Cruises to Mexico from Galveston may cost more as Mexico introduces a $42 immigration fee for cruise passengers, ending previous exemptions.
Cruise passengers traveling from Galveston to Mexican ports may soon face additional costs. Mexico’s Congress recently approved a $42 immigration fee for all cruise passengers docking in the country. Previously exempt, passengers were not charged due to their overnight stays aboard the ships and limited disembarkation during port calls.
Cozumel, Mexico’s busiest cruise destination, attracts approximately four million passengers annually. Critics, including the Mexican Association of Shipping Agents, warn the new fee could make Mexican ports among the most expensive in the world, reducing their competitiveness with other Caribbean destinations.
“If this measure is implemented, it would severely impact Mexico’s cruise industry,” the association stated, urging lawmakers to reconsider.
The fee, part of Mexico’s new budget law, allocates two-thirds of the revenue to the country's defense department. This decision has drawn criticism as funds will not directly benefit port infrastructure or tourism services.
The law reflects broader efforts by Mexico’s ruling Morena party to address budget deficits amid costly infrastructure projects. While aimed at increasing revenue, the move has sparked concerns over its impact on tourism.
Travelers and cruise operators alike are now watching to see how this fee might influence cruising in the Caribbean.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced charges against a Waller County clinic owner and employees tied to illegal abortions and unlicensed medical practice in the Houston region.
The City of Galveston plans to resurface Seawall Boulevard and may include dedicated bike lanes as part of a federally funded infrastructure upgrade slated to begin in late 2026.
In a significant move, the Texas House passed a $3 billion bill aimed at creating a dedicated dementia research institute. The initiative's funding, however, is contingent on voter approval of a constitutional amendment, the fate of which is currently uncertain due to legislative disagreements on school vouchers.