Europe's new travel crunch is coming - here's the way to tackle it

There are only two sane ways to cruise in Europe: opt for a river itinerary or sign up for an off-peak voyage. My advice is to head to the south of France immediately for a Mediterranean cruise. It's often sunny and peaceful in March and April.

Even in winter, you can get lucky. I remember a joyful January, docked in Nice, when I was swimming in the ship's pool and wearing my bathrobe at the outdoor bar.

This year, European ocean cruising is under pressure. Nice, Barcelona and Amsterdam are among the cities imposing new restrictions to solve overtourism. Good luck - less than 5 per cent of tourists arrive in Europe by sea, yet somehow cruising is the scapegoat.

The French ports are capping ship sizes and passenger numbers. Barcelona has cut its cruise ship berths from seven to five. Amsterdam's annual ship visits will be almost halved from 190 to 100, with a complete ban proposed by 2036.

This move might lessen other impacts but will it reduce the crowds? Big ships have been banned from central Venice since 2021, yet it's busier than ever.

River cruising remains under the radar. However, record-breaking growth can overwhelm some ports on the Rhine and Danube. This year, 14 new vessels will be launched, as well as a new operator, Trafalgar. Next year, Celebrity River Cruises will unveil its first two ships, with another 18 on order. The least congested river is Portugal's Douro. For ocean cruises, try the less crowded Baltic, Arctic or Norwegian fjords. In the Med, avoid June to August, and think twice about May and September. Even shoulder season is crazy these days.

Oceania Cruises is the latest line to offer a full winter season. An off-peak pick is the November, 7, 2027, voyage from Trieste to Slovenia, Croatia, Malta and the Greek Islands.