GENOA, Italy – The decks have been scrubbed, the hold filled, the silverware polished. The luxury cruise ship European Vision is becoming the ultimate ship of state.
Anchored in the port of this northern Italian city, the 251-yard-long ship will serve as a floating hotel for seven of the eight leaders at their annual summit. Only President Bush opted for terra firma; he’ll stay in a pink hotel along the harbor.
During the three-day G-8 summit beginning Friday, the leaders will be able to taste 170 kinds of cheese and 54 kinds of bread. They also may pick from a selection of 7,000 bottles of wine, coming from countries as far-flung as France and Australia.
Aboard the European Vision, each leader will have a suite with a private balcony overlooking the old harbor, which has undergone massive restructuring in the last decade and has been revamped for the summit.
On loan from private collections, 19th-century paintings featuring maritime landscapes have been hung in the studios. The high-tech living rooms feature satellite TVs and DVDs.
The ship, which can house up to 1,500 people plus a 700-member crew, also features four restaurants, seven bars (some of which have been turned into meeting rooms for the summit), a casino, a cigar room – and just about any other comfort. The ship is owned by the Italian branch of Festival Cruises, the company of Greek shipping tycoon Georges Poulides.
If any of the leaders are in the mood for exercise, there are two swimming pools and two hydromassage pools, a thermal suite featuring sauna and steam treatments, a gym, a basketball court, a 25-foot climbing wall and even a golf simulator.
Mr. Bush’s hotel, a low-rise building painted in hot pink, offers far fewer amenities. He can watch in-room movies, get a haircut and receive a complimentary newspaper.
Italian Foreign Ministry officials said the U.S. delegation chose the hotel over the ship for security concerns.
The European Vision is under heavy security itself. Every corner has been searched by special police units, and closed-circuit cameras have been set up. While coast guard officials refused to discuss security details, Italian press reports said that a contingent of 500 police officers would be onboard during the summit.
The port will be closed to vessels and swimmers until Sunday, when the meeting ends.
