Iceland port calls scrapped over big fee hike
A cruise fee increase implemented in the New Year has led to dozens of cancelled port calls in Iceland.
A new cruise infrastructure fee came into force on January 1 causing several cruise lines to limit or completely shift ships away from Iceland.
Dozens of calls have so far been cancelled for 2025.
Each call is now subject to the new fee is ISK2,500 (about $18) per passenger.
This is five times the cost of the existing Accommodation Tax on cruise guests,
Cruise lines have told port officials the short notice of the fee has forced them to skip calls.
In a letter to Akureyri Port management, MSC Cruises says it could skip Iceland cruises altogether.
“This new proposed infrastructure fee is at a level where it could affect viability of Iceland in our future itineraries and plans,” the cruise line wrote.
So far, Akureyri Port has been informed of 44 cruise call cancellations while other Iceland ports have confirmed cancelled calls.
Local media said at least 80 scheduled calls have been scrapped for 2025.
“It’s reasonable for this industry to contribute but it must be implemented with adequate notice,” Sigurður Jökull Ólafsson, Chairman of Cruise Iceland told national new broadcaster RÚV.
Cruise Iceland is not opposing a fee increase in principle but said it ‘has be implemented gradually so it wouldn’t hit operations as hard as it does now.’
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Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
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