CONFIRMED: New Tax Set To Make It More Expensive to Cruise to Several Popular Destinations

Planning a cruise to Mexico soon? Heads up that you might need to update your budget!

Disney Cruise Line

There’s nothing quite like the excitement of planning a vacation! For many travelers, cruises offer the perfect opportunity to see multiple different places on one trip. And while a cruise can be expensive, sailings typically include the price of many of the onboard dining experiences, activities, and entertainment. But if you’ve already got your next cruise budget set, beware that you might need to do some tweaking to those numbers.

Cruising to Mexico is about to get more expensive, starting with this summer travel season.

Ocean View Room

Beginning on July 1st, all passengers cruising into Mexican ports will be responsible for a new tax. While the tax was initially planned to be $42 per passenger, cruise industry leaders worked with the Mexican government to compromise on a reduced amount.

Disney Treasure

As of July 1st, all passengers will be responsible for a $5 fee per guest, which will be added to each cruise fare and collected by the cruise line. The amount is scheduled to increase over the following years to $10 per person on August 1st, 2026, $15 per person on July 1st, 2027, and $21 per person on August 1st, 2028. The rates have currently only been revealed through the 2028 season, so it’s unclear whether additional adjustments will be made in the following years, per the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA).

©Royal Caribbean

This new tax will impact all cruise ports in Mexico, including popular destinations like Cozumel, Cabo San Lucas, Costa Maya, and Puerto Vallarta.

©Regent

Additionally, a new fee is set to come into effect in Hawaii. A prorated tax will be placed on all cruise ship guests visiting Hawaii. This per-person fee on cruise ship passengers will add an 11 percent tax on ship cabins, similar to fees already paid by hotels and vacation rentals.

Aulani

We’ll continue to be on the lookout for more travel news that could impact your next vacation, so stay tuned to Disney Food Blog for the latest updates.