The cruise industry’s efforts to stop a $42 per-passenger cruise tax proposed by the Mexican government seems to have been successful.
Cruise industry leaders were blindsided by the plan last fall and have since been meeting with Mexican government officials to find a balanced solution that supports Mexico’s tourism industry and keeps Mexico cruises affordable for travelers.
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Although they were focused on collaboration with Mexico, cruise industry leaders warned that it wouldn’t be difficult for cruise lines to adjust itineraries to swap Mexican ports of call with other destinations if the $42 tax was implemented as planned on July 1.
Even a small drop in cruise ship traffic could mean millions of dollars in lost revenue for local businesses in communities that depend on tourism, cancelling out the tax’s intended economic benefits.
It appears that the Mexican government listened to both cruise industry leaders and concerned port town residents, and came up with a better solution.
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Carnival Cruise Line sails to a variety of popular ports in Mexico, like Cabo San Lucas.
Image source: Carnival Cruise Line
Mexico drastically reduces planned cruise tax
The Mexican government has not completely dropped the planned cruise tax, but has significantly decreased it.
Instead of charging $42 for each passenger beginning July 1, Mexico will introduce the cruise tax at a rate of $5 per passenger to start, according to Riviera Maya News.
The cruise tax is expected to double in 2026 and again in 2027, however. It will increase to $10 for 2026 and $21 for 2027.
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These new tax amounts, which are intended to increase cruise tourism’s contribution to Mexico’s economic development, have been agreed upon by the Federation of Cruise Services and Related Activities (FSCA) and the Mexican government, according to Mexican Senator Eugenio Segura Vázquez.
Riviera Maya News reports that the agreement includes “commitments from the cruise ship companies to increase the number of cruise passengers to Mexican ports, promote infrastructure projects such as the fourth pier in Cozumel and the acquisition of domestic supplies, especially artisanal products, for sale on cruise ships.”
Cruise lines are optimistic about the future of cruising in Mexico
Although the cruise industry has yet to comment on the Mexico cruise tax compromise, Carnival Corp. CEO Josh Weinstein previously expressed an optimistic outlook about the ongoing tax talks during a state of the industry panel at the Seatrade Cruise Global conference on April 8.
“We had an amazing meeting with the governor of Quintana Roo and others, and everything is moving in the right direction for hopefully something that’s incredibly collaborative in its approach,” Weinstein said, as reported by Cruise Industry News.
Related: Royal Caribbean follows Carnival with new island development move
Carnival, Royal Caribbean, and other cruise lines have recently been focused on expanding cruise options visiting Mexican ports.
Reaching a compromise with Mexico is especially good news for Royal Caribbean, since the cruise line is currently making major investments, developing new cruise destination experiences in Mexico to better serve passengers who want to explore the western Caribbean.
Royal Beach Club Cozumel is set to debut in 2026, and Perfect Day Mexico is expected to open in Costa Maya in 2027. Like its popular private island in The Bahamas, Perfect Day at CocoCay, Perfect Day Mexico will feature a waterpark, pools, beaches, restaurants, bars, and other experiences, all developed with locally inspired designs and flavors.
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