New Regulations to Restrict Large Cruise Ship Calls Along the French Riviera
France is set to introduce new restrictions on large cruise ships along the French Riviera, following months of consultations between regional authorities, maritime officials, and representatives of the cruise industry.
Regional Prefect of the Alpes-Maritimes Laurent Ottavio and Mediterranean Maritime Prefect Christophe Lucashave finalized the draft regulations governing cruise ship calls from the Bay of Cannes to the ports of Cannes, Nice, and Villefranche. The consultations, which began in July, concluded with a final meeting on October 10.
The completed proposal will soon be opened for public review before being officially enacted as a prefectural decree.
Key Cruise Restrictions:
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A maximum of 3,000 passengers per call for any cruise ship.
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Only one vessel per day allowed for ships carrying more than 1,300 passengers.
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An annual average limit of 2,000 passengers per port call.
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During the high season (July–August), no more than 15 ships per month.
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Villefranche and Nice will prohibit vessels carrying more than 2,500 passengers,
and in Nice, passenger disembarkation will be limited to 450 people.
The goal of these measures is to reduce environmental and social pressure on coastal cities, redirecting larger vessels toward Marseille and other ports, while preserving the authentic Riviera atmosphere.
Context and Environmental Focus
The issue of cruise ship regulation gained public attention in July when Nice Mayor Christian Estrosi, also President of the Regional Council, confronted the Voyager of the Seas in Cannes Bay, accusing it of violating local restrictions. The court later ruled that such regulatory authority lies with the regional prefects.
Prefect Ottavio emphasized that the new rules are not intended to cancel existing bookings, many of which are made years in advance, but to balance tourism, economic interests, and environmental concerns.
Under the new framework, priority will be given to cruise operators adhering to the Sustainable Cruise Charter for the Mediterranean (2025), which promotes the use of low-emission fuels and emission controls while at berth or at anchor.
Additional Environmental Measures:
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During Level 1 emission peaks, cruise ships must reduce emissions within three nautical miles of the coast.
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If Level 2 emissions are declared, all port calls will be canceled.
Prefects thanked all stakeholders for their cooperation, expressing confidence that the regional rules will help balance local, economic, and environmental priorities without harming the Riviera’s tourism economy.
