Starting July 21, 2025, travelers will have to pay a mandatory tax for cruising through Greek ports.

The Greek government is introducing a new mandatory tax for passengers on cruise ships visiting Greek ports. The goal of this measure is to support sustainable tourism, improve local infrastructure, and enhance the visitor experience – reports Nova.rs.

The new rule takes effect on July 21, and the amounts depend on the travel period.

21/07/2025 – 30/09/2025:

• 20 EUR per guest per port for Mykonos and Santorini
• 5 EUR per guest per port for all other Greek ports

01/10/2025 – 31/10/2025, 01/04/2026 – 31/05/2026:

• 12 EUR per guest per port for Mykonos and Santorini
• 3 EUR per guest per port for all other Greek ports

01/11/2025 – 31/03/2026

• 4 EUR per guest per port for Mykonos and Santorini
• 1 EUR per guest per port for all other Greek ports

What’s Important to Know About the New Taxes in Greece?

When is the tax charged?

The tax is charged only when the passenger disembarks the ship. If the passenger doesn’t leave the ship – no tax applies. It is charged only once per port, even if the passenger leaves the ship multiple times in a day. In case of an overnight stay in port, the tax is paid only once.

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How is it paid?

Passengers cannot prepay this tax. The tax is automatically added to the onboard account when the guest leaves the ship. It is not included in the price of excursions and appears as a separate item on the final bill. There are no exemptions – all guests, regardless of age or disability, pay the same tax.

What if…?

If the guest doesn’t return to the ship – there is no additional charge, as the tax isn’t charged per day. In the case of an emergency (e.g., hospital visit or early return home) – the tax applies if the guest has left the ship. If the ship is delayed or breaks down, the tax amount remains the same – it isn’t time-dependent.

Is there any proof of payment?

The cruise card serves as proof that the tax has been paid. Disembarking is recorded by scanning the card by staff before leaving the ship.

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Where does the money go?

The funds go directly to the Greek government. Cruise companies do not keep any of the collected taxes. The aim is to improve tourism infrastructure in ports and ensure sustainable development of destinations.