Norwegian Cruise Line Alerts Guests to Hefty New Hawaii Tax

CruiseHive ^ | 10/25/25 | Melissa Mayntz

[DallasBiff]

Norwegian Cruise Line is alerting guests on Hawaii cruises in 2026 and beyond of the new Transient Accommodations Tax that levies an additional 14% on their cruise fare.

While the cruise line is part of the legal challenges to the new tax, it may be some time before any court cases are resolved and in the meantime the tax goes into effect from January 1, 2026.

Booked guests are reporting additional taxes on their cruise fares from $50-500 and higher, depending on the overall cost of their cruise and how much time their itinerary spends in Hawaii.

Norwegian Cruise Line has begun reaching out to guests booked on Hawaii cruises to alert them to increased tax payments. While guests aren’t pleased with the substantial fees, the cruise line is being forthright about the origin of the fee and what is being done to challenge it.

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TOPICS: Business/Economy; Chit/Chat; Travel
KEYWORDS: cruise; democrats; extortion; hawaii; tax; taxes

[Justa]

SE Asia is much cheaper, with similar tourist spots and not so many expensive and overcrowded beaches.

[dfwgator]

It’s certainly not Steve McGarrett’s Hawaii anymore.

[shotgun]

Hilton Head, SC. Hawaii at half the price

[dfwgator]

And I say it as someone who lived there for a few years. I remember “Kill Haole Day”.

[ETCM]

I was stationed there for 3 years and always enjoy visiting. I didn’t go back when I was on active duty, but now I go about once a year. Went to Maui this year and have booked a trip to Kauai this spring. Usually those 2 islands and the Big Island are the only places I go. The only time I went back to Oahu was for a niece’s destination wedding. Oahu is just too crowded and commercial.

[DugwayDuke]

DallasBiff wrote: “Hawaii is one of the most democrat states, no surprise they would impose an extra tax, for visitors.”

Taxes on transients are very popular with politicians. Transients and other visitors can be taxed but cannot vote.
Take for example, diesel fuel.

Ever wonder why it’s more expensive than gasoline? Simple, most diesel fuels are purchased by interstate truckers. Taxed but no votes.

Of course, some states have two types of diesel, one for highway use and one for off road, farm use. Farmers vote. Truckers don’t. The only difference in the types is a color additive included in the off road diesel.

[dfwgator]

The funniest thing about Hawaii, is that they actually have “Interstate” Highways there.

[CraigEsq]

“The funniest thing about Hawaii, is that they actually have “Interstate” Highways there.”

So does Alaska technically, but they aren’t signed as such and have a waiver that they don’t have to be freeway standard.

Actually many many interstate highways don’t cross state lines. They’re just part of the system of interstate highways.

[Maine Mariner]

Wow! The only American flag cruise ship, The Pride of America does 7 day cruises to various Hawaiian Island and provide a good number of high paying jobs to everyone involved.

But it is no surprise that the Hawaiian government would impose such a tax. Of course one solution-pull the Pride of America off the Hawaiian run, reflag the ship with the Panama flag and lay off all the American crew members.

Foreign flag cruise ships can avoid the tax by not going to Hawaii or calling on fewer ports there.

[oil_dude]

“As I understand it Hawaii has no middle class.....either you have money or you’re dirt poor...”

Same with the Cayman Islands...

[kaila]

I am originally from Hawaii. I think Hawaii needs a kick in the butt. They take tourism and military for granted, and actually dislike both. It would be nice if the military reduced their presence, and tourism evaporated. Then maybe they will learn. . There is an Army base in the Big Island, called Pohakuloa, in which they train. Its in the volcano area. The Army's lease is expiring in a couple of years, and the governor wants to increase the lease rent to an exorbitant amount. Its no matter that the area is in a place where no one wants to live. I hope when the negotiations start, that Trump says if lease rent for Pohakuloa is too much money, and he will move all the Army off of Hawaii. That would crush the economy, and the government of Hawaii will cave.

[alexander_busek]

Wow! The only American flag cruise ship, The Pride of America does 7 day cruises to various Hawaiian Island and provide a good number of high paying jobs to everyone involved. But it is no surprise that the Hawaiian government would impose such a tax. Of course one solution-pull the Pride of America off the Hawaiian run, reflag the ship with the Panama flag and lay off all the American crew members. Foreign flag cruise ships can avoid the tax by not going to Hawaii or calling on fewer ports there.

Yeah, but isn't there a federal law mandating that foreign-flagged ships (ocean liners, but also commercial shipping) aren't allowed two consecutive ports-of-call in America?

Hence: U.S.-flagged ships can call at seven or more American ports consecutively, and thus crawl up the entire coastline - while foreign-flagged ships are limited to at most two, and must then dock at least once in a foreign port. Designed to prevent foreigners acquiring a monopoly on cabotage.

Correct me if I'm wrong!

Regards,

[Maine Mariner]

You are referring to the Jones Act passed in 1920.

It requires that ships that move cargo between two American ports-say load cargo in Houston and unload that cargo in NYC must be built in the USA, registered as an US Flag ship and carry a crew composed primarily of US citizens.

A foreign flag ship can load cargo in say Singapore and deliver some of it to San Francisco and the rest of it to Los Angles. What it is NOT permitted to do is load cargo in San Francisco and unload it in any US port, in this example Los Angles.

[HartleyMBaldwin]

I’ve been to Hawaii twice, both times on family vacations while I was still in high school. Dad rented a house (same one both times) on Hanalei Bay on Kauai, and we spent a little time on Maui and Oahu as well. It was fun, but I don’t really want to go back now, 50+ years later.

My wife wants to visit Hawaii, but I say only if we can drive there.

[alexander_busek]

You are referring to the Jones Act passed in 1920. It requires that ships that move cargo between two American ports-say load cargo in Houston and unload that cargo in NYC must be built in the USA, registered as an US Flag ship and carry a crew composed primarily of US citizens. A foreign flag ship can load cargo in say Singapore and deliver some of it to San Francisco and the rest of it to Los Angles. What it is NOT permitted to do is load cargo in San Francisco and unload it in any US port, in this example Los Angles.

Actually, I was conflating two separate but related items of legislation: the 1920 Jones Act, and the Passenger Vessel Services Act of 1886. The latter says that

"no foreign vessels may transport passengers between ports or places in the United States, either directly or by way of a foreign port, under a penalty of $200 for each passenger so transported and landed. As a result, all vessels that have engaged in the coastwise trade have been required to be coastwise-qualified (i.e., U.S.-built, owned, and documented)." (-Wikipedia)

Can't speak to the difference between being "U.S.-built, owned, and documented" and "U.S.-flagged."

Regards,

[A strike]

Never noticed any surf at Hanalei..

[DeplorablePaul]

Really? Maybe I have the wrong beach. It was next to Princetown. There was surf the day I was there.

[A strike]

guess I shoulda said ‘any surf to speak of ‘