Cruise passengers docking in Mexico will be charged a $5 fee starting July 1. It will gradually increase through 2028.
GALVESTON, Texas — You may have to budget a little more when taking your next cruise out of Galveston.
On July 1, cruise ship passengers docking in Mexico will be charged $5. This fee will be collected by cruise companies.
The fee was originally $42, but the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA), which represents 95% of all cruise capacity in both the Caribbean and Latin America, reached an “in-transit fee” agreement with the Mexican government.
According to the FCAA, the cruise industry contributed roughly $1 billion in direct spending to the Mexican economy last year.
“This agreement demonstrates what we can accomplish together to foster opportunities for shared growth and success through ongoing, open dialogue and partnership with Mexico officials,” the FCAA said in a statement to KHOU 11 News.
The $5 fee will increase to $10 on Aug. 1, 2026. On July 1, 2027, the fee will increase to $15. Beginning Aug. 1, 2028, the fee will rise to $21.
Some of the top ports for cruise ships in Mexico include Cabo San Lucas, Cancun, Mazatlan and Puerto Vallarta, according to Travel + Leisure.
Read the full statement from the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association:
On behalf of the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA) and our member cruise lines – representing over 95% of cruise capacity in the Caribbean and Latin America – we thank the Federal Government of Mexico for working with us to reach an “in transit fee” agreement that safeguards cruise tourism to the country and aims to enhance the benefits for local communities whose livelihoods depend on it.
The cruise industry is a success story for Mexico, contributing roughly $1 billion USD in direct spending to the economy in the past year alone. This agreement demonstrates what we can accomplish together to foster opportunities for shared growth and success through ongoing, open dialogue and partnership with Mexico officials.
As of July 1, cruise ship passengers docking in Mexico will be charged $5 USD, a fee that will be collected by the cruise companies. The fee will gradually increase to $10 USD on August 1, 2026, through June 2027. Then it will go up to $15 USD on July 1, 2027, through July 2028. Starting August 1, 2028, the fee will rise to $21 USD.