Business group argues that Bar Harbor’s new limits unfairly target cruise ships

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • February 11, 2026

A Bar Harbor business group argued before a federal judge Wednesday that cruise ship passengers are being unfairly targeted by the town’s cruise ship restrictions. Wednesday’s hearing was the latest development in a yearslong debate over limiting cruise ship visits to Bar Harbor that has produced two voter-referendums that impose a 1,000-passenger daily cap. Attorneys for a group of Bar Harbor businesses that are challenging the restrictions, argued that cruise ship passengers are a small portion of the total pedestrians causing congestion in downtown Bar Harbor. They make up just 5 to 7% of visitors to the town. They said the ordinance doesn’t “meaningfully” reduce downtown congestion.