AMERICANS set to embark on idyllic cruise ship getaways will soon have to pay an extra fee thanks to a new policy.
And travelers have been warned that the charge will be increasing over time.
AlamyCruise ship passengers heading on idyllic getaways will be hit with another charge in the coming months (stock)[/caption]From July 1, vacationers arriving in Mexican cruise ship ports will have to pay a $5 charge.
This fee will be factored into the cost of a cruise, as reported by the CW affiliate KTLA-TV.
But, travelers have been warned that the charge will more than quadruple over the next three years.
This is because the $5 charge will jump to $21 over the next three years.
But, the increases will be gradual as opposed to sudden.
The $5 will rise to $10 between August 2026 and July 2027.
Then, the figure will increase to $15 between July 2027 and July 2028.
The final increase will be in August 2028 when it reaches $21.
The charge is considerably lower than the $42 fee the Mexican government wanted to slap on travelers.
It would’ve been 213% higher than the average cost imposed at Caribbean ports.
And, it was planned to be introduced in January before being put on the backburner for six months.
The proposal, first touted last year, risked impacting passengers who stayed on board cruise ships.
Tourist groups in both Mexico and the US have expressed concerns about the policy.
Organizations claimed the government didn’t give tourists enough time to prepare for the pending charge.
“If this measure is implemented, it would make Mexican ports of call among the most expensive in the world, severely affecting their competitiveness with other Caribbean destinations,” a spokesperson for the Mexican Association of Shipping Agents, said.
COMPROMISE REACHED
Officials at the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association warned the fees would have a “far-reaching” impact on families.
They alluded to the fact that a family of four would’ve been charged an additional $168 under the old proposal.
The organization also cited that travelers who fly into the country or drive over the US-Mexico border wouldn’t be slapped with the tax.
Florida officials have welcomed the fact a lower fee has been reached.
Meanwhile, travelers on board ships in Hawaii will have to pay an 11% tax on their fare, as reported by the CW affiliate KHON-TV.
This new levy will come into force in July 2026.
The fee will impact travelers heading to Mexico (stock)Getty - Contributor Read More Details
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