Key Aspects:
- Extinction Rebellion activists blocked P&O Cruises’ Ventura from docking in Rotterdam on Sunday, August 24.
- The ship was delayed for about 30 minutes before local police broke up the protest and arrested two protesters.
- This is the group’s second protest in recent weeks, the earlier one being against Celebrity Eclipse in Amsterdam.
Protests against cruise ships aren’t a new phenomenon, whether with signs and billboards or, in the case of a recent protest in Rotterdam, kayaks and oars.
A small group of Extinction Rebellion activists staged a floating protest on the Maas River as P&O Cruises’ Ventura was visiting the second-largest city in the Netherlands.
Using canoes and kayaks, about 15 protestors attempted to stop the ship’s arrival on Sunday, August 24, 2025 by clogging the water near the pier. This prevented the ship from docking on schedule.
Police officers forced the protesters to move to accommodate the ship. Ultimately, two protesters were arrested, but it is not known what charges they may face.
Local media reports note that Ventura was only delayed for about 30 minutes. Overall, the “protest” did not have a significant impact on the ship’s visit or schedule.
The protesters offered a different view of what otherwise appears to be a failed effort, considering the ship did ultimately dock after only the briefest of delays.
“If politicians still don’t ban cruises… we’ll stop them ourselves!” Extinction Rebellion declared in a social media post.
“We blocked the Maas River so that the cruise ship couldn’t dock. Rebels also stood on the quayside to protest and proclaim our demand: Ban cruise ships and close the cruise terminal!”
It’s a bold statement from a very vocal group, but ultimately, has very little impact on the cruise line or port operations in Rotterdam.
Ventura visited Rotterdam as the only port of call on a 4-night sailing from Southampton that departed on Saturday, August 23. The ship is homeported year-round from the UK, offering a diverse selection of itineraries from 4-14 nights.
Amsterdam and Rotterdam are both frequent calls for Ventura‘s short sailings, as they are a convenient distance for a quick getaway. Amsterdam is 300 miles from Southampton as the ship sails, while Rotterdam is just a bit further at 320 miles away.
This is not the first time Extinction Rebellion has impacted cruise ships recently. On July 27, the group blocked Celebrity Eclipse from docking in Amsterdam.
In that incident, about 30 protestors formed a barrier and blocked the ship for about two hours. As Celebrity Eclipse was debarking in Amsterdam, the disruption was far more problematic.
Many different cruise lines visit both ports, including Holland America Line, AIDA Cruises, Royal Caribbean, Cunard Line, Princess Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, Virgin Voyages, and more.
How Can Small Boats Block a Much Bigger Ship?
It seems completely silly that something as small as a meager flotilla of kayaks can stop a massive cruise ship.
After all, Ventura measures 116,017 gross tons and has a maximum passenger capacity of 3,597 guests. A typical 2-person kayak weighs just about 85 pounds and has a passenger capacity of, well, two.
Comparing the ship to the kayaks, it would take 1,799 kayaks to equal the cruise ship’s passenger capacity. In other words, a lot more than the 15 kayaks the “protestors” managed to line up.
Read Also: Who Owns P&O Cruises and Why People Get Confused
In comparing overall size, it would take 220,000 kayaks to equal the cruise ship – a LOT more than 15.
Nevertheless, blocking the cruise ship can be an effective, if very short-term, strategy. The ship certainly will not simply sail over kayakers (that would be a much bigger news story).
Ultimately, however, it isn’t blocking an individual cruise ship that such protest groups want. Raising awareness of the controversy ships can cause with overcrowding, pollution, and other concerns can be a far more effective protest weapon.
If cruise ships are significantly delayed or ultimately cancel port visits due to even small protests, that can have a knock-on effect with unhappy guests, disrupted port operations, and schedule changes.
All of these factors might, in fact, cause cruise lines to reconsider whether or not they will continue to visit cities with frequent protests.
