colhutch Posted March 17, 2022 #1 Share Posted March 17, 2022 Hi, first time cruiser going with Carnival in May to Bahamas. This question has probably been asked before but I couldn't find anything in the multitude of posts on here. Carnival website says of the Cheers drinks package the statement below , does this mean that even with the drinks package we would pay tax on any drinks ordered at port, first cocktail before sail away etc, and any drinks whilst docked in the Bahamas ? Just trying to work out if drinks package is worth it, we do like to work our way through the cocktail menu but don't want a bill at the end if we've already taken the drinks package. Thanks Applicable state and local taxes will be charged to the guest folio when this program is used within US waters. The tax is based on the state's tax structure and the cost of the individual drink purchased (not the daily program rate). For example: if the drink price is $5 and the tax is 10%, the guest's Sail & Sign card will be charged $0.50 for tax. This applies to all US ports (embarkation home ports and ports-of-call). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flatbush Flyer Posted March 18, 2022 #2 Share Posted March 18, 2022 2 hours ago, colhutch said: Hi, first time cruiser going with Carnival in May to Bahamas. This question has probably been asked before but I couldn't find anything in the multitude of posts on here. Carnival website says of the Cheers drinks package the statement below , does this mean that even with the drinks package we would pay tax on any drinks ordered at port, first cocktail before sail away etc, and any drinks whilst docked in the Bahamas ? Just trying to work out if drinks package is worth it, we do like to work our way through the cocktail menu but don't want a bill at the end if we've already taken the drinks package. Thanks Applicable state and local taxes will be charged to the guest folio when this program is used within US waters. The tax is based on the state's tax structure and the cost of the individual drink purchased (not the daily program rate). For example: if the drink price is $5 and the tax is 10%, the guest's Sail & Sign card will be charged $0.50 for tax. This applies to all US ports (embarkation home ports and ports-of-call). Last time I checked, the Bahamas were not part of the United States. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emoorehead Posted March 18, 2022 #3 Share Posted March 18, 2022 You do pay sales tax while in port before sail away on embarkation day. It is nominal, on average less than a dollar per drink. In January on the Sunshine out of Charleston I was paying like 80-some cents per drink while in port. I was drinking pina coladas, about $10 per drink if paying a-la-carte. I didn't pay any attention when we were in port in the Bahamas, so I can't speak to that. But all in all, I didn't find it enough to make the drink package not worth it. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruiserbrianj Posted March 18, 2022 #4 Share Posted March 18, 2022 When in doubt, always get the drink package 🙂 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colhutch Posted March 19, 2022 Author #5 Share Posted March 19, 2022 Great thanks for the confirmation, drinks package is the way to go then 🙂 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mondello Posted March 19, 2022 #6 Share Posted March 19, 2022 Says all US ports, and in parenthesis: embarkation and ports of call. Clearly means both homeports and ports of call in the US. Some itineraries include port stops in the US like Key West and routes that travel up or down the US coast. Does not apply to foreign ports of call. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ray98 Posted March 19, 2022 #7 Share Posted March 19, 2022 On 3/17/2022 at 8:26 PM, emoorehead said: I didn't pay any attention when we were in port in the Bahamas, so I can't speak to that. It is not charged in the Bahamas. I stayed on the ship last week in Nassau drinking and had no charges. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simplelife Posted March 20, 2022 #8 Share Posted March 20, 2022 You do pay taxes on drinks within in US ports, whether you have the drink package or not. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MagnoliaBlossom Posted March 20, 2022 #9 Share Posted March 20, 2022 In Texas, which may not be true of all ports you pay for all your drinks on embarkation day, Cheers kicks in at 6:00 am on day 2. Since you can bring two bottles of wine onboard, we had that for our get on the ship and sail away drinks. Then later in the evening had a beverage or two. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colhutch Posted March 23, 2022 Author #10 Share Posted March 23, 2022 Ah didn't realise the drinks package doesn't kick in until the next day, thanks for the tip, I'll check the small print and will make sure we bring a first night bottle of wine then, are you allowed to bring any spirits on board ? It's a postponed 50th birthday celebration so would I be allowed to bring a bottle of champagne or is it only wine allowed? Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare sparks1093 Posted March 23, 2022 #11 Share Posted March 23, 2022 23 minutes ago, colhutch said: Ah didn't realise the drinks package doesn't kick in until the next day, thanks for the tip, I'll check the small print and will make sure we bring a first night bottle of wine then, are you allowed to bring any spirits on board ? It's a postponed 50th birthday celebration so would I be allowed to bring a bottle of champagne or is it only wine allowed? Thanks It doesn't kick in the next day if you are sailing out of a Texas port, for other US ports it is active from the moment you walk on the ship (and having to pay sales tax). This is because of Texas law. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yankeegirl49 Posted March 23, 2022 #12 Share Posted March 23, 2022 1 hour ago, sparks1093 said: It doesn't kick in the next day if you are sailing out of a Texas port, for other US ports it is active from the moment you walk on the ship (and having to pay sales tax). This is because of Texas law. Texas and NY Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare sparks1093 Posted March 23, 2022 #13 Share Posted March 23, 2022 27 minutes ago, Yankeegirl49 said: Texas and NY Good to know, thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Schoifmom Posted March 23, 2022 #14 Share Posted March 23, 2022 4 hours ago, colhutch said: Ah didn't realise the drinks package doesn't kick in until the next day, thanks for the tip, I'll check the small print and will make sure we bring a first night bottle of wine then, are you allowed to bring any spirits on board ? It's a postponed 50th birthday celebration so would I be allowed to bring a bottle of champagne or is it only wine allowed? Thanks Champagne IS wine, so yes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
80sGal Posted March 23, 2022 #15 Share Posted March 23, 2022 Also, if you're in TX or NY, you don't pay Cheers price that first day either. Carnival isn't charging you for that day on the package. So if it's a 7 day cruise, Cheers is only priced per Six Days. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colhutch Posted March 24, 2022 Author #16 Share Posted March 24, 2022 18 hours ago, Schoifmom said: Champagne IS wine, so yes. Yeah but expensive wine so I wasn't sure if they categorised it differently but thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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