dan2097

While historically newspapers in tabloid format were associated with the style of journalism, more recently traditional newspapers have also switched to the tabloid format due to its convenience e.g. The Times. Given the title includes the explicit qualification that it's only in Spanish waters I still don't think it's that click baity. That would fall under my second suggestion of making the guest explicitly aware of it when they're deciding their package, as opposed to potentially only when they see it in their daily patter. My only uncertainty is whether when a beverage package is purchased from European sales whether the pricing of the beverage package includes VAT, as generally you don't pay VAT twice on the same product (you could argue the drinks package and drinks are separate, although that's usually the business' problem rather than the consumers). My understanding is that in the US/Canada the beverage package doesn't include sales tax, so it's more clear cut that VAT would be applicable in places that charge it.

If I didn't hedge my argument then even a practically irrelevant counter-example like a microstate could be given. For developed countries https://travel.stackexchange.com/questions/34577/in-which-developed-countries-other-than-the-us-does-the-price-tag-not-usually backs up my point. Japan switched back to requiring prices inclusive of VAT to be shown in April 2021. These arguments are essentially a microcosm of the decisions that NCL have had to make when pricing an unlimited drinks package in the first place. If all guests actually fully used this it wouldn't be viable. NCL will have stats as to how much drinks are on average consumed at each location, and hence would be able to estimate how many drinks are likely to be consumed and hence what the expected mean VAT bill will come to. An unlimited drinks package is inherently incompatible with a "fair" distribution of costs, people who drink more are subsidised by those who drink less. I don't disagree that it's fairer for guest to pay their own VAT, but that's also true of drinks in general. This comes down to the level of consumer protection in different countries. In the UK you can't pitch one thing then have this contradicted in the small print of the T&Cs. Given that some descriptions of the package do elude to this potential charge e.g. https://www.ncl.com/sites/default/files/790164-BEV_Package_Flyer_UOBP_PPBP Update_V7_no_crops.pdf but some do not e.g. https://www.ncl.com/sites/default/files/UK_Consumer_FAS+.pdf I have no idea whether it would be enforceable if contested.

The Independent isn't a tabloid and the headline is correct for almost the entire world. In practically all countries other than Canada/United States prices are VAT inclusive unless explicitly stated otherwise. Given that NCL cannot offer a free at sea service in Spanish waters, the ethical thing would be easier to increase the price of Free at Sea in applicable itineraries, or to make customers aware of this at the earliest opportunity, including when buying the package. While the underlying issue is clearly Spanish regulations, the customers are dealing with NCL not the Spanish government, and NCL are failing to be transparent that they cannot deliver what they're selling.