Not every port welcomes cruise ships with open arms anymore. From water pistol protests in Barcelona to outright bans in Venice, residents of some of the world’s most popular destinations are pushing back against the massive vessels that deliver thousands of tourists daily.
These locals cite overcrowding, environmental damage, skyrocketing housing costs, and the erosion of their cultural identity as reasons for their discontent. Here’s a list of cruise ports where local communities have raised serious concerns, implemented restrictions, or actively discouraged visits.
Venice
Italy banned mammoth cruise liners from sailing into Venice’s historic lagoon in 2021 after years of protests and UNESCO threats to place the city on its endangered list. The large ships cause pollution and erode the foundations of a city already suffering from regular flooding. Pressure mounted after a 2019 incident when a cruise liner crashed into a Venice harbor, injuring five people.
The ban means large cruise and container vessels can no longer enter the Giudecca Canal. Many cruise lines still offer Venice itineraries but now dock in nearby cities like Trieste or Ravenna, bussing passengers into the city. Venice attracts around 20 million tourists annually, while the resident population has dwindled to just over 50,000. Not great.
Barcelona
Barcelona welcomed approximately 3.6 million cruise passengers in 2024 across 806 visits. Still, locals have had enough. In extreme cases, citizens spray water on tourists with water pistols, forcing them to leave the city’s main attractions. Barcelona closed one of its two city center cruise terminals in 2023, capping daily arrivals to seven at a time, down from 10.
The city is relocating cruise ships outside Barcelona’s city center by 2026, with plans to close the South terminal and operate all cruises from the Adossat wharf. The local government even changed the tourism tagline from “Visit Barcelona” to “This is Barcelona” in 2024.
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Amsterdam
Amsterdam plans to limit ocean cruise ships that can dock in its harbor to 100 per year by 2026, down from the current 190, and ban them altogether by 2035. Local political leader Ilana Rooderkerk compared cruise passengers descending on the city to a “plague of locusts”. Harsh words.
The city considers relocating the passenger terminal to Coenhaven in northwest Amsterdam as part of efforts to reduce tourism-related disturbances. Recently, locals in Amsterdam protested and prevented Royal Caribbean’s nine-month world cruise ship from docking by blocking locks the boat needed to enter the port. And yes, that actually happened.
Santorini
In June 2024, Santorini Mayor Nikos Zorzos proposed capping the number of daily passengers at 8,000, restricting ship berths, or creating a bidding process for ships to secure slots. The island welcomed about 1.2 million cruise ship passengers in 2023, a more than 50 percent jump over 2022. The Greek government is also considering a 20 euro tax on cruise passengers visiting overcrowded island destinations.
The narrow streets and small harbor simply weren’t designed for this volume. The iconic whitewashed buildings that make Santorini Instagram-famous are now being loved to death by the very tourists who come to see them.
Nassau
Nassau welcomed a record-breaking 5.6 million guests in 2024, and that number is only expected to grow. But it’s not all sunshine and conch fritters. The US State Department issued an updated Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution travel advisory for the Bahamas, citing violent crime, swimming risks, and firearm warnings.
Sexual assaults by jet ski operators have been reported at Nassau’s beaches in 2025, and guests should remain vigilant for spiked drinks, taxi scams, and both credit card and ATM fraud. Especially in less touristy areas, such as venturing “Over the Hill” south of Shirley Street, crime and gang activity is prevalent. Local vendors can be aggressive, too.
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Bar Harbor
In 2022, voters in Bar Harbor approved a limit on cruise ship passengers who can come ashore to 1,000 per day, roughly half the number that typically poured into this scenic resort town of 5,500. A federal district court ruled in February 2024 that the town can legally impose such limits, with the new reduction going into full effect in 2025.
Local business owners are appealing the court decision, saying it hurts business. But residents argue the town simply cannot handle the influx without losing its character entirely.
Juneau
With Juneau experiencing firsthand the effects of climate change, city leaders and major cruise lines agreed in 2023 to a limit of five large ships a day starting in 2024, down from as many as seven daily ships last year. They also agreed to a daily cap of 16,000 cruise passengers Sundays through Fridays and 12,000 on Saturdays, which will take effect in 2026.
Some residents think these limits don’t go far enough. A measure to ban ships with 250 or more passengers from docking on Saturdays and July 4 appeared on the October 2024 municipal ballot. Since the city is accessible only by water or air, residents hope this reduces traffic, congested trails, and the constant buzz of sightseeing helicopters.
Cannes
Starting January 1, 2024, Cannes limited cruise ships to vessels with fewer than 1,000 passengers, with total daily cruise passengers capped at 6,000. Larger cruise ships can no longer enter the city’s ports directly; instead, passengers must transfer to smaller boats to reach shore. By 2026, Cannes will ban cruise ships carrying more than 1,000 passengers entirely.
The city faces challenges balancing economic benefits with pressures from overtourism. Mayor David Lisnard explained it’s not about banning cruise ships but regulating and organizing their navigation.
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Dubrovnik
All contracts signed for 2019 limit cruise liners to two per day, and the number of cruise tourists to 5,000 daily. In 2016, UNESCO warned that the city’s world heritage status was at risk, highlighting concern about cruise ship management and the maximum number of tourists in regard to the sustainable carrying capacity. In August 2016, in one day alone, the city with a population of around 43,000 was visited by 10,388 cruise tourists.
The city introduced a predictive visitor management system that monitors and controls the number of tourists entering at any given time. The proprietor of one guesthouse inside the Old Town’s walls reportedly told visitors, “Cruise ships ruined Dubrovnik.”
Roatan
Honduras is under a Level 3: Reconsider Travel status from the US government due to crime and kidnapping. Roatan is an island seen as having less risks, with two key ports: Mahogany Bay (Carnival operated) and Coxen Hole. But warnings indicate areas outside enclosed port shopping and entertainment areas have risen levels of crime and harassment, including prostitution.
Especially in mainland Honduras areas, violent crime including armed robbery, homicide, gang activity, and both drug and human trafficking are concerning issues. The island setting provides some insulation, but caution remains essential.
Cozumel
While parts of Mexico have strong warnings from the US State Department due to crime, gang issues, and kidnapping, Cozumel was seen as safer because it’s not on the route drug cartels use to move drugs from South America into the United States. But that seems to have changed. Seven days before one traveler’s stop there, escalating gang issues occurred, with what appears to be a gang hit where a man having lunch with his family at a restaurant not far from the Punta Langosta cruise port was shot dead.
The increase in gang battles and crime was so serious that Mexican authorities sent in the National Guard, Army, and State Police to run raids and try to take control. The scent of street tacos mingles uneasily with tension.
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Port of Spain
On December 30, 2024, the Trinidad and Tobago government declared a nationwide state of emergency due to ongoing criminal activity that could threaten public safety. On January 13, 2025, parliament extended the state of emergency until April 2025. Violence and shootings occur regularly in some areas of Port of Spain.
Under the state of emergency, police have the authority to:
- Arrest people on suspicion of involvement in illegal activities
- Search and enter public and private properties as needed
- Suspend bail for those suspected of committing crimes
Only a handful of ships are scheduled to stop in Port of Spain over the next few months, and all appear to be smaller expedition ships.
Mykonos
Similar measures backed by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis would apply to Mykonos alongside Santorini, and could be implemented as early as 2025. Each island welcomed about 1.2 million cruise ship passengers in 2023. The postcard-perfect windmills and blue-domed churches are struggling under the weight of their own popularity.
Greek authorities recognize that what makes these islands special—their intimacy, their scale, their charm—is precisely what mass tourism threatens to destroy. The irony isn’t lost on anyone.
Belize
Belize is a Central American country with Mexico and Guatemala on its borders. Similar to Honduras, the country faces challenges with crime that have prompted warnings from authorities. Cruise visitors are advised to book excursions through reputable operators rather than self-exploring.
The barrier reef is spectacular. The crime statistics, less so.
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Acapulco
Once known as the playground of the rich and famous, Acapulco is home to Mexico’s oldest beach resorts and is known for stunning sunsets, beautiful scenery, and delicious food. However, the state of Guerrero, where Acapulco is located, faces significant security concerns. The glamorous reputation from decades past clashes with present-day realities.
Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, and Carnival Cruise Line still visit as part of Mexican Riviera itineraries, but travelers should exercise caution and stay within tourist zones.
Marseille
In 2022, 50,000 people in Marseille—France’s biggest cruise port—signed a petition against cruise ships, according to campaign group Stop Croisières. Although Marseille has not announced any official bans for 2025, local protests and petitions condemning the environmental impact of large vessels suggest one could be coming.
The Mediterranean’s second-largest cruise market is straining under pressure. Locals argue the environmental footprint outweighs economic benefits.
Ísafjörður
Starting January 1, 2025, Ísafjörður, one of Iceland’s picturesque coastal towns, introduced a new $18 per passenger infrastructure fee for cruise ships. Iceland’s efforts to limit cruise tourism reflect growing concern about preserving its fragile environment and local communities.
The country’s dramatic landscapes—the very thing drawing visitors—are also what locals are desperate to protect. The fjords don’t regenerate as quickly as cruise ship schedules cycle through.
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Port Said
Egypt as a whole is under a Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution advisory from the US government due to terrorism, crime, and limited healthcare. Border areas like Port Said are under a heightened Level 4: Do Not Travel alert due to military activity. Port Said essentially connects the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea, which continues to experience unrest and rebel attacks.
Several cruise lines have already pivoted to avoid Red Sea tensions. The proximity to ongoing conflicts makes this port particularly concerning for safety-conscious travelers.
The bottom line
Cruise tourism stands at a crossroads. What locals are saying through protests, restrictions, and outright bans is clear: the current model isn’t sustainable. These ports aren’t rejecting tourism entirely—they’re demanding a different kind of relationship with it, one that respects carrying capacity, protects cultural heritage, and doesn’t price residents out of their own cities.
For travelers, this means more planning, higher costs, and possibly rethinking which ports truly welcome visitors versus merely tolerating them.
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