‘We were deceived’: hundreds protest in Venice at return of giant cruise ships

Ban on huge vessels passing St Mark's Square proves to be temporary after liner docks in city for first time in 17 months

Anti-cruise ship campaigners in Venice claim they were deceived" by the Italian government as hundreds protested against huge vessels docking in the historic city's port on Saturday.

Residents were caught by surprise on Thursday when a cruise liner sailed into the lagoon city for the first time since the pandemic began, despite prime minister Mario Draghi's government declaring that the ships would be banned from the historic centre. The 92,000 tonne ship MSC Orchestra collected 650 passengers before leaving for Bari, in southern Italy, on Saturday.