U.S. District Court Judge Lance Walker has ruled that the Maine town of Bar Harbor has the right to limit how many cruise passengers visit.
Walker ruled that Bar Harbor's new 1,000-passenger daily limit on cruise ship visitors is lawful and does not violate federal laws governing interstate commerce. The limit is an exercise of home rule authority under the Maine Constitution, he said.
The 1,000-passenger limit would shut out all the major cruise lines.
Bar Harbor voters concerned with overcrowding and congestion adopted the cruise passenger restriction in November 2022. The limit spurred a lawsuit by local businesses, pier operators and tour companies. They argued that the restriction violated federal maritime law and the U.S. Constitution.
Bar Harbor, home to about 5,500 people, is a popular destination on New England/Canada cruises and serves as a gateway to Acadia National Park. In 2019, the town reported that about 250,000 cruise passengers visited the port.