Some cruise traces have been given a short lived reprieve for the upcoming 2024 season’s port calls at Bar Harbor, Maine. A courtroom not too long ago upheld the results of a Bar Harbor referendum limiting cruise ship passengers to 1,000 a day. That vote occurred in late 2022.
Ship Calls Booked Previous to Vote Allowed to Go Forward
The Bar Harbor City Council confirmed the cruise passenger restrict will likely be enforced right away. Nevertheless, ship name reservations made previous to the 2022 vote will likely be allowed.
| “The Council will honor reservations made earlier than the city voted. Passengers from these 2024 ships won’t be topic to the disembarkation limits of the ordinance,” it mentioned. |
Because of cruise traces’ ship schedules booked properly prematurely, the impression could also be restricted for the upcoming 2024 summer season and fall seasons. There will likely be an even bigger impression on Bar Harbor cruise calls scheduled in 2025 and past.
50% Discount In comparison with Peak Cruise Ship Site visitors
The passenger cap is anticipated to see a 50% discount from Bar Harbor’s peak 12 months visitation. That is additionally partly attributable to reductions already agreed in writing with some cruise operators.
| “This will likely be a superb alternative for us all to expertise the impression of such a discount on our high quality of life and city operations,” the council mentioned. |
The impression on cruise ship itineraries may very well be important from subsequent 12 months onwards. Through the latest courtroom ruling, Decide Lance Walker famous that solely about 20% of the 134 ships scheduled to name at Bar Harbor final 12 months had a passenger capability under 1,000.
Initially, the city council was towards a strict passenger cap like this. Nevertheless, it’s “ready to go to courtroom to acquire fines and injunctive reduction towards any landowner that exceeds the disembarkation limits,” it mentioned. For the upcoming season, the port schedule has ship visits deliberate, which have a mixed capability of 182,000 passengers.
Holland America Line, Royal Caribbean, and Norwegian Cruise Line collectively have greater than 60 Bar Harbor port calls scheduled in 2024.
