Key Points:
- US District Courtroom Choose Lance Walker has overturned Bar Harbor’s each day passenger cap of 1,000 friends.
- The ordinance has been deemed unconstitutional outdoors of July and August, that are the busiest instances for tourism.
- Cruise tourism has steadily decreased in Bar Harbor for the reason that ordinance went into impact, and it may take years to return.
US District Courtroom Choose Lance Walker is laying down the legislation in Bar Harbor, Maine, not less than in relation to cruise ship bans.
Since 2022, a citizen-led cruise ship ban that imposes a each day cap of 1,000 cruise ship passengers has been in place within the small coastal city, which serves because the gateway to the well-known Acadia Nationwide Park.
However on Might 15, 2026, Choose Walker launched a 32-page order declaring that the ordinance is unconstitutional outdoors of July and August, which is Bar Harbor’s busy season that coincides with optimum climate for exploring the nationwide park.
“I conclude that the ordinance’s 1,000-passenger cap will not be clearly extreme in relation to its native advantages throughout the peak summer season tourism season however is clearly extreme in relation to the shoulder seasons,” Choose Walker wrote, partially.
“Accordingly, I declare the ordinance unconstitutional and unenforceable in all months apart from July and August,” he continued.
Curiously, Cruise Hive reported that the exact same Choose Walker upheld many of the ordinance in February of 2024 throughout an earlier stage of the continued authorized battle.
Bar Harbor’s City Council is predicted to fulfill in an government session on Might 19, 2026, to evaluate the choice, focus on subsequent steps, and obtain recommendation from authorized counsel.
Ban Supporters Aren’t Able to Give Up
The locals pushed for the each day cap to fight extreme downtown congestion associated to overtourism, shield the native surroundings, and protect the standard of life for the roughly 5,300 residents.
Unsurprisingly, the proponents of the ban usually are not prepared to surrender and not using a struggle. Native businessman Charles Sidman, who has fought to uphold the ban, issued a joint assertion to Bangor Day by day Information together with his lawyer, Robert Papazian.
Supporters have pledged to attraction the choice, and produce the matter again to the voters if obligatory.
“Bar Harbor residents have voted twice now that we don’t simply need extra restricted cruise disembarkations two months of the 12 months; we wish it year-round. We would like our downtown again, even throughout the shoulder seasons,” the assertion reads, partially.
The votes they’re referring to are the unique vote that allowed the ban to enter impact in 2022, in addition to a more moderen vote in 2024, the place residents narrowly rejected a proposal to boost the each day restrict. This resolution was confirmed in a subsequent recount.
“In any occasion, Choose Walker’s resolution is not going to stand…It isn’t sensible or attainable for a federal choose to micromanage cruise tourism in Bar Harbor. We are going to attraction and hope that the city authorities does too,” the assertion continued.
Choose Walker, in the meantime, argued that what could also be truthful for the height tourism intervals might not be truthful and balanced for the remainder of the 12 months.
Cruise Tourism Might Make a Comeback
Due to the ban, cruise tourism has steadily decreased 12 months over 12 months because the cruise traces keep away from the realm for extra welcoming options. For instance, Portland is simply round 100 nautical miles away from Bar Harbor and has no passenger limitations.
In accordance with the city of Bar Harbor, slightly below 50,000 cruise friends are anticipated to go to in 2026. That is down from an estimated 67,000 friends in 2025, and roughly 182,000 in 2024.
This decline has, unsurprisingly, led to a major loss in income for native companies concerned in tourism and cruise ship tendering.
Affiliation to Protect and Defend Native Livelihoods (APPLL), the Penobscot Bay and River Pilots Affiliation, and different native companies felt the ban was unconstitutional from the very starting and filed a lawsuit towards the city in 2022.
It should take time for the cruise business to return to Bar Harbor, particularly because the cruise traces plan and launch itineraries years prematurely. They may seemingly additionally wait to return till they’re positive the authorized battle has ended for good.
Cruise Hive will proceed to observe how the overturned ban might proceed to have an effect on the city, and the cruise business, going ahead.
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