A second successive weekend of anti-cruise protests has disrupted cruises bound for Amsterdam. This past weekend, two ships were impacted at the Ijmuiden locks, which provide access to Amsterdam from the North Sea.
Two More Ships Stuck at the Ijmuiden Locks
Royal Caribbean ship Serenade of the Seas was delayed several hours after members of the activist group Extinction Rebellion again chained themselves to a bridge to prevent the ship from accessing the lock. It caused a standoff until police removed protestors. This led to a delay of several hours for the 2,100 passengers aboard.
Serenade of the Seas is currently on a 274-night world cruise. The ship’s voyage has been dubbed a “reality show at sea” due to the viral content many guests have posted to TikTok since it departed Miami in January.
UK Cruise Ship Docks Outside Lock System
The UK-based Ambassador Cruise Line was also due to call at Amsterdam at the weekend but decided to take no chances.
After coordinating with port officials, the cruise line decided to dock the Ambassador Ambition ship outside the lock system. Instead, it docked at an Ijmuiden pier and arranged bus transfers for guests to Amsterdam. The cruise line explained that this added an extra hour each way for shore excursions.
| “As a precaution, we decided with the Captain to amend our call and berth at IJmuiden, which is approximately a one-hour drive to Amsterdam,” the cruise line said. It arranged free transfers for all guests wishing to visit Amsterdam. |
The previous weekend, the Extinction Rebellion group started blocking ships from entering Amsterdam, including another Royal Caribbean vessel. Jewel of the Seas was also forced to dock outside the city at IJmuiden, while the Regent Seven Seas Mariner was delayed several hours while police removed activists
After the first weekend of disruption, Dick De Graaff, managing director of Cruise Port Amsterdam, announced protocols were being developed to stop further blockades in collaboration with the police, the mayor of Velsen, and the Public Prosecution Office.
