- Mexico doubled its cruise passenger tax to $10 on 1 August 2026.
- The tax will rise to $15 in July 2027 and $21 in August 2028.
- Passengers pay the tax once per itinerary regardless of the number of Mexican ports visited.
- Major cruise operators bundle the tax into booking fees and port expenses.
- The tax applies to all foreign travelers on board, including those who remain on the ship.
Mexico has doubled its cruise passenger tax to $10 on 1 August 2026, marking the first phase of a multi-year price hike schedule, and the country’s Non-Resident Duty (DNR) tax will continue to rise over the next two years to fund local infrastructure and community development in highly visited port cities. The Mexican government originally proposed a flat $42 tax on every international traveler. Following intense negotiations with the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA), the government agreed to lower the initial amount and introduce it gradually.
The tax schedule progresses from $5 per person between July 2025 and July 2026, to $10 per person from August 2026 to June 2027, then $15 per person from July 2027 to July 2028, and finally $21 per person from August 2028 onwards. The fee will stay locked at $21 until at least September 2030. Passengers pay this tax once per cruise regardless of how many Mexican ports their ship visits and do not need to pay anything when they step off the ship. Major operators like Royal Caribbean bundle this tax directly into taxes, fees, and port expenses at booking.
The fee applies to every foreign traveler on board, even those who choose to stay on the ship during a port stop. This rule affects all major Mexican destinations including Cozumel, Costa Maya, Cabo San Lucas, and Puerto Vallarta. The gradual implementation of the tax increase allows cruise lines and passengers to adjust to the higher charges while providing the Mexican government with additional revenue for port infrastructure and community development projects.
