Mexico passes law to impose $42 tax on cruise passengers effective 1/1/25

[RX8]

What isn’t clear is whether or not this is based per port or just one fee regardless of the number of ports. We have a cruise booked this spring. There are three Mexican ports on the itinerary. As it stands, it will be at least an additional $168 in port fees on top of what we have already paid. If it is a per port fee, it will be an additional $504 in Mexican port fees. There are lots of cruise options out there to choose from. This may very well hurt the Mexican cruise industry. I may change my cruise depending on the cost of the additional port fees.

New tax could make cruises to Mexico more expensive at $42 per person

Mexico's Congress voted on a new $42 tax on every cruise ship passenger. Here's what it means for travelers.

www.usatoday.com

 

[GTLINZ]

Bad idea - less people shopping and purchasing their goods ....

 

[ScoopKona]

Same thing as resort fees, bag fees, seat assignment fees and paid parking -- the revenue will more than compensate for the low percentage who will actually take their business elsewhere.

People freezing their nay-nays off are still going to come to the conclusion that Mexico is less expensive than Hawaii or the Caribbean.

 

[easyrider]

What isn’t clear is whether or not this is based per port or just one fee regardless of the number of ports. We have a cruise booked this spring. There are three Mexican ports on the itinerary. As it stands, it will be at least an additional $168 in port fees on top of what we have already paid. If it is a per port fee, it will be an additional $504 in Mexican port fees. There are lots of cruise options out there to choose from. This may very well hurt the Mexican cruise industry. I may change my cruise depending on the cost of the additional port fees.

New tax could make cruises to Mexico more expensive at $42 per person

Mexico's Congress voted on a new $42 tax on every cruise ship passenger. Here's what it means for travelers.

www.usatoday.com

I think it's only $42 pp added to a cruise cost to enter Mexico as an Immigration fee. I think it's about the same as the fee to fly into Mexico Internationally.

Bill

 

[SmithOp]

I just went on the 7 day, 3 ports, Thanksgiving week. I might switch to the Pacific coastal cruises to Vancouver in the future, my $$$ go further in Canada.

 

[Passepartout]

Like all port fees, it will probably be assessed on the cruise lines and they will pass it onto passengers in increased fares. The additional will just disappear into the already exorbitant taxes and fees.

Ho-hum.

 

[Arusso]

Like all port fees, it will probably be assessed on the cruise lines and they will pass it onto passengers in increased fares. The additional will just disappear into the already exorbitant taxes and fees.

Ho-hum.

The most recent information on the port tax is that the Mexican government has postponed implementation of the port tax for 6 month in response to the lobbying by the cruise industry. Of course, the cruise lines have good reason to be concerned. They have heard concerns (complaints) from large booking agencies and scores of frequent cruisers that the exorbitant port fee would adversely affect bookings. The Mexican press reports that this new fee is to pay for increased security throughout the nation. Putting aside the politics of what the Mexican government seeks to accomplish, the fact is the cruise companies will most assuredly incorporate the new port fee into all their booking fees. I suspect once this happens, just as airline rates have increased over the years, the new cruise fares will be accepted by cruisers.

 

[dioxide45]

What if a cruise visits two Mexican ports, is the fee paid twice for each passenger? Given all things equal we would opt for an Eastern Caribbean cruise over Western/Mexico. We've often found those Eastern Caribbean cruises to be more expensive. If this brings them closer to parity, we would continue to opt for Eastern Caribbean.

 

[Arusso]

What if a cruise visits two Mexican ports, is the fee paid twice for each passenger? Given all things equal we would opt for an Eastern Caribbean cruise over Western/Mexico. We've often found those Eastern Caribbean cruises to be more expensive. If this brings them closer to parity, we would continue to opt for Eastern Caribbean.

My understanding that the new port tax is per person regardless of the number of ports visited by the ship in its scheduled itinerary. There are still a lot of unanswered questions. For example, what if someone books another multiport cruise in the same calendar year? Is the tax paid again? If this new port tax follows the current international custom adopted by all nations and are added to the cruise cost by the cruise lines, the answer would be, of course, yes. There is still time for the Mexican government to make amendments and clarify this new tourist fee before its scheduled implementation in June. As for the cruise lines, I would anticipate the proposed new port tax to be added to the "Tax and port charges" portion to the total cost of the cruise. It's safe to assume the cruise lines will not be absorbing this additional cost.