From another blow for short-term rentals to the launch of an easier way to transfer through London Heathrow and the announcement of several new cruise sailings, February was full of news on the European travel front. Read on to catch up on the big stories of the second month of 2025, and be sure to register for the TravelPulse newsletter to keep up to date with the latest travel industry news all month long.
The birthplace of the Renaissance joined the ranks of cities cracking down on short-term rentals this month by issuing a mandate requiring the removal of self-check-in key boxes. The boxes let guests gain entry to their short-term rental without a face-to-face interaction with their host (and thus allow hosts to save time and money by not having to be present to greet all guests) and have become both an eyesore and a symbol of tourism run amok in the city. According to officials in Florence, property owners who don’t comply could face fines of up to 400 euros ($419.67).
The Douro Valley in Portugal. (Photo Credit: AmaWaterways)
AmaWaterways announced this month that it will expand its Soulful Experience sailings, trips that have proved popular for their focus on Black heritage and culture through a combination of onboard experiences and excursions. The additional offerings include the Best of Holland & Belgium cruise in 2025 (featuring Kwanzaa celebrations and an Amsterdam cultural tour) and the Swiss Alps & Rhine Castles Christmas (featuring Kwanzaa celebrations alongside Christmas markets) in 2026. There will also be a sailing in June 2026 on the Douro in Portugal, which will coincide with Juneteenth and feature a visit to Lisbon, home to Europe’s first African neighborhood.
In an effort to drive bookings to Northeast England, Wales and Scotland, VisitBritain has launched a “GOT THE SHOT” campaign with Expedia. Destined to fan the flames of wanderlust for set-jetters everywhere, the online video campaign on Expedia features British comedians Lara Ricote and Stevie Martin crisscrossing the island while scouting out new filming locations, all the while showing off the gorgeous landscapes and vibrant cities of Britain.
The Port of Marseille on a sunny December day. (Photo Credit: Theresa Norton)
Viking is upping its offseason game in Europe by adding to the list of its Mediterranean cruises for next winter. Viking helped put this style of “Quiet Season” cruising on the map, offering a great combination of value and a distinct lack of overbearing crowds, and now its doubling down. “Looking to the future, for the 2025-26 fall-to-spring season, we will have increased our deployment to five ocean ships in the Mediterranean full-time during the ‘Quiet Season’ with one additional ocean ship sailing select itineraries,” Marnell said.
A new program between the U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and the U.K. Department for Transport (DfT) called One Stop Security (OSS) launched this month allowing American Airlines passengers from Dallas-Fort Worth connecting in London Heathrow to non-U.K. destinations to bypass going through security a second time. Passengers also won’t be required to re-check bags before boarding their connecting flight. For now, the OSS system applies exclusively to passengers arriving in Terminals 3 or 5.
Nice, France cruise port (Photo Credit: Eric Bowman)
It was reported this month that the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) is seeking to convince government officials in Nice, France to reverse course on its ban on cruise ships over 900 passengers that was announced in early 2025. “We are urging reconsideration of any actions that would ban cruise tourism in favor of a holistic tourism management approach, which proves time and again to be a best practice and the best way to manage tourism in ways that help communities thrive,” said Samuel Maubanc, director general for CLIA in Europe. The ban is set to kick in on July 1, and would stop a majority of cruise lines from docking at either Nice or neighboring Villefranche-sur-Mer.
This month, Ponant Explorations announced the launch of a new 2026 itinerary that will sail along the French Riviera, which most certainly would not fall afoul of the new cruise ban. The eight-day adventure will be aboard the recently updated three-mast sailing yacht Le Ponant, which holds up to 32 guests in 16 stylish staterooms. Set to take place on May 7-14, guests will be able to experience destinations like Antibes, Nice, Cannes, Cassis and Saint-Tropez and enjoy amenities such as a sun deck, saltwater pool, spa, restaurant and al fresco bar.
Palma as seen from the roof of the Cathedral. (Photo Credit: Paul Heney)
It was revealed this month that while the U.S. is the leading source market for Palma, Mallorca, the city is set on attracting more Americans to visit. At an event in New York this month, officials from Visit Palma detailed that American travel to Palma has grown at a 17% year-over-year rate since 2023, which is remarkable considering the island remains largely unknown in the U.S. market. Visit Palma started promoting Palma in 2022 and said it would continue to market the city to New Yorkers before expanding efforts to other American source markets. Sunny Palma offers Old World charm in spades while being a hub of outdoor and beach-based pursuits.
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