The mayor of a metropolis in the French Riviera is looking to ban massive cruise ships from porting along its coast.
Disney Treasure Cruise Ship
Mayor Christian Estrosi of Nice, France has developed plans to ban cruise ships from docking along the coast of the city. He aims to protect the environment and mitigate over-tourism within the area. While some people agree with the new decree, others hope it does not come to fruition.
According to monacolife.net, Estrosi announced the plan to ban massive cruise ships that carry over 900 passengers from docking along the coastline on January 20th. The ban would prevent the ships from the coastline of Métropole Nice Côte d’Azur, which includes Villefranche-sur-Mer, Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, and the city of Nice itself.
©Google Maps
Estrosi contributed his plans to the environmental impact and low economic benefit of the cruise ships, stating, “Cruises that pollute, that dump their low-cost clientele who consume nothing but leave their waste behind… These cruises have no place here.” He is taking his inspiration for the ban from Venice, commenting, “Venice has regained its beauty and its landscape by having a mayor who definitively refuses cruises. We intend to go in this direction, too.”
If the decree goes into effect, it will do so on July 1st, 2025.
The Disney Treasure
Many environmentalists are excited about the decision to ban the ships. Juliette Chesnel-Le Roux, President of the Environmental Group at the Metropolitan Council, stated that the plans are “proof that perseverance bears fruit.”
However, Villefranche-sur-Mer sees more benefit from the tourism coming from the ships, so many people there are more discouraged by the ban. Traders and tourism professionals have shared their issues and opposition, saying it will harm the economic benefit of the area.
Disney Magic Cruise Ship
Currently, Disney Cruise Line does not sail to these ports, but instead to Cherbourg, France, on the other coast of France. This ban likely won’t affect any upcoming Disney cruises.
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Have you ever traveled to the city of Nice? Let us know in the comments!
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I did the 7 night Mediterranean in 2013 on the Disney Magic. It stopped at Villefranche -Sur-Mer, but it was the only port that used a tender. The rest you could get off straight at the dock.