Not serving Alcohol while in Gibraltar

[Misself]

Well this was a new one.  

 

We were on the NCL Sun (out of Lisbon) last week and the night before we arrived in Gibraltar were told that due to 'Port Authority regulations' NCL Sun wasn't allowed to serve alcohol while we were docked in Gibraltar.  True to their word, next day all the bottles of booze were taken off the shelves and they didn't serve alcohol until gone 8pm!! (a bit late to enjoy a nice glass of wine with dinner for some).

 

All guest services would say was it wasn't up to them and wouldn't give us a reason why.  (Although one of the staff did say that they would have to pay fees if the served it).

 

Lots of unhappy guests who have paid for an ultimate drinks package and couldn't use it for the majority of the day.  Even worse if you had upgraded to the 'Plus' version.

 

The next 2 days in Spanish ports we had the whole "we have to tax you on the drinks" saga even though we bought the drinks package in the UK before sailing and therefore this doesn't apply.  

 

Basically, I don't think NCL had a clue what was going on (the serving staff were confused!) and I'll be interested to see when it visits Gibraltar this week what happens.

 

Has anyone encountered something similar before?  I'd perhaps expect it if we were visiting a strict muslim country but not Gibraltar.  We suspect NCL didn't do some paperwork or such and rather than confess just put the blame pack to the port authorities.

 

 

 

[njkate]

A few cruises had this same issue when docked in Greece last spring.

[Catchum]

Good information / reminder. Thank you - we have a Spain / Portugal / TA in a couple of days. We always take rum runners and a funnel - not to smuggle in booze but to store a couple of glasses each in the cabin in case of emergency (it is surprising how often this happens!) . We will make sure they are topped up before getting too close to land.

[New2cruise2022]

Gibraltar has been working hard this year to bring in cruise ships and establish the port to boost tourism. Perhaps there are ongoing negotiations with cruise ships on port fees and NCL has not come to terms. It would seem suspending alcohol sales while in port would give Gibraltar some leverage to finish the deal.

 

I am completely guessing that this is a possible reason. In the meantime, I think @Catchumhas the hack of the year. Bravo! 👏🏾 

[njkate]

Princess cruises to that area always have a stop in Gibraltar, have to pose the question over there, if they didn't have this issue I'd say it was an NCL issue, if they experienced the same I'd say it was a Gibraltar issue

 

 

 

 

 

[Travelling2Some]

We were in Gibraltar just a couple of weeks ago on the NCL Sun's transatlantic.  There was nothing like this going on at all.  We had drinks and wine with dinner without any issues.  It may have been one of the ports where the ship needed to charge tax on drinks while in port - I do remember that in New York and maybe 2 other ports but I don't recall which ports.  This must be something very new I guess.

[KeithJenner]

NCL seems to be having trouble dealing with these issues. When this was happening in Greece there were two NCL ships anchored off Santorini. You could get a drink on one of them but not the other.

[European_CruiseGirl]

14 minutes ago, KeithJenner said:

NCL seems to be having trouble dealing with these issues. When this was happening in Greece there were two NCL ships anchored off Santorini. You could get a drink on one of them but not the other.

Sad and frustrating but kind of makes me laugh still 😂

[KansasTexan]

56 minutes ago, KeithJenner said:

NCL seems to be having trouble dealing with these issues. When this was happening in Greece there were two NCL ships anchored off Santorini. You could get a drink on one of them but not the other.

I'm just getting wind of this problem and I'm not sure it's actually a problem for me - or not. I've considered switching my planned Italy/France/Spain cruise to one that goes to Greece and Turkey. Not that I need a drink with breakfast (although I've been known to enjoy a Bloody Mary on occasion), I'd rather not be denied a glass of wine with dinner. Guess I'll just give this some time and see how it shakes out. I've got plenty of time to make a decision. 

 

Thanks to the OP for posting about this.

[Misself]

Thanks for the comments.  

@catchum , definitely a plan for next time!  I did make a point of ordering extra cans of Diet Coke while outside the Spanish ports to store in cabin to avoid tax (which again never had when simply ordering from a pre paid drinks package).. 
 

There was a group of us (solo) all booked through the same travel agent and they are taking this up with NCL on our behalf.  I’ll let you know outcome and whether NCL provide any explanation or apology.  Had they told us before the cruise at least we would have known.

[njkate]

Had a response to question I posted on Princess forum. Responder was just in Gibraltar a few days ago and did not encounter this problem. So who knows, I would imagine if it was some kind of rule/law in Gibraltar it would be for all cruises

[julig22]

14 minutes ago, Misself said:

Thanks for the comments.  

@catchum , definitely a plan for next time!  I did make a point of ordering extra cans of Diet Coke while outside the Spanish ports to store in cabin to avoid tax (which again never had when simply ordering from a pre paid drinks package).. 
 

There was a group of us (solo) all booked through the same travel agent and they are taking this up with NCL on our behalf.  I’ll let you know outcome and whether NCL provide any explanation or apology.  Had they told us before the cruise at least we would have known.

FYI, I was in Spain in October, several ports had the security checks in the terminals, then had duty-free shops so you could stock up on Pepsi (ships are now Coke).  Much cheaper too!

[Misself]

49 minutes ago, julig22 said:

FYI, I was in Spain in October, several ports had the security checks in the terminals, then had duty-free shops so you could stock up on Pepsi (ships are now Coke).  Much cheaper too!

Ta, it was ok as I was ordering from my drinks package so free. Although pepsimax would’ve been nice!!

 

[ollienbertsmum]

4 hours ago, Misself said:

Well this was a new one.  

 

We were on the NCL Sun (out of Lisbon) last week and the night before we arrived in Gibraltar were told that due to 'Port Authority regulations' NCL Sun wasn't allowed to serve alcohol while we were docked in Gibraltar.  True to their word, next day all the bottles of booze were taken off the shelves and they didn't serve alcohol until gone 8pm!! (a bit late to enjoy a nice glass of wine with dinner for some).

 

All guest services would say was it wasn't up to them and wouldn't give us a reason why.  (Although one of the staff did say that they would have to pay fees if the served it).

 

Lots of unhappy guests who have paid for an ultimate drinks package and couldn't use it for the majority of the day.  Even worse if you had upgraded to the 'Plus' version.

 

The next 2 days in Spanish ports we had the whole "we have to tax you on the drinks" saga even though we bought the drinks package in the UK before sailing and therefore this doesn't apply.  

 

Basically, I don't think NCL had a clue what was going on (the serving staff were confused!) and I'll be interested to see when it visits Gibraltar this week what happens.

 

Has anyone encountered something similar before?  I'd perhaps expect it if we were visiting a strict muslim country but not Gibraltar.  We suspect NCL didn't do some paperwork or such and rather than confess just put the blame pack to the port authorities.

 

 

 

 I live in Gibraltar. I don’t know anyone in the Port Authority, but it sounds a bit dodgy to me.  I have heard of no new legislation being passed.  We usually have social media comments on anything and everything.  

 

I think that this is something NCL based, There may well be new forms to fill in post-Brexit.  There are also taxes that would affect Gibraltar and the rest of Europe differently.      If I was a passenger I would be expecting a proportion of the package to be reimbursed.   We know that the Casino will be out of action.  Happened for us when we had an unplanned stopover in Civitavecchia, we were not surprised, but could still drown our sorrows in the bar.  

 

What you pay for the package in UK does not affect how you are taxed when. consuming alcohol in other countries,  but if you have paid for the package then i would not have thought you need to pay any extra tax.  That should have been priced in the package.  

 

Do you want me to make contact with the Port Authority to try to establish the facts??

[KeithJenner]

2 hours ago, KansasTexan said:

I'm just getting wind of this problem and I'm not sure it's actually a problem for me - or not. I've considered switching my planned Italy/France/Spain cruise to one that goes to Greece and Turkey. Not that I need a drink with breakfast (although I've been known to enjoy a Bloody Mary on occasion), I'd rather not be denied a glass of wine with dinner. Guess I'll just give this some time and see how it shakes out. I've got plenty of time to make a decision. 

 

Thanks to the OP for posting about this.

I wouldn't worry too much about this for your cruise. This was a problem for Greek cruises for a couple of weeks earlier this year (it was then changed so that people couldn't buy drinks but could get them if covered by the package) and now this one report from Gibraltar. I have never heard of this problem in Mainland Spain, France or Italy and wouldn't expect them to arise.

 

There is potentially the issue with paying tax on drinks on your cruise. I'm not up to date with what is currently happening there, as it does change from time to time.

[ChiefMateJRK]

4 hours ago, Catchum said:

Good information / reminder. Thank you - we have a Spain / Portugal / TA in a couple of days. We always take rum runners and a funnel - not to smuggle in booze but to store a couple of glasses each in the cabin in case of emergency (it is surprising how often this happens!) . We will make sure they are topped up before getting too close to land.

That's funny.  "Double Black Label neat please"  Wash, rinse, repeat.....

[ChiefMateJRK]

3 hours ago, European_CruiseGirl said:

Sad and frustrating but kind of makes me laugh still 😂

Laugh?!?  This is a tragedy!  (jk)  That said, I would not be happy.  Do you not tip an occasional glass?

[Misself]

57 minutes ago, ollienbertsmum said:

 I live in Gibraltar. I don’t know anyone in the Port Authority, but it sounds a bit dodgy to me.  I have heard of no new legislation being passed.  We usually have social media comments on anything and everything.  

 

I think that this is something NCL based, There may well be new forms to fill in post-Brexit.  There are also taxes that would affect Gibraltar and the rest of Europe differently.      If I was a passenger I would be expecting a proportion of the package to be reimbursed.   We know that the Casino will be out of action.  Happened for us when we had an unplanned stopover in Civitavecchia, we were not surprised, but could still drown our sorrows in the bar.  

 

What you pay for the package in UK does not affect how you are taxed when. consuming alcohol in other countries,  but if you have paid for the package then i would not have thought you need to pay any extra tax.  That should have been priced in the package.  

 

Do you want me to make contact with the Port Authority to try to establish the facts??

It is definitely an NCL thing. Hoping our travel agent gets some honest answers from NCL UK. 
 

 

[xxsamoakesxx]

I’ve just contacted the UK VP re this as we’ve got an upcoming cruise (leaving Sunday) that has stops in Gibraltar, Granada and Seville.. it’ll be interesting to see what she says 🙂 

 

[Misself]

42 minutes ago, xxsamoakesxx said:

I’ve just contacted the UK VP re this as we’ve got an upcoming cruise (leaving Sunday) that has stops in Gibraltar, Granada and Seville.. it’ll be interesting to see what she says 🙂 

 

Let me know :-).   

[New2cruise2022]

44 minutes ago, xxsamoakesxx said:

I’ve just contacted the UK VP re this as we’ve got an upcoming cruise (leaving Sunday) that has stops in Gibraltar, Granada and Seville.. it’ll be interesting to see what she says 🙂 

 

This itinerary sounds amazing to me. I would love all of those ports. 

[tartantiara]

We stopped in New York on a TA with Celebrity a few years ago. We were not allowed to buy liquor whilst docked in NY , only wine or beer. We heard it was because Celebrity would not pay the authorities the extra money to sell hard liquor ?? 
it was quite funny at the martini bar where they usually have the good drinks on display in the glass cabinets they had substituted them with cans of soda or bottles of beer 

[KeithJenner]

2 hours ago, xxsamoakesxx said:

I’ve just contacted the UK VP re this as we’ve got an upcoming cruise (leaving Sunday) that has stops in Gibraltar, Granada and Seville.. it’ll be interesting to see what she says 🙂 

 

Good luck. NCL's reply last time was to tell people that those onboard saying that they weren't able to get drinks were mistaken.

[Misself]

2 minutes ago, KeithJenner said:

Good luck. NCL's reply last time was to tell people that those onboard saying that they weren't able to get drinks were mistaken.

I can imagine.  Like I was told i was totally wrong in saying I’d never paid Spanish tax on UPB included drinks on any of my 6 previous cruises.  The manager was adamant he was right and I was wrong.
 

here is the evidence of our no booze in Gibraltar .

 

 

[KeithJenner]

31 minutes ago, Misself said:

I can imagine.  Like I was told i was totally wrong in saying I’d never paid Spanish tax on UPB included drinks on any of my 6 previous cruises.  The manager was adamant he was right and I was wrong.
 

here is the evidence of our no booze in Gibraltar .

 

 

In fairness, the tax in Spain has changed so many times that I could forgive staff for not knowing about past rules. I've had just about every possible combination of Spanish Tax (no tax, tax in ports, tax for the entire cruise on purchases), and know of people who have been taxed on all drinks even using the beverage package for entire EU only cruises.

 

When we weren't served alcohol in port in Greece (just one port on our cruise) there wasn't even any mention of it, just closed bars. Later cruises did have signs and messages in the freestyle dailies, but NCL still denied it for a while when people phoned to ask. I suspect that is more because the shore staff genuinely didn't know, but they still shouldn't have dismissed peoples concerns when they were presented with evidence.