US cruise lines are reconsidering their itinerary plans in east Asia as hefty new China port fees kick in. The retaliatory port fees, initially targeting cargo operators, have been expanded to cruise ships.
The new fees are directed at US cruise operators and could add several million dollars per visit for a large ship.
First Cruise Ship Skips China Port Call
The fees are China’s response to US tariff related fees, and have started to have an immediate impact. Oceania Cruises’ ship Riviera skipped a planned port call at Shanghai and instead replaced it with a Busan, South Korea visit.
The ship would have been forced to pay around $1.6 million in extra port fees, applicable only for its first port call in the country. The fee calculation is based on a ship’s tonnage and targets cruise lines incorporated or with primary operations in the US, as well as any ships constructed in the US.
“Due to recently enacted retaliatory regulations, ships can no longer effectively visit mainland Chinese ports. We are therefore revising select itineraries to replace port calls. We share in the disappointment of these necessary changes,” an Oceania Cruises spokesperson said.
Homeported Ships Exempt
However, after several days of negotiations, Royal Caribbean’s Spectrum of the Seas has been given an exemption. The ship is currently offering a series of roundtrip cruises from Shanghai to Okinawa, Japan, and is marketed at Chinese customers. China-homeported ships will likely continue to be given a waiver.
Spectrum of the Seas remains in Shanghai through November 2026 and then repositions to Hong Kong. The only other major foreign owned cruise ship homeporting in Shanghai is MSC Cruises’ Bellissima.
Regent Seven Seas Cruises has just confirmed the Seven Seas Explorer’s call to Shanghai next month has been canceled and will instead visit Taiwan.
Other US based lines with upcoming China port calls haven’t indicated yet whether they will also cancel visits. Holland America Line has a planned Shanghai call next month.
