A word of advice

[AndrewD65]

I wanted to give a word of advice for any new cruisers out there that may not be aware..

 

Don't buy the soda card while still in port or within the area you will be charged state tax on the item. wait until you enter international waters for before you buy anything on the ship.

 

just a friendly word of advice, any others please feel free to add.

[MrFunInTheSun]

Yes, that goes for your drinks of the day, they have graciously for you as you board the ship...and any other drink for that matter. However if you want to start the party early, have to sometimes bite the bullet and pay the tax. May just not want to get anything at a high cost such as soda card until you're at sea.

[salty dingo]

I just got burned by this nonsense on my recent cruise in Hawaii. No big deal really but if you can save a buck by doing nothing, you should.

[Kurbanfan]

Anything you buy while still in port.........you will be charged a sales tax.....nothing new......

[S.S.Oceanlover]

I wanted to give a word of advice for any new cruisers out there that may not be aware..

 

Don't buy the soda card while still in port or within the area you will be charged state tax on the item. wait until you enter international waters for before you buy anything on the ship.

 

just a friendly word of advice, any others please feel free to add.

 

how much is the sales tax on a 7 day soda card?

 

Bill

[Fourseventeen]

tax all depends what ship/port your on. Personally when I get my soda card I wait till the first sea day. Figure u set sail at 4pm so if you buy a card at say 2pm...your paying for the card as if you bought it at 1201am anyway so why not just wait til after midnight on your first day or when you wake up on your first sea day :D

[AndrewD65]

tax all depends what ship/port your on. Personally when I get my soda card I wait till the first sea day. Figure u set sail at 4pm so if you buy a card at say 2pm...your paying for the card as if you bought it at 1201am anyway so why not just wait til after midnight on your first day or when you wake up on your first sea day :D

 

 

I Do the same thing, Usually when we get into international water I get my drink but sometimes you just cant hold back and have it get it while still in port.

 

I can tell you that tax in Tampa is 7%

[capndinghy]

I am not sure of the numbers, but..I suspect the cost of one or two sodas purchased before the ships sails will exceed whatever the tax is on a soda card. No wonder my bar bill is so high! :D

[S.S.Oceanlover]

I am not sure of the numbers, but..I suspect the cost of one or two sodas purchased before the ships sails will exceed whatever the tax is on a soda card. No wonder my bar bill is so high! :D

 

That's what I was thinking. After spending a couple thousand on the trip the $3.00 isn't going to get my cheap arse too upset.

 

If you are buying soda cards for the whole family I could see waiting perhaps.

 

Bill

[karenh1127]

I dont think it matters what day you buy the card, it is good for the entire cruise. If it is a 4 day cruise, you pay for 4 days, etc.

[ronandannette]

So, what about, say...shore excursions? Apparently if you want to book the "Behind the Fun" tour you need to do it the second you step foot on board. Will there be Florida state tax added to the charge? :confused:

[S.S.Oceanlover]

I dont think it matters what day you buy the card, it is good for the entire cruise. If it is a 4 day cruise, you pay for 4 days, etc.

 

I believe it's by the day but you can't buy one after the second day.

 

Bill

[Kurbanfan]

So, what about, say...shore excursions? Apparently if you want to book the "Behind the Fun" tour you need to do it the second you step foot on board. Will there be Florida state tax added to the charge? :confused:

 

If they do charge taxes it is hidden in the price of the excursion. If the excursion is $95.00.....you pay $95.00:)

[waykaylincruz]

Can anyone confirm whether or not the soda card can be prorated if purchased on the second day of the cruise?? I was under the assumption that it costs the same, no matter what day you purchased it..ie.. if it is a 7 day cruise, then you MUST pay for 7 days for the soda package. Am I correct??

 

Thanks everyone!!

[AndrewD65]

Can anyone confirm whether or not the soda card can be prorated if purchased on the second day of the cruise?? I was under the assumption that it costs the same, no matter what day you purchased it..ie.. if it is a 7 day cruise, then you MUST pay for 7 days for the soda package. Am I correct??

 

Thanks everyone!!

 

 

It is prorated if you purchase the card on the second day.

[MrFunInTheSun]

Can anyone confirm whether or not the soda card can be prorated if purchased on the second day of the cruise?? I was under the assumption that it costs the same, no matter what day you purchased it..ie.. if it is a 7 day cruise, then you MUST pay for 7 days for the soda package. Am I correct??

 

Thanks everyone!!

 

The way it's worded below, from carnival.com, it looks like you pay for the full amount of days no matter when you sign up for it. So sign up for it the first day after you've set sail.

 

"What is the Unlimited Soda Program?

 

Unlimited Soda Program

 

We offer all guests the option to take advantage of the Unlimited Soda Program which provides the guest unlimited soft drinks and juices for the duration of the cruise at a one time purchase price (including 15% service charge). A sticker, to be attached to the guest’s Sail & Sign card can be purchased at the casino bar, lobby bar or pool bar on board the ship.

In all locations where bar beverage service is offered, guests will be served a glass of the soft drink or juice of their choice - one 16 ounce glass will be served at a time and only to the guest whose name appears on the Sail & Sign card. The program cannot be used through room service. Note: The Unlimited Soda Program can be used during the port stop in Half Moon Cay.

Note: The following beverages are available in the Lido Deck Restaurant, 24/7 and are complimentary: Coffee; Hot Tea; Hot Chocolate; Lemonade; Sweet Ice Tea. "

 

"Cruise Duration 17 Years Old and Younger 18 Years Old and Older

2-day $10.35 $13.80

3-day $15.53 $20.70

4-day $20.70 $27.60

5-day $25.88 $34.50

6-day $31.05 $41.40

7-day $36.23 $48.30

8-day $41.40 $55.20

9-day $46.58 $62.10

10-day N/A N/A

11-day N/A N/A

12-day $62.10 $82.80

13-day N/A N/A

14-day $72.45 $96.60

15-day $77.63 $103.50

16-day $82.80 $110.40"

[gogetter]

Does anyone see this as double dipping?

 

When we purchase our cruise, there are port charges, right?

 

maybe, the originating port comes along afterwards and charges the cruise lines this fee as a way to make money and asks voters to vote on it.

[okwriter]

The minute I hit the Lido deck, I want a DOD! Who cares about the tax?! :D

[5waldos]

Does anyone see this as double dipping?

 

When we purchase our cruise, there are port charges, right?

 

maybe, the originating port comes along afterwards and charges the cruise lines this fee as a way to make money and asks voters to vote on it.

 

Taxes- you are still considered to be in whatever port you are in and you have to pay tax just as you would on shore.

 

But I agree- about one soda before you get the card and any savings is gone. As they say- don't sweat the small stuff.

[S.S.Oceanlover]

Does anyone see this as double dipping?

 

When we purchase our cruise, there are port charges, right?

 

maybe, the originating port comes along afterwards and charges the cruise lines this fee as a way to make money and asks voters to vote on it.

 

The port charges are for docking the ship there and the facilities there.

 

Has nothing to do with anything being sold there.

 

When I get paid there are taxes taken out of my check so I shouldn't have to pay any sales tax when I take the money I earned and buy something since that would be double dipping as well.

 

Bill

[5waldos]

The port charges are for docking the ship there and the facilities there.

 

Has nothing to do with anything being sold there.

 

When I get paid there are taxes taken out of my check so I shouldn't have to pay any sales tax when I take the money I earned and buy something since that would be double dipping as well.

 

Bill

 

Taxes come in many flavors. The money taken out of your paycheck has nothing to do with sales taxes which are state determined. Some states have them, some no. The money taken out of your paycheck is for income taxes.

[Carolyn1950]

I wanted to give a word of advice for any new cruisers out there that may not be aware..

 

Don't buy the soda card while still in port or within the area you will be charged state tax on the item. wait until you enter international waters for before you buy anything on the ship.

 

just a friendly word of advice, any others please feel free to add.

 

Anything you buy while still in port.........you will be charged a sales tax.....nothing new......

 

Why, oh, why do you people do this?? He pointed out he was telling new cruisers that may not be aware of the facts..When I was new, I didn't know that.. He never said it was 'new'.. Give people a break and don't be so quick to get uppity..

[5waldos]

Why, oh, why do you people do this?? He pointed out he was telling new cruisers that may not be aware of the facts..When I was new, I didn't know that.. He never said it was 'new'.. Give people a break and don't be so quick to get uppity..

 

The answers given are not always a direct response to the opening post. It is a back and forth discussion. Nobody was getting uppity-

[S.S.Oceanlover]

Taxes come in many flavors. The money taken out of your paycheck has nothing to do with sales taxes which are state determined. Some states have them, some no. The money taken out of your paycheck is for income taxes.

 

my point exactly.

 

Port charges have nothing to do with sales tax charged in a port.:)

 

So as gogetter asked do you consider this double dipping. My answer is NO!

 

Bill

[keeponrolling]

luddite

 

Everyone should happily pay a lot of taxes, even to the point of paying extra taxes that they could avoid.

Or am I not understanding the purpose of the Democrat Party?

__________________

Before you criticize someone,walk a mile in their shoes. That way, after you criticize them, you're a mile away and you have their shoes.

--------------------------------------

It is with complete certainty that you misunderstand the purpose of the Democratic Party, or any functioning sociopolitical system. Those few dimes that you constantly moan about accumulate to contribute to a functioning Port Authority and other services that you would insist on properly and conveniently serving you before you step on your ship.

 

By the way, those metaphorical shoes you stole speak succintly about your character.