Tax on the Drink Package (in US) Question

[Tiger0613]

7 hours ago, sydney dog said:

 

 

So just checking, I am cruising out of New Orleans with 1st port (on second day) Key West.  Am I charged taxes that whole time?  

Key West is the third day.  The ship can't make it to Key West before then.  It takes the entire embarkation day to make it out of the Mississippi River and then another day to cross the Gulf of Mexico.

 

To answer your question, no.  Tax will be charged until the ship leaves the river, usually around midnight, and again in Key West until the ship leaves and is 12(?) nautical miles away from Key West.

[MacGuffin3]

Curious why this is just a booze thing. Why isn't this the case when it comes to eating in the restaurants?  All these places also have local taxes on eating out, shopping and lots of other things you may do on board while in port, what's special about booze that they can argue for ding-ing you there?

Edited July 6, 2023 by MacGuffin3

[sydney dog]

9 hours ago, Tiger0613 said:

Key West is the third day.  The ship can't make it to Key West before then.  It takes the entire embarkation day to make it out of the Mississippi River and then another day to cross the Gulf of Mexico.

 

To answer your question, no.  Tax will be charged until the ship leaves the river, usually around midnight, and again in Key West until the ship leaves and is 12(?) nautical miles away from Key West.

Thanks 🤑

[Haljo1935]

6 hours ago, MacGuffin3 said:

Curious why this is just a booze thing. Why isn't this the case when it comes to eating in the restaurants?  All these places also have local taxes on eating out, shopping and lots of other things you may do on board while in port, what's special about booze that they can argue for ding-ing you there?

I believe you do pay the additional tax on all purchases (actual languageis above in another post), the focus is just more on alcohol because shops will be closed until that magic mile marker is reached, so only real opportunity to spend is on booze.

[MacGuffin3]

5 hours ago, Haljo1935 said:

 shops will be closed until that magic mile marker is reached, so only real opportunity to spend is on booze.

I don't do shops, but I have eaten at restaurants on board while in port and never been taxed on that.

[cellfree]

We ate in Steakhouse a few cruises ago, sailing out of Miami, and tax was added to our meal cost. If I remember correctly it was an early reservation and sail away was late, so got hit with tax. We almost always eat in Steakhouse Day of Embarkation and this was first time we experienced this, timing was cause. No big deal but was surprised. 

[MacGuffin3]

2 minutes ago, cellfree said:

We ate in Steakhouse a few cruises ago, sailing out of Miami, and tax was added to our meal 

OK, well at least these municipalities are consistent then, that's what was bugging me.  Well not completely consistent, as I assume they don't add tax if you eat at the buffet or regular dining room, just the up-charge dining.  (Maybe I shouldn't even mention it and give the politicians any ideas)

[nanamobo]

We have the cheers pkg leaving from New York and it doesn’t start until the next day at 6:00 am. Which I don’t understand and if we buy a drink we have to pay tax on that drink. What happened being out 12 miles from the pier and the shops, casino open? Why doesn’t the drinks work that way. Very confusing.