Mexico Pushes Back Implementation of $42 Cruise Fee

After a meeting between the Mexican government and members of the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association late last week, Mexico has agreed to delay the implementation of its new $42 per person cruise fee by six months.

While grateful, the FCCA continues to warn the Mexican government, the tax could have devastating consequences for Mexico’s cruise tourism.

“We thank the Mexican government for listening to our concerns and proposing a delay in the implementation of the tax that will fall mainly on American citizens,” said Michele Paige, FCCA CEO. ‘”However, the removal of the in-transit tax exemption — which was provided to our industry over a decade ago for valid reasons that still apply today — was done without our prior input and after the legislation was passed. It is ironic that until this law was abruptly announced the industry was looking to grow business in Mexico, and now the opposite will occur.”

She added that Mexico’s actions in passing the fee, and the related lack of communication with the cruise industry “does not demonstrate an authentic commitment” to collaboration between Mexico and the cruise industry.

The delay, first reported by Seatrade Cruise News, will now see the tax implemented on July 1, 2025, giving cruise lines more time to adapt.

The so-called immigration fee would make visiting Mexican cruise ports 213% more expensive than the average Caribbean port, the Association said.

A family of four, the FCCA said, would have to pay an additional $168 in fees for a cruise that visits Mexican ports, and that’s assuming the fee is imposed just once for all Mexican ports, and not per port, which is not yet clear.

“FCCA warns that placing such a burden on cruise tourists with minimal time actually spent in Mexico will deter visitors, alter cruise itineraries, and create economic ripple effects in communities that heavily rely on cruise tourism,” the Association said.

“The impact of this tax on Mexican tourist destinations will be disastrous,” stated the Mexican Association of Cruises (as quoted in the FCAA statement). “If implemented, we expect to see a progressive drop in arrivals, which will significantly affect employment for taxi drivers, tour guides, artisans, waiters, restaurateurs, craft store owners, pharmacies, and more.”

Reduced Calls a Real Possibility

Cruise lines have responded to heightened fees and other unfavorable policies with reduced calls in the past, both in Alaska and Australia.

In 2010, for instance, the industry reduced its deployment in Alaska, when ports there wanted to charge a hefty per person passenger fee. By 2012, the state had reduced the fee to bring ships back.

One cruise executive TMR spoke with said Mexico is not important enough that it can’t be replaced with other Caribbean destinations.

According to the FCCA, even a small reduction of just 15% could counteract the benefits Mexico is hoping to achieve from the tax — “offsetting or even surpassing the total tax revenue projected from the measure.”

In a not-so-subtle reminder to Mexico, Paige thanked the “many other destination partners we have across Central America and the Caribbean who have already reached out to our member lines and invited them to relocate itineraries to their jurisdictions with open arms.”