Tax onboard on photopackage? Med cruise

[Chipmunkmaniac]

my friend is sailing a 7n Med cruise in two weeks.
She wanted to preorder the photopackage at 295 usd but then the european VAT was added to the order making it 360...
So, people that sailed from Barcelone recently, how much did you pay for your photopackage onboard? Did that include tax?

 

[cheermom2four]

Im on the Sept 9th med cruise and I went to buy ahead and was bummed because this VAT really added to the cost. Hoping to see what previous Med cruisers say.

 

[Dug720]

Based on my experience on RCCL, the only way that VAT isn't charged is if the cruise stops at a non-EU port. My cruise on Brilliance didn't have it because we stopped at Kotor (non-EU port), but any cruise that didn't have a non-EU stop did have the VAT added.

 

[Chipmunkmaniac]

Hmm way back in 2010 i dont recall having it on my ta, my med nor baltic

 

[Dug720]

Hmm way back in 2010 i dont recall having it on my ta, my med nor baltic

The TA for sure would have had stops not in the EU. Not 100% about the Baltic, but likely. If there is a non-EU stop, there should be no VAT. But all EU stops = VAT.

 

[Pens Fan]

The TA for sure would have had stops not in the EU. Not 100% about the Baltic, but likely. If there is a non-EU stop, there should be no VAT. But all EU stops = VAT.

Curious, does this apply to ALL shipboard charges or just the photos, as they are handled by an outside company?

 

[laceltris3]

Baltic gets a pass because of the stop in Russia.

 

[Dug720]

Curious, does this apply to ALL shipboard charges or just the photos, as they are handled by an outside company?

As far as I know it's ALL shipboard charges - at least for merch and beverages. Not sure about shore excursions. I didn't have to deal with it last year because we stopped in Kotor. I think I will next year as we're RT from Rome through the Greek Isles only.

 

[Dug720]

Baltic gets a pass because of the stop in Russia.

Thanks. I wasn't sure about that as that area has never interested me.

 

[Pens Fan]

As far as I know it's ALL shipboard charges - at least for merch and beverages. Not sure about shore excursions. I didn't have to deal with it last year because we stopped in Kotor. I think I will next year as we're RT from Rome through the Greek Isles only.

Thanks! That's good info. It wouldn't be a deal breaker, but it is something to think about when looking at European cruises.

 

[Chipmunkmaniac]

My med had Tunesia in it so that explains and indeed Baltic has Russia and TA has Car stops

 

[gotomu212]

Our Med had VAT applied. We did a B2B with the TA and it was eye opening how much everything increased with the VAT.

 

[janiebubble]

It's all shipboard charges my first two cruises were all inside the EU so you pay 20% tax. My third stopped at Gibraltar (not in the EU) and the last in Russia so now VAT charged

 

[cheermom2four]

I called DCL and they said our upcoming excursion we booked thru DCL for the only port we are doing a DCL excursioin already had VAT included. So what is listed on our booking is what we pay