Unique Cruise Solutions

Unique Cruise Solutions

The news you need to know

Home

Worldwide's News

Headlines

Industry Insider

Ports & Itineraries

On a Lighter note

Back to Menu

Back to News Menu

Cruise News for the Corporate Travel Professional

November 2013 Edition

Venice Bans Megaships From Its Lagoon

Menu

Starting in November 2014, the cruise industry in Venice could look very different as government officials in Rome last week ordered a ban on ships above 96,000 gross tons from transiting the Venice Lagoon and the Guidecca Canal that passes directly in front of St Marls Square and across the mouth of the Grand Canal.

From January 2014, the number of cruise ships allowed to sail past central Venice will be cut by a fifth, to five a day, and from November 2014 ships of more than 96,000 tonnes will be banned.

In addition, the government has placed a limit on smaller ships, calling for a reduction in traffic by ships over 40,000 tons to just five a day, in an effort to get ships away from St. Mark’s Square and the area of Central Venice. Cruise ship traffic will eventually be re-routed through a new canal route to the city – thereby allowing big vessels to reach the cruise ship terminal by way of the Contorta Sant’Angelo Canal, which will use the Marghera entrance to the port rather than the Lido entrance that is used now.

The ban followed a meeting last Wednesday between Italian Prime Minister Enrico Letta and his ministers and the mayor of Venice, municipal officials and regional authorities on how to implement a national law that bans large ships from coming near Italian shores.

This new law was enacted following the grounding of the Costa Concordia in Tuscany last year, but its implementation was delayed in Venice, as the cruise industry is so key to the local economy.

Eight ships above 96,000 tons are scheduled to call at Venice in 2014 but will be banned from November from using the route passing St Mark’s Square. This includes two vessels each from Costa Cruises and MSC Cruises, two of Celebrity’s Solstice Class and one ship each from P&O and Princess Cruises.

Ironically, the world’s first 100,000-tonner, the 2,642-berth Carnival Destiny, was christened right in the heart of Venice in 1996 and has re-entered service this year as the rebuilt 3,006-berth Carnival Sunshine, with an increase of almost 14% in its capacity, mainly accommodated on a new deck added atop the ship that was installed by Fincantieri at Trieste this spring.

Overall, however, the megaships are very much out of proportion with the old centre of Venice and loom over St Mark’s Square as they sail by. It is fitting that a new route has been found for them while smaller cruise ships will still be accepted through the traditional channel.

Based on projected sailings for 2014, some 150 megaship sailings will take place before November but will be banned from the traditional approach thereafter.