Drink Package Rules

[ChaCr]

Hi

 

What can't I use the drink package on the day that I board?

 

Thanks for your responses.

 

Charle\

[cacruisin]

Assuming you were referring to the Cheers package.....

What is excluded in the CHEERS! drink package?

• Beverages promoted and sold in souvenir glasses (drink of the day)
• Bottles of liquor
• Beverages offered at gangway (similar to promotional drinks)
• Beverages offered through room service, mini bars and/or in-stateroom beverage programs
• Sharing cocktails, floaters, pitchers, tubes and buckets
• Beverages offered through enomatic wine machines
• All other beverage-related programs including merchandise, cigars and cigarettes
• Food items

[kelkel2]

7 minutes ago, ChaCr said:

Hi

 

What can't I use the drink package on the day that I board?

 

Thanks for your responses.

 

Charle\

It depends. What port are you leaving from? I know Galveston, maybe New York don’t allow it the first day. But that’s not a Carnival rule.. it’s up to the port. 

[cacruisin]

OH I miss read the question I apologize.  I also believe there is a rule that you can only purchase one or two alcoholic drinks prior to completing your muster drill.  

[Mic101680]

Keep in mind that you may be responsible for taxes for drinks purchased/utilized while in port. A lot of people don't realize this and then get upset when they have a small charge added.

[Rudyard]

It's been said that Carnival doesn't want the headache of dealing with state taxes. I know that out of Galveston, Royal lets you use it on day 1, but they have to deal with the state tax on each drink (or maybe just the package's overall price).

Edited January 28, 2023 by Rudyard

[coops]

On 1/27/2023 at 5:16 PM, Mic101680 said:

Keep in mind that you may be responsible for taxes for drinks purchased/utilized while in port. A lot of people don't realize this and then get upset when they have a small charge added.

It amazes me that Carnival charges tax at the port when getting drinks. Yet Princess and RCCL don't charge any tax on drinks. So is Carnival keeping that tax money?

[Sailin_Pirate]

31 minutes ago, coops said:

It amazes me that Carnival charges tax at the port when getting drinks. Yet Princess and RCCL don't charge any tax on drinks. So is Carnival keeping that tax money?

Yes , Carnival is committing tax fraud on drinks. /Sarcasm

 

Are you serious or just trying to stir the pot? Google why Carnival doesn't allow cheers from those ports. Can also Google the answer to your question

[Mic101680]

1 hour ago, coops said:

It amazes me that Carnival charges tax at the port when getting drinks. Yet Princess and RCCL don't charge any tax on drinks. So is Carnival keeping that tax money?

No, they don't keep it. Depending on the port, local tax laws may apply since the ship is still in U.S. waters while in port or close to shore. Once in international waters, the tax rate no longer applies. I'm sure other cruise lines are charging it as well, otherwise they could be subject to fines and other penalties from the various states and/or from the U.S. They may be combining it in the price of their drinks or you may simply have not noticed it before.

Similar reasons why the casinos and duty-free shops onboard aren't open while in port - they would be subject to local laws otherwise.

[EngIceDave]

I know that last year on Horizon, when I was in the candy shop, I asked if the bottled sodas in the cooler were included on Cheers and was told "no"

[coops]

16 hours ago, Sailin_Pirate said:

Yes , Carnival is committing tax fraud on drinks. /Sarcasm

 

Are you serious or just trying to stir the pot? Google why Carnival doesn't allow cheers from those ports. Can also Google the answer to your question

Not stirring the pot at all . Just curious as to why Carnival charges drink tax in Miami and other cruise lines don't. Its a valid question. And I know they don't allow cheers from some ports on first day as that is the same for other cruise lines as well. 

[coops]

14 hours ago, Mic101680 said:

No, they don't keep it. Depending on the port, local tax laws may apply since the ship is still in U.S. waters while in port or close to shore. Once in international waters, the tax rate no longer applies. I'm sure other cruise lines are charging it as well, otherwise they could be subject to fines and other penalties from the various states and/or from the U.S. They may be combining it in the price of their drinks or you may simply have not noticed it before.

Similar reasons why the casinos and duty-free shops onboard aren't open while in port - they would be subject to local laws otherwise.

Actually your answer makes alot of sense. Thank you . 

[BoozinCroozin]

17 hours ago, coops said:

It amazes me that Carnival charges tax at the port when getting drinks. Yet Princess and RCCL don't charge any tax on drinks. So is Carnival keeping that tax money?

Every drink before international waters is charged that state's liquor tax. Carnival charges it on every drinking leaving FL until 3 miles out (or whatever the line is). NCL out of New Orleans made announcements. The first was "In 15 minutes we will be in international waters". The second was "At 7PM, we will be in US waters" It was funny how people reacted to ordering drinks. The tax per drink was like $0.18.

[CaptainBazz]

41 minutes ago, coops said:

Just curious as to why Carnival charges drink tax in Miami and other cruise lines don't.

NCL and RCI do...we were charged tax on both cruises out of Miami.

[sanger727]

37 minutes ago, CaptainBazz said:

NCL and RCI do...we were charged tax on both cruises out of Miami.

agreed, we have also paid taxes on drinks while in a U.S. port on other lines. It’s not a ‘carnival’ thing.

 

to the OP, generally you can use the drink

package on the day that you board. I think there’s only a couple disembarkation cities you can’t and that’s due to local laws. If you can’t use it the day you board, they also charge you a day less.

[coops]

19 hours ago, CaptainBazz said:

NCL and RCI do...we were charged tax on both cruises out of Miami.

Did you have the drink package? We have never been charged drink taxes out of Miami with RCCL and just cruised out of there. We get the drink package so maybe thats why as its been paid for already. 

[CaptainBazz]

Yes we had the drinks package but maybe I am mistaken...we have done a bunch of cruises from Miami since late 2021 with NCL, RCI, Carnival...maybe it was only the other 2 that charged tax.