Lately, it seems like banning cruise ships from ports has become the trendy and “cool” thing to do.
More and more local governments are coming up with strategies to block or at least limit the arrival of large ships, mostly driven by environmental concerns and the growing issue of so-called “overtourism“.
One particularly beautiful port has recently announced a ban, joining two others that had already made similar decisions. Let’s take a look at which ones they are.
Nice
Recently, Nice’s Mayor has decided to ban cruise ships carrying more than 900 passengers, saying that they are “monsters of the seas” and that they “pollute and dump their low-cost clientele.”
According to those who view cruise ships negatively, too many visitors arrive at once, they flood the streets, shop in every store, and go to tourist attractions, and then leave by evening.
Traffic jams become common when big ships dock, and buses and taxis struggle to serve the sudden crowds.
In addition, several local environmental groups claim that big cruise ships pollute the surrounding air and water, and that they release waste that harms sea life.
Consequently, starting July 1 2025, Villefranche‑sur‑Mer will stop welcoming ships over 900 passengers. Nice hopes this rule will protect its environment and keep the city livable for its year‑round residents.
Of course, you can imagine the flip side. Data show that more than 40% of people in Nice work in tourism, which of course includes cruise ship arrivals.
Some shop owners and cab drivers worry about lost business. They say cruise tourists spend money in local shops and restaurants. But many residents believe it is better to have fewer visitors who stay longer, explore responsibly, and respect the town.
With this ban, Nice joins other cities that limit cruise traffic to protect life on land and at sea. For example, next up is another hugely famous European city that has recently blocked the arrival of large cruise ships.
Venice
Similarly to Nice, Venice banned large cruise ships in November 2021, forbidding ships over 25,000 gross tonnage from passing through the Giudecca Canal toward St. Mark’s Basin.
As an alternative, cruise ships carrying more than 2,000 passengers must dock at an offshore terminal at Marghera, across the lagoon.
To be totally honest, Venice had a somewhat different problem involving the special lagoon in which it is located.
Powerful waves eroded canal banks and were damaging the foundations, threatening Venice’s fragile lagoon ecosystem and historic architecture.
Officials then introduced the ban to protect the UNESCO‑listed city center and preserve its heritage. However, cruise passengers can still easily reach Venice.
I’ve been there several times, and cruise lines typically use motorboats to take you to the Venice terminal. From there, you can hop on the People Mover (a small train) that, in just a few minutes, brings you to Piazzale Roma, where you can explore Venice on foot.
Just a quick note: Venice can get very crowded at certain times of the year and might not be the best choice. I recommend taking a look at the article on the best and worst cruise ship ports.
Juneau in Alaska
As you probably know, Juneau in Alaska is one of the top cruise ports in North America. It began limiting ship traffic in April 2024 by capping arrivals at five ships per day under a voluntary agreement with the industry, Maritime Executive, but the battle isn’t over.
To further tackle overtourism, the city will enforce strict passenger limits starting in 2026: no more than 16,000 disembarking passengers Sunday through Friday, and just 12,000 on Saturdays.
As usual, officials point to snarled traffic, overcrowded docks, noise, and strain on local services.
However, there seem to be very mixed opinions in the community. A 2024 survey showed that 20% of residents prioritized cruise limits over additional tourism, and a ballot initiative to ban large ships on Saturdays narrowly failed in October 2024.
Generally, people worry about potential revenue loss for businesses reliant on cruise guests. For instance, while Venice can cope without cruise ships thanks to its large numbers of traditional tourists, other destinations that rely heavily on cruise tourism might find a total ban much harder to pull off.
In addition, if you ever go on a cruise in Alaska, remember to avoid these these 7 mistakes that Can RUIN Your Cruise.
I have tried several of them but these are the most durable and sturdy.
