Hey cruisers! Big news for your upcoming Greek adventures—beginning 21 July 2025, Greece is introducing a mandatory per-person, per-port disembarkation fee for cruise visitors. It’s similar to hotel and tourist taxes already in place, and it’s all about supporting infrastructure and keeping tourism sustainable .
Fee Structure by Season & Port
| Season | Santorini & Mykonos | All Other Greek Ports |
|---|---|---|
| Peak (1 Jun–30 Sep) | €20 | €5 |
| Shoulder (1 Apr–31 May & 1 Oct–31 Oct) | €12 | €3 |
| Low (1 Nov–31 Mar) | €4 | €1 |
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Charged per disembarkation, not per cruise itinerary.
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Applies to all ages—yes, even little ones count.
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Cruise lines collect the fee on behalf of the Greek authorities—so it’s smoothly added to your onboard account the night before port calls.
What Happens If You Stay Onboard?
If you skip going ashore, the charge is automatically reversed, typically within 24 hours.
Why Now? The Purpose Behind the Fee
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Greece hosted over 7 million cruise guests in 2023, with nearly 1.3 million just in Santorini.
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The revenue—estimated to be up to €50 million per year—will go directly to port upgrades, sustainable tourism programs, waste management, and local community support.
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It mirrors global efforts (see Venice, Amsterdam, Lisbon) to ease overtourism while safeguarding heritage and local life
Helpful Tips for Travellers
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Consider shoulder season (Apr–May or Oct): fees are significantly lower, and the vibe is more relaxed.
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Explore off-the-beaten-path ports like Syros, Patmos, or Nafplio—still charming, less crowded, and lower fees.
Please note that additional local taxes, resort-style destination fees, and tourism levies imposed by port or destination authorities may apply and cannot be prepaid or included in our package price. These may be charged per passenger and added directly to your onboard account or billed at time of port call. Recent examples include: Greece (from July 21 2025), Mexico (from July 1 2025), upcoming Hawaii accommodations tax (from 2026), and proposed local levies in Scotland and the Netherlands. While we include all customary port taxes and government fees in our advertised prices, you may still be responsible for these destination-based charges. We recommend reviewing port authority notices prior to travel.