruise? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ssb Posted May 18, 2019 #5 Share Posted May 18, 2019 All kinds of taxes like tariffs , hotel , sales , liguor , cigarettes, port taxes are collected all over the world . Countries , States , Cities have to build facilities , so one may be able to cruise . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fdthird Posted May 18, 2019 #6 Share Posted May 18, 2019 1 hour ago, ssb said: All kinds of taxes like tariffs , hotel , sales , liguor , cigarettes, port taxes are collected all over the world . Countries , States , Cities have to build facilities , so one may be able to cruise . But that’s not what I asked. I specifically asked, does any other port but Texas collect taxes from “duty free” liquor brought back into the country? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ssb Posted May 18, 2019 #7 Share Posted May 18, 2019 I do not know the answer about every port state . But if another does, would that stop you from cruising from there ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1025cruise Posted May 18, 2019 #8 Share Posted May 18, 2019 I believe Texas is the only state that does this. And note, the liquor is still duty free, you are paying a tax for importing it into Texas (even if you are going directly to the airport to fly out). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ssb Posted May 18, 2019 #9 Share Posted May 18, 2019 If the price is still cheaper than buying at home ? And you want it , then you pay the freight ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bptex Posted July 22, 2019 #10 Share Posted July 22, 2019 Legally speaking you are supposed to pay duty on anything over the duty free amount but other states don't have revenue collectors in the ports, instead they rely on the CBP officers to collect. Which if you've ever really paid attention they generally don't have cash registers nearby. They are looking for narcotics, kidnapped children and anything dangerous that might be coming into the country and really don't care about getting an extra $4 out of every passenger. Now the TABC on the other hand wants their cut, even for passengers getting on a shuttle and heading straight to the airport and flying to Canada. They also get their tax revenue for any alcohol purchased on board while still in Texas waters which is why Carnival doesn't offer Cheers until the second day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1025cruise Posted July 22, 2019 #11 Share Posted July 22, 2019 Just note that the TABC taxes on liquor is different than duty. Odds are, as long as you declare your purchases to CBP, and aren't pushing a cart filled to the brim with liquor, they aren't going to bother collecting. TABC is specific to Texas taxes. You pay this on all liquor imported into Texas, whether or not it was assessed duty by CBP. So yes, if CBP so chooses, they can collect duty on your excess liquor, and then you pay the TABC tax on all of the liquor. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ssb Posted July 22, 2019 #12 Share Posted July 22, 2019 (edited) 1 hour ago, bptex said: Legally speaking you are supposed to pay duty on anything over the duty free amount but other states don't have revenue collectors in the ports, instead they rely on the CBP officers to collect. Which if you've ever really paid attention they generally don't have cash registers nearby. They are looking for narcotics, kidnapped children and anything dangerous that might be coming into the country and really don't care about getting an extra $4 out of every passenger. Now the TABC on the other hand wants their cut, even for passengers getting on a shuttle and heading straight to the airport and flying to Canada. They also get their tax revenue for any alcohol purchased on board while still in Texas waters which is why Carnival doesn't offer Cheers until the second day. So Carnival does not offer the use of All you can drink package on first day ? That would be disappointing for most . Edited July 22, 2019 by ssb Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bptex Posted July 22, 2019 #13 Share Posted July 22, 2019 Correct, they never have. On that same note they can only serve alcohol purchased through Texas licensed distributors while in Texas waters and there is a sales tax on it. Once the ship gets about 12 miles out and the casino opens they switch to internationally sourced booze that's obviously way cheaper for them. If you do the behind the fun tour they'll show you the warehousing area with a separate section for Texas sourced/taxed booze. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ssb Posted July 22, 2019 #14 Share Posted July 22, 2019 (edited) 1 hour ago, bptex said: Correct, they never have. On that same note they can only serve alcohol purchased through Texas licensed distributors while in Texas waters and there is a sales tax on it. Once the ship gets about 12 miles out and the casino opens they switch to internationally sourced booze that's obviously way cheaper for them. If you do the behind the fun tour they'll show you the warehousing area with a separate section for Texas sourced/taxed booze. We live in Galveston and are well aware of the laws . Royal includes first day in Booze package . We have never sailed Carnival anywhere in the world . Lots of Shiner Beer on Royal from the Island of Galveston just off the Great State of Texas . Edited July 22, 2019 by ssb Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Saint Greg Posted July 23, 2019 #15 Share Posted July 23, 2019 On 7/22/2019 at 11:03 AM, ssb said: We live in Galveston and are well aware of the laws . Royal includes first day in Booze package . We have never sailed Carnival anywhere in the world . Lots of Shiner Beer on Royal from the Island of Galveston just off the Great State of Texas . Carnival could do it as well. They don't want to offer the package when they're paying more for the alcohol. I believe it's only Texas and New York where they don't offer the cheers package day 1. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ssb Posted July 23, 2019 #16 Share Posted July 23, 2019 (edited) 37 minutes ago, Saint Greg said: Carnival could do it as well. They don't want to offer the package when they're paying more for the alcohol. I believe it's only Texas and New York where they don't offer the cheers package day 1. Thanks . Guess it is what Carnival market demands . Sorry for the guests that want the package . Seems it would be easy to pass on in a package . Probably could mean guests are bringing (sneaking ) more on of personal preferences, for the first day consumption , and Carnival really could be losing out big on those sales . Edited July 23, 2019 by ssb Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Saint Greg Posted July 23, 2019 #17 Share Posted July 23, 2019 12 minutes ago, ssb said: Thanks . Guess it is what Carnival market demands . Sorry for the guests that want the package . Seems it would be easy to pass on in a package . Probably could mean guests are bringing (sneaking ) more on of personal preferences, for the first day consumption , and Carnival really could be losing out big on those sales . I'm not a big Galveston fan and that's one of the reasons why. I enjoy the alchemy and can run up quite a bill there so I have to stay away the first day if I'm sailing out of Galveston. I just bring my bottle of wine, book the steakhouse the first night for another bottle, and just buy a couple fun ships for sail away. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ssb Posted July 25, 2019 #18 Share Posted July 25, 2019 On 7/23/2019 at 2:18 PM, Saint Greg said: I'm not a big Galveston fan and that's one of the reasons why. I enjoy the alchemy and can run up quite a bill there so I have to stay away the first day if I'm sailing out of Galveston. I just bring my bottle of wine, book the steakhouse the first night for another bottle, and just buy a couple fun ships for sail away. Sounds like you have it down for first day on Carnival. Enjoy your cruises . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Saint Greg Posted July 25, 2019 #19 Share Posted July 25, 2019 (edited) 4 minutes ago, ssb said: Sounds like you have it down for first day on Carnival. Enjoy your cruises . I’d much rather suck down some alchemy drinks on the package...which is what I’m going to be doing out of New Orleans in a few weeks. I have three Florida cruises booked so hopefully no more Galveston for awhile. Edited July 25, 2019 by Saint Greg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ssb Posted July 25, 2019 #20 Share Posted July 25, 2019 Bringing your own wine on for first day or using a package , you’re got it figured out for your alchemy tastes. Enjoy the cruises . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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