The little-known taxes that could increase cruise fares

New green levies have been introduced to offset the environmental impact of cruising

Apr 7, 2026 - 17:15

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The little-known taxes that could increase cruise fares

Passengers are facing higher cruise fares due to new green tourism taxes, Which? has warned.

Port fees and taxes are already included in cruise fares but the consumer watchdog has said that extra tourism charges during peak periods may come as a surprise to guests and push up the overall cost of their holiday.

Popular destinations such as Santorini and Barcelona have introduced extra sustainability taxes for when ships are in port, aiming to offset the environmental impacts of cruising.

There is a €20 (£17) per person tax to disembark in Santorini and Mykonos between 1 June to 30 September. This drops to €12 (£10.50) in shoulder season (April, May, October and November) and is €4 (£3.50) between November and March. The charges in other Greek ports are €5 (£4.30), €3 (£2.60) and €1 (87p) respectively.

Iceland has a daily fee of ISK 2,500 (around £15) for every 24 hours the ship spends in Icelandic ports.

Cruise passengers who stay in Barcelona for more than 12 hours will pay a regional tax of €4 (£3) or €6 (£4.50) for under 12 hours from this month, while Mexico is introducing a $10 (£7.50) environmental tax in August.

This is monitored via scannable cruise cards when exiting the ship and the fee is added to onboard accounts. The charge is typically refunded or not charged if passengers choose not to disembark.

If a ship skips a port due to extreme weather or other reasons, the taxes will be refunded, either to payment cards or in the form of onboard credit.

Jo Rhodes, Which? travel expert said: “Port fees and taxes will be included in the upfront price of your cruise, some cruise lines quote these separately on the final booking page. These mandatory charges apply at every port of call, whether you leave the ship or not.

“However, extra sustainability fees – which help manage the impacts of overtourism – may be added to your onboard account during the voyage, depending on the destinations you visit.

“Mostly they only apply if you disembark – so make sure you’re not charged, or the fee is refunded, if you and your travel companions decide to stay on board.”