Luxury white cruise ship with red forbidden sign and an EU flag.
Is the EU banning cruise ships? The ports plotting to sink ‘monsters of the seas.’
Credit: Shutterstock, LanKS
Will some of Europe’s most popular cruise destinations be forced to shutter their doors to cruise holidays? Read on to find out! We will examine the truth behind the recent rumours.
It’s the question on every cruise holiday-maker’s mind: will Europe restrict access for cruise ships following the recent complaints about overcrowding? In recent weeks, the once-powerful cruise ship industry has come under fire for unleashing a tidal wave of overcrowding, pollution, and so-called ‘low-cost clientele’ on the world’s most cherished ports. Are cruise ships and their ‘low-cost’ passengers responsible for ruining some of Europe’s best destinations?
EU shutting the door on cruise ships? Here’s the truth behind the headlines
Rumours are swirling that cruise holidays are sinking fast, with some claiming Europe is pulling the plug on these floating giants. But is there any truth to the doom and gloom? Not exactly. While cruise ships have hit choppy waters recently, the reality is far less dramatic than the scaremongers suggest.
Let’s clear the air: Cruise ships are NOT being outright banned, but they ARE facing increasing restrictions in some key ports.
Some of the world’s most famous cruise destinations are battening down the hatches against huge passenger vessels – and their supposedly ‘low-cost clientele.’ In a series of shock moves that have left holidaymakers and cruise lines reeling, local leaders from the French Riviera to Iceland are firing warning shots at these floating resorts, calling them ‘monsters of the seas’ and threatening to pull the plug on their port calls.
The European ports with restrictions:
Venice
Venice’s centuries-old canals have been anything but calm. Now, only ships under 25,000 tonnes can dock in La Serenissima. Larger vessels must use alternative ports outside the city.
Amsterdam
From 2026, the Dutch capital will limit cruise visits to 100 a year. By 2035, ships will be banned from the city centre entirely, when a new terminal opens elsewhere.
Barcelona
Already a major cruise hub, Barcelona has closed one terminal and caps the number of ships at seven at any one time.
Bordeaux
Riverside grumbles have led to reduced ship calls. Last summer, the city’s mayor demanded an outright ban, with proposals to move the cruise dock out of sight.
Balearics
Palma has a five-year deal allowing only three ships each day, with just one carrying more than 5,000 passengers. Over in Ibiza, daily docking has been cut to two.
Nice/Villefranche-sur-Mer
Mayor Estrosi’s ban on ships carrying more than 900 passengers takes effect from summer 2025.
Santorini
The Greek showstopper now charges cruise visitors €20 a head, with a daily cap of 8,000 passengers.
Mykonos
Following Santorini’s lead, Mykonos is introducing a €20 fee per cruiser. It also has plans to cap arrivals, but final numbers aren’t out yet.
Marseilles
France’s second city has no formal ban, but protests and petitions have raged against cruise vessels. Tensions remain high.
Dubrovnik
Famous for its historic old town, Dubrovnik allows only two ships a day, with a max of 8,000 passengers combined.
Zeebrugge
The Belgian port enforces a two-ship cap per day to keep Bruges from being overrun.
Valencia
From 2026, Spain’s third city will slam the door on mega-ships.
Iceland
The new daily passenger tax of around 16 euros is already in force, prompting some itinerary reshuffles.
Norway
A wave of regulations is on the horizon, restricting ship size and emissions, particularly around the fjords. Larger ships get a stay of execution until 2032, but smaller ones must go zero-emission by next year. A tourism tax is also in the works.
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