Proposes ban on certain types of cruise ships

The mayor wants to ban ships with more than 900 passengers and over 190 meters (about 620 feet) in length. The ship in the photo, Compagnie du Ponant's Le Boréal, is small enough to continue visiting the city. Photo: Cityswift, Flickr CC BY 2.0

If Christian Estrosi, the mayor of Nice in France, succeeds in his proposal, large cruise ships will be banned from docking in the city starting July 1.

Estrosi seeks to prohibit vessels carrying over 900 passengers or more than 190 meters in length, which he argues are a form of «low-cost tourism.» His statement, «Tourism, yes, overtourism, no,» reflects his frustration with the environmental impact and waste left behind by these ships. This has been reported by Euronews, Travel + Leisure, and other media outlets.

The mayor of Nice, Christian Estrosi, is among many politicians addressing the growing issue of overtourism. Photo: GabboT, Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 2.o

This ban is expected to have significant consequences for nearby Villefranche-sur-Mer, where such ships are regular visitors, especially impacting local businesses that rely on cruise passenger traffic.

«The cruises that pollute and dump their low-cost clientele who consume nothing, but leave their waste behind … these cruises have no place with us.» Christian Estrosi Mayor of Nice, France

However, smaller cruise lines that typically dock in Nice or anchor in Villefranche-sur-Mer, like Sea Cloud Cruises, Windstar, and Atlas Ocean Voyages, remain unaffected by this ban. Estrosi plans to invest €7 million in port electrification so that these smaller vessels can connect to shore power, reducing their environmental impact. Additionally, he proposes the construction of a dedicated terminal for high-end vessels.

Despite the expected economic challenges for the region, Estrosi’s efforts reflect the increasing concern over overtourism and pollution, with the Côte d'Azur region, including Villefranche-sur-Mer and Cannes, experiencing a significant drop in cruise visits since 2010.

Many destinations have implemented restrictions Several destinations have implemented measures to restrict or ban large cruise ships to address concerns like overtourism and environmental impact. Here are some notable examples:

Venice, Italy In August 2021, Italy's culture minister announced a ban on large cruise ships entering Venice's Giudecca Canal, aiming to protect the city's historic environment and fragile canals.

Amsterdam, Netherlands Amsterdam has announced plans to prohibit cruise ships from entering its city center by 2035 to combat overtourism and improve residents' quality of life.

Key West, Florida, USA In 2022, Key West voted to allow only one cruise ship per day, significantly reducing the number of ships visiting the city.

Bora Bora, Tahiti In late 2021, the French Polynesian government declared that in Bora Bora, only 1,200 passengers could disembark per day, effectively limiting the number of large cruise ships visiting the island.

Charleston, South Carolina, USA After 2024, Charleston will no longer welcome cruise ships at the beginning or end of an itinerary, significantly affecting cruise operations in the city.