Key Aspects:
- Mexico has officially banned the marketing, importation, and sale of vapes and electronic cigarettes.
- Cruisers who bring these devices ashore may be seen as illegally importing these products.
- Penalties for violations could include confiscation, detainment, hefty fines, and even jail time.
If you’re cruising to Mexico, you may want to leave your vaping device at home. As of January 17, 2026, a new law banning the importation, sale, and distribution of vapes and e-cigarettes has gone into effect.
This comes after legal reforms regarding this matter were passed by Mexico’s Senate in December 2025.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo published a constitutional reform to the General Health law in the Official Gazette of the Federation on January 16, 2026, noting that the decree would be effective the following day.
“The law will penalize all activities related to electronic cigarettes, vaping devices, and other analogous electronic systems or devices specified by law, as well as the production, distribution, and sale of toxic substances, chemical precursors, the illicit use of fentanyl, and other unauthorized synthetic drugs,” the amendment states.
This builds upon a smoking ban that was implemented in 2023, which prohibits smoking and vaping in all enclosed public places, as well as beaches, parks, and public transportation.
What This Means for Cruisers
If a cruise guest were to bring a vape or e-cigarette ashore during a port call, even for personal use, they could still be in violation of Mexico’s new law.
The issue is that when cruisers go through the Mexican customs process to enter the country with their vapes, they have technically just illegally imported the product.
“As of January 16, 2026, Mexico is enforcing a nationwide ban on the importation and sale of vapes and e-cigarettes,” Margaritaville at Sea has advised guests booked on Mexico-bound sailings.
“While private possession within the country may still be legal, the key issue for travelers is entering Mexico through customs—including airports and cruise ports,” the cruise line continued.
The ban also applies to all types of vapes, including disposables, refillable models, pods, and even non-nicotine devices.
Possible Penalties For Lawbreakers
If guests are caught, they could see their devices confiscated, face hefty fines of up to $12,500, and/or detainment. The crime is also punishable by up to eight years in prison.
Some cruise fans have already reported that their vapes were confiscated when they attempted to bring them into the country.
“I was stopped at the airport and lost my vape. Was worth a try but did not work out for me. Not gonna try it on my December Panorama cruise with 4 Mexican ports,” one Carnival cruiser shared on social media.
Others did say that they have managed to sneak their vapes into Mexican ports, but doing so is a big risk.
Can Guests Still Vape on Cruise Ships?
For the most part, passengers should still be able to have their vapes onboard cruises to Mexico as long as they don’t bring the devices ashore.
While every cruise line has slightly different policies, guests generally are allowed to smoke and vape in designated areas during their sailings.
Usually, only regular tobacco-based vapes are permitted and guests must still be of legal age (21 in the US) in order to use them onboard. However, it’s always important to confirm the policies for your specific sailing with the cruise line directly.
