Overview

• Port chiefs Martín Fernández Prado and Carlos Botana said Monday they will formally ask the Xunta to change the regional framework so only cruise passengers who sleep in the city are charged.
• They calculate the levy would raise the cost of a call by about 40%, citing Independence of the Seas paying €14,573 in port fees versus roughly €6,500 more from the tourist tax, or €78,000 across 12 calls.
• Vigo’s authority argues many passengers do not disembark or travel straight to provincial attractions and says taxing berthing without overnight stays poses legal doubts because it occurs in state port domain.
• A moratorium delays applying the charge to cruise ships until January 1, 2026, creating a short window to seek changes through the budget-accompanying law.
• The ports warn higher costs could prompt cruise lines to switch to nearby ports such as Santander, Gijón, Avilés or Ferrol, offsetting existing 40% fee discounts as Vigo forecasts 125 calls and over 300,000 passengers in 2025.