Cannes cracks down on cruise ship visitors

The French Riviera resort of Cannes is the latest popular destination to crack down on cruise ship numbers. 

From the start of 2026, ships accommodating more 1,000 guests will be banned from Cannes harbour.

And there will be an additional limit of 6,000 passengers per day allowed to visit the city, news hub Travel Mole reports.

Larger ships are not totally banned from visiting, but will have to tender further out at sea.

This is already the case for some of the largest ships now as the old port cannot accommodate the largest vessels.

The Cannes city council voted for new limits following the introduction of similar restrictions in nearby Nice and Villefranche.

“Cannes has become a major cruise ship destination, with real economic benefits," said Mayor David Lisnard. 

"It’s not about banning cruise ships, but about regulating and setting guidelines for their navigation.” 

Cruise ships get a thumbs up from New Zealand

While many destinations around the world are banning or restricting cruise ships the New Zealand government announced they will be permitted to continue sailing Milford Sound.

The decision came after calls to block cruise ships.

Government officials say they have struck a balance by allowing cruise tourism in Milford Sound Piopiotahi while funding $NZ15.2 million for infrastructure improvements and conservation.

“We are supporting the local economy and providing certainty for operators by enabling cruise ships and aircraft to continue to access the fjord,” said New Zealand Tourism and Hospitality Minister Louise Upston.

Cruises are already restricted in the Sound and no more than two ships can visit per day.

Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) welcomed the decision.

“Milford Sound Piopiotahi is one of New Zealand’s most spectacular natural assets and the international cruise industry is strongly committed to protecting it,” the CLIA said.

“The cruise industry will continue to work closely with New Zealand authorities to ensure the appropriate management of cruise tourism.”

All visiting cruise ships must sign a deed of agreement with Environment Southland for managed access to the Southland coast.

Glasgow keen to embrace cruise ships

 

While many cities around the globe are keen to be rid of polluting large cruise ships, Glasgow in Scotland is keen to embrace them.

A proposal is being mooted to bring large cruise ships down the River Clyde all the way to Glasgow city centre, news portal Travel Mole reports.

"Ambitious plans" would see cruise ships dock at the King George V Dock in Govan.

Greenock, further outside the city, is currently the cruise ship gateway to the city of Glasgow. It is 36km away. 

Operator Peel Ports has presented a proposal to West of Scotland Member of the Scottish Parliament Russell Findlay, who is supporting it.

“Seeing cruise ships coming up the Clyde into the centre of Glasgow would be a huge boost to Scotland’s biggest city and I’m delighted to give my party’s full support,” he said.

“If this happens, it has the potential to bring in huge numbers of visitors which would not only help benefit the economy but rejuvenate the riverside.

“I would urge the Scottish Government and city council to encourage rather than stifle enterprising ideas like this.”

Local councillor John Daly is another who is in favour of the idea.

“I wholeheartedly support the plans from Peel Ports to bring cruise ships to the heart of the city,” he said.

“I am proud to represent this city and will always champion proposals like this which could deliver a much-needed jobs boost for Glasgow.”

Peel Ports says allowing cruise ships down the Clyde into Glasgow have been "discussed in principle" many times without success.

“The Port of Greenock remains the Clyde’s cruise terminal, following the major investments into the facilities over recent years,” Peel said.

Hot tubs on cruise ships could give you more than a nice soak

Using hot tubs on cruise ships could give you a whole lot more than you were expecting. 

US health officials have warned of potentially serious health risks soaking in cruise ship hot tubs, news portal Travel Mole reports. 

Cruise ship hot tubs have been linked with several cases of Legionnaires’ disease.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says eight cases of Legionnaires’ disease were reported “from a single cruise ship.”

Less than helpfully, the agency did not name the ship or cruise line. Nothing gets in the way of making money in the US. 

The cases were reported between November 2022 and April 2024.

A CDC investigation found hot tubs were the likely source of the bacterial infections.

It saud four additional cases of Legionnaires disease were found on a second cruise ship from January to June 2024.

It said hot tubs were again the likely source.

“Epidemiologic, environmental, and laboratory evidence suggests that private balcony hot tubs were the likely source of exposure in two outbreaks among cruise ship passengers,” the CDC report stated.

“These devices are subject to less stringent operating requirements than public hot tubs, and operating protocols were insufficient to prevent Legionella growth.”

The bacteria can affect the lungs, causing cough, fever, muscle aches and shortness of breath. Which does not sound like fun. 

Fjord fiesta: Norway clamps down on cruise ships

Norway is the latest nation to clamp down on polluting cruise ships.

The Norwegians have flagged strict zero emissions regulations to help protect their pristine fjords.

Starting from 2026, small vessels up to 10,000 gross tonnage must have zero emission technology fitted to sail the fjords and other coastal routes, Travel Mole reports.

But Norway has given large cruise ships a more generous deadline of 2032 to install zero emissions tech.

The government acknowledges it will take time for the largest ships sailing in Norway to become compliant.

“The goal is to preserve the spectacular fjords and create sustainable tourism,” said Andreas Bjelland Eriksen, the climate and environment minister.

“The zero-emission requirement will drive technology development, reduce emissions, and ensure the World Heritage fjords remain attractive tourist destinations.”

The requirements include the use of alternative fuels, including biogas for smaller vessels, and the ability to hook up to shore power.

Norway has several fjords listed as UNESCO World Heritage sites.

Image: Visit Norway 

New Zealand slugs cruise ships with increased costs

The New Zealand Government has dealt a financial blow to cruise ship operators - and they are not happy about it.

New Zealand has revealed a hike in border processing fees for cruise ship guests of 88% - scheduled to take effect from December 1.

The Cruise Lines International Association Australasia and the New Zealand Cruise Association both hit out at both the cruise fee hike and the lack of notice, news portal Travel Mole reported.

The say cruise lines won’t be able to pass on the increase to passengers, who have already booked and paid for their cruises.

The trade groups warn it could severely impact cruise traffic to New Zealand with with forecast that passenger numbers are down around 22% this year.

They say New Zealand is one of the most expensive markets for cruise operation costs.

NZ Cruise Association CEO Jacqui Lloyd said: “Cruise lines carefully plan and budget their operations two to three seasons ahead, leaving no room to pass unexpected cost increases to passengers.

“These financial burdens fall squarely on the cruise lines.”

It is not clear why cruise lines would not build such contingencies into their forward planning.

The processing cost for travellers arriving by cruise ship will increase from $11.48 to $21.54, an increase of $10.06 per passenger. This represents an extra $30,000 in costs for a ship carrying 3000 passengers.

 

The CLIA and the NZCA are pushing for urgent meetings with the New Zealand Customs Service and government officials.

French activists block cruise ship

It is not just Venice and Amsterdam where locals are heartily sick of cruise ships.

Environmental activists in Brittany, France, recently prevented passengers from a cruise ship from entering the port of Concarneau in Finistère, news portal Travel Mole reported.

Activist groups including Stop Croisiè, res BZH and Extinction Rebellion prevented the Seven Seas Voyager ship from tendering guests ashore.

Some protestors even took to the water brandishing a banner reading ‘We are the iceberg’ - a nod to the Titanic disaster,

The Seven Sea Voyager can accommodate almost 700 guests, who some locals did want to see.

“We think they’re an ecological absurdity and a symbol of social inequality,” one activist told local newspaper Ouest France.

Opposition against cruise ship visits has been growing.

Last year residents of the nearby port of Douarnenez jeered cruise passengers with shouts of "you are not welcome" and "shame on you".

That was directed at guests of the Atlas Ocean Voyages ship World Traveller, which only accommodates about 100 passengers.

In southern France, Marseille mayor Benoît Payan has openly criticized large cruise ships which he called "floating cities".

A 2023 study revealed Marseille and Channel port Le Havre were among Europe’s most polluted ports.

Dear tourists: Please go away we don't want you here

First Venice took action against over-sized cruise ships, now Amsterdam is cracking down.

The Dutch city plans to start cutting the number of ships that can stop at its main port terminal over the coming years, its municipal government has said.

Starting from 2026, the number of sea cruise vessels that can stop at the Passengers Terminal Amsterdam will be set at 100 per annum, down from 190 today.

Within a decade, cruise ships will not be allowed to stop at the main terminal, and by 2035 the main terminal for cruise stops will be outside the city, travel news portal Skift reports.

All cruise ships will be required to use shore power by 2027.

This means ships will have to get their electrical power from the shore while docked at the port, cutting the use of onboard diesel engines - a contributor to carbon emissions.

“By limiting sea cruises, requiring shore power, and aiming for the cruise terminal to move from its current location in 2035, the council is responsibly implementing the proposal to stop sea cruises,” said Hester van Buren, an alderman for the municipal government.

Both Venice and Amsterdam have concerns about over-tourism and its impact on the environment.

In Venice, the government has limited the number of cruise ships at its industrial port and is building a smaller terminal outside the city centre.

The cruise cap is the latest policy by Amsterdam to combat over-tourism.

In April, the city banned the construction of new hotels. And earlier this year, it launched a new campaign to discourage nuisance party tourists from visiting the city’s red light district.

Meanwhile, the mayor of Barcelona, Mayor Jaume Collboni, revealed this month that his city plans to ban short-term vacation rentals by 2028.

That plan is in response to rising tourist numbers and ever-increasing rents for locals with a large portion of housing stock having been turned into accommodation for visitors.

Amsterdam to say "no" to cruise ships

Amsterdam is set to ban cruise ships from its waters and close its cruise terminal.

The largest city in the Netherlands has taken the move cut pollution and overcrowding in the city, Travel Mole reports.

The city has annually welcomed more than 100 cruise ships a year.

“Cruise ships in the centre don’t fit in with Amsterdam’s task of cutting the number of tourists,” said Ilana Rooderkerk of the D66 party, which controls the city along with the Labour party and environmentalists.

The city has been pushing measures to crack down on too much tourism and nuisance behaviour, including smoking cannabis in public.

This has involves cleaning up the red light district and shunning stag and hen's parties.

As yet, there has been no timeline given for the cruise terminal closure.

The ban will not lead to the end of shore excursions to Amsterdam.

Cruise lines also offer trips to Amsterdam when docking at Ijmuiden and Rotterdam.

Amsterdam attracts up to 20 million annual visitors.

Rooderkerk recently compared cruise tourists to a "plague of locusts" descending all at once on the city. 

Cruises around the globe plagued by Covid issues

From the Mediterranean to Tasmania and Hong Kong, cruise ships are back in operation and having Covid issues straight away.

It was reported yesterday that the final guests have disembarked from the Cordelia cruise ship after returning to Mumbai from Goa in India.

Local media reported a total of 209 people on board were infected, including at least 66 crew.

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation said it completed PCR testing on 1,827 people on board the cruise by Tuesday night.

The BMC did not allow any guests testing negative off the ship until all positive cases were taken to quarantine facilities.

A seven-day home quarantine is mandatory for all guests who tested negative, a BMC official said.

This followed dozens of passengers taken off a cruise ship in Genoa, Italy, after testing positive for Covid-19.

Forty-five passengers left the MSC Grandiosa (above) in Genoa "to be taken home safely", Travel Mole reported.

Dozens more passengers who tested positive were to be offloaded in Civitavecchia, outside Rime, or in Palermo, Sicily.

RaiNews24 reported more than 100 guests were infected. The ship was carrying over 4,000 guests.

Positive guests and close contacts were "immediately isolated in cabins with balconies" MSC Cruises said.

MSC requires all crew members and guests over 12 to be fully vaccinated.

In Tasmania, where large cruise ships are still banned, around 90 passengers and crew members are undergoing at least seven days quarantine after two positive cases were found onboard the Coral Discoverer.

State director of public health Dr Mark Veitch said the Coral Discoverer posed "no risk" to the Tasmanian public.

The ship - which is currently berthed in Hobart - had a Covid safety plan and measures in place but health authorities have deemed there was “significant exposure”.

“The nature of its operation and proximity of passengers and crew meant there was significant exposure of passengers and crew to the cases in an environment where there was a high risk of transmission,” a statement from Dr Veitch said.

Meanwhile, a cruise ship carrying about 2,500 passengers was ordered back to port in Hong Kong over a single positive Covid case.

Nine people on board Royal Caribbean’s Spectrum of the Seas deemed as close contacts were disembarked and taken to a quarantine centre.

All reportedly tested negative.

Spectrum of the Seas has been sailing cruises to nowhere - short domestic sailings.

Hong Kong authorities have now banned all cruises.

Cruise ships banned from Venice lagoon

After much procrastination and prevarication, Italy has finally decided to ban cruise ships from Venice lagoon.

The Government acted as UNESCO proposed putting Venice on a World Heritage watchlist due to its failure to ban large ships.

The ban takes effect from August 1 and bans ships weighing more than 25,000 tonnes from the Giudecca Canal.

That effectively means all cruise ships - both large and small - are forbidden to enter.

Italian Culture Minister Dario Franceschini said the government acted "to avoid the concrete risk' of being placed on the UNESCO blacklist, Travel Mole reported.

It also "establishes an unbreakable principle, by declaring the urban waterways of St. Mark's Basin, St. Mark's Canal and the Giudecca Canal a national monument," the minister added.

The issue has been the centre of controversy for many years, with environmentalists against and many local businesses grateful for the revenue.

"The decree adopted today represents an important step for the protection of the Venetian lagoon system," Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi said.

Draghi said funds will be dispersed to businesses to help mitigate the loss of revenue caused by the cruise ship ban.

There, is, however, no permanent alternative location for cruise ships to dock near Venice so several cruise lines will have to amend their schedules.

In the short term, large ships will be diverted to the industrial port of Marghera.

Photo by Evgenii Iaroshevskii