CRUISELINES which moved their ships out of Venice following the outbreak of war in Kosovo have decided to keep them based in Genoa until next summer.
Costa Cruises, Festival Cruises and Mediterranean Shipping Cruises all changed their itineraries to avoid Venice and Croatian ports like Dubrovnik along the Adriatic after the war started in March.
A Festival spokesman said that having moved its ship Azur to Genoa, it would be difficult to start offering itineraries out of Venice instead this summer.
However, he stressed that the company would base a ship there again next year as it is a popular port with customers.
Costa, which switched Costa Classica and Costa Victoria from Venice to Genoa several months ago, echoed this view.
A company spokeswoman added it was likely that visits to Dubrovnik would resume next year too.
An MSC spokeswoman said it would be inconvenient for passengers to have their cruise itineraries changed again, but Venice would be back in the programme in 2000.
Meanwhile, Radisson Seven Seas said its ships Song of Flower and Radisson Diamond will call at Dubrovnik during September.