Why Norwegian Cruise Line Is Cutting Venice From Its Itineraries

09.02.2024 - 19:29 / travelandleisure.com / Royal Caribbean

Norwegian Cruise Line is saying arrivederci to Venice, cutting the canal city from its cruise itineraries in 2024 and 2025.

The cruise line confirmed to Travel + Leisure it will no longer include stops in Venice as part of its plans years after the city declared its waterways a “national monument” and banned large cruise ships. Since then, Norwegian said it has been ferrying visitors to the famed city by tender, but it was no longer a viable option.

“Due to the restrictions on large cruise ships to sail into the Venice Lagoon and dock at the usual piers, large cruise ships calling to Venice are required to anchor outside of the lagoon and utilize tender boats to access the Port of Venice,” a Norwegian Cruise Line spokesperson told T+L. “While we have made every effort possible to maintain these calls to Venice, the tender operation and overall experience this provides our guests has fallen short of the standard we aim to deliver.”

Going forward, Norwegian will modify its 2024 itineraries that previously included Venice, replacing it with port visits to either Ravenna, Italy; Rijeka and Zadar, Croatia; or Koper, Slovenia. In 2025, the cruise line will replace stops in Venice with either a sea day or another port, depending on availability.

“We recognize that Venice is one of the world’s greatest destinations, cherished by both our guests and crew, and as such acknowledge the inconvenience and frustration this disruption may cause,” the spokesperson added. “We appreciate the understanding of our loyal guests and travel agent partners.”

Major cruise lines have utilized different options to get guests to Venice. MSC Cruises, for example, stops in Marghera, which sits just across the water from the city. Others, like Princess Cruises and Holland America Line, stop in Trieste, which sits on the border near Slovenia. Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises both stop in Ravenna, about a 2 hour 30 minute drive from Venice.

Venice has been making efforts to limit over-tourism for years. The city, which has received multiple reprieves from being included on UNESCO’s list of world heritage sites in danger, also plans to implement a tourist fee for day visitors this spring and aims to limit the size of tour groups allowed this coming summer.