Two Islands Impose New Tax on Royal Caribbean Company in 2024

Port authorities within the US Virgin Islands (USVI) permitted a proposal to cost every Royal Caribbean Group cruise ship passenger a $5 payment to enhance native port amenities. This payment will likely be applied starting January 1, 2024.

Manufacturers that comply with underneath the Royal Caribbean Group are Royal Caribbean Worldwide, Celeb Cruises, and Silversea Cruises.

New Tax on Royal Caribbean Group Company

Formally known as the Capital Price Restoration Cost (CCRC), it is going to be charged to passengers whose cruise ships dock at two of its ports, the Austin Monsanto Marine Terminal in Crown Bay, St. Thomas, and the Ann E. Abramson Marine Facility in Frederiksted.

The VI Port Authority (VIPA) Board of Governors permitted the restoration cost final Wednesday, September 20.

The charges collected will fund the preliminary levels of growth tasks in Crown Bay and Frederiksted. This consists of enhancements to infrastructure, dredging operations, and the development of a 3rd cruise terminal in Crown Bay.

Earlier this summer season, The Bahamas imposed a new tax on cruise passengers beginning in January 2024.

VIPA additionally hopes these upgrades will allow the Ann E. Abramson Marine Facility to accommodate bigger ships just like the Royal Caribbean Worldwide’s 154,407-ton Freedom-class ships.

At present, the biggest vessels that may dock there are Voyager-class ships which can be 138,000 gross registered tons.

Govt Director Carlton Dowe assured the general public and the board that he has already initiated talks with the Royal Caribbean Group.

“We sit up for persevering with our sturdy partnership with Royal Caribbean Group as we transfer ahead within the growth of those thrilling tasks that may profit the territory and strengthen this U.S. Virgin Islands’ place as a premier vacation spot. The Caribbean and the remainder of the world aren’t ready for the USVI to advance. The time for progress is now,” he stated.

Because the cruise trade experiences a robust and promising comeback, the US Virgin Islands has forecasted a dramatic development in cruise passenger arrivals.

The U.S. Virgin Islands expects a important surge in cruise arrivals for 2023, with 450 scheduled stops accommodating roughly 1.4 million potential cruisers, in comparison with lower than 250 stops in 2022.

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