by As the dream of anti-cruise ships in some of Europe’s most popular ports refuses to budge, the region’s cruise map is slowly being pulled back as companies look for other stops.
Norwegian Cruise Line announced this week that it would stop visiting Venice due to the requirement, introduced in 2021, to offer guests from outside the lagoon. “Large cruise ships must anchor outside and use tender boats,” the line said. “While we have made every effort to retain these calls, the tender operation and overall experience is below the standard we aim to deliver.”
And in October last year, Barcelona moved to discourage cruise ships and ferries from visiting due to concerns about over-tourism. Its now-closed cruise terminal was so close to the city center that passengers could walk to the popular Las Ramblas shopping street in a matter of minutes. Now they face a shuttle bus journey from the more distant port of Adossat, where ships have to dock.
These developments reflect the severe pressure on cruise ships from some destinations, prompting cruise lines to start substituting other ports whenever possible. Instead of Venice, for example, lines with larger ships had to call on other cities along the Italian Adriatic coast, such as Ravenna.
New destinations not only emphasize itineraries as fresh points of interest, but promise a better overall experience for cruise guests, away from the general crowds that are drawn en masse to the tourist destinations of Europe, and especially the Mediterranean.
Here’s a taste of how some of them are being replaced or complemented by alternative ports.
Instead of Venice, there is Ravenna
Venetian protests against the No Grandi Navi (no big ships) campaign have been well documented and after years of wrangling, the ban on big ships has resulted in many lines, including Norwegian Cruise Line, removing used Ravenna instead.
Located more than 120 miles south of Venice, this ancient city is rich in history with Roman roots and medieval churches full of beautiful mosaics. In addition to Ravenna, some lines use Trieste on the border of Italy and Slovenia or Fusina, a small town just 12 miles from Venice that attracts the smaller ships of boutique lines including Seabourn, from where passengers can jump on the ferry to Venice.
Instead of Dubrovnik, there is Split
The city’s mayor imposed a limit on cruise ship visits in 2018 that limited the number of incoming vessels to two a day and carried no more than 8,000 passengers between them. Many lines, such as P&O Cruises, have sought to replace or complement calls at Split, Croatia’s second city, dominated by the remains of Rome’s Diocletian’s Palace and its colonnades boasting an impressive collection of restaurants and shops. extensive stone.
Another option is Sibenik, a little-known but charming city north of the Split that is the gateway to the Kornati Islands and Kornati National Park. Game of Thrones fans naturally drawn to Dubrovnik can also get their fix here as scenes from the cult series were also filmed in Sibenik.
Instead of Santorini, there is Naxos
That is the appeal of Santorini and the ability to accommodate larger ships that are anchored in the large Caldera, the Greek island is still a fixture in many ways of tour. The number of cruise ship arrivals is already limited to 8,000 per day, but the sheer load of visitors makes the peak summer season unbearable as the small cobbled streets of the capital Fira and the beautiful white-washed town of Oia are crowded. send
It is easier for small and medium-sized ships to find other islands and Naxos nearby, as the largest and most fertile of the Cyclades, which has a rich Venetian history and is full of Venetian mansions, snaking paths and small streets crops in his main town Hora. and restaurants, drawing lines such as Explora Journeys, Silversea and Seabourn.
Instead of Barcelona, there is Tarragona
In addition to closing the north terminal at its World Trade Center, Barcelona is limiting the number of cruise ships to seven at any one time. As a major port of call, where many cruises start and end, substituting another port is more problematic.
However, on sailings where the Catalan city is only a day stop, Tarragona further west is attracting attention as an alternative with lines such as MSC Cruises already calling there. This port city has ancient flavors as one of the most important Roman sites in Spain with a waterfront amphitheater and a characteristic medieval centre. Further west is Spain’s third largest city, Valencia, which already attracts several lines including Cunard, and is bursting with culture underpinned by its atmospheric old quarter and impressive collection of buildings modern.
Instead of Amsterdam, there is Rotterdam
When cruise passenger taxes suddenly increased in 2019 in the so-called Venice of the North, some cruise lines skipped the city and called Rotterdam instead. Now the cruise industry is in the sights of Amsterdam politicians again, after they voted last July to ban ocean liners from docking at the city center port.
However, this is unlikely to happen in the near future as port calls are scheduled until 2026, although there are ongoing talks about relocating the port from its current location near the central station.
Some lines, such as Viking Cruises, call at the slightly industrial Ijmuiden port on the Dutch coast, about 18 miles from Amsterdam and considered the city’s seaport. However, Rotterdam, with its dynamic vibe and diverse architecture offers a contrasting flavor with the likes of Princess Cruises calling there.
