Cannes Imposes Cruise Ship Size Limit

Cannes is the latest city to impose cruise ship limits, with a new cap on cruise ship size and daily limits on the number of passengers permitted onshore.

According to the Associated Press, starting in 2026, Cannes is banning all cruise ships carrying more than 1,000 people from anchoring in its harbor.  Additionally, no more than 6,000 passengers will be permitted to disembark per day, with larger ships expected to transfer passengers via smaller boats to the city.

The rules were announced on June 28 after a June 27 vote.

“Cannes has become a major cruise ship destination, with real economic benefits. It’s not about banning cruise ships, but about regulating, organizing, setting guidelines for their navigation,” Mayor David Lisnard said in a statement quoted by The AP.

Nice also announced a similar size limit earlier this year, then backtracked after backlash from the industry. The mayor of Nice did insist some limits will be imposed in 2026, but not as severe as first announced.