December 1, the French Senate’s right-wing majority adopted an amendment to the 2026 budget that introduces a new tax on international cruise ships: €15 per passenger for every call in a French port. Based on the “polluter pays” principle, the measure is expected to generate around €75 million per year.
However, France’s Minister for Public Accounts, Amélie de Montchalin, expressed her opposition. She argued that the text does not clearly distinguish cruise ships from ferries, which could lead to unintended consequences — notably for services to Corsica and routes to and from the UK.
The Senate vote is not final. The Finance Bill still has to pass through the rest of the parliamentary process until at least mid-December. We will then see whether the tax is approved — or dropped along the way.