Venice lifts ban on large cruise ships

A ban on large cruise ships passing through the centre of Venice – imposed in November – has been overturned by Italian authorities.

The city's regional court of appeal (Tribunale Amministrativo Regionale) threw out the new regulations that prevent all ships over 96,000 gross tons from sailing along the Guidecca Canal to the city's main cruise terminal, and limit the number of ships over 40,000 GT from doing so to five per day.

The Italian Transport Ministry is reportedly to appeal the decision.

While the move will in theory permit dozens of giants to return to Venice – among those above the 96,000 GT limit, which previously visited the city, are Princess Cruises' Regal Princess and Emerald Princess, Celebrity Cruises' Equinox and Silhouette as well as some Costa Cruises and MSC vessels – no changes will be seen in the near future.

However, Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), which represents 53 major cruise lines, said itineraries for 2015 had already been finalised and larger ships would continue to steer clear of Venice for the rest of the year.

It added that it would continue to wait for an alternative route to Venice's cruise terminal – proposed by Italian authorities – to be built. Whether this new route (shown below) will be built now the ban has been overturned remains to be seen. An environmental impact assessment on its construction is expected in March.

"We acknowledge and respect the verdict of Veneto's Regional Administrative Court," said CLIA, in a statement. "CLIA and its member lines have chosen to voluntarily refrain from bringing ships above 96,000 tons to Venice until a new navigational route becomes operational. We are looking forward to welcoming a final decision by the Italian government on the alternative route for big ships in Venice."