Key Aspects:
- A new tax on visitors to Greece, including cruise guests, began on Friday, August 1, 2025.
- Tax rates will vary depending on destination and visit dates, with higher fees during peak periods.
- Royal Caribbean will refund fees if guests stay onboard and do not debark in Greek ports of call.
Beginning August 1, 2025 sailing to the iconic Greek Isles has become a few dollars more expensive for Royal Caribbean guests. This is due to a new seasonal tax now in effect for the popular Mediterranean destination.
The tax was announced in 2024 but has only just begun to be implemented. The new tax rates change depending on when and where guests visit.
The cruise line has reached out to guests with bookings that include different ports in Greece to alert them to the change.
“Beginning with sailings that depart on August 1, 2025, a seasonal cruise tax will be implemented about various ports in Greece,” the email explained, “including iconic destinations like Mykonos and Santorini.”
All Greek ports are now implementing the tax. While Mykonos and Santorini are by far the most popular destinations in the Hellenic Republic, other destinations include Athens, Crete, and Rhodes.
The cost of the fee does vary depending on where guests visit and the date they enjoy the port of call. This is an effort to further ease tourism crowding during peak periods and at the most popular destinations.
The fee breaks down as follows:
- Peak Season – June 1 through September 30: €20 for Santorini and Mykonos; €5 for other ports
- Shoulder Season – April 1 to May 31 and October 1-31: €12 for Santorini and Mykonos; €3 for other ports
- Off Season – November 1 through March 31: €4 for Santorini and Mykonos; €1 for other ports
It isn’t immediately clear how fees will be calculated for cruises that visit multiple Greek ports on the same sailing. Because the rates vary by destination, however, it is likely that each port will have a different fee assessed and they will be added together for multiple port visits.
Currency exchange rates will naturally fluctuate, but as of August 1, this means US cruise guests to Santorini and Mykonos will pay approximately $23.10 (USD) in peak season; $13.85 in the shoulder season, or $4.61 in the off season.
If guests booked their Greek Islands sailing after September 20, 2024, the new fee has already been incorporated in the taxes and fees at the time of booking. If guests booked their sailing earlier, the appropriate fee will be charged to their onboard account.
However, Royal Caribbean has noted that if guests do not disembark during Greek port visits, they will not be charged the fee.
“If you choose to stay onboard and not go ashore in these Greek ports, we will automatically credit your SeaPass account for the applicable amount towards the end of our sailing,” the notification explained.
It should be noted that these taxes are not being implemented by Royal Caribbean, but rather by Greece. This means guests on other cruise lines will also be impacted, though each cruise line may collect the fees in a different way.
For example, MSC Cruises recently alerted its booked guests about the new fee and how it will be collected.
What Will the New Fees Be Used For?
The new fees on cruise guests are not intended as punitive measures, but are instead earmarked for environmental and conservation measures.
“This initiative supports sustainable tourism and helps preserve the natural beauty and cultural heritage of these beloved destinations,” Royal Caribbean explained.
The phenomenal beaches, striking architecture, ancient temples, and other attractions of Greece that bring in the most tourism are also some that can be most damaged by too many visitors.
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While exact plans have not been revealed, the new tax can provide funding for protective and restoration efforts, as well as improving local infrastructure to minimize crowding and ensure a pleasant and memorable visit for everyone.
Greece is not the first popular cruise location to implement these types of taxes, and it certainly won’t be the last.
Lisbon, Portugal began such a tax in January 2024, Hawaii has passed its first-ever tax on cruise ships, and tourist taxes are even being considered in Alaska, just to name a few.
