Fishermen Block Corsica Ports, Forcing Princess to Skip Ajaccio

French fishermen blocked access to every commercial port in Corsica on April 7, 2026, forcing Princess Cruises’ Sun Princess and Enchanted Princess to cancel scheduled calls at Ajaccio as the protest halted incoming and outgoing maritime traffic across the island.

The coordinated action began around 6 a.m., with fishing boats positioned at port entrances. Ajaccio, Corsica’s primary cruise terminal, was affected along with the island’s broader commercial port network, disrupting cruise itineraries as well as ferry and cargo movements.

Cruise calls canceled as Ajaccio access is blocked

Sun Princess reached Corsica on April 7 but did not dock at Ajaccio. Passengers reported waiting offshore beyond the planned arrival window before the ship moved on. One passenger wrote, “The small boats are the local fishermen who are blocking the area where we would need to dock. Corsica has been canceled.”

Guests also relayed an onboard announcement in which the captain said discussions with protesters did not produce a workable solution. A key concern, as described in reports, was that fishing boats could potentially allow a ship into port and then obstruct its departure, risking an extended delay and knock-on impacts for the rest of the itinerary.

Enchanted Princess encountered the same situation on April 9 and also bypassed Ajaccio. The Royal-class ship, which accommodates 3,660 guests, was sailing a 14-night, one-way transatlantic itinerary that embarked from Fort Lauderdale on March 27. Ajaccio had been planned as a late-voyage call ahead of the ship’s April 10 arrival in Civitavecchia (Rome), which will serve as its homeport for the Mediterranean season.

• April 7: Sun Princess missed Ajaccio on a seven-day Western Mediterranean sailing. Corsica had been added as a new stop, replacing Gibraltar, and was the cruise’s only scheduled call in France.
• April 9: Enchanted Princess canceled its planned Ajaccio call and bypassed the port after its captain opted not to risk the ship being unable to depart during the blockade.

All six Corsican commercial ports affected

Fishermen blocked entrances to all six of Corsica’s commercial ports: Ajaccio, Bastia, Bonifacio, Porto-Vecchio, Propriano, and Ile-Rousse. With small boats stationed at port approaches, the protest stopped vessels from entering or leaving, creating uncertainty not only for ships trying to call, but also for ships that might have become trapped inside.

What fishermen said was driving the protest

Fishermen tied the action to rising operating costs, with fuel prices described as the central pressure point. Reports linked the spike in fuel costs to the war in the Middle East.

The Corsica blockade was also connected to wider protests involving fishermen across France’s Mediterranean coast, including the Occitanie and PACA regions. The French government announced a partial fuel rebate for fishing vessels in late March, but fishermen rejected it as insufficient. French media described the strike as open-ended while the blockade was underway.

Ripple effects: ferries immobilized and port operations constrained

The shutdown impacted more than visiting cruise ships. With port exits blocked, vessels already inside Corsican ports were also unable to depart, including ferries in Ajaccio and Bastia.

During the protest, eight ferries were reported stuck in those ports, with some described as immobilized for up to three days. At the time, French authorities had not announced intervention plans in available reports, leaving negotiations to local stakeholders and the fishermen’s union.

Agreement reached April 9 as traffic restarts gradually

A deal to end the blockade was reached on April 9 following a round-table discussion in Ajaccio, according to reports. The specific terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

As ports reopened, ferry traffic was expected to restart in a controlled manner, with departures staggered at roughly one per hour to manage safety and congestion. Cruise calls were also expected to resume as maritime traffic returned to regular patterns.

Upcoming cruise calls and what to watch next

Princess Cruises has additional Corsica calls scheduled later in April, with Sky Princess set to call at Ajaccio on April 20, followed by Sun Princess on April 28. Other cruise lines, including Marella Cruises, Oceania Cruises, Azamara Cruises, and AIDA Cruises, also have calls planned at Ajaccio, with 14 visits scheduled before the month concludes.

Corsica is preparing for an estimated 600,000 cruise guests in 2026. For passengers sailing in the coming weeks, reports noted that the key variable will be how consistently port operations return to normal following the April 9 agreement, particularly for itineraries that rely on Ajaccio as a centerpiece stop in the Western Mediterranean.

No official statement from French authorities or Princess Cruises was included in available reports beyond onboard communications describing the operational constraints and resulting cancellations.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What caused the Corsican fishermen’s strike?

Reports linked the protest to rising fuel costs, described as exacerbated by the war in the Middle East. Fishermen said a partial fuel rebate announced by the French government in late March was insufficient, and French media described the strike as open-ended while the blockade was underway.

Which Corsica ports were blocked during the protest?

All six commercial ports were affected: Ajaccio, Bastia, Bonifacio, Porto-Vecchio, Propriano, and Ile-Rousse.

Why couldn’t Sun Princess and Enchanted Princess dock in Ajaccio?

Fishing boats blocked access to the port, preventing vessels from entering or leaving. Passenger accounts of onboard communications said the concern was not only missing the call, but also the possibility that a ship could be allowed into port and then prevented from departing.

Will passengers be refunded for shore excursions booked for Corsica?

Yes. Princess passengers who purchased Princess-sold shore excursions for the canceled Corsica call were told they would receive automatic refunds.

When is Princess Cruises scheduled to return to Ajaccio?

Princess Cruises is scheduled to return to Ajaccio on April 20 with Sky Princess and on April 28 with Sun Princess.