Hawaii GET tax on drink package

[Lellena]

Hello everyone, a European cruiser here so apologies but I am not familiar with US taxes 😇 later this year I will be on a Cruise to Alaska and Hawaii ( embark in Vancouver in case this makes a difference) . As part of a promotion we have the drink and dining packages... I was wondering.. will the GET tax be added to every transaction or is it already covered?

Exactly where/ when does it apply?

Thanks a lot!

[The Traveling Man]

2 hours ago, Lellena said:

Hello everyone, a European cruiser here so apologies but I am not familiar with US taxes 😇 later this year I will be on a Cruise to Alaska and Hawaii ( embark in Vancouver in case this makes a difference) . As part of a promotion we have the drink and dining packages... I was wondering.. will the GET tax be added to every transaction or is it already covered?

Exactly where/ when does it apply?

Thanks a lot!

Not sure what a GET tax is, but in the US (and possibly elsewhere) when your ship is in port or within the territorial waters, you likely will find sales tax added to any purchase you make on board.  It varies from one city or state to another, perhaps as low as 5%, but probably more like 10% or more.  Although you purchased your beverage plan prior to the cruise, if a beverage is actually served to you while within the port's jurisdiction, it usually is considered to be a transaction subject to the tax.  It normally adds less than a dollar to the price of your drink.  As they say, you can't fight city hall, so if you can't wait until you're out of port for a drink, expect to pay a bit of sales tax.

[BirdTravels]

GET = Hawaiian General Excise Tax. 

[Lellena]

2 hours ago, The Traveling Man said:

Not sure what a GET tax is, but in the US (and possibly elsewhere) when your ship is in port or within the territorial waters, you likely will find sales tax added to any purchase you make on board.  It varies from one city or state to another, perhaps as low as 5%, but probably more like 10% or more.  Although you purchased your beverage plan prior to the cruise, if a beverage is actually served to you while within the port's jurisdiction, it usually is considered to be a transaction subject to the tax.  It normally adds less than a dollar to the price of your drink.  As they say, you can't fight city hall, so if you can't wait until you're out of port for a drink, expect to pay a bit of sales tax.

Thanks.. this means I shall expect the same in Alaska?

[chengkp75]

2 hours ago, Lellena said:

Thanks.. this means I shall expect the same in Alaska?

Alaska has no state sales tax.  Some of the cruise port cities have municipal sales taxes, but generally don't impose them on the cruise ships.  The Hawaii GET is around 4.5-6% (if I remember correctly), depending on which county (island) you are in.  State jurisdiction goes out to 3 nautical miles offshore, at which time the ship will recalibrate the sales registers to no longer charge GET.  Vancouver will also charge sales tax.

Edited April 6 by chengkp75