A cruise hosted by Ambassador Cruise Line introduced a last-minute change to its itinerary after learning that an environmental group might prevent its vessel from docking in Amsterdam.
Ambience was initially scheduled to arrive in the Dutch capital on October 25. After hearing that Extinction Rebellion protests could hinder the vessel’s entry into the cruise terminal, the British-owned cruise line replaced Amsterdam with an overnight stay at Ijmuiden, one hour away by land from its initial destination.
A letter from the cruise operator obtained by TTG Media reads, “As a precautionary measure, and in consultation with the Advantage Travel Partnership and Ambience’s captain, we have today (24 October) advised all guests on this sailing that we will be amending our call into Amsterdam and berth at Ijmuiden overnight.”
As a concession, Ambassador said it offered free transportation to guests who wanted to visit Amsterdam.
How Can Protesters Immobilize a 70,285-Ton Ship?
Extinction Rebellion (XR) is an environmental group that frequently holds protests at cruise vessels’ ports of call. According to its website, the organization uses “non-violent direct action and civil disobedience to persuade governments to act justly on the Climate and Ecological Emergency.”
Recently, this has meant holding several demonstrations that employed dramatic and creative means to prevent ships from berthing at their destinations.
Last August, the same cruise ship modified its route, changing Ambience’s stop from Amsterdam to Ijmuiden to avoid environmental activists. The cruise line’s other ship, Ambition, was also forced to make similar iterations to its schedule.
During the same month, the arrivals of Regent Seven Seas Mariner and Royal Caribbean’s Jewel of the Seas were disrupted as XR members chained themselves to a bridge leading to Amsterdam’s central access lock.
Protesters also barricaded the port of Marseille in France with canoes last September, preventing several cruise ships from mooring.
The cruise port of Amsterdam has responded by initiating contingency plans to alleviate the effects of these demonstrations.
