Iceland Introduces €18 Daily Fee for Cruise Ship Tourists: What You Need to Know

Iceland has introduced a new "infrastructure fee" in 2025, targeting cruise ship tourists who stay within the country’s territorial waters. This fee, set at 2500 Icelandic Krona (approximately EUR 18) per person per day, replaces the previous accommodation tax and applies to all passengers, regardless of whether they disembark or remain on board the cruise ship.

For example, guests aboard the MSC Preziosa—expected to dock in Iceland starting June 9, 2025—will be liable for about EUR 70 over a four-day cruise, as the fee will be automatically charged to their onboard accounts when the ship leaves Icelandic waters. MSC has confirmed that this fee is compulsory for all guests, irrespective of participation in shore excursions or other onshore activities.

The fee is a part of Iceland’s strategy to manage the rising tide of tourism and bolster the infrastructure of the island. By ensuring that all cruise passengers contribute equally—whether they go ashore or not—the government aims to reduce the strain that growing visitor numbers impose on Iceland’s natural and urban resources.

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