The French Senate has recently approved a proposal for a new €15 tax per person, per fort fee for international cruise passengers. This tax applies to each port of call within France as part of the 2026 budget proposed by Senator Jean - Marc Delia, is intended to fund coastal conservation under the “polluter pays” principle, though it still needs approval from the Assemblée nationale (the National Assembly) and faces government opposition due to logistical concerns.
France follows similar moves in other European countries like Greece and Norway to address cruise ship pollution and the aim is to generate revenue for protecting France’s vulnerable coastal areas, a move that is expected to raise about €75 million a year.
In addition to the solidarity fees applied to aviation, there is now the proposal of this new fee which could be named “sea stopover” because the French Republican senators, the traditional centre - right include not only cruise ships, but also scheduled passenger ships, such as those linking mainland France to Corsica and Great Britain, which is supposedly a mistake.
The centre - right project had the support of the left and the ultra - right so the proposal was approved, however the government, which is in a minority in Parliament, is opposed.
The senators referred almost exclusively to cruise ships and have insisted on the tax to deter these pollution ships.
French Minister Amélie de Montchalin, pointed out that regular passenger ships have not been excluded from the measure, which could create problems with the United Kingdom, but above all with Corsica, a very sensitive island territory for France.
Although the Senate has approved the bill, it will not enter into force because it has to be processed and the Assemblée nationale is expected to review the proposal later in December 2025.
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