I took a cruise out of NYC last month and coffee cost me more in port than at sea. So, NYC seems to charge tax on drinks, too.I’ve been to a lot of ports and most don’t levy tax on food/ beverage/ services. The only one I can think of is Miami.
This is my understanding as well. Mediterranean cruises to Spain, France, Italy, and Greece would have the European VAT. Cruises from or stopping in Southampton do not, because the United Kingdom is no longer in the EU. Transatlantic cruises similarly do not charge VAT.I believe the VAT is added for cruises entirely in the EU, rate based on departure port. I know people have had it added to Mediterranean cruises. We did not have VAT on our Baltic Sea and Norway cruises.
I believe the VAT is added for cruises entirely in the EU, rate based on departure port. I know people have had it added to Mediterranean cruises. We did not have VAT on our Baltic Sea and Norway cruises.
This is my understanding as well. Mediterranean cruises to Spain, France, Italy, and Greece would have the European VAT. Cruises from or stopping in Southampton do not, because the United Kingdom is no longer in the EU. Transatlantic cruises similarly do not charge VAT.
For reference, there was no tax on this year's EBTA.
Interesting. My first bar check was on embarkation day at 4.43pm. We were still in port, and it shows no taxes.It looks like Florida requires sales tax on alcohol purchases, so if you purchased drinks while the ship was at or near Port Everglades, you would’ve paid the tax. If you weren’t charged, Disney paid it for you.
It might just be included in the price. That's what happened with my coffee in NYC.Interesting. My first bar check was on embarkation day at 4.43pm. We were still in port, and it shows no taxes.
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If you just got off, wasn’t it the EBTA?I’m shocked at how many people think this. We just got off the WBTA. The evening before we reached our first port in Portugal, there was a frenzy of passengers buying in the shops because they heard hefty European taxes were about to be added to purchases.
As the previous poster pointed out, taxes are charged only when the ship is in or near the port. This is why shops are closed… typically, only food, beverage and services are available for purchase and these are often exempt from local taxes. We bought a cupcake and some drinks while the shop was in Spain and no taxes were added.
I’ve been to a lot of ports and most don’t levy tax on food/ beverage/ services. The only one I can think of is Miami.
That's not what Disney Cruise Line is usually doing.It might just be included in the price. That's what happened with my coffee in NYC.
Fair enough. My experience last month was with a different cruise line, unfortunately.That's not what Disney Cruise Line is usually doing.
See for example a Palo Brunch during a Mediterranean cruise last year, where VAT was applied during the voyage. It makes sense for accounting purposes I guess.
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Interesting. My first bar check was on embarkation day at 4.43pm. We were still in port, and it shows no taxes.
View attachment 863075
I’m shocked at how many people think this. We just got off the WBTA. The evening before we reached our first port in Portugal, there was a frenzy of passengers buying in the shops because they heard hefty European taxes were about to be added to purchases.
As the previous poster pointed out, taxes are charged only when the ship is in or near the port. This is why shops are closed… typically, only food, beverage and services are available for purchase and these are often exempt from local taxes. We bought a cupcake and some drinks while the shop was in Spain and no taxes were added.
I’ve been to a lot of ports and most don’t levy tax on food/ beverage/ services. The only one I can think of is Miami.