The first cruise ship arrived in Venice after 17 months

The first cruise ship arrived in Venice on Thursday since the outbreak of a coronavirus pandemic. The last time a cruise ship was moored in this sought-after tourist destination was 17 months ago, the AFP agency reported. The cruise ship MSC Orchestra sailed to Venice without passengers from the Greek port of Piraeus. On Saturday, it will be boarded by about 650 passengers, with whom they will set off south to the Italian city of Bari and later to the Greek islands of Corfu, Mykonos and the Croatian city of Dubrovnik. The number of seats on board is limited to a fraction of its usual 3,000 capacity for the ongoing pandemic. In addition, all passengers must prove a negative test and cover result before the voyage. In connection with the MSC Orchestra's voyage, two demonstrations are planned for Venice on Saturday - in support of and against shipping. Environmental activists warn that waves caused by large cruise ships are destroying the foundations of buildings which, together with the Venetian Lagoon, are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Several world celebrities this week called for an end to the voyages of large ships through the Venetian Lagoon. In an open letter to the Italian government, they called for measures to better protect the city. In addition, they also warned that Venice could "ravage" sailing ships. The letter, initiated by the Venetian Heritage Foundation, also calls for an end to mass tourism. The Italian government announced in March that cruise ships would no longer sail around the iconic Venetian St. Mark's Square and moor in the historic center, but would be redirected to a port in the industrial part of Venice. However, the necessary infrastructure still needs to be built for this, writes AFP.