Royal Caribbean, Carnival, Princess and Cunard cruises are set to get more expensive for millions

Traveling with the world's largest cruise lines is set to get a bit more expensive after a major rule change in one of the world's tourism capitals.

Whether you're on the biggest and most extravagant cruise ships on the planet or an older vessel coming to the end of its lifespan, passengers face the same rules at many of the locations they visit while sailing around the world.

And regardless of whether you're travelling with Royal Caribbean, Princess, Carnival Cruise Line, or the likes of Cunard, the change we're set to explain here impacts any cruise line heading to one particular country - which has almost two dozen ports.

An expensive change is about to happen in a certain country regarding cruise ships (Getty Stock Image)

New costly travel rule impacting cruises

Regardless of the cruise ship, your status, and how long you're there for, things are changing in the land of Mexico.

Home to 22 ports - some of the most famous being Cancun, Costa Maya, and Ensenada - it is a stunning country that thousands descend upon every single year.

Now, politicians have voted to make it more expensive to visit the country via a cruise ship.

It is in the country's efforts to curb the impacts of tourism as well as reinvest in the country.

A cruise ship docked in Mexico (Medios y Media/Getty Images)

Mexico cruise ship tax explained

Anyone travelling on a cruise ship docking at a Mexican port will now have to pay a tax. And it's per passenger, not cabin.

You're looking at $42 (£33) per person. You'll have to pay this whether you get off the cruise ship or not, too.

It's the latest tourism tax introduced by Mexico's politicians after previously targeting hotels.

The new cruise ship tax will be used to fund the Mexican army, which was announced this month. And with 9.3 million passengers forecast to arrive in Mexico on cruise ships in 2024, if this is repeated going forward, the North American country is looking at extra revenue of $390.6 million (£307.5 million) every single year.

Not too shabby, with the law coming in from 2026.

Cruise ship passengers disembarking at Costa Maya, Mexico (Jeff Greenberg/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

Who will be impacted by the cruise ship tax?

Mexico's cruise destinations are: Cozumel, Costa Maya, Ensenada, Cabo San Lucas, Progreso, Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan, Huatulco, Puerto Chiapas, San Jose del Cabo, Campeche, Acapulco, Manzanillo, Loreto, Guaymas, Cancun, Cabo Pulmo Beach Resort, La Paz, Playa del Carmen, Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo, Topolobampo, and Santa Rosalia.

So if you're heading to any of these, you'll have to pay.

The Florida and Caribbean Cruise Association expects 3,300 cruise ships to head to the country in 2025 from the likes of Florida, Los Angeles and Texas. But critics think it will see cruise lines alter their destinations, now heading for cheaper destinations such as Jamaica which has a tourism tax of $20 (£15.70) per passenger.

The Mexican Association of Shipping Agents said in a statement: "If this measure is implemented, it would make Mexican ports of call among the most expensive in the world, severely affecting their competitiveness with other Caribbean destinations."