Full list of cities introducing strict rules for cruise passengers | Cruise | Travel
Many ports such as Barcelona are struggling with cruise traffic (Image: Getty)
A host of popular European destinations have been struggling with the effects of overtourism, and the problem can be especially pronounced in areas with major cruise ports.
A daily influx of tourists can lead to overcrowding in areas around major ports, and large cruise ships can also contribute to problems such as pollution. As a result, a number of cities are looking at options from capping passenger numbers to banning larger ships and imposing tourist taxes.
Below is a round-up of the popular cruise destinations where passengers can expect to see changes in 2026.
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Amsterdam will limit the number of cruise ships allowed in 2026 (Image: Getty)
Amsterdam
The city of Amsterdam has already implemented a €15 (About £13.07) per cruise passenger tourist tax introduced last year, and in 2026, it plans to cap the number of sea-cruises visiting to 100 a year. By 2035, the city centre cruise terminal is set to be relocated to a less central location, and the amount of river cruises will also be halved with a target of just 1,150 a year by 2028.
Cannes
On January 1, the glamorous French city of Cannes implemented a new rule that ships docking in the area could only carry up to 1,000 passengers. It’s also limiting the number of passengers who can disembark to 6,000 a day. It’s not the first French city to impose such rules, Nice has also limited the number of cruise ships to 65 annually.
France is also considering a €15 per person tourist tax for all passengers arriving by boat, and this would be charged for each stop at a French port. The French senate supported the motion in late-2025, although there’s no word yet on when it could be implemented.
Valencia plans to ban larger cruise ships from docking this year (Image: Getty)
Valencia
The sunny Spanish city of Valencia also has plans to ban mega-cruise ships in 2026, and the mayor previously announced that only smaller ships would be allowed to dock. The plans were part of a wider project to reduce overcrowding in the city.
Barcelona
Barcelona is reducing the number of cruise terminals at Adossat Wharf, with two set to be demolished by the end of the year. This will reduce the city’s cruise passenger capacity from 37,000 to 31,000 a day. The city is planning to build a new terminal away from the city centre with shuttle buses in a bid to reduce overcrowding.
Norway
Norway’s restrictions on cruise ships focus on the environmental impact rather than passenger numbers, and in 2026, ships will need to meet strict emission standards to enter its fjords. By 2032, the country will ban all non-zero emission ships.
From summer 2026, individual municipalities in Norway will also be allowed to impose a 3% tax on cruise passengers and tourists staying overnight, so passengers visiting certain areas may be charged an additional fee.
Cruise passengers in Santorini and Mykonos face additional costs (Image: Getty)
Greece
Stepping off the boat in the popular ports of Santorini and Mykonos will get more expensive this summer. During the peak season of June 1 to September 30, a €20 fee per person is in place, which is about £17.50. At other Greek ports, the fee is a more reasonable €5 (around £4.30) during peak times, with reductions during the shoulder and low season.
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