Norwegian Cruise Lines Removes Venice From 2024 Itineraries

by Mia Taylor
Last updated: 6:45 PM ET, Mon February 5, 2024

Norwegian Cruise Line is cutting Venice from its itineraries for the year ahead.

The news comes on the heels of Venice’s ban on large cruise ships in the Venetian Lagoon, which has forced ships to anchor further away from the historic city and rely on tenders to ferry 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. As a result, we have modified Norwegian Pearl’s itinerary,” Norwegian Cruise Line stated in a letter that was provided to passengers and its travel partners, according to Cruise Hive.

In lieu of Venice, Norwegian will instead take travelers to Ravenna, Italy; Rijeka and Zadar in Croatia and Koper, Slovenia, based on availability.

Venice has been struggling with tourism-related challenges for years. The issue reached a near breaking point this past September when for the first time ever, the number of beds designated for tourist use on Venice’s main island had exceeded the city’s actual year-round residents.

Local leaders have been busy drafting a variety of measures to address tourism's impact on the historic city including most recently a proposed limit that would cap tour group sizes at 25 or less and a ban the use of loudspeakers. The measure has not yet been adopted by Venice's City Council. If adopted, the new rule would take effect in June.

Earlier in January, Venice leaders also revealed the details of a new ticketing plan for day trippers seeking to enter the city. The new system is slated to begin April 25 and will be implemented on certain days during peak season, which runs from late April through July 14.

Back in 2021, meanwhile, the city's leaders announced that that cruise ships would no longer be allowed in central Venice. The rule applies to any ships that are not classified small boutique ships or river vessels, according to Cruise Hive.

Additionally, ships that are greater than 25,000 gross tons, longer than 180 meters, taller than 35 meter or that have sulfur emissions in excess of 0.1 percent are required to anchor elsewhere.

NCL has also canceled plans to visit Venice with its ship for 2025. Instead, ships will spend a day a sea until a new port is identified as a replacement, according to Travel Weekly.

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