Europe shunning cruise industry could...

Nice becomes latest Mediterranean city to ban large ships

Cruise ships are increasingly being forced away from European destinations, with bans and fees making operators rethink their itineraries.

Nice in the south of France is the latest Mediterranean city to ban large cruise ships – over 190 metres and 900 passengers – from its port for fears of over-tourism.

Meanwhile, Iceland introduces a daily fee of US$18 per passenger from 1 January 2025, which is already making operators rethink their itineraries and even bypass Iceland altogether.

“This new proposed Infrastructure Fee is at a level where it could affect our assessment of the viability of Iceland in our future itineraries and plans,” said MSC Cruises’ Port Operations Director, Francesco de Curtis.

Venice banned ships from docking in its historic centre in 2021, Mallorca has put a limit on ships and Barcelona has closed a terminal to cruise ships. Dubrovnik and Amsterdam are also considering moving cruise ships away from central areas, following Venice’s lead.

Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), Costa Cruises and MSC Cruises have all shared their concern over the future of cruising in Venice.

Cruise ships were diverted from the city centre to a commercial port on the outskirts, and plans for a dedicated terminal have not yet materialised.

Estimates suggest that cruise passenger numbers to the Italian city have dropped from 1.5 million to half a million per year as a result, impacting local businesses that rely on the trade generated by it.

Choppy waters for the industry in Europe – worth more than US$10 billion a year – could be good news for the growing sector in the GCC.

Speaking at Arabian Travel Market 2024, Saud Hareb Almheiri, Cruise Tourism & Yachting Lead – Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) told attendees that more people in the region need to be aware of cruising, adding “they can cruise in their own backyard”.

“Activating our own regional market is very important to us, which we are looking to do in the near future, as well as looking eastwards towards Asia and trying to attract more Asian cruise liners,” said Almheiri.

Indeed, the cruise industry is booming in the region, with Dubai leading the way.

Dubai was named the safest cruise ship stopover, according to InsureMyTrip, taking into account not only safety and crime rates but also tourism factors such as number of activities and quality of restaurants.

Dubai has become a hotspot, attracting world-class operators, 187 ships and more than 280,000 passengers in 2024, according to Dubai Customs.

Abu Dhabi Cruise Terminal was launched at Zayed Port in December 2015 and can accommodate up to three cruise ships and 5,000 visitors. It also includes on-site links to transport to see the UAE capital’s sites, and an Etihad Airline check-in desk.

West of the city in the Al Dhafra region, Sir Bani Yas Cruise Beach is an island stop-off created to cater to cruise ships, offering everything from kayaking in the mangroves to restaurants, bars and luxury accommodation at Desert Islands Resort & Spa by Anantara.

The Gulf is also rapidly emerging as a destination for regional sailings and weekend ‘cruise-cations’.

In 2024, Celestyal kicked off with its first Arabian Gulf season, also launching a Middle East website to support travel advisors, while Resorts World Cruises launched its inaugural sailing from Dubai with the 1,800-passenger Resorts World One.

Resorts World One

Aroya Cruises, Saudi Arabia’s first homegrown cruise line, launched its Red Sea sailings in December 2024, with Arabian Gulf ones stopping in Dubai, Dammam, Muscat and Bahrain. Other itineraries will include ports of call in destinations along the Red Sea, including Egypt and Jordan, as well as visits to the private island owned by parent company, Cruise Saudi.

Aroya, which currently owns one ship and is looking to launch three more in the next decade, is handling around 170,000 tourists with a target to reach 1.3 million passengers per year.

In Oman, Port Sultan Qaboos in Muscat welcomed 190 cruise calls in 2024, well ahead of its target of 134 ships, highlighting its important role in the sultanate’s wider tourism strategy.

Bahrain also had 34 cruise ships dock in 2024, which although smaller than some neighbours, represents a 106% increase on the previous year.

Regional cooperation is also key to the growth of the industry, with organisations like the Cruise Arabia Alliance – comprising Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Bahrain and Oman – working together for the betterment of the sector, and the launch of Reserve Cruise, a regional booking platform, incentivising the travel trade and supporting the local industry.

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