If you’re planning a cruise to Norway, be aware that starting in 2027, your trip may become a bit more expensive. The government plans to introduce a municipal cruise tax to help local communities handle the increase in tourists.
The Norwegian government has begun the process of implementing a new municipal cruise tax. This is meant to give local communities a practical way to manage the challenges that come with increased tourism.
According to Statistics Norway (SSB), 40.6 million overnight stays were recorded in 2025, representing a 5 percent increase from the previous year. International visitors drove much of this growth, with overnight stays from abroad rising 14 percent compared to 2024.
On Tuesday, February 10th, Minister of Trade and Industry Cecilie Myrseth and State Secretary to the Minister of Fisheries and the Oceans Even Tronstad Sagebakken met with local municipalities, cruise industry representatives, and tourism organizations to discuss the proposal.
The government has now started a formal study of the tax. The goal is for local authorities to begin collecting it in 2027, as announced in a recent press release.
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Minister Myrseth notes that this tax is essential to ensure that tourism development remains sustainable while safeguarding both nature and local communities. She adds, “If the tourism industry is to continue to grow, it must happen within sustainable frameworks. Trust and cooperation between local people, businesses, and visitors are crucial.”
This initiative is part of the follow-up to the broader Law on Visitor Contributions (Besøksbidrag), which Parliament passed in the summer of 2025 and is planned to take effect on July 1st, 2026. It includes both a general accommodation tax and a specific cruise tax.
The law gives busy tourist areas a new way to handle large numbers of visitors.
There are still many questions about the details of the cruise fee. The Ministry is now studying how to set this rate, and Norwegian officials are also examining how other countries have implemented similar cruise levies.