A new fee is raising the cost of cruises to Mexico

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A new fee is raising the cost of cruises to Mexico

 

Cruise travelers to Mexico now pay a higher passenger fee, with additional increases already scheduled through 2028.

Mexico has doubled its foreign cruise passenger fee to $10 as of Aug. 1, 2026 and announced further increases to $15 on July 1, 2027 and $21 on Aug. 1, 2028, while other destinations like Barcelona and Hawaii are also considering or have faced similar cruise taxes.

Cruise passengers now need to pay a higher fee to enjoy Mexico’s sunny weather and warm waters.

The popular tourist destination doubled its cruise passenger fee for foreigners on Aug. 1. Called the no-resident duty, it has risen from $5 to $10, and is collected by the cruise lines during booking.

This is the first in a series of incremental increases. On July 1, 2027, the fee will rise to $15 and then to $21 on Aug. 1, 2028.

Mexico’s Congress first voted in favor of a proposed $42 tax on every cruise guest arriving at one of the country’s ports in December 2024, with the original date for implementation set for Jan. 1, 2025.

The cruise industry immediately pushed back, with the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA) citing “far-reaching consequences,” such as lowering demand for Mexico itineraries due to the higher cost and other “economic ripple effects,” according to a press release.

Cruising is a major part of Mexico’s tourism sector, with 11.2 million passengers arriving in 2025, according to Mexico Business News.

Cruise destinations look to charge travelers

Mexico isn’t the only popular cruise destination attempting to increase costs for those arriving by sea.

In May, Barcelona announced a proposal by Mayor Jaume Collboni to double its 4-euro daily municipal surcharge on cruises that spend less than 12 hours in the capital, but not those starting or ending there. The fee is awaiting approval from the city council and is likely to take effect after 2027. The cost is intended to offset the overcrowding caused by stopover cruises, as those passengers have less economic impact on the city.

On Dec. 31, 2025, Hawaii’s proposed tax on cruises was blocked by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals the day before going into effect. The “Green Fee” was slated to be the very first tax on cruisers to the Aloha State, with proceeds intended to fund climate-change resiliency projects and other environmental initiatives. The industry trade group Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) filed a lawsuit over the tax in August 2025, alleging the fee violates federal law.