Why your Caribbean cruise could cost more: Mexico introduces a new tourist tax

Royal Caribbean is poised to build a vast and highly profitable vacation network — driven not solely by its cruise vessels but by its land-based portfolio.

On December 10, the U.S. Department of State released new travel advisories to two Central American countries that are frequent cruise stops for American travelers during the winter Caribbean cruise season: Honduras and Costa Rica.

Norwegian Cruise Line announced a second round of cruise cancellations on December 10, this time impacting winter 2025-26 sailings onboard the Norwegian Breakaway, Norwegian Bliss and Norwegian Encore ships, citing “fleet redeployments.” 

It’s the end of the year, and many of us inevitably start to wonder around this time what there is to look forward to in the New Year. Here at TravelPulse, looking forward means we’re excited about new hotels and resorts opening next year! 

Norwegian Cruise Line is redeploying several ships and canceling itineraries in 2025 and 2026 in the process.

Delta Air Lines opened its third Delta One Lounge, a series of swanky spaces reserved for first-class fliers, at Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) on December 11—and it’s asking you to forget what you think you know about airport food.

One of the many benefits of opting for an Airbnb over a hotel is remote check-ins. The lockbox check-in has become common practice at most rental properties due to its convenience for the guest and host. It means you don’t need to fix an arrival time or make small talk after a long journey. In some cases, you never meet your host, leaving you in peace to relax on vacation. Last month, however, the landscape of short-term rentals changed in Italy due to backlash against the market by local residents and new regulations put in place by the government to verify guests’ identities. You must now meet your hosts on arrival to receive a key in person and fill out information to share with the government for bookings on platforms such as Airbnb and Booking.

It’s 6:36 AM. The sun is slowly emerging above the morning clouds, painting the night sky in orange and yellow hues. Ocean waves break the silence, and the smell of coffee fills my nose. I’m seated on my balcony at Solaz, A Luxury Collection Resort, as I watch the cool desert air meet the warm Sea of Cortez in Los Cabos, Mexico. It creates a mystical fog that dances across the coastline for a few brief moments each morning.

In a move that’s left the cruise industry reeling, Mexico’s Congress has voted for a new tax of $42 per cruise passenger on a ship docking at a Mexican port. This new levy could take effect as early as next month. And if you’re thinking, “That’s fine, I’ll stay on board,” there will be no avoiding this extra charge. Whether you disembark or not, all passengers will need to pay $42. Previously, cruise passengers were exempt from tourist taxes under the “in-transit” provision of the Non-Migrant Rights policy.

Our AmaWaterways guide, Andrea, is leading us through the narrow streets of Arles, France, to a perfectly preserved Roman amphitheater — a relic of the ancient world as magnificent as anything you'll find in Rome. But as we soon learn, the 2,000-year-old UNESCO World Heritage Site isn't just an icon of the Roman era.

At first glance, New York City might not scream intimacy—reservations get booked up weeks out, open bar stools are snatched up in seconds, and dates squeezed into overpacked schedules. But it's the potential—the low-lit room, delectable shared dish and bottle of red—that pushes New Yorkers to fall head over heels, if not with their date, then at least with the restaurant itself. This city's dining scene brims over with romance, thanks to visionary restaurateurs who have mastered the art of ambiance.

Cruise passengers in Mexico may have to pay more in 2025.