Louvre partners with Ponant for luxury cruises, sparking Venice controversy

The Louvre has announced a collaboration with French cruise company Ponant for two art-themed cruises in 2020, offering guided tours by museum curators to sites linked to works in the Louvre's collection. The first itinerary, 'Cultural Jewels of the Adriatic' in August 2020, will visit UNESCO sites in Montenegro, Croatia, and Italy, including Athens, Delphi, Alberobello, Kotor, Split, Ravenna, and Venice as the final stop. Guides include Jannic Durand, director of the Decorative Arts Department, and Ludovic Laugier, curator of Greek, Etruscan, and Roman Antiquities. The second cruise, 'Treasures of the Persian Gulf' in November 2020, will explore sites in the UAE, Qatar, and Oman, ending at Louvre Abu Dhabi, with Yannick Lintz, director of the Islamic Art Department. Each cruise accommodates 112 cabins and suites, starting at around €3,500. The partnership has drawn criticism for including Venice, a city already struggling with the impact of large cruise ships and mass tourism, especially given the Louvre's status as the world's most visited museum. Critics call it a paradox, as the initiative adds another massive vessel to Venice's congested waters, fueling debate highlighted by Banksy's performance during the last Biennale.