RCI-Royal Caribbean International has informed its passengers who have booked voyages to The Bahamas that there will be an increase in the cost of their trips. This is due to a recent change in Bahamian taxes specifically imposed on cruise passengers. The Bahamian government has decided to implement a new departure tax structure for all cruise guests visiting the Bahamas starting from January 1st, 2024. Consequently, Royal Caribbean will be adjusting the reservations with the updated tax amounts.
An email has been sent out to notify passengers about this change, and the additional amount they will be charged depends on various factors, such as the specific itinerary they booked. The updated taxes and fees will be reflected in the booking before the final payment due date. The amount of tax may now range from $1 to $14. Royal Caribbean has also communicated this update to the travel partners. The process of updating the bookings is being carried out in phases, based on the sailing date of each cruise.
Another cruise line under the Royal Caribbean brand, Celebrity Cruises, will also be affected by the new tax regulations. In 2024, for the first time, Celebrity ships will make stops at CocoCay. Specifically, Celebrity Beyond and Celebrity Reflection will have visits to the private island from April through November 2024. Both vessels will set sail from homeport Fort Lauderdale/Port Everglades (Florida), and Beyond's visits to CocoCay will be included across 40 Caribbean itineraries, while Reflection will offer short weekend roundtrips.