Environmental activists associated with Extinction Rebellion briefly intercepted the arrival of P&O Cruises’ vessel MS Ventura in Port Rotterdam (Netherlands) on August 24th.
Fifteen protesters navigated small boats and canoes into the Maas River, aiming to obstruct the ship's approach to its berth near the Hotel New York side of the quay. Local police intervened promptly, dispersing the demonstrators and taking two individuals into custody. The disruption delayed docking by around 30 minutes, yet the 3,078-passenger ship ultimately moored safely and disembarked passengers without further interruption.
Extinction Rebellion later assumed responsibility via social media, denouncing cruise liners as “floating environmental disasters” and declaring that they will continue such actions unless the Dutch government enacts a ban on the cruise industry. The group duplicated this protest on land, deploying banners and chanting as the Ventura completed its tie-up.
This visit marked one of several recent disruptions involving cruise ships in the Netherlands. In late July, Extinction Rebellion staged a similar protest targeting the Celebrity Eclipse in Amsterdam. Additional actions have affected vessels from operators like Royal Caribbean, Ambassador Cruise Line, and Regent Seven Seas, across ports including Amsterdam, IJmuiden, and its adjacent locks.
For more P&O Ventura incidents and accidents see the ship's CruiseMinus page.