8 Cruise Ports That Are Quietly Banning Mega-Ships in 2026
Some cruise ports are starting to limit the number of passengers they can accommodate at once. Mega-ships generate revenue but also create crowding, traffic congestion, and pressure on local infrastructure. In response, several destinations are introducing restrictions ahead of 2026. These decisions are often tied to safety concerns, residents’ daily lives, or the limitations of aging or fragile port facilities.
Starting in 2026, rules will kick in that either ban or restrict large cruise ships. These changes are already shaping future itineraries and forcing cruise lines to rethink their routes. If you’re planning to cruise soon, these updates could impact where your ship can go and where it can’t.
Labadee, Haiti
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Royal Caribbean has suspended all visits to Labadee through December 2026. The private resort on Haiti’s northern coast was removed from schedules after escalating gang violence and a U.S. State Department Level 4 “Do Not Travel” advisory. The line briefly resumed calls in early 2025 before extending the closure due to deteriorating security conditions.
Valencia, Spain
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Valencia’s port is changing course, phasing out mega-ships to ease city congestion. Valencia’s mayor has announced plans to ban mega cruise ships from 2026 and allow only smaller vessels to call, as part of efforts to reduce overcrowding and congestion in the city. The city wants to retain cruise business, but only on a smaller scale that fits its infrastructure.
Juneau, Alaska
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Starting in 2026, an agreement with cruise companies will limit the number of cruise passengers arriving in Juneau each day. The cap is set at 16,000 passengers, with stricter limits on Saturdays. A separate proposal would further restrict ships carrying more than 250 passengers on certain days. Combined, these measures reduce the presence of larger vessels and ease daily crowd levels.
Bar Harbor, Maine
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Residents approved a 1,000-passenger daily disembarkation cap through a local ballot initiative. The restriction has already led cruise lines to remove Bar Harbor from many future itineraries. Legal challenges remain unresolved.
Santorini, Greece
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Greece’s prime minister has said he is considering introducing cruise ship restrictions for Santorini and Mykonos from next year, and has indicated these may include limits on the number and size of ships, though final rules have not yet been confirmed. The decision follows record visitor volumes that strained port operations and island infrastructure during peak travel months.
Amsterdam, Netherlands
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Beginning in 2026, Amsterdam plans to cut the number of cruise ship calls from about 200 per year to 100. City officials have also discussed relocating cruise terminals outside the city limits. In addition, plans are underway to end cruise ship docking in central Amsterdam altogether.
Norway Fjords
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Norway has a proposal that, from 2026, only ships powered by alternative fuels, such as LNG, would be allowed to enter its fjords, a move that would exclude many existing cruise ships if adopted. Conventional fuel-powered vessels will be barred from these routes, which will reshape popular fjord itineraries and remove many large cruise ships from future schedules.
Svalbard
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Cruise access to Svalbard has been tightly regulated since 2025. Only ships carrying 200 passengers or fewer are permitted to visit the Arctic archipelago. Larger vessels are barred, which effectively keeps mega-ships out of one of the world’s most visited expedition cruise regions.