Is Cruising Popularity causing a Problem?

Cruising as a holiday choice is becoming more and more popular with around 27.2 million passengers expected this year which is up 10 million on 9 years ago.Seeing the world by cruise ship allows travellers to sample many incredible destinations in one trip, with cruise lines, ships and itineraries to suit every taste. But is this increase in popularity causing a problem in some of the smaller ports. Kotor in Montenegro is one of my favorite places that I have been on a cruise with its beutiful scenery as you sail in up the fjord. It is reported that this port will become like the next Dubrovnik with upto 10,000 passengers arriving on any one day and the population of Kotor is only just over 13,500. Ana Nives Radovic, the director of the town’s tourism organisation, said that although only 2 ships can be in port at one time it may be that one will depart and another is there to take its place so there may be as many as four ships vist the port in any day. Montenegro has around 420-430 ships visit a year.

In Montenegro on the Beautiful Majestic Princess 

The Galapagos Islands is another small but very popular cruise destination, especially for wildlife fanatics with many species which can not be seen anywhere else in the world. The Galapagos National Park does have strict regulations about the amount of visitors it allows though and only 1600 maximum a day is allowed on boats and 160 a day on day cruises. There is an entrance fee charged for this though to help with the upkeep of the park so expect to pay around $100 per person or $50 for under 12’s

Venice is another Port that has struggled with the amount of ships that visit and people will remember the protests not so long ago to get the big ships banned altogether. Only last year the government decided that ships of over 100,000 tonnes would not be allowed to dock in the lagoon in from of St Marks Square but would have to dock at the industrial port of Maghera on the mainland. The ban still hasnt taken affect so the port is still feeling the strain although the smaller ships of 55.000 tnnes of less will still be able to continue with their current routes.

What are your thoughts on all the cruise traffic in these beautiful places? Should they be banned altogether?