Nice Mayor Backpedals on Big Ship Ban, Ups Size of Cruise Ships Permitted in Region

After decreeing that no cruise ships over 900 passengers would be permitted to dock in Nice or nearby Villefranche-sur-mer, the Mayor of Nice has agreed to reconsider his position and will introduce a compromise resolution on March 7.

In his January announcement of the ban, Mayor Christian Estrosi cited the negative impacts of large cruise ship visits, including overtourism. He also extended his ban beyond Nice to Villefranche-sur-mer. Unlike Nice, where only a small number of ships ever dock, Villefranche-sur-mer is a popular port of call for cruises.

The European office of Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) was quick to speak out against the ban, asking for a more “holistic tourist management approach,” the Maritime Executive reported. A spokesman for CLIA Europe said the ban could effect two-thirds of the 90 scheduled cruise calls for this summer, costing $10 million in local revenues and as much as $600 million regionally.

The mayor of Villefranche also spoke out against the ban and questioned whether Estrosi has the legal authority to extend the ban beyond Nice. (Large ships anchor nearly 1,000 feet offshore of Villefranche, which technically puts them in federal waters.)

As reported by the Maritime Executive, the French news agency AFP said the compromise will permit ships with up to 2,500 passengers to anchor in the bay at Villefranche and tender passengers ashore. Anything larger will be forced to dock in Cannes if they want to visit the region.

Additionally, the new resolution reduces the size of ship that can dock in Nice, from 900 passengers to only those with 450 guests or less.

In both ports, only one cruise ship per day will be permitted.

Of the 90 cruise ship calls planned for this summer, about 65 would be permitted under the new resolution.