Rare Lady Arwen Posted March 9, 2018 #1 Share Posted March 9, 2018 Koningsdam's itineraries and bookings for 2019 April to November are now available. Seems that HAL will not have any ships going to Venice in 2019 and probably onward. Other cruiselines are showing Venice on their itineraries, so I wonder if this port will be cancelled and replaced or will they be allowed to enter the Grand Canal. The itineraries are interesting if anyone is interested. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare kazu Posted March 9, 2018 #2 Share Posted March 9, 2018 Koningsdam's itineraries and bookings for 2019 April to November are now available. Seems that HAL will not have any ships going to Venice in 2019 and probably onward. Other cruiselines are showing Venice on their itineraries, so I wonder if this port will be cancelled and replaced or will they be allowed to enter the Grand Canal. The itineraries are interesting if anyone is interested. The others put their itineraries out earlier - I wonder if they had confirmation or not? I am SO glad my DS is going this year for her first ever trip to Europe. Venice is her disembarkation port and I talked her into spending a few days there after. So glad she is now, especially :) thanks for the update. It's one of the prettiest sail in's/sail a ways but I totally understand Venice protecting their infrastructure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Lady Arwen Posted March 9, 2018 Author #3 Share Posted March 9, 2018 The others put their itineraries out earlier - I wonder if they had confirmation or not? I am SO glad my DS is going this year for her first ever trip to Europe. Venice is her disembarkation port and I talked her into spending a few days there after. So glad she is now, especially :) thanks for the update. It's one of the prettiest sail in's/sail a ways but I totally understand Venice protecting their infrastructure. I agree, a beautiful port, but Venice must be protected. The Grand Canal has become like a highway! When the big ships are in port, far too many passengers in an already overloaded city. I have a feeling that a lot of the cruiselines, who put out an early itinerary including Venice, will be cancelling and replacing. So happy we're booked on Prinsendam, because the Kdam's new itineraries just don't interest me this time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Krazy Kruizers Posted March 9, 2018 #4 Share Posted March 9, 2018 Sorry to hear that starting in 2019 Venice will not be on the itineraries. We loved the sailing of the Grand Canal as we left Venice on several cruises. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Essiesmom Posted March 9, 2018 #5 Share Posted March 9, 2018 (edited) No cruise ship goes up the Grand Canal. They sail the Giudecca Canal, passing the entrance to the Grand Canal. EM Giudecca Canal with Grand Canal starting at Salute. Pics from the tower of San Giorgio. EM Edited March 9, 2018 by Essiesmom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Lady Arwen Posted March 9, 2018 Author #6 Share Posted March 9, 2018 No cruise ship goes up the Grand Canal. They sail the Giudecca Canal, passing the entrance to the Grand Canal. EMThank you, of course you're correct. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Vict0riann Posted March 9, 2018 #7 Share Posted March 9, 2018 So if they're letting in other cruise lines, why not HAL? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cruise4Sunshine Posted March 9, 2018 #8 Share Posted March 9, 2018 Only smaller ships will be allowed in for now, see if it helps protect from shore erosion. Venice is losing ground due to higher tides, changing winds and some construction in the harbors, when all ships will be prohibited. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Vict0riann Posted March 9, 2018 #9 Share Posted March 9, 2018 Zuiderdam from the bell tower in Piazza San Marco in 2008. . Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare kazu Posted March 9, 2018 #10 Share Posted March 9, 2018 So if they're letting in other cruise lines, why not HAL? the other lines were premature to post itineraries before they had clearance. I bet dollars to donuts their itineraries change. Venice has made it clear that it was changing the rules and they are keeping to their word. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cruise Junky Posted March 9, 2018 #11 Share Posted March 9, 2018 the other lines were premature to post itineraries before they had clearance. I bet dollars to donuts their itineraries change. Venice has made it clear that it was changing the rules and they are keeping to their word. Koningsdam is slightly heavier than most of the ships that are currently going into Venice. Constellation is 91 tons, Brilliance of the Seas is around the same. Koningsdam is 99,500. The limit is 96 for Venice. I don't think it will affect other lines. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stratheden Posted March 9, 2018 #12 Share Posted March 9, 2018 :rolleyes: Why would HAL schedule its two largest ships in the Mediterranean when the Vista class ships would be able to go to Venice. Unbelievable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cruise Junky Posted March 10, 2018 #13 Share Posted March 10, 2018 :rolleyes: Why would HAL schedule its two largest ships in the Mediterranean when the Vista class ships would be able to go to Venice. Unbelievable. Does seem poor planning on HAL’s part. That 96 ton rule isn’t new. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shipfriend_max Posted March 11, 2018 #14 Share Posted March 11, 2018 Koningsdam's itineraries and bookings for 2019 April to November are now available. Seems that HAL will not have any ships going to Venice in 2019 and probably onward. Other cruiselines are showing Venice on their itineraries, so I wonder if this port will be cancelled and replaced or will they be allowed to enter the Grand Canal. The itineraries are interesting if anyone is interested. Thank you for the update! It's a little sad to see that Koningsdam is not going to access Venice, but I must say, the Rome roundtrips she is offering in 2019 are very interesting, and not overpriced! Further some cruises go to Trieste, for sure from Trieste you can go on excursions to Venice. I am just wondering why the other cruise lines could plan release their itineraries WITH VENICE earlier than HAL without Venice? Someone mentioned a limit of 96000 GT - I've read about a new law, that the new maximum size is 55000 GT or so. If this is not true and the 96000 GT limit is still correct, than I am wondering why HAL does not deploy Zuiderdam (83000 GT) on the summer med itineraries and Koningsdam on the Northern Europe itineraries from Copenhagen? What about the itineraries by other cruise lines which are already on sale and start and end in Venice? Will the cruise lines reschedule the itineraries, or will there be a new route where the ships can skip the Giudecca Canal? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cruise Junky Posted March 11, 2018 #15 Share Posted March 11, 2018 Thank you for the update! It's a little sad to see that Koningsdam is not going to access Venice, but I must say, the Rome roundtrips she is offering in 2019 are very interesting, and not overpriced! Further some cruises go to Trieste, for sure from Trieste you can go on excursions to Venice. I am just wondering why the other cruise lines could plan release their itineraries WITH VENICE earlier than HAL without Venice? Someone mentioned a limit of 96000 GT - I've read about a new law, that the new maximum size is 55000 GT or so. If this is not true and the 96000 GT limit is still correct, than I am wondering why HAL does not deploy Zuiderdam (83000 GT) on the summer med itineraries and Koningsdam on the Northern Europe itineraries from Copenhagen? What about the itineraries by other cruise lines which are already on sale and start and end in Venice? Will the cruise lines reschedule the itineraries, or will there be a new route where the ships can skip the Giudecca Canal? I could be wrong but my understanding was the 96 ton limit was in place until the new route was ready which in November 2017 they said would take 4 years. Obviously the law didn’t come into effect right away because it hasn’t effected 2018 cruises. No idea why HAL put Koningsdam on that route, seems like very poor planning when they could have just switched Zuiderdam on that route. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shipfriend_max Posted March 11, 2018 #16 Share Posted March 11, 2018 I could be wrong but my understanding was the 96 ton limit was in place until the new route was ready which in November 2017 they said would take 4 years. Obviously the law didn’t come into effect right away because it hasn’t effected 2018 cruises. No idea why HAL put Koningsdam on that route, seems like very poor planning when they could have just switched Zuiderdam on that route. I just found this article here: https://www.travelagentcentral.com/cruises/venice-to-restrict-large-cruise-ships-from-historic-center It’s mentioned the 96,000 GT limit has been overturned in 2015 but the cruise lines operated ships under this limit on their own. And the law of 55,000 GT maximum just seems to be an idea, nothing fixed and agreed. However HAL will have its reasons why they are doing it like this, operating Koningsdam in Med in summer 2019 without Venice. Maybe the current circumstances are unpredictable for the cruise lines, which rules and regulations will come, so HAL plans to play it safe. Sent from my iPhone using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cruise Junky Posted March 11, 2018 #17 Share Posted March 11, 2018 (edited) I just found this article here: https://www.travelagentcentral.com/cruises/venice-to-restrict-large-cruise-ships-from-historic-center It’s mentioned the 96,000 GT limit has been overturned in 2015 but the cruise lines operated ships under this limit on their own. And the law of 55,000 GT maximum just seems to be an idea, nothing fixed and agreed. However HAL will have its reasons why they are doing it like this, operating Koningsdam in Med in summer 2019 without Venice. Maybe the current circumstances are unpredictable for the cruise lines, which rules and regulations will come, so HAL plans to play it safe. Sent from my iPhone using Forums The article you posted is correct, but old. There was a new vote back in November putting the original 96 ton rule back in place which the cruiselines had been sticking to anyway but it’s not taking effect until the new route is in place and with it being Italy, who knows when that will be. I do keep reading though that Venice originally said 100 ton and that’s what HAL might have been trying to get Koningsdam in under but apparently they’re sticking to 96. Edited March 11, 2018 by Cruise Junky Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kstrittm Posted March 12, 2018 #18 Share Posted March 12, 2018 A poster above said there are hoards of people in Venice when the big ships come in. Yes, that is true. However, Koningsdam will dock just down the road (less than 90 miles south) and I'm sure many of the folks onboard will take shore excursions to Venice. So, the same hoards -- maybe not as many hours in town since they'll need to commute; but still lots of people... As to why HAL isn't sending any ships to Venice in 2019, I suspect they see the writing on the wall (i.e., no larger ships allowed, and the Venetians not really liking ANY cruise ships there because of the congestion). Moving to Ravenna isn't such a bad idea -- people can still see Venice, and Ravenna and Trieste both have wonderful sites as well. However, having said that, I'm booked on Celebrity next year RT Venice -- want to make sure I get to do that before it is prohibited entirely... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shipfriend_max Posted March 12, 2018 #19 Share Posted March 12, 2018 The article you posted is correct, but old. There was a new vote back in November putting the original 96 ton rule back in place which the cruiselines had been sticking to anyway but it’s not taking effect until the new route is in place and with it being Italy, who knows when that will be. I do keep reading though that Venice originally said 100 ton and that’s what HAL might have been trying to get Koningsdam in under but apparently they’re sticking to 96. I also could imagine HAL deploys the larger Koningsdam in Med to maximize passenger capacities on the spring/summer/fall routes in Med and for that they rather sacrifice Venice visits than accepting less passengers HAL would have with Zuiderdam or another Vista Class ship, for example. Further we don't know if the rules change again and that maybe by mid of 2019 the new 55000 GT rule comes into affect and the other larger ships need to abandon Venice as well. To the people considering shore excursions from Ravenna to Venice: It's hard to realize, at least with port timings 08:00 - 18:00. You need to drive 2 hours each between Ravenna and Venice, you also want to see something of Venice. That would be extremely stressful. For such a plan the port timings should be 07:00 - 23:00 or so, because the effort would be the same as for a Berlin excursion from Warnemuende. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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