FRENCH authorities have unveiled unified cruise regulations for a number of ports in the country’s Riviera, with pax disembarkation set to be capped at 3,000 per port per stopover
Destinations including Nice, Villefranche-sur-Mer, Beaulieu-sur-Mer, and Cannes will be subject to the new regulations, which will also require each destination’s annual average to remain below 2,000 passengers per port per stopover, as reported by local media.
A maximum of just 15 ships per month will be allowed during the Jul and Aug high season.
Prefect of the Alpes-Maritimes Laurent Hottiaux and Mediterranean Maritime Prefect Christophe Lucas unveiled the new regulations late last week.
Ships scheduled to call in the region that carry more than 3,000 passengers include Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Breakaway and Norwegian Epic; MSC Cruises’ MSC Seaview; and many others.
Restrictions are expected to take effect from the 2026 season, and implemented gradually, to allow for calls which have been scheduled in advance.
The final decision will now be presented to the public for comments, before it is finalised.
The local maritime union endorsed the approach, describing it as a balance between local economic contribution and upholding of environmental expectations.
These new regulations follow months of tension over sustainable cruise management along the Cote d’Azur.
Mayor of Nice Christian Estrosi earlier this year attempted to board Royal Caribbean’s Voyager of the Seas, in order to force her to leave (CW 07 Jul). MS