Protesters Delay P&O's Ventura’s Rotterdam Arrival

Protesters attempted to block P&O Cruises’ Ventura from docking in Rotterdam on August 24, 2025.

Local outlets reported that around 15 Extinction Rebellion members tried to prevent the 2008-built cruise ship from reaching the port. Using small boats and canoes, the activists obstructed the berth near Hotel New York, where the vessel was scheduled to moor.

According to Rijnmond, police eventually broke up the demonstration and arrested two participants. The action delayed Ventura’s arrival by roughly 30 minutes, the Dutch publication noted.

“We blocked the Maas so that the cruise ship could not dock,” Extinction Rebellion wrote in a social media post.

“If the government still does not ban cruises, then we will stop them ourselves,” the group continued, explaining that some activists also demonstrated on land.

The organization labeled the Ventura a “floating environmental disaster” and reiterated its demand that cruise operations be prohibited in the Netherlands.

Ventura had departed Southampton on August 23 for a short voyage to the Netherlands, with Rotterdam scheduled for an overnight stop. The 3,100-passenger ship’s itinerary also included cruising in the North Sea and English Channel.

This marks the second time in recent weeks that Extinction Rebellion disrupted a cruise ship in the Netherlands. In late July, activists staged a similar protest to try to block Celebrity Eclipse at the Amsterdam Cruise Terminal.

The group has a track record of targeting the cruise industry, having previously disrupted ships operated by Royal Caribbean, Ambassador Cruise Line, and Regent Seven Seas. Protests have also extended to other Dutch ports, including IJmuiden and the IJmuiden locks.