Wine Package

[mynyddisamrs]

It's a few years now since we sailed with RCI and I've forgotten how the wine package charges go.....I'm sure someone will come along an advise!

On the pre cruise planner info it gives the price for the wine package if you wish to pre order.

Q) Does this go against your sea pass account or is it charged to your card at the time of ordering on line ie now?

Q) And ......does the price shown include the 15% charge ( I know that is put on over the bar drinks etc. when on board ) or is that an extra at time of ordering /or on your sea account?

 

Hope that makes sense!!

BFN

[Daghis]

Q) Does this go against your sea pass account or is it charged to your card at the time of ordering on line ie now?

Whenever you order something online before your cruise, you provide your credit card information and the amount is charged in full at the time of purchase.

Q) And ......does the price shown include the 15% charge ( I know that is put on over the bar drinks etc. when on board ) or is that an extra at time of ordering /or on your sea account?

The price does not include the 15% gratuity which is added. When you click the [buy] button and it asks for your credit card information, I seem to recall that it shows you to the total amount including gratuity.

[Mr. Bungle]

It's a few years now since we sailed with RCI and I've forgotten how the wine package charges go.....I'm sure someone will come along an advise!

On the pre cruise planner info it gives the price for the wine package if you wish to pre order.

Q) Does this go against your sea pass account or is it charged to your card at the time of ordering on line ie now?

Q) And ......does the price shown include the 15% charge ( I know that is put on over the bar drinks etc. when on board ) or is that an extra at time of ordering /or on your sea account?

 

Hope that makes sense!!

BFN

 

If you order BEFORE sailing, it goes on the credit card.

If you order WHEN sailing, it goes on the SeaPass

I do believe the TIP is included when ordering either online or in person.

 

There should be 3 wine lists that range from a basic package with 20 or so to chose from, to a list of about 50 or so. It all depends on how much you wish to spend on wine, the quality of the wines, and how much you will be able to consume over the course of your cruise.

 

If we purchase the package, we will go with the 5 bottle/Gold. The cost averages out to be around $28/bottle. Which is good because the DW like the sweeter wines that are in the package and I can get a bottle or two of DryReds and not break the bank doing so.

 

Hope this helps...

[mynyddisamrs]

Thanks for the info!!:) Methinks it's going to be the Gold Package too.

We can't wait to try the IOS in October.

 

I'd been reading reviews of the AOS going from Malaga and was rather worried about the comments saying the wine package was charged, 15% added which was to be expected and then....8% Spanish tax.

As we're going on the Maiden AOS from Southampton there shouldn't be an extra 8% surely!!

 

Adverse comments re. fellow passengers etc should also....we hope ...be resolved as we sail from UK. The smoking only in certain areas also seemed a problem but as the Brits are now used to non smoking in public areas we're hoping that's resolved too.

 

Thanks again....

[Hlitner]

Thanks for the info!!:) Methinks it's going to be the Gold Package too.

We can't wait to try the IOS in October.

 

I'd been reading reviews of the AOS going from Malaga and was rather worried about the comments saying the wine package was charged, 15% added which was to be expected and then....8% Spanish tax.

As we're going on the Maiden AOS from Southampton there shouldn't be an extra 8% surely!!

 

Adverse comments re. fellow passengers etc should also....we hope ...be resolved as we sail from UK. The smoking only in certain areas also seemed a problem but as the Brits are now used to non smoking in public areas we're hoping that's resolved too.

 

Thanks again....

 

The tax issue applies to all cruise ships in Spanish ports (and in a few other countries including NJ and Fl in the USA). The tax is only imposed if you make a purchase while the ship is in Spanish waters. So, you simply do not buy the wine package until after the ship has sailed. If you are unsure whether they are international waters (where they do not charge the Spanish tax) just ask the staff. By the way, it is the same issue even if you buy a drink while in a Spanish port. They will automatically add the Spanish tax to any drink tab.

 

Hank

[mynyddisamrs]

Thanks Hank ....Soooo, the thing to do if you stay onboard while at a Spanish port is to drink water or squash/ coffee from the windjammer then ...thermal mugs at the ready!!! Or ....Does the 8% tax apply to non alcoholic drink / other purchases too ie ice creams etc.?

Methinks we'll be staying onboard for a few of the ports on our next cruise so I hope we'll be able to avoid extra charges!

 

BFN

Jackie

[critterchick]

I recall paying VAT taxes on a cruise out lf Barcelonawhere all of the ports were EU. Drinks, spa services, shop purchases all carried an extra tax whether we were in port or not.

[melbur]

I recall paying VAT taxes on a cruise out lf Barcelonawhere all of the ports were EU. Drinks, spa services, shop purchases all carried an extra tax whether we were in port or not.

 

Exactly right, once you leave from Spain, you pay VAT on everything throughout the cruise.

[J&K08]

Are you allowed to bring the bottle from the wine package with you into the MDR and specialty restaurants and if so is there a corkage fee if you bring the bottle with you into the MDR or the specialty restaurants? Is there a corkage fee if you ask for the bottle of wine while you are in the MDR or specialty restaurants? Thanks for the help from a RCL newbie.

[critterchick]

Are you allowed to bring the bottle from the wine package with you into the MDR and specialty restaurants and if so is there a corkage fee if you bring the bottle with you into the MDR or the specialty restaurants? Is there a corkage fee if you ask for the bottle of wine while you are in the MDR or specialty restaurants? Thanks for the help from a RCL newbie.

 

You won't be charged corkage anywhere on wine package wines, at least that's been our experience.:)

[BesideTheSeaChris]

Do RCI ever offer discounts on their wine packages? We're thinking of ordering a package (for our very first cruise) and wondered if there is any advantage to ordering beforehand or waiting until we board.

Also, can you only get your wine in the dining rooms or to your cabin? Is it possible to get a bottle (or even a glass) at one of the bars?

As we are cruise novices any advice would be very welcome!

[Clarea]

Do RCI ever offer discounts on their wine packages? We're thinking of ordering a package (for our very first cruise) and wondered if there is any advantage to ordering beforehand or waiting until we board.

Also, can you only get your wine in the dining rooms or to your cabin? Is it possible to get a bottle (or even a glass) at one of the bars?

As we are cruise novices any advice would be very welcome!

I've never seen a difference in the wine package price between ordering it beforehand or on board.

 

You can get bottles from your package at the dining room and specialty restaurants. You can then take one or more or all bottles to your stateroom if you like.

[gambee]

I've never seen a difference in the wine package price between ordering it beforehand or on board.

 

You can get bottles from your package at the dining room and specialty restaurants. You can then take one or more or all bottles to your stateroom if you like.

 

Another user did a price chart comparison and did a pdf file with the information, here it is.

 

The savings are small per bottle, but you're able to purchase more inexpensive bottles in expensive venues, some restaurants don't offer this bottles or at least that is what I've read.

RCI-WineDine-v3.pdf

[BesideTheSeaChris]

Thank you; that's very useful info.

[graciepuppy]

Thanks Hank ....Soooo, the thing to do if you stay onboard while at a Spanish port is to drink water or squash/ coffee from the windjammer then ...thermal mugs at the ready!!! Or ....Does the 8% tax apply to non alcoholic drink / other purchases too ie ice creams etc.?

Methinks we'll be staying onboard for a few of the ports on our next cruise so I hope we'll be able to avoid extra charges!

 

BFN

Jackie

 

Hi Jackie--this is great thread! I forgot about the 8% VAT. A poster indicated that if the ship sails from Barcelona all purchases on board for that cruise will carry the 8% VAT tax. Can anyone verify that this is true this year. Will it be true for the TA as well? We are sailing out of Barcelona in Oct on a B2B Med and then doing the TA. This info will help us to decide if we make purchases from here or wait until we get on the ship.

 

Thanks for any information.

 

Barb

[Clarea]

Hi Jackie--this is great thread! I forgot about the 8% VAT. A poster indicated that if the ship sails from Barcelona all purchases on board for that cruise will carry the 8% VAT tax. Can anyone verify that this is true this year. Will it be true for the TA as well? We are sailing out of Barcelona in Oct on a B2B Med and then doing the TA. This info will help us to decide if we make purchases from here or wait until we get on the ship.

 

Thanks for any information.

 

Barb

We sailed from Barcelona last year on a transatlantic, and there was no VAT tax for the entire cruise.

[BillB48]

It is my understanding that as long as the ship leaves the Schengen Agreement area the extra tax would not be collected. A TA would qualify as leaving the Agreement area, it would depend on the itin of the Mediterranean portion of the trip as to whether or not the VAT would be applied.

[Iamthesea]

Exactly right, once you leave from Spain, you pay VAT on everything throughout the cruise.

 

Really! I thought it topped once out a ways from Barcelona. :confused:

 

For the Gold wine package, the price is $166.00 for 5 nights. Does that include everything, or will there be extra charges added on when I check out?

[graciepuppy]

We sailed from Barcelona last year on a transatlantic, and there was no VAT tax for the entire cruise.

 

Thanks for the quick answers. Started looking at the package price and there is no where on the web page that says it includes gratuities and tax, but if it doesn't it is no bargain. I do think we will book a package for the Med just to be safe and perhaps save a bottle for turnaround day in the room!

[Clarea]

Thanks for the quick answers. Started looking at the package price and there is no where on the web page that says it includes gratuities and tax, but if it doesn't it is no bargain. I do think we will book a package for the Med just to be safe and perhaps save a bottle for turnaround day in the room!

I believe that they add a 15% gratutity to the price. You can confirm this by using the website to select a package and take the process through to the point when it asks for your credit card info. You should see the total price. You can then cancel the transaction.

[mcdermott]

We live in Spain and therefore have cruised many times and with many compan ies RCI leave the 8% (which has just increased) for the whole of the cruise where ever you are in the Med we enquired abou this and was told yes it was correct where as NCL only apply whilst in Spanish waters.You can get the final price whilst online before you get your credit card out however there has been something wrong with RCI computer and a 12 bottle gold pack had gone up €230 between our cruise in June and our next cruise with them in October however this seems to be rectified and the prices appear to have come down again However we were not charged the 8% on the pay for before you sail site I shall be paying for our wine on the next cruises (one Re-positioning ) before we sail but not to early as they are holding your monies

[davenew]

Thanks for the info!!:) Methinks it's going to be the Gold Package too.

We can't wait to try the IOS in October.

 

I'd been reading reviews of the AOS going from Malaga and was rather worried about the comments saying the wine package was charged, 15% added which was to be expected and then....8% Spanish tax.

As we're going on the Maiden AOS from Southampton there shouldn't be an extra 8% surely!!

 

Adverse comments re. fellow passengers etc should also....we hope ...be resolved as we sail from UK. The smoking only in certain areas also seemed a problem but as the Brits are now used to non smoking in public areas we're hoping that's resolved too.

 

Thanks again....

 

We just got back off the IOS, and I had pre booked a 7 bottle Gold package, for which I paid around £125. This was ok as the wines on the list (limited) ranged from $30 - $40 dollars on board. The only drawback being that one of the $40 whites had been "withdrawn", but we still managed 7 x $40 bottles. The only extra being the cursed "additional tip" listed on the receipt that had to be signed for.

With regards to smoking - apart from on the balconies, I detected very little smoking on the ship, even the casino appeared "clean". :)

[davenew]

Thanks for the info!!:) Methinks it's going to be the Gold Package too.

We can't wait to try the IOS in October.

 

I'd been reading reviews of the AOS going from Malaga and was rather worried about the comments saying the wine package was charged, 15% added which was to be expected and then....8% Spanish tax.

As we're going on the Maiden AOS from Southampton there shouldn't be an extra 8% surely!!

 

Adverse comments re. fellow passengers etc should also....we hope ...be resolved as we sail from UK. The smoking only in certain areas also seemed a problem but as the Brits are now used to non smoking in public areas we're hoping that's resolved too.

 

Thanks again....

 

 

We just got back off the IOS, and I had pre booked a 7 bottle Gold package, for which I paid around £125. This was ok as the wines on the list (limited) ranged from $30 - $40 dollars on board. The only drawback being that one of the $40 whites had been "withdrawn", but we still managed 7 x $40 bottles. The only extra being the cursed "additional tip" listed on the receipt that had to be signed for.

With regards to smoking - apart from on the balconies, I detected very little smoking on the ship, even the casino appeared "clean". :)

[Clarea]

We just got back off the IOS, and I had pre booked a 7 bottle Gold package, for which I paid around £125. This was ok as the wines on the list (limited) ranged from $30 - $40 dollars on board. The only drawback being that one of the $40 whites had been "withdrawn", but we still managed 7 x $40 bottles. The only extra being the cursed "additional tip" listed on the receipt that had to be signed for.

With regards to smoking - apart from on the balconies, I detected very little smoking on the ship, even the casino appeared "clean". :)

That is one of the reasons why it is sometimes better to wait until you are on board to book a wine package. If one has a strong preference for a specific wine in a package, it's best to order on board so stock can be verified.

[Iamthesea]

We just got back off the IOS, and I had pre booked a 7 bottle Gold package, for which I paid around £125. This was ok as the wines on the list (limited) ranged from $30 - $40 dollars on board. The only drawback being that one of the $40 whites had been "withdrawn", but we still managed 7 x $40 bottles. The only extra being the cursed "additional tip" listed on the receipt that had to be signed for.

With regards to smoking - apart from on the balconies, I detected very little smoking on the ship, even the casino appeared "clean". :)

 

So from what you are saying, if you pre-order the wine package online, the priced is as stated. THEN, when you get onboard and sign for your bottle each night, there is a gratuity (tip) on the slip of paper? That's alright< but do we pay the VAT for the tip?