CruisnMom007 Posted August 1, 2018 #1 Share Posted August 1, 2018 Hello fellow cruisers! Does anyone have details on WHAT the laws are in New York specifically, that is not allowing passengers who purchase the CHEERS package to be able to have their drinks the first day and have to wait till day 2 of sailing? I understand anyone can go to the bar and PURCHASE a drink that first day so I am a bit perplexed as to the difference. I know Texas has an issue as well. Thanks in advance! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WIFamily Posted August 1, 2018 #2 Share Posted August 1, 2018 Knowing New York's propensity to over-govern people's behavior, I'd guess it's the "unlimited" wording. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elcuchio24 Posted August 1, 2018 #3 Share Posted August 1, 2018 All I can tell you is how it was with NCL, as we have not used CHEERS out of NYC with CCL. On NCL, we walked right on and our unlimited drinks package was active and good to go, we were having champagne while we were still on the dock. Others have said Cheers works differently, maybe the interpret the local liquor laws differently? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MediumB Posted August 1, 2018 #4 Share Posted August 1, 2018 (edited) This article might help explain some of the rules for Texas as they are interviewing someone from the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission My guess is that, like in Texas, they have to serve only alcohol purchased in New York until they reach international waters, or waters outside of New York jurisdiction. Until they can break out the duty free liquor they purchased elsewhere they may have a limited menu of drinks (like on a Texas cruise). https://www.cruzely.com/answered-first-day-drink-packages-and-alcohol-on-galveston-cruises/ Edited August 1, 2018 by MediumB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elcuchio24 Posted August 1, 2018 #5 Share Posted August 1, 2018 This article might help explain some of the rules for Texas as they are interviewing someone from the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission My guess is that, like in Texas, they have to serve only alcohol purchased in New York until they reach international waters, or waters outside of New York jurisdiction. Until they can break out the duty free liquor they purchased elsewhere they may have a limited menu of drinks (like on a Texas cruise). https://www.cruzely.com/answered-first-day-drink-packages-and-alcohol-on-galveston-cruises/ hey maybe this is the reason for the difference between CCL/NCL....maybe NCL buys some NYC booze so that you can drink in port... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MediumB Posted August 1, 2018 #6 Share Posted August 1, 2018 And with a little bit more research I found the New York law: The ABC Law prohibits from selling, serving, delivering or offering to patrons an unlimited number of drinks during any set period of time for a fixed price. Source: https://www.sla.ny.gov/unlimited-drink-specials Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NYcruzzer Posted August 1, 2018 #7 Share Posted August 1, 2018 And with a little bit more research I found the New York law: The ABC Law prohibits from selling, serving, delivering or offering to patrons an unlimited number of drinks during any set period of time for a fixed price. Source: https://www.sla.ny.gov/unlimited-drink-specials That makes sense. Wonder how NCL gets around this law in NY ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MediumB Posted August 1, 2018 #8 Share Posted August 1, 2018 That makes sense. Wonder how NCL gets around this law in NY ? Good question. They do the same thing in Texas, or did when they used to sail out of Galveston and Houston. Maybe Carnival is just being overly cautious? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elcuchio24 Posted August 1, 2018 #9 Share Posted August 1, 2018 That makes sense. Wonder how NCL gets around this law in NY ? Just a guess here, but I would wager Campaign Donation of some kind ;);););):-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NYcruzzer Posted August 1, 2018 #10 Share Posted August 1, 2018 Just a guess here, but I would wager Campaign Donation of some kind ;);););):-) LOL Donations and political favors go along way here NY #shakedown Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lasvegascruising Posted August 1, 2018 #11 Share Posted August 1, 2018 I still wonder to this day why it is this way in Texas. I have sailed from Galveston on Carnival(Breeze) with cheers and had to pay for drinks that first day. I have sailed from Galveston on Royal(Navigator of the Seas) with a drink package purchased and was able to use the package the minute we boarded BUT they did have a list of spirits that could only be served. Royal had a sign at the bar in the Windjammer that listed the specialty drinks they could make with what they were allowed to use. Once in open waters, of course everything was available. I have sailed from Houston on NCL(Jem) with the drink package that was included with the cruise fare and able to use the package the minute we boarded. Still have never heard why Royal and NCL could serve drinks to those with the package and Carnival can not. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iamsteph Posted August 1, 2018 #12 Share Posted August 1, 2018 But technically, cheers isn't "unlimited." It's 15 drinks a day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CruisingAlong1 Posted August 1, 2018 #13 Share Posted August 1, 2018 I wonder if it's the for a "fixed price" wording. NCL's drink package is "free" so maybe that's the reason they can get around it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dh464 Posted August 1, 2018 #14 Share Posted August 1, 2018 On RCCL it starts when you get on the ship ny and texas Sent from my iPhone using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Jamman54 Posted August 1, 2018 #15 Share Posted August 1, 2018 On RCCL it starts when you get on the ship ny and texas1Sent from my iPhone using Forums RCCL doesn't sail from New York, they sail from New Jersey. :cool: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lottacruises Posted August 1, 2018 #16 Share Posted August 1, 2018 In Texas you don't pay for cheers for the first day, it kicks in at 6am the following morning. I have seen them load a lot of liquor, wrapped in black plastic that says "Texas Liquor". Some weird laws, I have heard its due to the unlimited drinks for a fixed price. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sue1260 Posted August 1, 2018 #17 Share Posted August 1, 2018 I have sailed out of NY twice and first few hours they don't put drinks into the computor. They have a handwritten slips they use until they get into international waters then they put all the past drinks that are on the handwritten slips into computer. And then the ones you order when their in international are put into the computer the usual way. Sent from my SM-G960U using Forums mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ksmcdonald Posted August 1, 2018 #18 Share Posted August 1, 2018 That makes sense. Wonder how NCL gets around this law in NY ? I heard NCL found a loop hole in the law. NCL passengers still pay tax on drink package while in port. Carnival is not willing to take the risk so they just start their Cheers the next day. It is something to do with the unlimited drinks. Some NYC restaurants just had to stop the "all you can drink" brunch that included mimosa. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NYcruzzer Posted August 2, 2018 #19 Share Posted August 2, 2018 I heard NCL found a loop hole in the law. NCL passengers still pay tax on drink package while in port. Carnival is not willing to take the risk so they just start their Cheers the next day. It is something to do with the unlimited drinks. Some NYC restaurants just had to stop the "all you can drink" brunch that included mimosa. I'm pretty sure that Carnival charges NYC sales tax on beverages until they get into international waters. For me it's no big deal. I buy Cheers in NY and pay for 1 less day. The $110.00 we save we buy what we want. Embarkation we are usually tired and are fine making that our light drinking day.. When on NCL we get the drink package as a perk so we don't feel like we have to drink a lot on day one to get our moneys worth. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ksmcdonald Posted August 2, 2018 #20 Share Posted August 2, 2018 I'm pretty sure that Carnival charges NYC sales tax on beverages until they get into international waters. For me it's no big deal. I buy Cheers in NY and pay for 1 less day. The $110.00 we save we buy what we want. Embarkation we are usually tired and are fine making that our light drinking day.. When on NCL we get the drink package as a perk so we don't feel like we have to drink a lot on day one to get our moneys worth. We went out of NYC this year, NCL in March with drink package all 7 days, and CCL in June with Cheers only 7 of the 8 days. We usually like to drink the most on night one, so we spent more than the $110 we saved by only purchasing a 7 vs 8 day package. It's not really a big deal for us either. Just think Carnival is being more cautious and playing it safe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NYcruzzer Posted August 2, 2018 #21 Share Posted August 2, 2018 What's interesting is it appears that on Princess cruises (owned by Carnival) their drink package is available staring day One on cruises departing Brooklyn/NYC T & C..https://www.princess.com/ships-and-experience/food-and-dining/beverages/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chicchic325 Posted August 2, 2018 #22 Share Posted August 2, 2018 Not sure about NY, but in Texas you can only serve a certain number of oz of alcohol in one "serving", that's what I heard caused the problem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaytonCruiser Posted August 2, 2018 #23 Share Posted August 2, 2018 To comply Carnival would have to buy liquor from the respective states(serving from bottles with the state seal)for the first day, rather than do that they have chosen to just forgo offering cheers the first day. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hamatsea Posted August 2, 2018 #24 Share Posted August 2, 2018 I have to figure that in both Texas and NY there is tax. Other cruise lines add that to your acct when you use the bev package in port maybeCarnival doesn’t want the hassle paying these taxes back to Texas and NY. NCL and Celebrity have no problem with it. Sent from my iPhone using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flip2cruise Posted August 2, 2018 #25 Share Posted August 2, 2018 I have to figure that in both Texas and NY there is tax. Other cruise lines add that to your acct when you use the bev package in port maybeCarnival doesn’t want the hassle paying these taxes back to Texas and NY. NCL and Celebrity have no problem with it. Sent from my iPhone using Forums All cruise lines, including Carnival, charge tax on drinks while in US Waters From Cheers FAQ https://help.goccl.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/1106/~/cheers%21-beverage-program Applicable state and local taxes will be charged to the guest folio when this program is used within US waters. The tax is based on the state's tax structure and the cost of the individual drink purchased (not the daily program rate). For example: if the drink price is $5 and the tax is 10%, the guest's Sail & Sign card will be charged $0.50 for tax. This applies to all US ports (embarkation home ports and ports-of-call). Sent from my LM-G710 using Forums mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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