Cruise Fees in Mexico to Drop Starting 2025

Cancún, Quintana Roo — Beginning in July 2025, cruise companies operating in Mexico will start paying the Non-Resident Fee (DNR). However, the cost will be set at $21 per passenger, rather than the initially proposed $42. The fee will be implemented gradually, starting at $5 in July 2025, increasing to $10 in 2026, and reaching $21 by 2027.

The decision was reached through an agreement between the Federation of Cruise Services and Related Activities (FSCA) and the Mexican government. Senator Eugenio Segura, representing Quintana Roo, stated that this measure represents a significant step toward increasing the cruise industry’s contribution to national economic development. He credited the outcome to negotiations led by President Claudia Sheinbaum, Quintana Roo Governor Mara Lezama, and Federal Tourism Secretary Josefina Rodríguez.

“Starting in July, cruise lines operating in Mexico will begin making payments. It will not be the full $42, but rather a gradual and progressive fee: $5 in July, $10 the following year, and $21 the year after. The $42 fee will no longer apply,” Segura explained.

Additional Commitments from Cruise Industry

The agreement also includes key commitments from cruise operators, such as sourcing national supplies—particularly artisanal products—for onboard sales, increasing the number of tourists arriving at Mexican ports, and investing in port infrastructure projects, including the development of a fourth dock in Cozumel.

Labor Reform and Tax Considerations

In a separate matter, Senator Segura addressed the gradual reduction of the workweek to 40 hours, which will be fully implemented by 2030. While acknowledging the progress in labor rights, he cautioned that in states like Quintana Roo, the transition must be handled carefully to avoid negative impacts on real wages for tourism sector employees.

Regarding calls to eliminate income tax (ISR) on workers’ earnings, Segura noted that the proposal is under review as part of a broader labor agenda.