Maine’s Belfast Weighs In on Controversial Cruise Ship Ban

The town of Belfast, Maine, is contemplating a ban on cruise ships carrying more than 50 passengers, as reported by Bangor Daily News. This decision follows concerns raised by local officials and a business group regarding increased congestion and operational headaches caused by the visits.

The primary focus of the concerns is the American Eagle cruise ship, which has impacted local port operations since entering service in 2023. In 2024, the 109-guest vessel made five trips to Belfast, leading to complications for local traffic and the use of docks. Harbor Master Katherine Given outlined these issues in a memo to the city council, highlighting the negative effects on other boaters and overall public safety.

The Belfast City Council unanimously supported a recommendation from the harbor advisory committee to draft an amendment banning larger cruise ships. If implemented, this rule would prevent any ship with 50 or more passengers from disembarking or embarking in Belfast, including by tender.

The Belfast Area Chamber of Commerce also backs this initiative, noting that larger cruise ships contribute little to local business revenues. After receiving eight cruise calls last year, the town anticipates about 14 visits in 2025, primarily from the American Eagle as part of its seven-day itinerary originating in Bangor.

Belfast is not alone in evaluating cruise ship regulations; Bar Harbor, another Maine town, previously implemented limitations on cruise passenger disembarkations in 2022, capping it at 1,000 passengers per day.

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