Luxurious white cruise ship with crimson forbidden signal and an EU flag.
Is the EU banning cruise ships? The ports plotting to sink ‘monsters of the seas.’
Credit score: Shutterstock, LanKS
Will a few of Europe’s hottest cruise locations be pressured to close their doorways to cruise holidays?
Learn on to search out out We are going to look at the reality behind the current rumours.
It’s the query on each cruise holiday-maker’s thoughts: will Europe prohibit entry for cruise ships following the current complaints about overcrowding? In current weeks, the once-powerful cruise ship business has come below fireplace for unleashing a tidal wave of overcrowding, air pollution, and so-called ‘low-cost clientele’ on the world’s most cherished ports. Are cruise ships and their ‘low-cost’ passengers answerable for ruining a few of Europe’s greatest locations?
EU shutting the door on cruise ships? Right here’s the reality behind the headlines
Rumours are swirling that cruise holidays are sinking quick, with some claiming Europe is pulling the plug on these floating giants. However is there any fact to the doom and gloom? Not precisely. Whereas cruise ships have hit uneven waters lately, the fact is much much less dramatic than the scaremongers recommend.
Let’s clear the air: Cruise ships are NOT being outright banned, however they ARE going through growing restrictions in some key ports.
A number of the world’s most well-known cruise locations are battening down the hatches towards enormous passenger vessels – and their supposedly ‘low-cost clientele.’ In a sequence of shock strikes which have left holidaymakers and cruise traces reeling, native leaders from the French Riviera to Iceland are firing warning pictures at these floating resorts, calling them ‘monsters of the seas’ and threatening to drag the plug on their port calls.
The European ports with restrictions:
Venice
Venice’s centuries-old canals have been something however calm. Now, solely ships below 25,000 tonnes can dock in La Serenissima. Bigger vessels should use different ports exterior town.
Amsterdam
From 2026, the Dutch capital will restrict cruise visits to 100 a yr. By 2035, ships shall be banned from town centre totally, when a brand new terminal opens elsewhere.
Barcelona
Already a main cruise hub, Barcelona has closed one terminal and caps the variety of ships at seven at any one time.
Bordeaux
Riverside grumbles have led to decreased ship calls. Final summer time, town’s mayor demanded an outright ban, with proposals to maneuver the cruise dock out of sight.
Balearics
Palma has a five-year deal permitting solely three ships every day, with only one carrying greater than 5,000 passengers. Over in Ibiza, each day docking has been lower to 2.
Good/Villefranche-sur-Mer
Mayor Estrosi’s ban on ships carrying greater than 900 passengers takes impact from summer time 2025.
Santorini
The Greek showstopper now fees cruise guests €20 a head, with a each day cap of 8,000 passengers.
Mykonos
Following Santorini’s lead, Mykonos is introducing a €20 charge per cruiser. It additionally has plans to cap arrivals, however ultimate numbers aren’t out but.
Marseilles
France’s second metropolis has no formal ban, however protests and petitions have raged towards cruise vessels. Tensions stay excessive.
Dubrovnik
Well-known for its historic previous city, Dubrovnik permits solely two ships a day, with a max of 8,000 passengers mixed.
Zeebrugge
The Belgian port enforces a two-ship cap per day to maintain Bruges from being overrun.
Valencia
From 2026, Spain’s third metropolis will slam the door on mega-ships.
Iceland
The brand new each day passenger tax of round 16 euros is already in drive, prompting some itinerary reshuffles.
Norway
A wave of laws is on the horizon, proscribing ship dimension and emissions, significantly across the fjords. Bigger ships get a keep of execution till 2032, however smaller ones should go zero-emission by subsequent yr. A tourism tax can also be within the works.
Learn extra recent information in English from round Europe.
Learn extra US information.