Popular cruise line forced to change route due to cruise ship restrictions | Cruise | Travel

Princess Cruises has told passengers on its upcoming Enchanted Princess sailing that the itinerary will be different from expected.

The ship will no longer call at Rockland in Maine, USA, due to new restrictions on cruise ships at the port.

The Enchanted Princess is set to leave on August 31 and visit ports in New England and Canada to see autumn foliage.

In a notification sent to passengers, a spokesperson said: “Please be advised that due to recent restrictions on cruise ships in Rockland, Maine, Enchanted Princess will no longer call to Rockland on Tuesday, September 3 and will instead call to Eastport, Maine.

“Additionally, we will no longer call at Newport, Rhode Island on Sunday, September 1 and will instead spend the day at sea.”

Rockland’s new cruise ship limits only permit one large ship with up to 3,000 guests to visit in September and October.

The Enchanted Princess can carry 3,600 passengers so would have exceeded Rockland’s limit.

Bar Harbor, another port in Maine, began limiting cruise passengers to 1,000 per day in March.

It’s not just Maine where ships are subject to new limits. Barcelona recently closed one of its cruise ports.

Amsterdam’s city council no longer allowed cruise ships to enter the city centre and a town in Iceland is set to limit cruise passengers.

Cruise ships can be controversial as some local residents are concerned about pollution and overcrowding.