The Barcelona City Council has approved an immediate tripling of the municipal fee for cruise passengers — up to €24 per person. Together with the regional tax, the total charge will reach €30.
According to Metropoli Aberta, citing a meeting of the Committee on Economy and Finance, the new rate is three times higher than the current one and will apply to all guests staying in the city for less than 12 hours — effectively covering every cruise passenger calling at the port of Barcelona as a port of call.
The initiative belongs to Barcelona's Mayor Jaume Collboni, who first proposed it in early 2026. Initially, the increase was expected to be introduced gradually through 2029, but the city authorities decided to act immediately. Final legislative adoption is expected after the fiscal ordinances meeting scheduled for the end of the year.
In addition to the €24 municipal fee, cruise passengers will pay an extra €6 regional tax. As a result, the total charges for a single guest calling at Barcelona within a cruise itinerary will amount to €30 per person. A family of four will pay an additional €120 for this port alone — a sum worth factoring in at the booking stage.
Marc Serra, a representative of the BComú political party, stated that the new rate serves as a signal for cruise lines to “seek other destinations”. Supporters of the measure argue that cruise tourism in its current form has become an unbearable burden on the city's neighborhoods and on the daily life of Barcelona residents.
One of the key goals of the new fee is to encourage homeporting operations, where Barcelona serves as an embarkation and disembarkation port rather than merely a port of call. Passengers who begin or end their cruise in the city typically stay for one or two nights, book hotels, and spend money in restaurants and shops — unlike “day-visit” guests arriving during a port of call.
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The tax hike is just one part of Barcelona's broader strategy. The city is also considering the introduction of an annual cap of 3.5 million cruise passengers. In addition, the port plans to demolish three cruise terminals, replacing them with a single new, modern facility of greater capacity.
Barcelona has become the latest European destination in a growing list of cities introducing or raising cruise passenger fees in 2025–2026 — alongside Greece, Iceland, Norway, Venice, and Amsterdam. Cruise lines such as MSC Cruises, Costa Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, and Royal Caribbean International typically add such charges automatically to the guest's onboard account.
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