As backlash against cruise ships in some of Europe’s most popular ports fades, the region’s cruising map is being subtly redrawn as companies look for alternative stops.
Norwegian Cruise Line announced this week that it will stop visiting Venice due to the requirement to host guests from outside the lagoon introduced in 2021. “Large cruise ships are required to anchor outside and use tender boats,” the line said. “Whilst we have made every effort to pursue these calls, the tender operation and overall experience falls short of the standard we aim to deliver.”
In October last year Barcelona moved to discourage visits by cruise ships and ferries due to overtourism concerns. Thanks to the now-closed cruise terminal’s proximity to the city centre, passengers could walk to the popular Las Ramblas shopping street in just a few minutes. They now face a shuttle bus ride from the farther Adossat pier where ships must dock.
These developments reflect the contraction in cruise ships arriving from various destinations, causing cruise companies to begin displacing other ports wherever possible. For example, instead of Venice, lines with larger ships were forced to find alternative cities such as Ravenna on Italy’s Adriatic coastline.
New destinations not only spice up itineraries as new points of interest, but also promise a better overall experience for cruise guests, away from the general crowds drawn en masse to the tourism hotspots of Europe and the Mediterranean in particular.
Here’s an idea of how some of these have been replaced or supplemented by alternative ports.
Instead of Venice there is Ravenna
Venetian protests as part of the No Grandi Navi campaign have been well documented, and after years of wrangling, the ban on large ships has resulted in many lines, including Norwegian Cruise Line, using Ravenna.
Located 200 km south of Venice, this ancient city has a rich history with Roman origins and medieval churches filled with 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 smaller ships from boutique lines like Seabourn, where passengers can hop on the ferry to Venice.
Split instead of Dubrovnik
The city’s mayor implemented a cap on cruise ship visits in 2018, limiting the number of ships arriving at two per day and carrying no more than 8,000 passengers between them. Many lines, such as P&O Cruises, have attempted to replace or supplement visits with visits to Split, Croatia’s second city, dominated by the ruins of the Roman Diocletian’s Palace, whose vast stone columns house an extraordinary collection of restaurants and shops.
Another alternative is Sibenik, a lesser-known but fascinating town north of Split, the gateway to the Kornati Islands and Kornati National Park. Game of Thrones fans, who are naturally interested in Dubrovnik, can also get ideas here, as scenes from the cult series were shot in Sibenik.
There is Naxos instead of Santorini
Thanks to Santorini’s appeal and its ability to accommodate larger ships docking in the vast caldera, the Greek island remains a fixture on many cruise itineraries. Cruise ship arrivals are already limited to 8,000 per day, but the overhead of visitors makes the summer busy season unbearable, as the tiny stone streets of the capital Fira and the pretty whitewashed town of Oia are ready to burst.
It is easier for small and medium-sized ships to find alternative islands, and nearby Naxos, the largest and most fertile of the Cyclades, has plenty of Venetian history, while its main city, Hora, boasts Venetian mansions, winding alleys and small alleys full of bars. and quaint restaurants like Explora Journeys, Silversea and Seabourn.
There is Tarragona instead of Barcelona
In addition to closing the northern terminal at the World Trade Center, Barcelona is also reducing the number of cruise ships to seven at a time. As a major return port where many cruises begin and end, substituting another port is more problematic.
However, for cruises where the Catalan city is only a one-day stop, Tarragona further west stands out as an alternative with lines such as MSC Cruises already calling there. This port city is full of ancient delights as one of the most important Roman sites in Spain, with its seaside amphitheater and a characteristic medieval centre. Further west is Valencia, Spain’s third-largest city, which is already attracting lines including Cunard and brimming with culture, supporting its atmospheric old quarter and striking collection of modernist buildings.
There is Rotterdam instead of Amsterdam
When the state dubbed the Venice of the North suddenly increased cruise passenger taxes in 2019, some cruise lines skipped the city and called in Rotterdam instead. Amsterdam politicians have the cruise industry in their sights again, with last July voting to ban ocean liners from docking in the city centre’s harbour.
However, although there are ongoing talks about relocating the port from its current location close to the central station, this is unlikely to happen in the near future as port visits are planned until 2026.
Some lines, such as Viking Cruises, currently call at the industrial port city of Ijmuiden on the Dutch coast, about 18 miles from Amsterdam and considered the city’s oceanfront port. However, Rotterdam offers a contrasting taste when Princess Cruises visit here, with its dynamic atmosphere and distinctive architecture.