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The hidden cost of your next cruise
New passenger taxes and fees are being introduced at popular ports
Jo is an award-winning travel journalist and hiking holiday enthusiast. Her specialisms include sustainable travel and money-saving advice.
The cost of cruising is going up thanks to a flurry of new tourism taxes being imposed at popular ports.
These fees reach their peak during the summer months: last year, a charge of €20 per passenger was introduced when disembarking in Santorini and Mykonos during high season.
Many other popular destinations have brought in, or are proposing, similar charges. This is on top of the usual taxes and fees passengers have to pay for every port they stop at on their cruise itinerary.
The extra outlay can be a bit of a sting if you’re not expecting it. Here, we explain everything you need to know if you’re planning a cruise holiday this summer – and beyond.
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What are port fees and taxes – and are they included in the price of your cruise?
Cruise ships are charged every time they dock at a port of call – and these costs are passed on to passengers.
They cover a range of expenses, including government fees, the costs of hiring a local maritime pilot to steer the ship safely into harbour, docking and mooring, and baggage handling.
Ports in Alaska and the Caribbean tend to charge more than those in Europe. For example, two people on a seven-night Caribbean cruise with Royal Caribbean will pay £286 in taxes and fees. For a Mediterranean cruise with Princess Cruises, it's £237.
Taxes and fees will be automatically included in the headline cost of your cruise, and you can see the breakdown before you hand over your payment details.
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What is a sustainability port tax?
Sometimes a 'green tax' will also be charged at popular destinations that see a high influx of cruise passengers. This extra fee, to offset the environmental impacts of cruising, will generally only apply if you disembark.
This is monitored via your scannable cruise card when you exit the ship, and the fee is added to your onboard account. If you choose to stay on board, it's typically refunded or not charged in the first place.
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Which destinations have brought in a sustainability tax for cruise passengers?
- Greece. €20 per person to disembark in Santorini and Mykonos during high season (from 1 June to 30 September). This drops to €12 in shoulder season (1 April to 31 October) and €4 in low season (1 November to 31 March ). The charges in other Greek ports are €5, €3 and €1 respectively.
- Iceland. A daily fee of ISK 2,500 (around £15) for every 24 hours the ship spends in Icelandic ports.
- Barcelona, Spain. From April this year, cruise passengers who stay in Barcelona for more than 12 hours will pay a regional tax of €4 (or €6 for less than 12 hours).
- Mexico. The in-transit environmental tax is due to rise to $10 (around £7.50) this August and applies to all cruise passengers.
- France and Hawaii are also proposing their own green and port-pollution fees this year.
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Does the fee get refunded if the itinerary changes?
If a ship skips a port due to extreme weather or other reasons, the taxes and fees will be refunded to you – either to your payment card or in the form of onboard credit. Make sure you’re also refunded for any port excursions missed as a result of the itinerary change.