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2w ago

Mexico and Cruise Industry Finalize Phased Passenger Fee Agreement

Starting July 1, 2025, cruise passengers will pay a $5 transit fee, gradually increasing to $21 by 2028, as part of a compromise to sustain tourism and fund infrastructure projects.

According to the FCCA, this year could see around 3,300 cruise ships arriving in Mexican ports, bringing 10 million passengers to the country.
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Overview

  • The Mexican government and the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA) reached a deal to introduce a phased transit fee for cruise passengers, beginning at $5 per passenger on July 1, 2025.
  • The fee will rise incrementally to $10 in August 2026, $15 in 2027-2028, and $21 by November 2028, replacing the initially proposed $42 flat fee.
  • The transit fee will be collected once per cruise itinerary and added to the cost of the cruise, rather than being paid directly by passengers to the government.
  • Cruise lines agreed to support local port infrastructure projects, including a proposed fourth pier in Cozumel, and to promote Mexican goods aboard their ships.
  • The cruise industry, which contributed $1 billion in direct spending to Mexico's economy last year, is expected to bring approximately 10 million passengers on 3,300 ship calls in 2025.