Carnival Cruise Line gives update on new cruise fee, port opening
Last week, Come Cruise With Me shared some good news for cruisers about Mexico's new cruise tax that's set to take effect on July 1.
The new tax, which was originally proposed at a rate of $42 per passenger, was cut to just $5 to begin this year, after a compromise was reached between the Mexican government and the cruise industry.The per-passenger tax will increase gradually, however, rising to $10 in August 2026, then $15 in 2027, and eventually reaching $21 in 2028.
Although the fee decrease is good news for cruisers who will be responsible for paying these new fees on Mexico cruises, many passengers with cruises booked after July 1 naturally have questions about how exactly the new tax will be paid for their sailings.
Many of those cruisers looked to Carnival Cruise Line Brand Ambassador John Heald, who answers hundreds of passenger questions every day on his popular Facebook page, for help with their Mexico cruise tax questions.
In a video posted on his page on May 12, Heald responded to those questions. He also shared an update on the July grand opening of Celebration Key, Carnival's new exclusive cruise destination on Grand Bahama.'Last week I had literally hundreds of you write to me asking about the tax. There was some news reports that an agreement had been made on a $5, or something like that, tax for guests on cruise ships going into the Mexican ports,' Heald explained in his video.
Heald said that the questions he received ranged from, 'How do I pay it?' to 'When do I pay it?' and 'If I've already booked the cruise, do I still have to pay it?''Well, I don't want you to think that we're ignoring you and we're really not,' Heald promised. 'I just can't answer those questions. I do not have that information to share.'
The brand ambassador assured passengers that the 'Beards' (Heald's name for Carnival leadership) are working to determine those answers. He noted that Carnival's communications team will send out all the information to answer passengers' questions regarding the new Mexico cruise tax as soon as they can.In the same video, Heald also shared an update that passengers booked on the first cruise to Celebration Key, the July 12 sailing on Carnival Vista, will be excited to hear.
'I will be cruising on the Carnival Vista, the first ship that will be calling there — the big grand official opening with our president, Christine [Duffy],' Heald revealed. 'And I will be there as well wearing a very ugly Hawaiian shirt, no doubt.'
At the grand opening, Carnival Vista passengers will get the opportunity to receive a special tour of the new Bahamian destination from the beloved brand ambassador.
'I will be taking you around. I'll show you all the different areas and I'll talk to you about the menus and all that kind of stuff,' Heald said.
More Carnival cruise news:'I'll do some meet-and-greets and all sorts of bits and pieces, I'm sure,' he added. 'But we will be there to host you at Celebration Key. It is going to be absolutely fabulous. I can't wait to show you around.'
Celebration Key is the first exclusive destination designed for Carnival passengers and will feature 'five portals to paradise' across 65 acres. Visitors will enjoy a mile-long white sand beach, freshwater lagoons, local Bahamian flavors and shopping, an adults-only beach club, shore excursions, and more.
Although the first cruise to Celebration Key is sold out, passengers can find the new destination on more than 1,400 itineraries aboard 20 Carnival ships sailing from 10 U.S. homeports through 2027.
(The Arena Group will earn a commission if you book a cruise.)
, or email Amy Post at or call or text her at 386-383-2472.
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