- Cruises to Mexico will require travelers to pay $5 per person.
- The fee is much less than originally anticipated.
- Cruise operators collect this fee from passengers.
Cruise Stop in Mexico Summer travel has become more expensive.
Leaders in the industry and the Mexican Government have agreed to compromise on a $42 cruise fee that was to go into effect this summer for all passengers. The high tax that was to be levied on cruisers entering the ports of Mexico will now only cost $5 per passenger. The charge will be collected by cruise operators and added to the cost of each cruise.
The fee increases to $10 in August 2026. On July 1, 2020, the fee will increase to $10. What will happen with the fee once the cruise season of 2028 is over has not been revealed. All denominations are listed in U.S. dollars.)
The fees and negotiations have been confirmed. Travel + Leisure The Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association, which represents 95 percent of the cruise capacity in the Caribbean and Latin America, is the industry representative.
“[W]A FCCA spokesperson told T+L that they were grateful to the Federal Government of Mexico, which worked with them to achieve an agreement on a ‘in transit fees’. This will safeguard cruise tourism in the country and enhance benefits for the local communities who depend on it.
Mexico is a popular cruise destination. Many large operators offer sailings in the region, including Carnival, Celebrity Cruises and Disney Cruise Line. Other major operators include MSC Cruises (Miami), Norwegian Cruise Line (Norwegian Cruise Line), Princess Cruises and Virgin Voyages.
Insiders in the cruise industry say the agreement is a good thing at a moment when the region may experience significant growth.
Mexico is and will remain a popular cruise destination,” Josh Tolkin told T+L. Tolkin is a cruise expert, and vice president for supplier relations at World Travel Holdings. “With capacity growing 34 percent in 2025, another increase of 16 percent in 2026, and additional investments being made—such as new ships in the market and Royal Caribbean building another Perfect Day there, it’s important that there were agreed upon terms with minimal impact to our customers.”
Cabo San Lucas is one of the most popular cruise ship ports in Mexico, along with Cancun, Mazatlan and Puerto Vallarta.
