Mexico is gearing up to introduce a new cruise passenger fee this summer, and if you’re planning a vacation, it’s something to keep in mind. As of 1 July 2025, cruise passengers disembarking at any Mexican port will be charged a $5 per-person fee. The fee will increase annually until it reaches $21 by August 2028.
At first, the intended fee had been a whopping $42 per person, which caused a strong reaction and discontent in the cruise industry. Many industry stakeholders argued that such a high charge could deter visitors and negatively impact local businesses that thrive on tourism.
The Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA) and Mexican Association of Naval Agents (AMANAC) urged authorities to revise the potential economic impact and find more balanced solutions, as the fees could make Mexican ports less competitive compared to other Caribbean cruise destinations that would be less expensive to visit. In a letter to Claudia Sheinbaum, the president of Mexico, the FCCA claimed that the tax would price Mexico out of the cruise business by making it 213% more expensive than the typical Caribbean port.
“This proposed tax could also jeopardise cruise industry investments in the country – including billions in planned development and other projects – meant to help rebuild Acapulco, cultivate new Mexican tourist destinations, employ more Mexican seafarers, and provide social programs to help underserved communities in Mexico”, the FCCA’s CEO Michele Paige wrote in the letter.
In response to these concerns, Mexican authorities revised their plan and decided to introduce the measure gradually instead of putting the initial steep fee hike into practice.
The plan is to launch the $5 charge in July 2025, next, from 1 August 2026 to June 2027 it will increase to $10, from 1 July 2027 to July 2028 it will go up to $15, and then by August 2028 the fee will be $21. In order to make it simpler for travellers, this charge will be included directly on the cruise cost and will be collected once per itinerary, so no unexpected payments will pop up while you’re on your trip.
The money raised from this tax has a potentially big impact, as the levy will be used to fund various government projects, including the Mexican military sector.
In a statement, the FCCA praised the charge reduction, saying: “We thank the Federal Government of Mexico for working with us to reach an ‘in transit fee’ agreement that safeguards cruise tourism to the country and aims to enhance the benefits for local communities whose livelihoods depend on it”.
Working together we can accomplish great things for cruise tourism in the Caribbean, Mexico and Latin America. Our esteemed CEO Michele Paige shared her thoughts during the opening reception at #STCGlobal. @SeatradeCruise pic.twitter.com/PWiE8F3ZhD
— FCCA (@FCCAupdates) March 28, 2023
“The cruise industry is a success story for Mexico, contributing roughly $1 billion USD in direct spending to the economy in the past year alone”, stated FCCA and highlighted that “This agreement demonstrates what we can accomplish together to foster opportunities for shared growth and success through ongoing, open dialogue and partnership with Mexico officials”.
Mexico remains a popular cruise destination with major operators like Royal Caribbean, Carnival, Celebrity Cruises, Disney Cruise Line, MSC Cruises, Virgin Voyages and others offering a wide range of itineraries throughout the region. Industry experts believe the agreement will continue to drive growth, with the FCCA projecting that over 10 million cruise tourists will visit Mexico in 2025.
