Key Aspects:
- Mexico’s tourism tax rose from $5 to $10 per person on August 1, 2026.
- More increases are planned for the next two years, with the fee reaching $21 by August 1, 2028.
- This is not the only destination to levy a cruise tax, with Hawaii, Greece, and Amsterdam taking similar steps.
Cruises to Mexico just got more expensive. Mexico’s government raised the cruise passenger tax (which is also known as the “non-resident fee”) from $5 to $10 on August 1, 2026.
The tourism tax is in effect at all cruise ports throughout Mexico, including major destinations like Cabo San Lucas, Cozumel, Puerto Vallarta, and Costa Maya.
But thankfully, the tax will only be levied once per itinerary, even if the sailing stops at multiple Mexican ports.
For context, Mexico continues to break records as the country welcomes more and more cruise guests annually. Cruise Hive reported that 4.8 million cruisers already visited Mexico between January and April 2026, which is a 14.8% year-over-year increase.
To put things in perspective, 4.8 million guests each paying $10 per person would equate to $48 million for the Mexican government to put toward enhancing tourism infrastructure and public funding.
Cruise Tax Will Increase
Mexico’s decision to tax cruisers is rather fresh, with the initial $5 fee only just taking effect on July 1, 2025, after a six-month delay. The country has had a “non-resident” fee in effect since 1999, but cruise ships were previously exempt.
The jump to $10 per person on August 1 was planned as part of a predetermined schedule for implementing increases over the next two years.
On July 1, 2027, the fee will increase to $15 per guest. The following year, on August 1, 2028, the tax will climb to $21 per person.
The $21 fee will remain in effect through at least September 30, 2030, so cruisers will be able to enjoy at least a brief break from the increases.
And while cruisers certainly won’t enjoy shelling out the extra cash, keep in mind that it could be worse. Mexico originally proposed a tax of $42 per guest, but lowered it after receiving significant pushback from the cruise industry.
So far, the cruise lines are not steering away from Mexico because of the added fees or the planned increases. The brands are simply making it part of the cruise fare paid by guests.
Not The Only Cruise Tax
Mexico is not the only cruise port to enforce a tourism tax. Several other destinations are doing the same thing to maintain and enhance their harbor infrastructure, local communities, and other government-run services.
For example, lawmakers in the Hawaii State Legislature passed a law in 2025 that would have allowed the state to implement its first-ever tax on cruise ships, though this is currently blocked in federal court.
Similarly, Greece started charging a seasonal tourist tax for cruises, with the prices varying based on the time of year and special attention given to Santorini and Mykonos.
During the peak season that runs from June 1 to September 30, guests have to pay €20 ($23.04 USD) to visit Santorini and Mykonos and €5 ($5.76 USD) to call at other ports.
As another example, Amsterdam has also had a tourist tax for cruise passengers in effect since 2019. As of 2026, the fee is set at €15.00 ($17.29 USD) per person per day.
