Med Cruise VAT

[FrozenFosters]

I've just discovered that VAT will be added to everything on board so just trying to re-budget before we go next week.
Just wondering if anyone has more information on it. I'm guessing that 20% is added to everything. Including drinks/snacks/activities (like bibbidi bobbidi boutique) on board but it is already included in any port adventure price?

Thanks for any information!

 

[disneyholic family]

i saw someone else post about adding VAT to the stuff sold in the ship stores. I totally don't understand why they have to add VAT, since they only sell you stuff when they're out of port.
It's so strange.

 

[FrozenFosters]

i saw someone else post about adding VAT to the stuff sold in the ship stores. I totally don't understand why they have to add VAT, since they only sell you stuff when they're out of port.
It's so strange.

I know, I can't understand why at all! I know that we already pay this much tax on everything in the UK but adding it to everything makes it feel worse!

 

[disneyholic family]

we have VAT too...
but when a tourist visits, they pay the VAT in the store, but when they leave the country, they get the money back at the airport...
so i don't get why there's VAT on the ship...

 

[disneyholic family]

http://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Insights/On-Europe-cruises-getting-acquainted-with-VAT

 

[disneyholic family]

you can get a VAT refund when you leave spain after the cruise if you're not a citizen of an EU country, but even this has stringent conditions...

 

[m3owbox]

If you order a beverage does that have VAT added on to it?

 

[PrincessShmoo]

i saw someone else post about adding VAT to the stuff sold in the ship stores. I totally don't understand why they have to add VAT, since they only sell you stuff when they're out of port.
It's so strange.

Because you are "in" the European Union space for the cruise. It's just like them having to charge tax on the Hawaii trips, once they are within the 12 mile limit. There are cruises that don't charge the VAT - if a cruise makes a port call at at least one port that's not in the EU, there's no VAT charges.

 

[m3owbox]

When is VAT charged? Is it the whole cruise? Is it only when you're in port?

 

[PrincessShmoo]

When is VAT charged? Is it the whole cruise? Is it only when you're in port?

On any charges made while on the cruise.

 

[m3owbox]

what is the VAT on alcoholic drinks?

 

[FrozenFosters]

If you order a beverage does that have VAT added on to it?

This is what I was wondering too. If read that the VAT was less (maybe 8%) but that was on an old thread so might not still be true.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

This is what I was wondering too. If read that the VAT was less (maybe 8%) but that was on an old thread so might not still be true.

I believe it's still 8%.

 

[Dug720]

When I sailed on an RCCL Med/Venice cruise this summer, we were exempted from the overall VAT because we visited Kotor in Montenegro which is not in the EU. BUT anything purchased while we were docked in Barcelona or while we were in Spanish waters (meaning beverages and/or beverage packages since RCCL has those - maybe specialty dining packages? and I don't think excursions but I'm not positive - which was all you could buy since the shops were closed) did have the VAT added.

So yes. It includes beverages.

 

[disneyholic family]

does DCL provide the documents to claim a VAT refund (for goods purchased on board the ship) when we leave spain via barcelona airport?

i would like to get that 20% VAT back that i'll have to pay on all the dcl merchandise i tend to buy in their shops (clothing and such)

.

.

 

[scgustafson]

We were charged VAT on our 2014 12-night Med cruise from Barcelona to Venice. We went to guests services to get a VAT refund form the night before disembarkation, but we only received it because our combined store purchases exceeded a certain threshhold, which I don't remember, but it was in the 3 figures. We were able to get the refund before our flight out of Heathrow (we stayed in London for 3 nights before heading home).

 

[disneyholic family]

We were charged VAT on our 2014 12-night Med cruise from Barcelona to Venice. We went to guests services to get a VAT refund form the night before disembarkation, but we only received it because our combined store purchases exceeded a certain threshhold, which I don't remember, but it was in the 3 figures. We were able to get the refund before our flight out of Heathrow (we stayed in London for 3 nights before heading home).

yes, typically there is a threshold of some kind....it's set by the country from which you're exiting i believe..
so in our case that would be spain...
so it can be requested from guest services.....was it on the total VAT on all purchases during the cruise?
that's fabulous if that's true!!

.

 

[disneyholic family]

i found this at that link i posted....this is for spain and is from 2014, so the numbers have changed..but it gives an idea of what to expect..

Receipts from a single store that add up to more than 90.16 euros, or about $130, are eligible for a refund. Receipts from different vendors (i.e. the spa, the photo concession, shops) can’t be combined.

Alas, spirits and other goods that have already been consumed aren’t eligible for a VAT refund.​

 

[Cliffside]

Does anyone know if they charged VAT on the British Aisles cruise. I don't believe that Guersney is part of the EU so there should be no VAT on board.

 

[scgustafson]

Does anyone know if they charged VAT on the British Aisles cruise. I don't believe that Guersney is part of the EU so there should be no VAT on board.

No, we were not charged a VAT on the 12-night British Isles cruise this summer.