How much do cruise ships pay port countries to dock there?

Question

How much do cruise lines pay port countries to dock there?

Answer 1

It depends on the port.  Some are $250 per day - others can go up to $2500 per day.   Also depends on if they actually dock there, or they just anchor there, and you have to then take the tenders into the shore.

Answer 2

klinger has it right.....in St Thomas its $13.25 per passenger.......

Answer 3

each country has different port fees,  they charge per person not per ship.  Usually $10-$25pp.  The port fees will be rolled up in your fare so it will not be an additional out of pocket expense after you are booked.

Answer 4

The fee for port charges is generally paid per person by the cruise line to the port visiting.  These fees vary by port and are nothing that you have to worry about as you have already prepaid the port charges.  

The port charges should be broken down on your cruise ticket.  Imagine multiplying that times the number of passengers on board and you can see why some countries love cruising!  While it is a total amount, divide it by the number of ports and it will give you an average.

Port fees generally do not vary based on the ships accommodation in port.  By this I mean is there a pier to tie up at or will the ship anchor and "tender" passengers back and forth.  I was told years ago by a Captain that it did not matter, the port got their charge no matter what.  I often thought that a preferred ship,  a ship that visit regularly to the same port, got a discount!  Wrong!

Hey, the United States of America gets port charges as well and is one of the more expensive countries to visit.  We should all do our civic duty and take a cruise that is sailing from a US port!  

Bon Voyage!