Venice Bans Cruise Ships From Historic Centre
Italian authorities have approved a ban on cruise ships entering the historic centre of Venice.
The country’s culture minister said on Wednesday that the decision came in response to a request from UN cultural body Unesco.
Large ships will now have to dock at the city’s industrial port until a permanent solution is found.
Critics argue the ships cause pollution and erode the foundations of the city, which suffers from regular flooding.
On Wednesday, Italian ministers agreed that large cruise and container ships would no longer be able to enter the city’s Giudecca canal, which leads to the historic St Mark’s Square.
Culture Minister Dario Franceschini hailed the move, which he described as “a correct decision, awaited for years”.
The government will hold a “call for ideas” for an alternative cruise terminal in the city.
Cruise ships are currently unable to enter Venice due to coronavirus restrictions but their absence since has been credited with improving water quality in the lagoons.
Pressure to pass a ban on large vessels mounted in 2019 after a cruise ship crashed into a harbour in the city, injuring five people. However, no permanent solution was found.
Previous initiatives to stop cruise ship traffic have also failed. In 2013, the government banned ships weighing more than 96,000 tonnes from the Giudecca canal, but the legislation was later overturned.
Other plans to divert cruise ships from the centre of Venice were announced in 2017 but were never fully implemented.
On A Vaporetto Part Of The Way
- After exiting Santa Lucia train station, in front of you is the magnificent Grand Canal. Youll find the ACTV vaporetto floating docks to your left. You want to buy a ticket for either #1 or #2 vaporetto going to Piazzale Roma. Be prepared for a 30-40 minute boat ride. #1 is a local water bus and #2 is an express water bus. Both will give you a lovely waterborne introduction to Venice.
- Once you arrive at Piazzale Roma, follow the options above.
Getting Around Between The Venice Cruise Port Santa Lucia Train Station Airport And Hotel
Gondolas and canals. Romance and intrigue. Venice has it all. To view this magical place from the deck of a cruise ship as you enter or leave Venice, is a special moment and a unique experience.
Try to spend at least two days before or after your cruise in Venice. Most people fly directly to Venice. Or like me, spend a night or two in Paris and then take an overnight train from Paris to Venice. Its a memorable sight as your train slowly crosses the Venice Lagoon and the Venetian skyline appears on the horizon as you enter heart of this island-city.
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Venice Port: Riva Dei Sette Martiri
If you visited here 10 or 15 years ago you probably maybe remember your ship docking within a short walking distance from St. Marks square , and you casually strolled down to reach the hub of the city within 10 minutes. Well, hardly anymore.
Back then ships used to dock at Riva dei Sette Martiri more often. That little dock was very convenient for ship passengers but not for nearby inhabitants who had these enormous ships docked right under their front window.
Thats why today its used almost exclusively as a yacht berth, and thus this location has been avoided in the past years and no, its not your Captains fault he couldn’t park your ship closer to Piazza San Marco. The poor guy just simply has no choice.
Hovewer, if the Stazione Marittima Venice port happens to be very busy it is possible your ship might dock at the Riva dei Sette Martiri. In that case, you are very lucky as it only takes about 10-15 min walk to reach Piazza San Marco.
No embarkations or debarkations will take place at the Riva dei Sette Martiri dock.
From the port of Stazione Marittima there are a few ways to reach downtown, so right now you can go straight to Venice transportation article.
Venice Italy To Ban Cruise Ships After Years Of Protests From Locals Environmentalists
ROME Italy on Tuesday banned big cruise ships from sailing into Venice after years of rallying cries from residents, culture bodies and environmentalists.
In what he called a “historic” day, Italian Culture Minister Dario Franceschini said the ban adopted by the Italian cabinet will take effect Aug. 1 and will cover the lagoon basin near St. Marks Square, Venice’s most iconic landmark.
Ships will also be banned from St. Marks canal and the Giudecca Canal, a major marine artery that ships previously used to reach Venice’s port.
The ban applies to ships weighing more than 25,000 tons, longer than 590 feet or with other characteristics that would make them too polluting or overwhelming for Venices marine environment. Cruise liners typically weigh four times the new limit and can reach more than 200,000 tons.
Franceschini said the government decided to act fast to avoid the concrete risk that the United Nations culture agency UNESCO, which protects the fragile city and its lagoon, would add Venice to its list of world heritage in danger.
It is a decision awaited by UNESCO, by all the people who have been to Venice at least once in their lives, by Italian and foreign travelers who were shocked to see these ships passing through the most fragile and beautiful places in the world, Franceschini told reporters.
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At the moment, however, Marghera lacks suitable docking for cruise ships.
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From Piazzale Roma You Have A Few Choices To Reach The Nearby Stazione Marittima
- If your arms are tired from hauling luggage, you can take a taxi for a few euros right to the terminal
- Wait for or hurry to the free shuttle bus which runs about every 15 minutes
- Take a really short tram/train ride on the driverless People Mover. Sort of like the connector trams at airports. Youll find a ticket machine inside the glass-enclosed ticket kiosk. Youll quickly reach the Marittima exit its the first stop along the way in only a few minutes.
- If youre traveling really light and feeling adventurous, you can walk to the cruise terminal from Piazzale Roma. Start walking as if leaving Venice, following the busy causeway that leads over to the mainland. Once youve crossed over the water and train tracks, turn left into the terminal. But I really dont recommend walking over to the port.
Getting To The Airport From The Port Of Venice
With the unreliability of the taxi and with the known delays to public transport, the airport of Venice is often a source of stress for travelers who are Venice.But thanks to this private transfer service you can forget the stress: your professional driver will pick you up directly at the Cruise Terminal and will take you to the aboard a luxury car equipped with all comfort.
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Dining Quick Bites And Local Cuisine
One thing cruise passengers must-do in Venice is to have lunch, a quick bite, or at least grab a snack as you explore the city. The cruise terminals are too far from top attractions and to walk back to the cruise ship for lunch is a waste of precious time.
Yet, be aware that Venice is famous for not having as good restaurants as you would expect. There are, obviously, excellent restaurants in the city. But you have to be in the know to find the best gourmet cuisine. However, there are lots of places to have a quick bite or grab a snack. And the settings are unbeatable.
Whether it’s by a canal, under an arcade, on a side street, or an off-the-beaten-track square, the cruise visitor will stumble upon great scenic choices. You may want to follow your instinctive nose or read our review of the best places to have lunch, a quick bite, and learn about the local cuisine.
Italy To Ban Cruise Ships From Docking In Venice Starting Aug 1
Aiming to protect a national monument, Italys government Tuesday moved to ban massive cruise ships from sailing directly into Venice and limit access to its fragile lagoon, definitively altering mass-scale tourism to the City of Canals.
The governments decision, which will take effect Aug.1, will put a stop to the contentious image that has come to symbolize many of overtouristed Venices problems: fuel-guzzling ships, taller than the citys bell towers, passing through the historical waterways and depositing thousands of passengers in the heart of the old city.
Prime Minister Mario Draghi called it a step for the protection of the Venetian Lagoon.
The move was made under pressure, just days before the United Nations cultural protection agency, UNESCO, was set to discuss listing Venice as an endangered World Heritage site. A UNESCO document from June specifically called on Italy to ban big cruise ships from the lagoon and move with the utmost urgency.
The cruise ships have long posed a conundrum in Venice, pitting economic needs the cruise industry in Venice employs several thousand people against a fragile ecosystem. Opponents of the cruise ships in Venice have protested for years, saying that the wakes caused by the ships contribute to erosion and that day-tripping, mass-scale tourism is incompatible with a relatively small, compact city.
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Cruising In Venice: What’s Changing In 2021
The Italian government has just banned the majority ofcruise ships from central Venice. In the future, most ships are supposed to dockin the industrial zone of Marghera , but it remains tobe seen if the new “temporary” port will be ready for a full scheduleof cruises by 2022.
ABOVE: A small ship, La Bella Vita ofEuropean Waterways, cruises in the Venetian Lagoon with Marghera’s industrialwaterfront as a backdrop.
The Italian government announced onJuly 12, 2021 that allcruise ships are being banned from central Venice, including the existing cruiseport.
The Draghi government’s stated goal is to create a newartificial harbor and cruise port on the Adriatic at some unspecified timein the future, with ships using the mainland industrial and petrochemicalport of Marghera until a new port isbuilt.
There are at least five major problems with this decree:
The Canale di Petroli or “Oil Channel” that leadsto Marghera isn’t deep or wide enough for large cruise ships, anddredging it will cause environmental damage to the Venetian Lagoon intwo ways: It will accelerate tidal flows within the lagoon, and it will stir up heavy metals and other toxic sediments that haveaccumulated in the industrial channel over the last 50+ years.
The Marghera industrial port will require a new terminaland otherinfrastructure to support cruise ships.
Italian law forbids operating passenger services inpolluted or high-risk industrial areas such as Marghera’s petrochemical port.
Venice Tours Shore Excursions Hotels
City Tours and Shore Excursions
Venice is known to be the Queen of the Adriatic. It is one of the most romantic world cities. Venice can enchant anyone with its breathtaking palazzos, canals and beautiful bridges. This city is so spectacular, that you will need at least three days to enjoy some of its wonders. Spend a day in a gondola at the narrow channels and be amazed by Venice. Go to Murano, the Venetian glassmaking center, or visit some of the famous places near the St Marks Square:
- Basilica: the place where you can see Pala dOro. This famous altarpiece dates since 976. It is made of solid gold by the Byzantine goldsmiths and it has precious gems encrustations.
- Doges Palace: situated right to the Basilica. You can see the Council Hall, plaques of the Doges and the world-famous Bridge of Sighs .
- Campanile: dating since 912. The Campanile is the third building you have to see. There is astonishing city view from the top of it. This is not the exact original of the building, but a rebuilding with the original materials after its collapse in 1902.
From Venice City are offered tours to Bologna – located approx 130 km to the southwest. Train travel time is 1,5 hours.
Port Venice cruise ship schedule shows timetable calendars of all arrival and departure dates by month. The port’s schedule lists all ships with cruises going to or leaving from Venice, Italy. To see the full itineraries and their lowest rates just follow the corresponding ship-link.
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Where Cruise Ships Dock
There are 2 cruise terminals in Venice where ships may dock:
With very few exceptions, all cruise ships dock at the Venice Passenger Terminal. This main cruise terminal is in an area connected to the mainland by road and train. It has excellent access for all cruisers embarking or disembarking in Venice.
Cruise Port, Venice
The terminal also has good connections to the historical center – namely by Vaporetto or Water Taxi -, and is less than 3/4 of a mile from Piazzale Roma. This large square is the primary transportation hub of Venice. Within walking distance of the Piazzale Roma, there are quite a few impressive highlights.
Embarking And Disembarking In Venice
Cruise passengers embarking in Venice cruise port, especially those traveling from the US or Canada, should fly at least one day ahead. Arrive in Venice before noon and stay in a hotel overnight to fully enjoy the city.
If you are disembarking a cruise in Venice, you should also consider staying an extra day to explore the city, although you should have in mind that hotels tend to be very expensive but worth every penny.
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Getting Around In Venice
Just outside the terminal building, the cruise traveler will find very good public public transportation: a shuttle bus to the people mover that connects the terminal area to Piazzale Roma , taxis and the water transportation pier, which is centrally located to all piers.
On the water transportation pier you can get on a Vaporetto or a Water Taxi to all the main highlights, including the Airport if your cruise ends in Venice, or the other way around if your are embarking. Keep in mind that the Vaporetto – public bus service – covers the entire city and has stops close to all and every main highlight, landmark, museum or religious site of interest.
Passenger Cruise Terminal, Venice
Italy To Ban Large Cruise Ships In Centre Of Venice To Protect Lagoon
Issued on:
Large cruise ships will be banned from sailing into the centre of Venice from August 1, Italy announced Tuesday, after years of warnings they risk causing irreparable damage to the lagoon city.
The decision, confirmed at a meeting of Prime Minister Mario Draghi’s cabinet, comes just days before a meeting of the UN’s cultural organisation UNESCO, which had proposed to add Venice to its list of endangered heritage sites.
“The decree adopted today represents an important step for the protection of the Venetian lagoon system,” Draghi said in a statement.
He added that there would be money to mitigate the impact on employment.
The move will see the biggest ships diverted to the city’s industrial port of Marghera.
However, this is viewed as only a temporary solution, with ministers calling for ideas on a new permanent terminal.
Campaigners have for years been calling for cruise ships to be banned from sailing past the iconic St Mark’s Square.
They say the giant floating hotels cause large waves that undermine the city’s foundations and harm the fragile ecosystem of its lagoon.
The debate was reignited by the return last month of cruises after the coronavirus pandemic, when the throngs of tourists that normally fill the streets of Venice stayed away.
Venice was put on UNESCO’s heritage list in 1987 as an “extraordinary architectural masterpiece”.
‘Good compromise’
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Cruise Ships Return To Venice Some Italians Not Onboard
With cruise liners gone for the foreseeable future, Benvenuti said thousands of port workers will risk their jobs.
Cruise ship business accounts for 3 percent of the city’s gross domestic product and around 4,000 jobs depend on it, according to the Venice Port Authority.
The Italian government promised compensation to those affected by the ban, namely shipping companies, terminal managers and service providers, but did not specify the amounts or the timeline.
We welcome the decision by the government as we have been waiting and calling for 10 years for an alternative route for cruise liners, Francesco Galietti, Italian director of the international cruise industry trade association CLIA, said.
They have been talking about an alternative route for cruise liners for the past 10 years, and we were never against it,” Gorin told NBC News. “But we didnt expect the government to ban cruises without finding a solution first.
He is worried about how the ban will affect thousands of people like him, whose livelihoods depend on the cruise ship industry.
It will take years to build the new dockings, Gorin said. What will we do in the meantime?
Claudio Lavanga reported from Rome, Yuliya Talmazan from London.
Homeport Cruise Ships At The Venice Cruise Terminal/port Of Venice
The list of cruise companies that dock in Venice can change at any time, so this list may not be completely up-to-date. If you see an error, please let me know so I can fix it! Cruise companies are listed in alphabetical order, followed by the names of the ships that dock in Venice.
- Azamara Club Cruises Azamara Journey, Azamara Quest
- Compagnie des Iles du Ponant Le Boreal, Le Levant, Le Ponant
- Constellation Cruise Holdings Arion
- Costa Crociere Costa Deliziosa, Costa Fortuna, Costa Serena, Costa Victoria
- Crystal Cruises Crystal Serenity
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