If you've ever cruised into Venice, you might have thought about taking a dip in the canal — any canal, pick one. We're not sure why you would but, hey, everybody's different.
For future reference, don't do it.
It could cost more than your cruise!
There have been people swimming in Guidecca, the most famous of the Venice canals because it fronts St. Mark's Square. They've been swimming, supported by a variety of inflatable devices, because they oppose the volume of large cruise ships that use the canal.
With protest comes a price.
Italian officials fined the swimmers they could catch and/or identify. The ticket is 2,071 euros and you don't need a calculator to know that it's more in dollars.
Like, $2,844.
The protestors think it's worth doing. They slowed arrivals and departures of large cruise ships and generally made nuisances of themselves in the name of anti-business/ecology. Large cruise ship traffic is down by 20 per cent this year and, besides, like-minded individuals and organizations are raising funds to help pay the fines.
On the shore, life is even more distasteful for protestors. They were fined for "unauthorized demonstrations" to the tune of 3,950 euros ($5,425). Given that large ships are supposed to be permanently banned come November, either the protestors think they were responsible for it — or they have deep pockets.
And…there isn't even a beach!
Photo by Wolfgang Moroder
Norwegian Star
14 nights
May 5, 2014
Miami, Ponta Delgada, London, Helsingborg, Copenhagen
Inside: $449
Cost per day: $32
www.ncl.com