Clia bullish over the future of cruising to Amsterdam and plays down ‘ban’

“We are aware of the media reports about the future of cruise in Amsterdam,” said a spokesperson. “As the port has publicly stated, cruise ships have not been banned from Amsterdam.”

The comments come as Amsterdam’s local council announced on Thursday (20 July) cruise ships will no longer arrive directly into the city centre, stating the vessels were no longer in line with the capital’s sustainability vision. 

Part of a series of regulations designed to curb tourism, the move is set to affect some of the world’s biggest lines – including Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises, P&O and Fred Olsen.

Nevertheless, Clia said there still are ongoing discussions on relocating port infrastructure outside of the city centre. “We are working with the authorities to accommodate the views expressed by council members while continuing to support the communities that benefit from cruise tourism,” the trade body added.

According to Clia figures, around 1% of visitors to Amsterdam come via cruise, contributing to €105 million to the city annually.