Barcelona Set To Double Passenger Tax on Stopover Cruises

Passengers visiting Barcelona on cruise ships that stay in port for less than 12 hours (not including embarkation/debarkation days) will have to pay double the amount of the current tourist tax starting in 2027. As reported by UK’s Express, the new tax would be 8 euros per passenger.

The long-term aim of the tax is to eliminate stopover cruises that bring cruisers into the city for only short periods of time.

As quoted by the Express from a recent interview on local television, Barcelona Mayor Jaume Collboni said, “My goal is to reduce cruise ship stopovers in the city of Barcelona to zero in the coming years.”

At the same time, Barcelona continues to reduce port infrastructure for cruise ships in general. The city has plan to reduce the number of terminals from seven to five, with the demolition of the old Terminal C expected to be completed by the end of 2026.

According to data from the Spanish port authority, 832 cruise ship calls were made to Barcelona in 2025, accounting for some 3.9 million passengers.

Barcelona isn’t only targeting cruise ship passengers. Last month, the city increased its general tourist tax for both hotel and apartment rental guests, with fees ranging from $10 to $17 per night.