Tax on drinks for Alaska Cruise??

[the_scarecrow_in_oz]

On my cruise with Norwegian Cruise Lines out of Miami earlier this year there was an added tax on drinks when in the port of Miami or U.S. territorial waters - even if you had a drinks package. Is there a similar added tax on drinks with a drinks package that applies on Celebrity when in Alaskan ports of call or U.S. territorial waters??

Edited April 9, 2023 by the_scarecrow_in_oz

[jwlane]

1 hour ago, the_scarecrow_in_oz said:

when in the port of Miami or U.S. territorial waters 

Alaska---no.  Miami---if you say so.  Other territorial waters---in general, no (I know Galveston is special).

[Essiesmom]

Galveston and NYC, but maybe not Bayonne, as that’s NJ.  EM

[Arizona Wildcat]

Port specific.  Pre covid in FLL - Yes.  Am sure there are others beside Galveston and Miami, but really makes little difference to me. $1?  Not worth arguing.

[chuckw]

Times change, I remember a cruise from Houston, a few years ago, when you could only buy Texas brewed beer until we reached international waters

[keesar]

We were not charged in Alaska.  However, we had started  our meal in international waters on the way to San Juan  and the oven broke at the Lawn Club Grill.   We finally finished the meal in San Juan waters and were charged tax on the entire cost of the meal.  

[chengkp75]

8 hours ago, chuckw said:

Times change, I remember a cruise from Houston, a few years ago, when you could only buy Texas brewed beer until we reached international waters

Not quite correct.  They can only sell alcohol that has had the Texas state liquor tax paid on it, while in Texas waters (out to 3 miles, not the 12 mile international limit).  The liquor that is sold at all other times, on all ships, has no state liquor tax paid, nor any import duty paid to the US.

 

It is up to the municipality where the ship calls as to whether they collect the sales tax or not.  Most Florida ports do, NYC does, Hawaii does, Texas has their own rule, as above.  Alaska does not have a state sales tax, but some municipalities do.  However, I don't believe any that have a tax actually collect it from the cruise ships.

[prmssk]

Also, some cruise lines find a way to cover the tax charged on drink package drinks instead of passing that on to the passenger.  With the drink package, I don't think I have ever been charged tax on a drink on Celebrity or Princess out of a Florida port.  Carnival and NCL pass that tax on to the passenger even for those who have drink packages when in ports that charge it.

[Wineaux007]

I don't believe they charge tax in any port if you have the drink package purchased before you embark.  They only charge the tax if you purchase a drink while the ship is in port.   

[Banjo]

I was on the Constellation last month. I know I had a drink prior to leaving Tampa and when docked in Key West, don't recall any added costs. I did have a drink package.

[Mark_K]

5 hours ago, keesar said:

We were not charged in Alaska.  However, we had started  our meal in international waters on the way to San Juan  and the oven broke at the Lawn Club Grill.   We finally finished the meal in San Juan waters and were charged tax on the entire cost of the meal.  

One time we were at dinner after leaving San Juan and I ordered a wine package, which they added tax to “because we were still in their waters.” I replied that if that was true why were the shops and the casino open.  They went away for a while and brought back a bill without tax.

[davekathy]

2 hours ago, Banjo said:

I was on the Constellation last month. I know I had a drink prior to leaving Tampa and when docked in Key West, don't recall any added costs. I did have a drink package.

All our experiences with the CBP, never a tax added. Past or present cruises. We were recently on the Apex and had drinks on the ship in Fort Lauderdale and Key West. 

[DaKahuna]

We've done around 30 cruises, including 4 Alaska cruises, and I cannot recall ever paying tax on a beverage purchase on any of those cruises, or any other Celebrity/Royal Caribbean cruise.  We've had everything from no drink package, Elite drinks, and the DBP.  

[davekathy]

Just now, DaKahuna said:

We've done around 30 cruises, including 4 Alaska cruises, and I cannot recall ever paying tax on a beverage purchase on any of those cruises, or any other Celebrity/Royal Caribbean cruise.  We've had everything from no drink package, Elite drinks, and the DBP.  

The only port I've heard there is a booze tax added is while still docked in Galveston. We've never cruised from there, so no experience. 

[Wineaux007]

Pre-AI, we sailed out of Bayonne, FLL, and MIA, and we were charged tax on our drinks prior to the ship's departure.  No charge if you had the beverage package, because they didn't have to ring anything up.

 

On one sailing, I knew a guy who started a tab at the Sunset Bar using his seapass.  Once we were out of port and at sea, he would settle up without having to pay the FL state sales tax.  

[the_scarecrow_in_oz]

Thanks everyone.

[darren42]

On Carnival, Juneau charges tax on drinks, Skagway and Ketchikan do not.

 

On Celebrity the taxes do not show up if you have a package soon they must be paying it for you.