By a margin slimmer than a cruise ship ID card, residents of Bar Harbor, Maine, have indeed rejected the increase of a cap on cruise ship visitors. The results follow a resident-requested recount, which has verified the vote totals that – while small – still firmly reject the measure.

The recount of Amendment 4 was carried out after local restauranteur Kevin DesVeaux requested the verification. Local entrepreneurs like DesVeaux rely heavily on local tourism, including via cruise ship visits.

The official recount was conducted on Saturday, November 23, 2024 and in accordance with local regulations. The Town Clerk supervised the hand counting of the ballots, which was done in public for full transparency and verification.

The 3,653 total ballots were sorted and counted. The final recount confirmed 1,714 ballots in favor of the measure, while 1,779 ballots opposed the amendment. The remaining 160 ballots were blank on the amendment.

This means the rejection of Amendment 4 stands by a difference of just 65 votes, and there will be no increase in the cap of cruise ship guests permitted to disembark at Bar Harbor. At the moment, that cap is set at no more than 1,000 passengers per day.

Larger cruise ships, then, must bypass the scenic stop in favor of ports that welcome greater numbers of visitors, such as Rockland and Portland. This can significantly impact local businesses, but other tourists are welcome to arrive via bus or car without difficulty.

The town of Bar Harbor will also lose out on revenue from cruise ship taxes and port fees, though smaller ships will still be permitted to visit and will pay the associated fees.

This measure has been a contentious one, facing different challenges since it was first passed in November 2022. Previously, the cap had been 3,500, while the measure voted on just three weeks ago would have set a slightly lower cap of 3,200.

Bar Harbor, which is located approximately 120 miles northeast of Portland and 40 miles southeast of Bangor, is adjacent to Acadia National Park, a top destination in the Pine Tree State.

Cruise ship guests often enjoy tours, hikes, and other experiences in the park, which is one of the top 10 most-visited national parks in the US. In 2023, more than 3.8 million guests visited Acadia National Park.

Why Reject Larger Ships?

Many different communities in different parts of the world – Alaska, Spain, California, Iceland, Greece, etc. – have explored measures to limit cruise ship visits in recent years.

These efforts come as ships get larger and larger. Just 10 years ago, the world’s largest cruise ships were the first two of Royal Caribbean’s Oasis-class vessels. Oasis of the Seas (2009) and Allure of the Seas (2010) measure roughly 226,000 gross tons and can carry 6,780 guests each when fully booked, but they were the only ships able to do so at that time.

Today, those same two ships have four additional sister ships and are eclipsed by the even larger, 249,000-gross-ton Icon of the Seas, which can carry 7,600 passengers when fully booked. Furthermore, other cruise lines have also built larger ships with larger capacities.

Read Also: Icon of the Seas Size Comparison – Facts and Stats

Most cruise lines are building larger and larger ships, and even more luxury and expedition cruise lines are gradually expanding their capacity.

By comparison, the town of Bar Harbor has a population of just over 5,000 residents. For the town to receive even smaller ships carrying several hundred passengers can potentially be overwhelming to the downtown area and local resources, especially when other tourists arrive by land-based means.

It is possible that future measures may be introduced to adjust Bar Harbor’s cruise visitor cap once more. Each one will undoubtedly be subject to similar legal challenges and close margins as the community chooses what works best for its residents.

The San Juan Cruise Port is celebrating an important stepping stone in its mission for growth. 

Not one, but two cruise ships have just made their debut in Puerto Rico’s capital city in what will be the beginning of a lasting and fruitful relationship. 

Ritz-Carlton Ilma, which is a super yacht from the Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection, made its inaugural call on the popular cruise port on November 14, 2024 – at the end of a 13-night Transatlantic sailing from Lisbon, Portugal. 

For the 448-guest vessel, this inaugural visit marks the beginning of its 2024-2025 Caribbean season – during which she will homeport in San Juan. 

Indeed, the 790-foot yacht will operate eleven sailings out of San Juan between November 2024 to March 2025 – generating an estimated $1.7 million in revenue for the local economy. 

These sailings will feature calls on popular ports like Bridgeton, Barbados; Soufriere, St Lucia Island; Portsmouth, Dominica; Gustavia, Saint Barthélemy; and Tortola, British Virgin Islands. 

Just a few days later on November 19, 2024, Sun Princess – the newest addition to the Princess Cruises’ fleet – made her inaugural call on the cruise port. 

While she is homeporting in Fort Lauderdale (Port Everglades), Florida, her debut marks the first of five scheduled visits during the main Caribbean cruising season – which runs annually from December to April when the risk of severe storms is at its lowest. 

The 177,882-gross ton ship has already started alternating between week-long voyages to the Western and Eastern Caribbean – while simultaneously operating 14-night sailings that include both of the shorter itineraries. 

Each visit from the Sphere-class ship will bring 5,189 passengers and 1,550 crew members to the port – bolstering the local tourism and hospitality industries. 

Across all the Princess ships sailing in the Caribbean in the 2025 fiscal year, the brand is expected to bring 122,000 passengers to San Juan with 34 planned ship calls – generating over $1.7 million. 

Inaugural Ship Calls Signal Growth

The San Juan Port, which is grouped into two terminals and four cruise ship piers, has been working hard to promote growth and reach – or exceed – its pre-pandemic numbers.

In 2019, San Juan received approximately 1.8 million cruise guests. But as recently as 2023, that number was closer to 1.3 million cruisers. 

That said, the debut of Ritz-Carlton Ilma and Sun Princess are a positive sign of growth for both the cruise port and the local economy. 

“The inclusion of San Juan in the itineraries of these iconic vessels strengthens our tourism sector and contributes to the Island’s economic growth by diversifying and expanding our luxury travel offerings,” said Carlos Mercado Santiago, Executive Director of the Puerto Rico Tourism Company.

Traditional plaque exchange ceremonies were also held to celebrate the inaugural calls for both cruise ships with government representatives and port executives present – during which representatives from Princess Cruises reaffirmed their commitment to bolstering cruise tourism in Puerto Rico.

More From Cruise Hive

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The cruise port also recently began construction for a $100 million improvement plan – officially breaking ground on the project on September 25, 2024. 

The project – which comes as a result of a 30-year concession contract with a port management firm called Global Ports Holding (GPH) – will include repairs made to Pier 4 and the Pan American Piers, as well as to the existing cruise terminals. 

That said, GPH  – which operates 32 cruise ports globally – is already planning a second round of financing to create two new cruise port areas. 

These would be the Old San Juan District, including Piers 1 and 4 which are mainly for transit calls, and the Homeport District, which would include Piers 11-14 and the Pan American piers.

When all is said and done, GPH estimates that its total investment in improving the San Juan Port could reach $425 million. 

Prince Rupert Cruise Port, a small but growing port featured on many Alaska cruises, wrapped up its 2024 season after welcoming 43 cruise ship calls and is looking ahead to a busy 2025. 

The port, located about midway between Vancouver, British Columbia, and Juneau, Alaska, received just under 60,000 cruise guests during the April-to-October season. The total reflects a healthy jump from the 41,000 guests who visited the port in 2022.

Prince Rupert is frequently included as a port call on Alaska cruises sailing from Seattle and Vancouver, British Columbia, along the Inside Passage and to points north. 

Officials at the port, which is managed by Global Port Holdings, attribute the facility’s popularity to the immersive shore excursions available to cruise guests, particularly those that feature the Great Bear Rainforest, a top attraction.

Among those offerings are the Kitsumkalum Glacial Heritage and Gastronomy Trail, and the Great Bear Rainforest by Rail & Road tour, which regularly sold out during the 2024 season. Another popular shore tour brings guests to the Tsimshian Longhouse for a drumming ceremony, where dancers in traditional native dress perform.

Cruise guests also embraced the Explore Prince Rupert by Vintage Trolley excursion, which provides an overview of the region for first-time visitors. In all, the port introduced 12 new excursions and two new immersive experiences, for a total of 14 shore tour options.

“These experiences of Prince Rupert beautifully combine scenic beauty, cultural depth, and the natural wonders, creating memories that our guests will forever treasure,” said Kevin D’Costa, general manager of Prince Rupert Cruise Port.

He said the port will continue to expand its shore excursion roster and support the local vendors and tour operators who organize and run them.

“We would also like to express our sincere gratitude to the cruise lines that visited us in 2024. We look forward to welcoming them back in 2025, including the much-anticipated arrival of Royal Caribbean next year, and Virgin Voyages in 2026, as we continue to build strong and exciting partnerships,” added D’Costa.

Royal Caribbean in 2025 will offer cruises with port call visits to Prince Rupert aboard the 2,476-guest Serenade of the Seas. The ship will sail 7-night Alaska Inside Passage cruises roundtrip from Vancouver. Besides Prince Rupert, other featured ports will be Sitka, Tracy Arm/Endicott Arm, Juneau, and Ketchikan.

Brilliant Lady to Visit Prince Rupert in 2026

In 2026, Virgin Voyages will make its debut in the Alaska market with the deployment of its newest ship Brilliant Lady. The line’s fourth ship is under construction at the Fincantieri shipyard in Genoa, Italy, and is due to enter service in September 2025.

Read Also: The Best Time to Cruise Alaska: Months to Choose

Brilliant Lady will be introduced to Alaska with her 7-night “MerMaiden” voyage, roundtrip from Seattle, on May 21, 2026. Port calls are scheduled at Ketchikan and Sitka, Alaska, and Prince Rupert. The voyage will also feature scenic cruising in Tracy Arm Fjord.

Following her inaugural sailing in the Great Land, the 2,762-guest ship will offer departures from Seattle and Vancouver through September 2026, offering 7- and 12-night Alaska Inside Passage and Canadian Coasts cruises that include Prince Rupert.

A sample 12-night voyage roundtrip from Seattle will visit Ketchikan, Sitka, Hubbard Glacier, Skagway, Icy Strait Point, Haines, Prince Rupert, and Victoria, British Columbia.

The Port of Prince Rupert in 2022 signed a management agreement with Global Port Holdings (GPH), becoming the company’s first and only North American port.

When the pact was announced, GPH officials suggested that Prince Rupert has the potential to eventually welcome up to 250,000 cruise passengers a year.