The President of the Metropolis, Christian Estrosi, is proposing to limit the reception of cruise ships in Villefranche Bay and to ban those with more than 900 passengers from metropolitan ports starting in 2025. This decision aims to reduce pollution and overtourism, despite criticisms regarding its economic impact.
Christian Estrosi, the mayor of Nice and president of the Nice Côte d’Azur Metropolis, is proposing, in consultation with the mayors of Beaulieu-sur-Mer, Villefranche-sur-Mer, Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, and Èze, new regulations for hosting cruise ships. This measure will be submitted to the Port Council on March 7.
The objective is to balance public health, environmental protection, and local economic activity. In Villefranche Bay, the number of annual stopovers would be limited to 65 days per year. This measure will be accompanied by a maximum passenger capacity which has yet to be defined. The Metropolis also plans to study the financing of the electrical connection to the Navy’s mooring buoy. This measure would reduce the pollutant emissions of ships in the bay.
No cruise unit with more than 450 passengers would be allowed in the Lympia basin in Nice. These measures aim for a balance between preserving the coastline, the residents’ quality of life, and maintaining regular tourist activity.
A Ban on Large Cruise Ships
In parallel, Christian Estrosi had signed an ordinance banning access to metropolitan ports for ships with more than 900 passengers starting July 2025. This decision has elicited varied reactions. Benoît Kandel from the National Rally criticizes a lack of consultation and highlights the potential economic impact on local businesses. He recalls that cruises generate about 25 million euros in annual revenue for Nice and Villefranche-sur-Mer.
Robert Injey, another opposition voice, acknowledges the environmental impact of cruises but questions the consistency of metropolitan policy, particularly concerning the expansion of Nice airport.
Christian Estrosi justifies this ban by emphasizing the need to reduce pollution and limit the effects of overtourism. He highlights the protection of the environment and the improvement of the residents’ living conditions. It remains to be seen how this measure will be implemented and what the reactions of the concerned authorities will be. This debate illustrates the tensions between economic development and coastal preservation.