The cost of travel to Europe’s busiest port could rise sooner than passengers expect.
Cruise passengers stopping in Barcelona are currently subject to a 4-euro daily municipal surcharge. This is specifically for cruises that spend less than 12 hours in the capital of Catalonia, and not for cruises that start or end their trips there.
This fee was already set to increase gradually over several years. However, according to Spain’s leading newspaper, El País, Barcelona Mayor Jaume Colboni is now proposing to double this within months.
The mayor’s office told USA TODAY that if approved by the City Council, the increase would not take effect until 2027.
The mayor also wants to increase the limit on the surcharge to more than 8 euros a day, but this would require approval from the government of Catalonia.
The mayor’s office says stopover cruises provide little value to the city and contribute to overcrowding, but tourist taxes help finance city projects like heating public schools with green energy.
Barcelona has been fighting overtourism for years, raising tourist taxes, limiting vacation rentals and, most recently, reducing cruise ship terminals.