Experience More Packages

[PSULion]

Does anyone know the following:

 

1. How to buy Experience More packages?

2. Can you use OBC to buy the package?

3. Can the package spa credit be used to buy access to that special whirlpool/hot tub area?

4. If you buy the Indulgence package and choose the Chef's Table, can you also separately purchase the Three Table Tour with other OBC?

5. Does the Indulgence package laundry include ironing of shirts?

 

Thanks, John R.

 

 

[uktog]

1  Follow the instructions on the Voyage planner if you want to buy ahead otherwise you can buy onboard at Guest Relations after boarding

2.  Yes you can use OBC

3.  Yes the spa credit could be used to buy the pass if passes are available

4.  Yes you can

5.  Yes all laundry bags come back washed and ironed

 

Hope this helps

 

[laurieb]

If you want to purchase it with OBC, you will need to purchase on the ship.

 

[PSULion]

On the November 2019 TA, we board/depart Barcelona. Does anyone know if the Experience More packages are subject to the Spanish VAT? If so, is there a way to avoid that if the next port is Malaga?

 

TIA, John R.

[laurieb]

I don’t believe you’ll be charged any more than the package price. 

[Redtravel]

Be careful. In Europe, any cruise that stays completely in the EU is subject to a 23% VAT charge on most items purchased on the ship. It has happened to us twice in the past year.  We were told that we could get it back from items purchased onboard when we left the EU.  You cannot get it back unless you are given the official EU document filled out by the vendor. On both cruises, we bought stuff. Cruise lines did not have the VAT refund form. We tried to get the VAT back showing our receipts. Not accepted.  VAT was also added to drinks, spa services, and internet time.  The only thing that we didn’t pay the VAT outright was excursions and laundry.  On European cruises that stop at one non Eu port, the VAT is not added. The VAT added has increased the cost of European travel. Each EU country has different rules about what is and is not refundable for non EU citizens. 

[PSULion]

This trip is a transatlantic, so likely no VAT added I assume, thanks for the info.

 

John R.

[NC&KY]

We have a 26 day cruise coming up, so the Experience More packages may be a good deal for us. In weighing pluses and minuses, we are Explorer level, so we get 1 bag of laundry per 7 night voyage. Am I correct that on a 26 day cruise we would get 3 bags? And do we lose them if we buy the Indulgence package, which includes 2 bags, or are they additive so we get 5 bags?

[Grandma Cruising]

4 hours ago, NC&KY said:

We have a 26 day cruise coming up, so the Experience More packages may be a good deal for us. In weighing pluses and minuses, we are Explorer level, so we get 1 bag of laundry per 7 night voyage. Am I correct that on a 26 day cruise we would get 3 bags? And do we lose them if we buy the Indulgence package, which includes 2 bags, or are they additive so we get 5 bags?

You’re right that you’ll get 3 laundry bags as LCV Explorers. Not sure about the second part of your question, but logic would suggest the 2 bags for the Indulgence package should be additional, as you’ve paid for them within the package. Maybe someone who has bought this package can tell us if this is the case.

[uktog]

The laundry bags are additional.  The vouchers for them are attending to the letter about your loyalty package and the LCV voucher is attached to the letter from LCV about dates of events and your free minutes code 

[Redtravel]

On 6/19/2019 at 10:19 AM, PSULion said:

This trip is a transatlantic, so likely no VAT added I assume, thanks for the info.

 

John R.

Does the cruises stop in any non EU country between embarkation and disembarkation? If it does, you will avoid the VAT.  If it only stops in EU countries, you will get taxed if you buy anything on the ship.  If at all possible, buy what you can before embarkation to avoid the tax. 23% is hefty.  

[uktog]

Last year on the transatlantic they sold the beverage packages on a deal on Day 1 it was a 16 night cruise but you only paid for 14 nights.  The Journey transatlantic will be fine because it has a stop at Gibraltar so only a couple of nights that might have tax.  Last year, they also did not process the costs for speciality dinner packages until a few days into the cruise and there was no tax on it

[Baynanno1]

On the subject of VAT in European waters :

IF you are shopping on board, ask the staff what the minimum purchase is for you to have a refund form generated, then if you can, make your purchases at one time so they are all on the same docket. You should then be able to claim a refund as you fly out of your final destination. For some reason, minimum purchase does seem to vary according to (I think) start port.