Cruise news

● PASSENGERS visiting Amsterdam are being hit for an €8 a day tourist tax. The new tariff kicks in on January 1 and applies to all passengers aged three and above and is charged per 24-hour period – though it does not affect those who starting or ending a cruise in the Dutch capital.

Already cruise lines have reacted by cancelling calls – MSC has axed 18 arrivals over the next two years, while CMV has dropped 37. Both are heading to Rotterdam instead and are expected to use coaches to ferry people to see the sights of Amsterdam, above. CMV chief Christian Verhounig said: “The local politicians have failed to acknowledge or understand that the cruise industry plans their budgets two to three years ahead and have been unwilling to look into a proper implementation schedule.

‘’Fortunately, we have mobile assets and when forced by short-term political objectives, can change our programming.”

Cruise industry trade association CLIA estimates the Port of Amsterdam received €60million in net revenues as a result of cruise calls in 2017.

● CLIA has also announced a global commitment to reduce the rate of carbon emissions across the industry’s fleet by 40 per cent by 2030.

The reduction will be fuelled by innovative technologies in ship design and propulsion, particularly through cleaner liquid natural gas powered ships.