Mexico cruise passenger tax ???

[swedish weave]

Mexico delays new port tax until fall

 

This item was written by Johanna Jainchill, who covers cruising for Travel Weekly. Jainchill is serving as Guest Editor of The Cruise Log this week while USA TODAY Cruise Editor Gene Sloan is on vacation.

Mexico has delayed until to October 1 the implementation of a law that would levy a head tax of $5 per passenger on cruise passengers that visit Mexican ports.

Mexico's Ministry of Tourism was originally going to apply the tax beginning this summer, after the Senate approved it last November.

The tax is expected to generate approximately $30 million a year, Mexico said, 80% of which would go toward the infrastructure and maintenance of municipalities with cruise ports.

 

 

Does anyone know if this is still going to be implemented and how the cruise lines are going to handle it?

[Ms belp]

If she said it this week, my guess is the information is accurate. I'm sure they (NCL) will just add it to the tax portion of the cruise charges.

[Ms belp]

Mexico delays new port tax until fall

 

This item was written by Johanna Jainchill, who covers cruising for Travel Weekly. Jainchill is serving as Guest Editor of The Cruise Log this week while USA TODAY Cruise Editor Gene Sloan is on vacation.

Mexico has delayed until to October 1 the implementation of a law that would levy a head tax of $5 per passenger on cruise passengers that visit Mexican ports.

Mexico's Ministry of Tourism was originally going to apply the tax beginning this summer, after the Senate approved it last November.

The tax is expected to generate approximately $30 million a year, Mexico said, 80% of which would go toward the infrastructure and maintenance of municipalities with cruise ports.

 

Wait, there is an idea! We could charge $5.00 per person for land passengers that visit American entry points. That would really help our infrastructure and maintenance of municipalities.:eek::D

[NoVaCruiser60]

We just came back from the Jewel to Cozumel. NCL charged us $5 pp up front, then when the Mexican Govt announced the delay, NCL rebated to us as an OBC.

[smeyer418]

Alaska already charges $50 plus a percentage of the take in the casino while in Alaska's waters.

 

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/travel/2003223150_webcruisetax24.html

[CC Help Michell]

Mexico delays new port tax until fall

 

This item was written by Johanna Jainchill, who covers cruising for Travel Weekly. Jainchill is serving as Guest Editor of The Cruise Log this week while USA TODAY Cruise Editor Gene Sloan is on vacation.

Mexico has delayed until to October 1 the implementation of a law that would levy a head tax of $5 per passenger on cruise passengers that visit Mexican ports.

Mexico's Ministry of Tourism was originally going to apply the tax beginning this summer, after the Senate approved it last November.

The tax is expected to generate approximately $30 million a year, Mexico said, 80% of which would go toward the infrastructure and maintenance of municipalities with cruise ports.

 

 

Does anyone know if this is still going to be implemented and how the cruise lines are going to handle it?

 

I'd guess the same way they handle it in Alaska -- add it to your government charges/taxes/port fees, and rebate it if they don't have to pay it. By the way, in Alaska it's $50 per head.

 

PS Dagnabit, Sid -- hate it when posts hit at the same time!

[Don Haynes]

Hey, the cruise docks, terminals, and customs cost money to maintain. Who else should pay for them but the cruisers who use the docks, terminals, and customs? Why should anyone berate Mexico when Alaska charges ten times as much?

 

The large city of Miami maintain six cruise terminals. Its not easy for the small town of Cozumel to maintain six cruise ship docks. The citizens of Cozumel have a lot more on their political agenda than to pay for cruise ship infrastructure. They have roads, schools, and hospitals as well.

[smeyer418]

you know I was just doing some research on the US constitution(on the suspension of habeus corpus). I understand how a port can charge fees for use of a pier but I still don't see how a state can charge a fee for people to enter the state. My reading of the constitution says that is a no no. I raised that two years ago and so far I haven't seen a challenge by the cruise lines...You can charge for use of a bridge but if you say every one has to pay $50.00 to enter NJ isn't that against the constitution?

 

No State shall, without the Consent of the Congress, lay any Imposts or Duties on Imports or Exports, except what may be absolutely necessary for executing its inspection Laws: and the net Produce of all Duties and Imposts, laid by any State on Imports or Exports, shall be for the Use of the Treasury of the United States; and all such Laws shall be subject to the Revision and Controul(sic) of the Congress.

 

No State shall, without the Consent of Congress, lay any Duty of Tonnage, keep Troops, or Ships of War in time of Peace, enter into any Agreement or Compact with another State, or with a foreign Power, or engage in War, unless actually invaded, or in such imminent Danger as will not admit of delay.

[Don Haynes]

Alaska isn't charging us to enter the state so much as they are charging us for their costs accommodating us with piers, docks, parking lots, roads suitable for buses, etc. The city of New York has several terminals and docks, the little city of Ketchikan has three piers and docks for cruise ships. With the increasing size of cruise ships, these Alaskan towns will have to dredge and create larger piers and docks. This costs money the local citizens really don't enjoy as much as outsiders on the cruise ships.

 

Bermuda is almost to the point of not wanting cruise ships to call on them any longer, due to the costs of upgrading their infrastructure for cruise ship passengers.

[terrymtex01]

Alaska already charges $50 plus a percentage of the take in the casino while in Alaska's waters.

 

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/travel/2003223150_webcruisetax24.html

 

Very interesting article. I do agree that I feel we should have to pay for all the building and upkeep that it takes for the piers, roads, etc etc that allow us to visit these places. I'm not so sure Alaska needs the help as much as Mexico and the Caribbean islands, I just think Alaska is taking advantage of the popularity of their area for cruises right now. Can't blame them for that.

 

I think what may have the most negative impact on Alaska for that taxation they just passed is the share in profits of the casino. I would be curious to know if they do that for all casino's in Alaska (of which I don't know of any but there are probably some there some where). Also, I think it is where it is going to hit cruiselines the hardest as the casino is a big money maker for any cruiseline. The cruiseline is going to have to make up that lost revenue somewhere and guess where it is going to be. Yup, they are going to have to divide that loss amongst the cabins fares. Make it too expensive, and people will stop going. Of course this was done in 2006, and it doesn't seem to have slowed business down yet.. LOL..