U.S. Virgin Islands to Charge Fee for Royal Caribbean Passengers Next Year

The new fee is expected to go into effect on January 1.

The U.S. Virgin Islands will charge Royal Caribbean Group ships that dock in St. Thomas or St. Croix a new per-passenger fee in order to fund port improvements.

The new fee, which is expected to go into effect on January 1, 2024, will charge each Royal Caribbean Group passenger a $5 Capital Cost Recovery Charge, according to the Virgin Islands Port Authority. The new charge will apply to Royal Caribbean Group ships — which includes popular cruise lines like Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, and Silversea Cruises — that dock at either the Austin “Babe” Monsanto Marine Terminal in St. Thomas or the Ann E. Abramson Marine Facility in St. Croix.

“We look forward to continuing our strong partnership with Royal Caribbean Group as we move forward in the development of these exciting projects that will benefit the territory and strengthen this U.S. Virgin Islands’ position as a premier destination,” Carlton Dowe, the executive director of the Virgin Islands Port Authority, said in a statement. “The Caribbean and the rest of the world are not waiting for the USVI to advance. The time for progress is now.”

The group said the fee would be used to improve infrastructure at the ports, including the development of a third cruise ship pier in Crown Bay on St. Thomas and to fund “pre-development costs” to eventually allow Royal Caribbean’s larger Freedom-class cruise ships to dock in St. Croix.

A representative for the Royal Caribbean Group did not respond to a request for comment from Travel + Leisure. A representative for the Virgin Islands Port Authority also didn’t respond to a request for comment from T+L on why the fee was only being imposed on Royal Caribbean Group ships.

The U.S. Virgin Islands is one of the most popular cruise stops for many ships touring the Caribbean, offering gorgeous beaches, a vibrant food scene, and incredible history.

The islands aren’t the only popular cruise destination to impose a fee on visiting ships. Next year, the Bahamas plans to implement a new passenger tax increase, which will cost even more if travelers are visiting a cruise ship’s private island without visiting another port in the Bahamas. In addition, the Bahamas will also charge a $5 tourism environmental tax and a $2 tourism enhancement tax for each cruise passenger.

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