MNgardens Posted July 13, 2021 #1 Share Posted July 13, 2021 On the Azamara board the news was posted: https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/exclusive-italy-legislate-keep-liners-out-venice-lagoon-sources-2021-07-13/ ROME, July 13 (Reuters) - Italy on Tuesday banned cruise liners from Venice lagoon to defend its ecosystem and heritage, moving to end years of hesitation and putting the demands of residents and culture bodies above those of the tourist industry. The government decided to act after the United Nations culture organisation UNESCO threatened to put Italy on a blacklist for not banning liners from the World Heritage site, cabinet sources said. The ban will take effect from Aug. 1, barring ships weighing more than 25,000 tonnes from the shallow Giudecca Canal that leads past Piazza San Marco, the city's most famous landmark.... This is much smaller tonnage than had previously been discussed. The Azamara ships will not make the cut off at 30,000 tonnes and 650ish passengers. The Windstar ships will be fine. I don't know if the ban will hold but it is a good move for Venice and the ecology of the lagoon. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trawler_Joy Posted July 14, 2021 #2 Share Posted July 14, 2021 I understand the Windstar ships just fit under the tonnage limit. However, at 617 feet long, Wind Surf exceeds the length limit and that's the ship scheduled for several autumn departures from Venice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MNgardens Posted July 14, 2021 Author #3 Share Posted July 14, 2021 That's a good catch. I guess it will come down to how they measure the ship - 535 at the waterline, 617 at the longest including the bowsprit. 590 feet is the cut off mentioned in the New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/13/world/europe/venice-italy-cruise-ship-ban.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strenz Posted July 14, 2021 #4 Share Posted July 14, 2021 Good for Venice. I love Venice and the ecological issues it encounters is tragic given that it is one of the world's jewels that is sinking. We have to look at the bigger picture and that is not, in my opinion, these huge cruise ships putting Venice more in harms way. I love WS but for the greater good if it does not fit it does not fit however the Venetian authorities measure , if it fits happy passengers. Happy Sailing Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
milepig Posted July 16, 2021 #5 Share Posted July 16, 2021 WS should step up and say that whether or not they squeeze within the restrictions they will stay out of Venice itself. Cruise ships of any size have no purpose there. Im Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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