Greece has introduced a new tax for cruise passengers visiting the islands this summer, leading to some confusion about who pays it and how it will be collected.
Cruise lines are assuring passengers that they won’t be asked to pay the tax in advance of their cruise to a third party, or in person when they disembark on the Greek islands.
Authorities will collect the passenger cruise tax from the cruise lines, along with all other port fees and taxes.
How much is the tax?
It will be highest for passengers visiting Santorini and Mykonos, where the fee is €20 (about £17) from July to the end of September.
For other Greek ports, the levy is €5 (approximately £4.20) per passenger. In mid-season and low-season, it drops to €12 (roughly £10) in Santorini and Mykonos and €3 (£2.60) at all other islands.
When does it come into force?
A spokesperson from the Greek National Tourism Organisation has confirmed the new fee will take effect on 21 July.
How is it collected?
The tax will be collected directly from the cruise lines, but each is charging passengers differently.
For example, Celestyal is charging guests based on how many ports they disembarked. The charge is added to a guest’s final bill the night before disembarkation.
A Celestyal spokesperson told Travel Gossip: “We remain fully committed to supporting sustainable tourism in our home islands of Greece, including iconic destinations such as Mykonos and Santorini.
“We will continue working closely with our industry partners, CLIA and the Greek Government to advocate for practical solutions and infrastructure that benefit both local communities and international visitors. We are committed to keeping our guests and trade partners fully informed as further developments arise.”
MSC Cruises has told guests they will have to pay the new tax from 21 July, which will be charged to their account the night before their ship calls at the port. The charge will be removed for any guest who chooses to stay onboard.
Azamara is not passing the tax on to customers who have already booked cruises for 2025, but it said it might build the additional charge into fares in the future, although it remains undecided at this time.
Windstar has adjusted its fares to include the tax in forward bookings for the Greek Islands and, where possible (subject to any further changes made by Greek authorities), it said guests will not have additional fees.
The main thing to inform clients is that the tax is collected and paid by the cruise lines, so if they’re asked to pay a third party, it’s likely a scam.
