On Sunday morning, August 3, Celebrity Eclipse experienced a brief delay while attempting to dock at the Passenger Terminal Amsterdam due to a protest staged by approximately 30 Extinction Rebellion activists.
Demonstrators used kayaks and inflatable boats to block access to the terminal, unfurling banners that criticized the cruise industry’s environmental impact. The protest began around 6:00 a.m. and lasted for two hours before authorities intervened, arresting at least five individuals.
Although the disruption was short-lived and the vessel was eventually cleared to dock, the protest underscored rising tensions surrounding cruise tourism in the Dutch capital. Extinction Rebellion stated that the action was part of a broader campaign to end cruise ship calls in Amsterdam and across the Netherlands, citing concerns over emissions and overtourism.
Amsterdam has already begun imposing stricter regulations on the cruise sector. The city currently limits ship calls to 100 per year and plans to relocate its cruise terminal away from the central area. Further environmental measures will require all visiting ships to be equipped with shore power connectivity by 2027. Despite cruise tourists representing a small fraction of total visitors, the industry remains at the center of ongoing local debates over sustainability and urban impact.
For more Celebrity Eclipse incidents and accidents see the ship's CruiseMinus page.