Greece Starts Charging Cruise Passengers a Tourist Tax 🇬🇷⛴️

New Cruise Passenger Fee

Greece has recently rolled out a new per-passenger port fee, with rates that change by island and season:

Peak Season (June 1–September 30)

• Santorini & Mykonos: $22
  

• All other Greek ports: $5.50

Shoulder Season (April 1–May 31 & October 1–31)

• Santorini & Mykonos: $13
  

• All other Greek ports: $3.30

Low Season (November 1–March 31)

• Santorini & Mykonos: $4.40
  

• All other Greek ports: $1.10

Cruise lines will collect these fees at the time of booking, so you’ll simply see the charge folded into your total fare.

Why Greece Introduced a Cruise Tax

After several record-breaking years for tourism, Greek authorities needed to ease pressure on islands where heavy cruise traffic strained local resources. Santorini and Mykonos in particular faced overcrowded streets, traffic jams, stretched water supplies, and mounting waste management challenges. By adding a modest port fee, the government aims to raise nearly $55 million annually. Those funds will be reinvested in port upgrades, expanded waste and water infrastructure, road repairs, and enhanced services for both residents and visitors to ensure these destinations remain livable and attractive.

Which Islands Are Affected?

The highest fees apply to Santorini and Mykonos, each of which welcomed over 1.3 million cruise passengers in 2024.

On certain summer days, arrivals in Santorini have exceeded the official daily limit set to protect local quality of life. Cruise ships that call at other Greek ports will pay the lower peak­-season rate of about $5.50 per passenger. While preliminary information suggests tiered fees for shoulder and low seasons, the exact mid­-season and off­-season rates await final confirmation from Greece’s Ministry of Finance and the Port Authority.

Impact on Cruising in Greece

Greece’s cruise sector recorded 7.9 million passengers in 2024, a 13 percent increase over the previous year. Local businesses rely heavily on this traffic, but residents and municipal officials have raised concerns about environmental and social impacts. Some port authorities worry the new fees might shift itineraries toward less expensive or less crowded islands, while cruise lines emphasize that the added charge is marginal compared to overall ticket prices. Most companies plan to absorb the fee and keep Greece on their schedules, pointing to the country’s rich history, scenic beauty, and established tourism infrastructure.

A Step Toward Sustainable Tourism

This port fee is part of a broader shift in Greek tourism policy, which also includes daily passenger caps at sensitive sites and incentives for travelers to visit off­-peak. The goal is to distribute visitor flows more evenly across regions and throughout the year. By channeling revenue back into local communities, Greece hopes to preserve its natural landscapes, protect historic landmarks, and improve everyday life for island residents. Over time, these measures aim to balance economic benefits with environmental and cultural stewardship.

What Cruise Travelers Should Know

For those planning an Aegean cruise this summer, the new fee will appear as a line item in your total fare—no extra steps are required. Expect more visible crowd management efforts, especially on high­-traffic days in Santorini and Mykonos, and prepare for slightly higher costs on shore excursions. On the plus side, the improvements funded by these fees should translate into smoother port operations, cleaner public spaces, and better visitor facilities in the years ahead.

A few extra dollars per port call can make a big difference. By contributing to upgraded infrastructure and sustainable practices, cruise passengers help ensure that Greece’s iconic islands remain vibrant, welcoming, and well preserved for future generations.