Mexico to Introduce $5 Cruise Passenger Tax in 2025

Starting in July 2025, cruise passengers arriving at Mexican ports will be subject to a new head tax, the Mexican government has announced.

As reported by El Financiero, each guest entering the country aboard a cruise ship will initially pay a fee of $5. This amount is significantly lower than the previously proposed $42 per person, which was met with industry pushback.

The fee will not remain static, however. According to the report, the head tax is expected to gradually increase, rising again in 2026 and 2027 before reaching a maximum of $21 per person by 2028.

Previously, cruise visitors were exempt from such fees under Mexico’s Federal Rights Law. But in December 2024, legislative changes approved by both the Senate and Chamber of Deputies mandated the imposition of this tax on cruise passengers.

Local media reports also revealed that more than two-thirds of the revenue generated by the new tax would be allocated to military expenditures, a decision that stirred concerns within the cruise industry.

Cruise companies, including major operators, voiced opposition to the policy. Carnival Corporation’s president and CEO, Josh Weinstein, acknowledged the ongoing discussions, stating the company was “working hard to find a collaborative approach” with Mexican authorities.

Weinstein emphasized Carnival’s commitment to highlighting the value that cruise tourism brings to the Mexican economy, both presently and in terms of future potential.

In 2024, more than seven million cruise guests arrived at Mexican ports, according to local government figures. The island of Cozumel remained the top destination, serving as a key port of call for Western Caribbean itineraries.