These cruise ports aren't keen on your visit. Here’s why — and where else to consider instead

Hoards of tourists jostling through narrow streets and alleys, filling shops and eateries, and inundating famous attractions: This scene is a familiar sight in cruise hotspots worldwide, where cruise travelers blend with land visitors, overwhelming fragile destinations.

When several mega-ships dock in a city simultaneously, the influx of thousands of passengers can strain local infrastructure, resulting in excessive noise and crowds that diminish the area's charm.

Cruise ports are increasingly taking a stand. Local residents are motivated not only by the need to tackle overtourism but also by a desire to reduce pollution and maintain the quality of life in overwhelmed areas. From Amsterdam to Venice, cities are enacting bans and restrictions on cruise ships to prevent their beloved destinations from being overwhelmed.

Your intention to explore top tourist destinations by sea may conflict with local residents' preferences, who would prefer you arrive by land and keep ships at bay. Here are nine ports that may not welcome you — as they have introduced ship restrictions, limited the number of vessels and/or visitors, or outright bans — along with alternative destinations to consider.

Amsterdam

Starting July 2024, this vibrant Dutch capital aims to cap the number of ocean cruise ships allowed to dock in its harbor to 100 annually by 2026, down from the current 190, with a total ban set for 2035. Additionally, the city is contemplating relocating the passenger terminal to Coenhaven in northwest Amsterdam.

This initiative is part of a broader effort to tackle what the city council describes as "nuisance" tourism from cruise ships, which contribute to pollution and overcrowding. By 2027, all vessels docking at the Amsterdam terminal will be required to utilize shore power exclusively, greatly diminishing their environmental footprint.

Alternative port: Rotterdam, another major Dutch city and one of the largest ports globally, celebrated for its maritime heritage

Bar Harbor, Maine

Bar Harbor has been a traditional stop for cruises heading to New England and Canada, serving as the entrance to the beloved Acadia National Park and its iconic Cadillac Mountain.

To address issues of overcrowding, Bar Harbor voters approved a cap in 2022 on the number of cruise ship passengers allowed ashore, limiting it to 1,000 per day. This is about half the usual influx into this picturesque resort town of 5,500 residents. Following a prolonged legal battle, a federal district court confirmed in February 2024 that the town can enforce such restrictions.

However, the town will permit cruise calls for the May-to-October season this year that were scheduled before November 2022 to exceed the 1,000-person daily limit. The full implementation of the new restrictions will take effect in 2025.

This doesn't mean the debate is settled. Local business owners are contesting the court ruling, claiming it negatively impacts their businesses.

Alternative port: Portland, a picturesque, walkable port and the largest city in Maine

Dubrovnik, Croatia

Since Dubrovnik was featured as the fictional King's Landing in the popular HBO series "Game of Thrones," it has skyrocketed in popularity. With a population of just 42,000, this gem on Croatia's famed Dalmatian Coast now experiences an influx of 36 tourists for every local, totaling around 1.5 million visitors annually.

It's no surprise that in 2019, the city limited the number of ships allowed to visit to just two per day, accommodating a maximum of 5,000 visitors. To ease congestion on its historic cobbled streets, this picturesque city is also working on optimizing the flow of cruisers through the ancient Old City by better coordinating arrival and departure schedules.

Alternative port: Zadar or Split, both historic cities on Croatia's Dalmatian Coast that receive fewer visitors

Juneau, Alaska

Each year, Alaska's capital city sees a surge of cruise ship visitors eager to explore the renowned Juneau Icefield and its highlight, the rapidly diminishing Mendenhall Glacier. However, locals are beginning to push back against a tourism boom that brought in 1.6 million cruise passengers last year from April to October. On peak days, around 20,000 visitors—equivalent to two-thirds of the city's population—disembark from the ships.

As Juneau feels the impacts of climate change, city officials and major cruise companies, including Carnival Corp., Disney Cruise Line, Norwegian Cruise Line, and Royal Caribbean Group, reached an agreement in 2023 to limit daily arrivals to five large ships starting in 2024. Last year, the city hosted as many as seven ships per day.

They also established a daily limit of 16,000 cruise passengers from Sunday to Friday, and 12,000 on Saturdays, set to begin in 2026.

Some residents feel these limits are insufficient. A proposal to ban ships carrying 250 or more passengers from docking on Saturdays and July 4 (when locals participate in a downtown parade) will be on the municipal ballot on October 1. Given that the city is only accessible by water or air, many hope this will alleviate traffic, reduce congestion on trails, and lessen the noise from sightseeing helicopters shuttling visitors to the Mendenhall and other glaciers.

Alternative port: Icy Strait Point, a much smaller Alaskan port surrounded by pristine wilderness

Key West, Florida

The decision is final. After a four-year struggle between local residents and the state government regarding the size and number of cruise ships allowed to dock in Key West, the state has emerged victorious.

In March 2024, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis approved a revised lease agreement that enables Key West to accommodate larger ships to navigate its delicate reefs for the next 25 years. This new lease for the state-managed Pier B overrides the ongoing concerns of the majority of the residents on this 4-square-mile resort island at the southern tip of Florida.

In 2020, residents passed a referendum to limit daily shore visits to 1,500 people, cap ship sizes at no more than 1,300 passengers, and restrict arrivals to just one ship per day. Instead, the new ruling expands the pier's capacity, allowing it to host ships that are nearly 50 feet longer.

Conversely, Key West has successfully enforced the 2020 restrictions on passenger numbers and ship sizes at the historic Mallory Square pier owned by the town.

Alternative port: Nassau, a larger tropical island destination capable of accommodating significantly more cruise traffic

Monterey, California

To safeguard the coastal environment of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, the largest protected ocean area in the continental U.S., this port—located about two hours south of San Francisco—discontinued passenger landing services, including security clearances for cruise ships, in February 2023.

While not an outright prohibition, this decision effectively makes it very challenging for ships to dock. Consequently, no cruises have visited since the restriction was implemented. Prior to the pandemic, Monterey typically welcomed up to a dozen ships annually on routes to Alaska and Mexico.

Alternative port: San Francisco, California's iconic city and a favored stop for numerous cruise lines

Mykonos and Santorini, Greece

On peak days during the high summer season, Santorini sees an influx of up to 17,000 cruise ship passengers, putting immense social and environmental pressure on the picturesque island. In 2023, around 800 ships visited this island of just 15,000 residents, marking a 17% increase from 2022.

In response, Santorini Mayor Nikos Zorzos proposed in June 2024 to limit daily passenger arrivals to 8,000, which would involve restricting ship berths or establishing a bidding system for vessels to secure docking slots.

Similar initiatives, supported by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, would also extend to the nearby tourist hotspot of Mykonos, potentially taking effect as early as 2025. Both islands hosted around 1.2 million cruise ship passengers in 2023, representing an increase of over 50% from 2022.

The Greek government is also contemplating a €20 tax on cruise passengers visiting its popular and overcrowded island destinations.

Alternative port: Naxos, another charming yet less-visited Greek island in the Aegean Sea

Venice, Italy

To safeguard the environmental, artistic, and cultural heritage of this iconic Italian city, large cruise ships were prohibited from navigating through its historic center starting in August 2021. Instead of passing by the renowned St. Mark's Square and up the narrow Giudecca Canal to dock at city-center terminals, vessels over 25,000 tons and longer than 590 feet are now redirected through the Venetian Lagoon, where they dock at the mainland industrial ports of Marghera or Fusina.

The regulation permits entry only for riverboats and smaller vessels operated by Emerald, Ponant, Ritz-Carlton, Scenic, Sea Cloud, Star Clippers, SeaDream Yacht Club, and Windstar lines.

Amid significant stress from overtourism and environmental concerns, this change was made following a UNESCO recommendation to consider adding Venice to its list of World Heritage in Danger, partly due to the impact of cruise ships. Nevertheless, Venice is projected to receive 540,000 cruise passengers in 2024, a roughly 9% increase from 2023.

Alternative ports: Ravenna or Trieste, much less touristy yet historically rich ports in northern Italy

Key takeaways

What should a cruiser do? If a port is limiting daily passenger numbers, consider opting for cruise lines with smaller ships that accommodate fewer than 800 guests, such as American Cruise Line, Atlas Ocean Voyages, Crystal, Emerald Cruises, Paul Gauguin Cruises, Ponant, Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection, Scenic, Seabourn, Sea Cloud, Star Clippers, SeaDream Yacht Club, Silversea, UnCruise Adventures, and Windstar.

Alternatively, book early to secure a cabin on larger ships that are still permitted to dock. Look for sailings during shoulder seasons when fewer ships and tourists visit popular destinations.

If a port is now inaccessible, explore itineraries that include alternative ports mentioned earlier. You may need to revise your travel plans, but local communities will be grateful for your choice.