The Norwegian government confirmed on 20 March that municipalities will be able to charge cruise passengers 100 kroner per person for each 24-hour period a ship is in port or passengers are brought ashore. The proposal is now open for public consultation for three months. If approved, collection could begin on 1 January 2027.
The cruise tax sits inside a broader visitor contribution law (besøksbidragsloven) that parliament passed in June 2025 and which takes effect on 1 July 2026. That law also allows municipalities to levy up to 3 percent on overnight accommodation. But the cruise-specific fee required its own design process because day visitors do not fit neatly into a per-night model. Norwegian ports recorded over 6.3 million cruise passengers in 2025. Anyone who has been in Stavanger, Flåm, or Geiranger on a busy summer day knows what that looks like at ground level.
The hotel industry is not thrilled. Critics argue the accommodation tax unfairly targets guests who already contribute to local economies, while the real pressure comes from passengers who spend a few hours ashore and leave. The government’s answer is that both groups should contribute. Trade Minister Cecilie Myrseth has encouraged municipalities with high tourism pressure to start preparing now. Whether the revenue actually ends up improving trails, harbour infrastructure, and public facilities will depend entirely on how local governments choose to spend it.
SOURCE: The Local Norway, 23 March 2026. https://www.thelocal.no/20260323/100-kroner-per-passenger-norway-reveals-how-new-cruise-tax-will-work Norwegian Government (regjeringen.no), press release, 20 March 2026.
