# Cruise passengers pay $20 less for NZ trips

> New Zealand cruise passengers will pay $20 less for travel to and from the country starting July 2027.
- Title: Cruise passengers pay $20 less for NZ trips · RNZ | Shortify
- Summary: New Zealand cruise passengers will pay $20 less for travel to and from the country starting July 2027. New Zealand's customs minister reduced border…
- Keywords: new zealand, cruise passengers, border processing levy, customs minister, casey costello, nz cruise association, jacqui lloyd, crown princess, port calls, maritime new zealand, mpi, customs
- Source: RNZ — https://rnz.co.nz/news/business/1972189/cruise-ship-passengers-to-be-charged-20-less-for-travelling-to-and-from-nz
- Author: RNZ | Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa
- Published: 2026-10-17T05:13:07+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: new zealand, cruise passengers, border processing levy, customs minister, casey costello, nz cruise association, jacqui lloyd, crown princess, port calls, maritime new zealand, mpi, customs
## New Zealand border fee cut
Cruise passengers will pay $20 less for travel to and from New Zealand starting July 2027.
## Customs fee changes
Arriving passengers pay $7.20, down from $27.14; departing passengers pay 71 cents, up by 3 cents.
## Industry impact
New Zealand Cruise Association says the change helps the industry, which accounts for one in 10 tourists.

> incredibly helpful going forward
## Port call challenges
Cruise lines limit New Zealand port calls due to Sydney docking slots and costs.
## Cost factors
Each port call costs $650,000 for 3000 passengers, including fees and pollution levies.
## Future changes
Government collaboration aims to reduce costs and provide certainty for cruise lines.
## Key takeaway

New Zealand's customs minister reduced border processing fees for cruise passengers by $20 to help the industry amid cost pressures.