Additional TAX in UK ports now!

[Greener123]

since the other UK alcohol issue thread got closed 🙄

Seeing reports from those who boarded Dawn today (24th May) in Southampton that they were charged an additional tax when buying drinks even with a package.

 

not even sure this is legal in the UK since our laws are that the advertised price has to be inclusive of taxes. Also NCL would again be the only line with such policy.

 

why are they just making things up as they go 

[cruiseny4life]

I don't have a clue about UK laws, but I'm totally ok paying the tax on drinks. That's better than not having the option of getting a drink. Sounds like a win to this American.

[pc_load_letter]

Seems like this has been going on for more than a week now. Has NCL coorporate made an accouncement? Is this the new normal?

 

Here in California, we have tax on drinks even when we have a drink package. It's not bothersome really.

 

[insidecabin]

8 minutes ago, pc_load_letter said:

Seems like this has been going on for more than a week now. Has NCL coorporate made an accouncement? Is this the new normal?

 

Here in California, we have tax on drinks even when we have a drink package. It's not bothersome really.

 

First broke May 4th Dawn Southampton.

only NCL can't sell and maybe now charging tax.

 

There are refunds/compensation starting  for failure to deliver the product sold

[BirdTravels]

12 minutes ago, insidecabin said:

There are refunds/compensation starting  for failure to deliver the product sold

That’s a laugh. Tell all of the United States ports that demand tax payments. 
 

I suppose it is easy enough to cancel a package and charge the guest for every drink that they had,,, including taxes. 

Edited May 25, 2023 by BirdTravels

[roxette]

The European costumer laws are very strict. The price you see, should be the price you pay. No hidden fees. 

 

Like it or not. 

 

I like it.

[insidecabin]

10 minutes ago, BirdTravels said:

That’s a laugh. Tell all of the United States ports that demand tax payments. 
 

I suppose it is easy enough to cancel a package and charge the guest for every drink that they had,,, including taxes. 

Its not just ships in the US  it shops and everywhere that don't display the proper price.

 

Europe/UK prices displayed should include applicable  duty and taxes that apply.

 

Any packages sold should also include those.

 

 

[mypleasure]

3 minutes ago, insidecabin said:

Europe/UK prices displayed should include applicable  duty and taxes that apply.

 

Any packages sold should also include those.

 

 

It is EU and UK law that the price displayed on a menu, or on a sticker in a shop , has to be the price you will pay. ALL taxes have to be added and the total price displayed before you pay and there are to be no surprise charges added. It is absolutely fine to add VAT and Excise duty to the price of a drink but all menus must be reprinted to reflect the addition and show the price that will be charged before you purchase.

 

The first time we visited the USA this was quite a surprise to find added sales tax at the register. We felt a bit cheated but each to their own.

[MarkieMalarky]

Does anyone know what rate of tax/duty they are charging?

[MagnoliaBlossom]

I may be misremembering this but pre-Brexit, it seems we had to pay additional taxes on one cruise because all countries visited weee members of the EU.  
I don’t recall the particulars but it was a point of great discussion on the roll call.

[insidecabin]

1 hour ago, mypleasure said:

It is EU and UK law that the price displayed on a menu, or on a sticker in a shop , has to be the price you will pay. ALL taxes have to be added and the total price displayed before you pay and there are to be no surprise charges added. It is absolutely fine to add VAT and Excise duty to the price of a drink but all menus must be reprinted to reflect the addition and show the price that will be charged before you purchase.

 

The first time we visited the USA this was quite a surprise to find added sales tax at the register. We felt a bit cheated but each to their own.

 

This causes a major problem for the cruise lines where their package has a $£€ limit as even increased prices fall under the limit for a lot of their drinks.

 

 

[insidecabin]

1 hour ago, MarkieMalarky said:

Does anyone know what rate of tax/duty they are charging?

Be interesting what they are charging.

VAT is 20% on the cost but any beverage package cost is zero.

 

Alcohol duty varies by beverage type  and volume served and in some case the %alcohol changes the duty.

[RD64]

It seems like the European countries are finally demanding their peace of the pie. Previously, it seems to have just been a sporadic event. Moving forward, the price of the drink / coffee / soda packages / duty free shops will have to change to reflect the EU laws.

[Greener123]

But yet again this is only something impacting NCL, no other cruise line charges additional tax in the UK. 
 

How can you charge tax on a £0 transaction. 

[bmwman]

The answer is staring you all in the face:

 

• Either NCL has not completed the correct paperwork or 
• They do not want to pay the taxes or administer them or
• Both 

 

There had been no law change in the UK so if you buy the drinks package through the UK they can not charge VAT or duty both under the holiday package regs or UK consumer law. 

 

I suggest that they have been caught out in that they can not charge UK customers anymore and NCL  therefore do not want to subsidise the tax charges. - Simples 

 

BTW I have spoken to a VAT and duties expert and there are no port regulations. It is a compliance issue or they forgot they can not pass on taxes to customers 

 

 

 

 

[bmwman]

3 hours ago, BirdTravels said:

That’s a laugh. Tell all of the United States ports that demand tax payments. 
 

I suppose it is easy enough to cancel a package and charge the guest for every drink that they had,,, including taxes. 

You always seem to think you are correct but it is best for you to stick to US law. We here have very comprehensive consumer laws. Indeed NCL are already realising that is the case with onboard credit and refunds.  

 

The holiday package regulations (which of course you are well versed in ) will ensure refunds and comp, are given. You can not cancel a package FULL STOP

[bmwman]

23 minutes ago, Greener123 said:

But yet again this is only something impacting NCL, no other cruise line charges additional tax in the UK. 
 

How can you charge tax on a £0 transaction. 

Exactly the value is £0. The issue is how NCL accounts for the Free at Sea. If they account for it as part of Vacation revenue then you are correct. However, if they account for it as ancillary income it is a different story.

[insidecabin]

9 minutes ago, bmwman said:

Exactly the value is £0. The issue is how NCL accounts for the Free at Sea. If they account for it as part of Vacation revenue then you are correct. However, if they account for it as ancillary income it is a different story.

As a customer the free at sea is sold as part of the room booking making it part of the cruise  package covered by the regulations.

 

 

 

[bmwman]

1 hour ago, insidecabin said:

As a customer the free at sea is sold as part of the room booking making it part of the cruise  package covered by the regulations.

 

 

 

Thanks very helpful then you 100% correct

[Greener123]

Onboard Virtuosa now, can confirm no tax on drinks - just an NCL issue 

[graphicguy]

21 hours ago, insidecabin said:

Be interesting what they are charging.

VAT is 20% on the cost but any beverage package cost is zero.

 

Alcohol duty varies by beverage type  and volume served and in some case the %alcohol changes the duty.

If that's the case, I would imagine somewhere on the menu they will print that the VAT is charged on the value of the drink package, like they do on the taxes charged when in U.S. ports.  So, it wouldn't be "zero" as far as the value of the drinks being sold.

 

They can add in the cost of the tax and/or VAT, or they can operate the charge.  I would imagine on other cruise lines, they just add in the cost of it to each individual drink.

 

You're paying it one way or the other.  I believe if they just added it in to the cost of the drink, some people would get angry that they raised the price of the drinks.

[insidecabin]

17 minutes ago, graphicguy said:

If that's the case, I would imagine somewhere on the menu they will print that the VAT is charged on the value of the drink package, like they do on the taxes charged when in U.S. ports.  So, it wouldn't be "zero" as far as the value of the drinks being sold.

 

They can add in the cost of the tax and/or VAT, or they can operate the charge.  I would imagine on other cruise lines, they just add in the cost of it to each individual drink.

 

You're paying it one way or the other.  I believe if they just added it in to the cost of the drink, some people would get angry that they raised the price of the drinks.

Other cruise lines don't charge extra in UK.

 

The sensible ones targeting UK passengers don't add service charges either.

 

Price on menu is what you pay and if under the package limit no charge.

 

They don't do different menus for different days with different prices.

 

Wonder what they did for Regent that was in Southampton a couple of days ago.

 

 

 

 

 

[sanger727]

21 hours ago, Greener123 said:

But yet again this is only something impacting NCL, no other cruise line charges additional tax in the UK. 
 

How can you charge tax on a £0 transaction. 

 

This happens in the US all the time. For example, on a groupon voucher you supposedly still owe tax even though you pre-pay for the service. Some places do a $0 transaction with no tax. Others do a full price item + tax, and then add the price of the item as a discount. Not saying that what they are doing is legal in the UK. But, NCL does it the same way in US waters - ring up the transaction with the price of the item and tax it, then subtract the price of the item. I tend to think that one way or another, tax is still due. Just a question of whose pocket it comes out of. Otherwise we are talking about fraud of NCL charging tax but keeping the money; or other cruise lines giving away products without charging the tax. 

Edited May 26, 2023 by sanger727

[graphicguy]

46 minutes ago, insidecabin said:

Other cruise lines don't charge extra in UK.

 

The sensible ones targeting UK passengers don't add service charges either.

 

Price on menu is what you pay and if under the package limit no charge.

 

They don't do different menus for different days with different prices.

 

Wonder what they did for Regent that was in Southampton a couple of days ago.

 

 

 

 

 

That’s the point I was making.  Other cruise lines just add in the VAT/Tax into the cost of the drinks or drink package.

[SpainAlien]

On 5/25/2023 at 12:01 AM, Greener123 said:

since the other UK alcohol issue thread got closed 🙄

Seeing reports from those who boarded Dawn today (24th May) in Southampton that they were charged an additional tax when buying drinks even with a package.

 

not even sure this is legal in the UK since our laws are that the advertised price has to be inclusive of taxes. Also NCL would again be the only line with such policy.

 

why are they just making things up as they go 

So your objection isn't the increased price it's the price shown on the menu?  What's the difference, you would still have to pay the tax whether it's included in the price or shown as an extra!  You seriously are kicking up a fuss because you want the menus printed for while they are in port then replaced when entering international waters?