When does the drink package start on a cruise?

[bguppies]

This will DW's and My first time with the alcohol package on a cruise.

We will be on the Pride out of Tampa in December. (If anybody has had the package out of Tampa specifically)

I know it takes awhile to get out into the Gulf when leaving Tampa.

 

1) Does the alcohol package start when you board the ship or after you get out into the Gulf in open water?

 

2) Does the package work on port days if you stay onboard?  (definitely not getting off in Belize)

 

Thanks in advance for any answers.

[weezal]

starts immediately (except NY/TX), and valid throughout sailing, though you pay taxes while in port

https://www.carnival.com/help?topicid=1106

[skrufy]

Also if and when you go to Half Moon Cay, you cannot use the drink package. It’s not set up on the island.

[Theosprey247]

For your cruise it starts the moment you step on the ship.  It will work while in port (only on the ship of course). 
 

enjoy your cruise. 

[bguppies]

Thanks for all the responses.

 

I think I must have read a bunch of posts  about ships out of Galveston not allowing people to use it until the second day. Thats what made me question it.

 

So basically if we go lite on the drinking until we depart we should be good on the extra taxes.

[bguppies]

On 10/6/2023 at 6:42 PM, skrufy said:

Also if and when you go to Half Moon Cay, you cannot use the drink package. It’s not set up on the island.

Yeah our experiences at HMC, made me question whether it'll be active on board while we are anchored in Belize.

[Old Fart Cruisers]

On 10/6/2023 at 4:55 PM, weezal said:

starts immediately (except NY/TX), and valid throughout sailing, though you pay taxes while in port

https://www.carnival.com/help?topicid=1106

Also, 'Drinks On Us' with a casino offer does not work at all in New York.   Apparently, State law does not allow drinks to be given away (or even discounted), so you have to pay the full price (plus tax), even on specialty coffee until you are in international waters. 

[nybumpkin]

3 hours ago, Old Fart Cruisers said:

Also, 'Drinks On Us' with a casino offer does not work at all in New York.   Apparently, State law does not allow drinks to be given away (or even discounted), so you have to pay the full price (plus tax), even on specialty coffee until you are in international waters. 

Welcome to the Vampire State. 😃 

[Frank12]

Just know that while in port you will have to pay local and state taxes on all of your drink purchases.

That will go away once you leave state waters.

[simplelife]

On 10/8/2023 at 10:20 AM, bguppies said:

Yeah our experiences at HMC, made me question whether it'll be active on board while we are anchored in Belize.

It's active when you are aboard the ship whether sailing or docked. It is not active once you debark, even to a private island

[ProgRockCruiser]

On 10/8/2023 at 10:19 AM, bguppies said:

Thanks for all the responses.

 

I think I must have read a bunch of posts  about ships out of Galveston not allowing people to use it until the second day. Thats what made me question it.

 

So basically if we go lite on the drinking until we depart we should be good on the extra taxes.

FL taxes (6%-ish) will be not that big of a deal, IMHO, no matter how much you try to drink before getting into International waters.  On a $10 drink you're talking 60 cents.  

 

If you can pound back 6 or more drinks (maybe $4 in taxes) while still in State waters, well, you might be a compatible drinking companion! 😉 

[jsglow]

On 10/8/2023 at 5:06 PM, Frank12 said:

Just know that while in port you will have to pay local and state taxes on all of your drink purchases.

That will go away once you leave state waters.

I've literally seen irate customers berate bartenders, or worse yet, get in the Guest Services line to complain about this. Some folks just shouldn't be allowed to cruise.

[Iamthesea]

Curious if anyone knows how long it takes to get out of the "state" waters when sailing out of Charleston, SC?  The local and state tax is 9%.  Not sure if there is another tax on drinks when on the cruise ship, but Charleston does charge a 5% tax on hard liquor drinks, I believe.   (I'll have to look at the prices of Carnival drinks to see how much a frozen Margarita is.)  Not terrible, but it depends on how many drinks my group can devour once we board ship and before we hit open waters.😁

[Butterbean1000]

On 10/8/2023 at 5:30 PM, nybumpkin said:

Welcome to the Vampire State. 😃 

Yep, they're going to get their money one way or another.

[firefly333]

I had a new one out of Galveston. We had a couple of stowaways and they had to get all us b2b off the ship to go hunt for them. Already checked our passports and handed out cards. 

 

So maybe we left late.

 

I went to book a 5 pm dinner for that night. I was surprised to get hit with Galveston or texas taxes on my meal when the charge slip came. I ate at 5 pm both weeks, but just this one week got charged taxes. I was told we hadnt yet cleared texas waters. I was paying the full dinner charge plus 18%, sure didnt expect texas taxes on dinner. I think maybe their machines are set to know when we clear texas waters. We made a deal and they held the charge slip and changed my additional tip to $10 and ran the charge slip later after we cleared texas. 

[Colorado Beach Bum]

4 hours ago, firefly333 said:

I had a new one out of Galveston. We had a couple of stowaways and they had to get all us b2b off the ship to go hunt for them. Already checked our passports and handed out cards. 

 

So maybe we left late.

 

I went to book a 5 pm dinner for that night. I was surprised to get hit with Galveston or texas taxes on my meal when the charge slip came. I ate at 5 pm both weeks, but just this one week got charged taxes. I was told we hadnt yet cleared texas waters. I was paying the full dinner charge plus 18%, sure didnt expect texas taxes on dinner. I think maybe their machines are set to know when we clear texas waters. We made a deal and they held the charge slip and changed my additional tip to $10 and ran the charge slip later after we cleared texas. 

Interesting.  Had never heard of a tax on a specialty dinner.  I suppose this could happen on late sail aways.  Good to know.  What if it was pre-paid?

[Iamthesea]

Interesting!  Something to surely be aware of.

[chengkp75]

23 hours ago, Iamthesea said:

Curious if anyone knows how long it takes to get out of the "state" waters when sailing out of Charleston, SC?

State waters end 3 miles offshore, except Texas and Florida's Gulf coast, where it is 9 miles.

[rolloman]

On 10/10/2023 at 2:04 PM, Iamthesea said:

Curious if anyone knows how long it takes to get out of the "state" waters when sailing out of Charleston, SC?  The local and state tax is 9%.  Not sure if there is another tax on drinks when on the cruise ship, but Charleston does charge a 5% tax on hard liquor drinks, I believe.   (I'll have to look at the prices of Carnival drinks to see how much a frozen Margarita is.)  Not terrible, but it depends on how many drinks my group can devour once we board ship and before we hit open waters.😁

Once they open the casino, start gulping. Believe me, they want that casino open as soon as possible so they won't dilly dally around once they pull the lines. For a ballpark figure, I would say count on about 40 minutes once the ship as pulled away from the pier. 

[grillinchillin]

On 10/6/2023 at 3:55 PM, weezal said:

starts immediately (except NY/TX), and valid throughout sailing, though you pay taxes while in port

https://www.carnival.com/help?topicid=1106

If there was only a website that could factually answer this question... 🤦‍♂️

[chengkp75]

9 hours ago, rolloman said:

Once they open the casino, start gulping. Believe me, they want that casino open as soon as possible so they won't dilly dally around once they pull the lines. For a ballpark figure, I would say count on about 40 minutes once the ship as pulled away from the pier. 

As I said, the state tax will end at the end of state waters, 3 nm from shore.  The casino cannot open until in international waters, outside of 12 nm from shore.

[rolloman]

As I said and with actually answering the posters question, from Florida, count on about 40 min for the ship to get in international waters. The casino is a good onboard indicator when this has actually occurred as there will be no overhead announcement indicating the ship is now in international waters. 

[Itchy&Scratchy]

On 10/8/2023 at 6:06 PM, Frank12 said:

Just know that while in port you will have to pay local and state taxes on all of your drink purchases.

That will go away once you leave state waters.

what about a soda package for minors while in port? do the kids also have to pay taxes on each soda?

[Dwright826]

1 minute ago, Itchy&Scratchy said:

what about a soda package for minors while in port? do the kids also have to pay taxes on each soda?

Good question. I'm probably wrong, but I think the tax is an alcohol tax?

[Dwright826]

Just now, Dwright826 said:

Good question. I'm probably wrong, but I think the tax is an alcohol tax?

Never mind. State tax hahah.