Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) will no longer include Venice in its 2024 itineraries. The decision comes amidst ongoing concerns surrounding tendering limitations and Venice’s restrictions on large cruise ships.
Citing these reasons in a letter to travel partners and passengers, the company announced that all previously scheduled Venice port calls on NCL’s cruises had been replaced. Passengers booked on affected sailings will be notified and offered alternative options.
This comes after the Italian government banned cruise ships over 25 000 gross tonnes from entering the lagoon or docking at the Port of Venice in 2021. Large cruise ships arriving in the city are required to anchor outside the lagoon and use tender boats to transport passengers to the Port of Venice.
“While we have made every effort 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,” the cruise line said.
This change will mostly affect sailings of the Norwegian Pearl from May this year, which will replace the Venice port of call with Rijeka, Croatia, or Ravenna, Italy. The Norwegian Dawn will also adjust its route to stop in Zadar, Croatia, instead of Venice.
NCL added: “We recognise Venice is one of the world’s greatest destinations and acknowledge the inconvenience and frustration this disruption may cause.”
