China's new port fees: cruises under pressure and route changes!

China's new port fees: cruises under pressure and route changes!

The introduction of new special port fees in China is already having an initial impact on the cruise industry. Oceania Cruises, the first line to respond to these charges, canceled its Shanghai Riviera call during the current cruise to avoid additional costs. These fees were introduced in retaliation for US tariffs and particularly burden ships with connections to the US. According to reports from CruiseTricks In order to dock in Shanghai, the shipping company has to pay an additional 1.4 million euros in addition to the usual demurrage fees.

The new special fees, introduced on October 14, 2025, are currently 400 yuan per net tonnage (NRZ), which is approximately 48 euros. These fees are expected to rise to up to 1,120 yuan (135 euros) by 2028. The port call is capped at five calls per year and is only calculated for the first port of a trip. The regulation primarily affects ships that are owned by the US or fly the US flag. Reported in this context Nautical Nova that the Chinese market in particular became attractive again after the pandemic and that these new fees pose major challenges for shipping companies.

Routes under pressure

The impact on the entire industry is significant. A shipping company like Royal Caribbean has already negotiated an exception for its ship Spectrum of the Seas because it carries predominantly Chinese passengers and is stationed in Shanghai. This decision could be crucial to the company's economic viability, as fees for ships of this size can exceed $9 million per cruise. However, it remains unclear for Oceania Cruises whether other shipping companies, such as Disney Cruise Line, will also have to adjust their schedules to take these new fees into account.

As of October 18, 2025, most cruise lines had not yet officially commented on the new fees. An exception appears to be MSC Cruises, whose ship MSC Bellissima, as a Swiss company with a Maltese flag, is not affected by the fee levies. However, this situation brings additional uncertainty as future schedules and possible adjustments depend on negotiations between the shipping companies and the Chinese authorities.

Long-term effects unclear

The long-term consequences of this new fee structure on the cruise industry in China are currently uncertain. Ships not based in China may be forced to reschedule or even suspend their calls. Particularly affected could be American companies such as Carnival Corporation and Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, which own a majority of the cruise ships that operate in Chinese waters.

The cruise industry in China was on the rise before the pandemic, and it remains to be seen how these new regulations will impact its future growth. The next few months could be decisive in determining whether and how shipping companies will meet the new challenges.