If you’re cruising with Norwegian in Spain or Italy soon, watch out for unexpected Value Added Tax charges. The cruise line is now posting reminders onboard after passengers reported surprise bills one traveler racked up over $500 in taxes without knowing ahead of time. VAT can be as high as 22% on retail and 10% on food and drinks, depending on where your cruise starts, sails, and whether it leaves the EU.
These taxes aren’t included in pre-purchased beverage or dining packages instead, they’re applied per item when local laws require it. Spain is especially strict, and Italy hits retail purchases with the highest rate in the EU.
Norwegian says it’ll now display daily notices when VAT applies, but it’s still worth keeping an eye on your receipts. Have you ever been caught off guard by cruise taxes?
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