France To Ban Large Cruise Ships To Combat Over-tourism Starting July 2025

Christian Estrosi, the Mayor of Nice, France, has announced plans to ban large cruise ships from docking in the city starting July 1, 2025.

This will apply to vessels carrying more than 900 passengers or exceeding 190 meters in length, according to multiple reports from French media.

Estrosi revealed the proposal during his New Year’s speech on January 21, 2025, describing such cruise ships as “polluters” that bring “low-cost clientele” who contribute little to the local economy but leave behind huge waste.

The mayor said that he is working to cancel all cruises that can still be stopped before the ban officially comes into effect.

Talking about the UNESCO World Heritage status of Nice and its surrounding areas, Estrosi stated that the city wants to maintain its status as a high-end tourist destination and cannot accommodate “floating hotels” that damages the natural beauty and cultural appeal of the region.

The Nice port, which recorded 452,000 passengers in 2019, accommodates ships in a natural harbour with two terminals. However, these ships often anchor offshore and tender passengers ashore, as the port lacks dedicated docking facilities.

Estrosi’s proposed ban targets about 70% of the cruise traffic scheduled for Nice in 2025.

Despite his concerns, critics say that he lacks the authority to enforce such a ban on vessels anchoring beyond 300 meters from the shore, as these areas are regulated by federal authorities.

Several major cruise operators, including Marella Cruises, Cunard, and Celebrity Cruises, have itineraries planned for Nice in July and beyond. These include large vessels like the:

• Marella Discovery (2,076 passengers) and Marella Voyager (1,886 passengers).
• Queen Victoria by Cunard (2,061 passengers).
• Celebrity Equinox (2,850 passengers), is scheduled to arrive on Bastille Day, July 14.
• Celebrity Ascent, the largest ship set to visit, with 3,260 passengers.
• Royal Caribbean’s Voyager of the Seas and Explorer of the Seas (carrying 3,602 passengers and 4,290 passengers respectively)
• Other cruise lines include P&O Cruises, Holland America Line, Princess Cruises, and Viking Oceans.

European cities have also faced similar challenges forcing them to take similar measures. Venice, for example, banned ships exceeding 25,000 gross tons in 2021, diverting them to ports far from its historic centre.

Despite this, the city reported 540,000 cruise passengers in 2024, leading to restrictions, including a €5 tourist fee that will double in 2025.

Estrosi has also announced plans to regulate Airbnb operations in Nice. He aims to reduce the number of short-term rentals by 50%, targeting companies managing multiple properties that make housing unaffordable for locals.

References: Cruise Hive, Cruise Industry News

Source: Maritime Shipping News