New England seaside port bans virtually all cruise ships from its harbor

The new rules apply to ships that dock or tender.

Mar 23, 2025 - 22:30
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New England seaside port bans virtually all cruise ships from its harbor

Cruising is one in all the fastest-rising segments of trudge, with cruise bookings up 17% in North The usa between 2019 and 2023.

Globally cruise capacity is forecast to grow a minimal of 10% from 2024 to 2028, in step with Cruise Lines World Association, and major cruise lines beget a minimal of one new ship below building.

However not every neighborhood welcomes the crush of vacationers cruise ships can bring.

Related: Silversea unveils its 132-day extremely-luxurious cruise for 2028

Quite a lot of U.S. ports beget made moves to decrease cruise tourism's impacts. In Sitka, Alaska, let's assert, voters will think in a May 30 particular election whether to cap every day cruise arrivals at 4,500. In Juneau, every day company are already small to 16,000 per day and proper 12,000 on Saturdays.

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Quite a lot of global ports — including Venice, Italy, and Amsterdam, Netherlands, beget also implemented limits on every day visits, or disallowing ships over a obvious size.

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Belfast Harbor in Maine made the resolution to restrict the scale of cruise ships that can enter; best smaller ships with 50 passenders or fewer are allowed.

Describe Source: Getty Photos

Residents assert their city is too small for even smaller cruise ships

Doubtlessly the most up-to-the-minute port to relate "no" to particular ships is Belfast, Maine. In November 2022, the city, with 7,000 residents, voted to cap the number of cruise customer arrivals to 1,000 per day. The crawl became based on a neighborhood see taken the three hundred and sixty five days before. Per the see, residents acknowledged they agree with about cruise tourism negatively affects their quality of lifestyles.

Now, an amendment accredited on March 18, 2025, effectively bans all commercial passenger ships from coming into the harbor. The ordinance states no cruise ship that contains better than 50 company is allowed to embark or debark passengers at the city landing or any other city property or marine facility. The guideline applies to ships that dock or exercise tender boats.

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Belfast, a natty port city about 100 miles north of the port city Portland, and 60 miles south of Bar Harbor, on the full attracts best one cruise value: American Cruise Lines.

Related: Holland The usa Line unveils itineraries for solar seekers, plant life and fauna followers

Belfast, Maine no longer on itineraries

American Cruise Lines operates a swiftly of small ships, most accommodating 90-180 passengers. Now, even the dual carriageway's 100-passenger American Eagle, which has beforehand known as on Belfast, will likely be prohibited.

Belfast's harbormaster reportedly supported the legislation, citing safety and navigation concerns that emerged when eight cruise ships known as at the port in the summertime of 2024. Restricted dock space and bus parking, presumably for shore excursions, contributed to congestion correct thru the harbor, in step with local files studies.

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Perchance in anticipation of the ban, Belfast does not appear on any American Cruise Lines itineraries for summer 2025.

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Bear a free appointment with Attain Cruise With Me's Mosey Agent Accomplice, Postcard Mosey, or email Amy Put up at [email protected] or name or text her at 386-383-2472.

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