The Mayor of Nice, Christian Estrosi, has reportedly softened his stance on banning large cruise ships from the French Riviera, instead opting for new passenger limits to regulate port calls.
Originally, Estrosi announced plans in January to prohibit vessels carrying more than 900 passengers from calling at Nice and Villefranche-sur-Mer from 1st July 2025. However, after consulting with local officials, he is now expected to submit a revised proposal on 7th March, allowing controlled cruise ship access.
Under the new plan, ships carrying up to 2,500 passengers will be permitted to anchor in Villefranche-sur-Mer, but only one such vessel will be allowed at a time. Larger ships will need to dock at the bigger port of Cannes, while smaller vessels carrying under 450 passengers will still be allowed to call at Nice.
The move aims to balance the economic benefits of cruise tourism with concerns over environmental impact and overcrowding. According to the port authority, the plan will affect this summer’s cruise schedule, with 65 of the planned 90 port calls set to proceed.
Despite the proposed restrictions, several large cruise ships with over 2,500 passengers are still expected to visit Villefranche-sur-Mer in July and August, including Royal Caribbean’s Voyager of the Seas and Celebrity Cruises’ Celebrity Equinox, Celebrity Ascent, and Celebrity Eclipse. Additionally, some days will see multiple mid-sized ships arriving simultaneously. For example, on 6th July, Azamara Onward and Marella Discovery are both scheduled to dock in Villefranche-sur-Mer.
The new proposal reflects an effort to manage tourism sustainably while still welcoming cruise visitors to the iconic French Riviera.
More places
