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Travel + Leisure
22-07-2025
- Travel + Leisure
Greece Just Added New Fees for Travelers Visiting Its Most Popular Islands—What to Know
Cruise passengers in Greece will now pay a 'tourist tax' of up to €20 ($23.41). The new policy was first reported by European media outlets. Exploring popular Greek islands just got more expensive for cruise passengers. That's because the Greek government is now charging a disembarkation fee for travelers heading to the country's islands. Cruise passengers to the Greek islands of Santorini and Mykonos are now responsible for a €20 ($23.41) fee, while cruise travelers to all remaining islands—including Crete and Rhodes—will incur a €5 ($5.85) fee, according to EuroNews. These fees are in effect through Sept. 30. After that, the fee will drop to €12 ($14.07) for Mykonos and Santorini and €3 ($3.52) for all other ports in October and from April 1 through May 31. Several cruise lines either did not respond to requests for comment from Travel + Leisure on how the fee would be paid or directed this reporter to the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA). A representative for CLIA also did not immediately respond to multiple requests for comment. The Greek islands are among the most popular in the world for cruise passengers with several major cruise lines offering trips there, including Carnival, Celebrity Cruises, Disney Cruise Line, Holland America, Royal Caribbean, MSC Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, Princess Cruises, and Virgin Voyages. On Royal Caribbean, for example, travelers can book packages like the "Ultimate Santorini Day" or a kayaking trip to explore the beauty of the island from the water. "Santorini is one of the world's most popular islands, known best for its dramatic scenery, whitewashed villages and fiery volcanic activity," Royal Caribbean wrote about the Greek island. "Here adventure bubbles above the Aegean Sea in the most bold and breathtaking ways." The new fees are being implemented with the hope it may help manage overcrowding, which is especially prevalent on the islands. Last year, more than 7.9 million cruise ship passengers arrived in Greece, according to data from the Hellenic Ports Association, a more than 13% increase compared to 2023. Greece is not alone in imposing fees on cruise ship passengers, a practice that has become somewhat of a new trend. Mexico, for example, implemented a new $5 fee on cruise ship passengers earlier this month. That fee will increase to as much as $21 per passenger by August 2028. Beyond cruises, several European destinations have also implemented tourism fees as a way to manage crowds and drive ancillary revenue. The Italian city of Venice, as an example, started charging as much as €10 ($11.73) per person for day trippers who do not have an overnight reservation.


Daily Mail
08-07-2025
- Daily Mail
Major cruise line issues warning for key Greek destinations - in a huge blow to holidaymakers
MSC Cruises has issued a warning to guests travelling to Greece on any of its cruise ships this year. Passengers have been advised that Greece will soon be introducing a tourist tax as part of its sustainable tourism aims. MSC told affected customers: 'Starting July 21 2025, the Greek Government will introduce a new cruise passenger fee for all guests visiting Greek ports, as part of their Sustainable Tourism program. 'This fee, similar those already in place for hotels and other types of accommodation, is designed to support local infrastructure, promote sustainable tourism and enhance visitors' experience. 'Please note that this mandatory fee applies to all guests, regardless of age, who transit through a Greek port - including ports of call as well as the port of disembarkation.' The new fee will be added to passengers' onboard accounts as the cruise line will pay it directly to the port authorities. MSC added: 'If you choose to stay onboard and not go ashore, the expense will be automatically removed from your account within 24 hours.' Cruise holidaymakers will pay the highest fee to visit Mykonos and Santorini, two of Greece's most popular island destinations. Visiting either of these islands in peak summer season - between July and September - will incur a fee of €20/£17.22 per person. In other, less popular ports, cruise guests will be charged €5/£4.30 per person during peak season. The tax is lower in shoulder season - April, May and October - where cruise passengers will be charged €12/£10.28 to visit Santorini and Mykonos and €3/£2.57 at all other ports. It's cheapest in winter when guests will need to pay just €4/£3.43 on the two most popular islands and €1/86p elsewhere. Funds raised from the new tax will be spent on infrastructure and tourism projects in Greece. And Greece isn't the only destination where cruise passengers are getting stung with a new fee. Mexico, a stop on many Caribbean itineraries, will now charge cruise tourists a $5/£3.67 fee per passenger. That fee is set to soar to $21/£15.42 per passenger over the next three years and it has been introduced following criticism of cruise lines from Mexican officials. The new fee will be added to passengers' onboard accounts as the cruise line will pay it directly to the port authorities They've accused the cruise lines of failing to contribute enough to local communities in the ports they visit. Royal Caribbean and other major cruise lines have reportedly fought against the introduction of the tax, arguing that passengers already spend money in each destination. The tax will be paid in addition to the port fees that cruise lines already pay in Mexico. Officials argue that many airlines already charge a tourist tax within the price of a plane ticket to Mexico and they want cruise passengers to pay to.
Yahoo
05-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Topeka man recalls ‘poop cruise' experience after Netflix publishes documentary
TOPEKA (KSNT) – A Topeka man is reliving the past as Netflix comes out with a new documentary on an infamous cruise experience from more than a decade ago. Topeka resident Brett Klausman was one of thousands of other passengers aboard a cruise ship that suffered an engine fire in 2013, causing the vessel to suffer numerous technical issues. One of the biggest problems encountered by passengers was a failure in the sewage system, reportedly forcing many to endure bad smells and other unpleasantries for days. Streaming service Netflix recently published its own documentary on the now-infamous incident titled 'Trainwreck: Poop Cruise.' Klausman told 27 News he still carries some bad memories of the experience and is surprised people are still interested in what happened. 'I can't believe this disaster is still making waves 12 years later,' Klausman said. 'I figured my 15 minutes of almost fame expired 20 minutes ago. I never would've guessed Netflix would make a documentary about it.' 'Honestly, it was the kind of nightmare you're glad to survive with buddies instead of your wife and kids,' Klausman said. 'Between the toilets, the smell, and the sheer madness of it all, the craziest part is we were somehow bored through most of it. It's one of those stories I'll never forget — whether I want to or not.' You can watch the trailer for the documentary on YouTube by clicking here. You can sign up to watch the documentary on Netflix by clicking here. New Topeka BBQ restaurant rises from the ashes of an old favorite For more local news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here. Follow Matthew Self on X (Twitter): Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.


Daily Mail
26-06-2025
- Daily Mail
Cruise passengers to face tourist tax in major holiday destination
Travellers, including cruise passengers are set to face a new tourist tax in a major European holiday destination. Norway has announced that local governments will be able to charge a three per cent levy on overnight stays and cruise ship visitors. The tax is due to launch in the summer of 2026 and has been designed in response to over tourism in the Nordic country. Norway saw a record-breaking 38.6 million people book accommodation there in 2024, a 4.2 per cent rise in visitors since the previous year. The destination is expected to grow in popularity as tourists seek cooler summer holidays away from heatwaves in southern Europe. As the upcoming tourist fee is a voluntary tax, local areas can choose whether they want to introduce a charge or not. The local authorities that do introduce the tax can use the money to invest in services such as hiking trails and parking facilities. Cecilie Myrseth, Norway's trade and industry minister, told Norwegian broadcaster NRK: 'It is not the case that we have year-round tourism throughout the country, but in some places, there are parts of the year that are particularly demanding, and the expenses that the residents have to pay for are particularly high.' Cruise passengers who visit for the day weren't originally included in the tax plans but have been added after criticism over the impact of cruise ships on the environment. Norway welcomed almost six million cruise ship passengers in 2024, with many travelling to explore the country's fjords. Alesund, Bergen and Stavanger are the three-most visited cruise ports in Norway with Alesund hosting more than 650,000 passengers in 2024. And Norway isn't the only European country to have introduced a tax on cruise passengers. Amsterdam charges cruise passengers a 'day tripper tax' while in Barcelona cruise holidaymakers are charged for overnight stays. Lisbon, Venice and Majorca also have tourist taxes on cruise passengers. Taxes are usually collected by the port authorities or may be included in the price of a cruise. In other cruise news, people have been left shocked after a cruise worker revealed how much he earned working onboard. Brit Chris Wong has worked at sea for the company since 2013, regularly posting content online about his life on the ocean waves. This week he announced his current contract will be his last, as he sails into new waters in 'the next phase of my life'. In a video Chris shows his followers two two-week pay slips. The first sum is $2,890.21 (£2,145.52), while the second, based solely on additional earnings such as tips and commission, is $1,450.09 (£1076.50). The grand total for his work in January this year comes to $4,340.30 (£3,222.93). He explains that he's on 'fantastic money', saying: 'For me to earn something like that in the UK, it's actually quite difficult at this point in time, with the way inflation is and everything'