Some New England locations embrace the income that even a small cruise-tourism presence can present, however in Belfast, Maine, a metropolis of simply 7,000 folks, the Metropolis Council has adopted a legislation to maintain just about all cruise ships out of its harbor.
Underneath a metropolis ordinance authorised on March 18, 2025, no cruise ship that accommodates greater than 50 friends is allowed to embark or debark passengers on the metropolis touchdown or another metropolis property or marine facility, and the rule applies to ships that dock or use tender boats.
Belfast, a tiny midcoast port city about 100 miles north of Portland and 60 miles south of Bar Harbor — each essential cruise locations, sometimes attracts just one cruise model, American Cruise Strains.
The model included Belfast on some New England itineraries operated by the 100-guest American Eagle in 2024, however below the brand new legislation even that ship will likely be prohibited from calling.
In accordance with the Belfast metropolis supervisor’s report from the March 18 assembly, the place the ordinance was authorised, the hassle to restrict the dimensions of cruise ships that go to the vacation spot started in November 2024.
At the moment, the Belfast Harbor Advisory Committee advisable the restrict. Native media stories point out that town’s harbormaster supported the legislation, citing security and navigation issues that emerged when eight cruise ships — more than likely from American Cruise Strains, known as on the port in summer season 2024.
Restricted dock area and bus parking, presumably for shore excursions, contributed to congestion across the harbor. In accordance with native stories, American Cruise Strains had requested that the Metropolis Council desk the ordinance.
Because it stands, the cruise line’s 130-guest American Maverick is scheduled to function a number of Maine Coast & Harbors cruises in summer season 2025, nevertheless, not one of the revealed itineraries embody Belfast.
It’s probably that, anticipating the passage of the native legislation, the cruise line preemptively pulled Belfast from its schedule.
One other Maine Port Additionally Limits Cruise-Tourism
Belfast is thought for its vintage retailers, artwork galleries, cultural occasions, historic artwork deco theater, and mile-long scenic harbor stroll.
It lacks a big-ticket attraction like Bar Harbor’s Mount Desert Island, or Portland’s small-city aptitude, and has by no means obtained any visits from giant cruise ships.
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With the brand new ordinance in place, Belfast will stay unaffected by cruise-tourism. Bar Harbor, for its half, additionally took steps to minimize the influence of a rising cruise business.
In November 2022, the city voted to cap the variety of cruise visitor arrivals to 1,000 per day. The vote adopted a neighborhood survey the yr earlier than, which discovered that residents believed cruise tourism to be detrimental to their high quality of life.
Enterprise homeowners fought the cap and, in November 2024, efficiently positioned one other petition earlier than voters in search of to repeal the restrict. The measure failed by a slim margin.
Different US cruise locations additionally balk on the impacts from cruise tourism. On the opposite aspect of the nation, in Sitka, Alaska, as an illustration, voters will quickly maintain a particular election to resolve whether or not to cap day by day cruise arrivals at 4,500, and 300,000 per yr.
Juneau, Alaska, already caps cruise passengers at 16,000 per day, with a decrease restrict of 12,000 on Saturdays.
Worldwide locations which have, or are contemplating, limits on cruise ship dimension or disembarkations, embody a few of the Greek islands, Majorca, Spain, and Amsterdam, amongst different locations.
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