Are Cruise Ships Still Sailing From Venice?

Venice, a city known for its beautiful lagoon, has been a target for cruise ships since 2021. The city was forced to ban cruises from its center due to damage to the lagoon, which UNESCO threatened to put the city on its endangered list unless the ships were prohibited. Experts argue that these large boats cause pollution and erode the city’s foundations, which already suffer from regular flooding. In February 2024, Italian officials announced that they will redirect large cruise ships away from the historic center of the city. However, the ban is yet to be enforced. Cruise companies like SeaDream Yacht Club, Windstar, Emerald, Sea Cloud Cruises, Uniworld, Ponant, and Scenic Ocean Cruises have announced that they will no longer allow cruises in Venice. The docks will now be located in Marghera Trieste, Chioggia, and Ravenna. In 2024, Venice is expected to welcome 540,000 cruise passengers, 9% more than in 2023. Italian ports Chioggia, Ravenna, and Trieste are now landing places for large cruise ships in the wake of Venice’s new large-ship ban.