Venice to the Ship

[M First]

Hello ,

have a question about transportation.

Can any one give me advise on how to get to the ship from Venice city center. We are doing a pre cruise of Rome, Florence and Venice getting to Venice on Thursday by train from Florence. Going to sight see on Thursday and Friday and need to know the best way to get to the ship from where in the city we are staying. This is for a family of 5 so there will be several pieces of luggage to consider.

Thanks again.

 

Michael

 

[PhillyLady]

The most economical way to get to the Venice cruise terminal from Venice is to take a vaporetto (public boat). The cost is about $8.00 one way per person.  There are many stops along the  San Marco Canal/Giudecca Canal where you can pick them up.  You need to buy tickets in advance and stand in line with your luggage.  They run approximately every half hour or so, and take about twenty minutes for example, from San Marco.  On busy cruise days they may offer more service with less stops. Last summer when we did this it was pouring down rain and there is very limited cover at the stops, so our luggage did get a bit wet.  Sometimes they try to charge you extra for luggage.  They store all the suitcases in the front of the boat, but you are responsible for loading and unloading yourself.

If you are not comfortable with that more casual process, your hotel can book a private water taxi for you.  The cost can be more than $100.00, but it may serve you better as you are a larger group and you can specify a time, and they will assist with luggage.

If you are not near the water you will have to pull your luggage around--maybe over bridges and through narrow streets, so plan accordingly.

I am not sure if you are planning to stay near the train station or farther south, as that may have an impact on your travel arrangements.  If your hotel is near the train station, you may be able to arrange land (car) transportation instead.

Have a wonderful trip--Venice is stunning!

[Pima1988]

We always take a private water taxi.  It maybe more expensive, but to us the cost is worth it because it is basically hassle free.  Plus, it is a neat thing to do.  

I don't know where you are staying.  We always stay at the Splendid Suisse.  It is an ideal location, equal walking distance to San Marco and the Rialto.  It has a beautiful rooftop terrace.  The majority of the rooms overlook the canals, you will hear them sing constantly from the gondoliers.

One thing we learned the last time we were there was that all properties have a street and canal entrance.  

We took the train from Milan to Venice.  There are water taxis are right there outside.  

Venice is our favorite city in the world.  That being said we try to avoid it during the summer months...lots of tourists and sometimes there is a stench that comes up from the water.  Remember that their garbage trucks are barges that use the water ways to take it to their landfills.

One of our favorite places in Venice is Harry's Bar.  Venice is where the Bellini was created and it was created at Harry's Bar.  You will find Bellini's everywhere in Venice, it is their signature drink.  For keep sakes this is where you want to buy Murano glass.  

Anywhere in Italy you will find amazing leather.  Understand it is not cheap.  Many people think it is, but what you get is much higher quality (butter leather) compared to the same price you pay for low end in the U.S.  

While in Venice anything you purchase you can get your taxes back.  We would just go to the local American Express and file the paperwork there.  If memory serves me, it is in San Marco Square, or right off it.  There is a beautiful Best Western located near it.

In Rome if you have not looked into it, try to get a private tour for the Vatican if you can afford it.  It is done by a licensed operator.  You enter through a different entrance, and do not have to wait in line.  They will  take just your family, and go as fast or slow as you want.  If you go to the gift shop, you can have whatever you purchased blessed by the Pope.  They will than deliver it to your hotel.   If I recall correctly, he blesses everything @4 p.m. and they will have it at your hotel by that night or early morning the next day.

We actually also paid for a private car for the 2 days there.  It may sound expensive, but it was worth it because we had him from 8 to 6.  We had 3 kids in tow and knew that from all the "must see" things there would be a lot of walking and traversing the city.  He dropped us off in front of the buildings, something that they allow for "private car drivers"  When it was free to enter, such as, the Pantheon, he would come in with us and than be our tour guide, pointing out the little things.  He took us to every where you could think of and than some places the typical tourist never goes to.  At the Trevi,  there is a small church which we would have never visited without him.  The interesting thing about this church is it has bronze plaques marking all of the great floods that occurred in Rome over the last 500+ yrs. showing exactly how high the water rose.  He explained little things like the reason there are bronze bees on some of the buildings.  

We felt the Spanish steps was a pure let down because it is so crowded.  It felt like okay, it is a bunch of steps!  NEXT!  

The Art Museum has an outdoor restaurant which we truly enjoyed for the food and the ambiance.  We laughed because we felt like we could see the Oceans 12 scene where they steal the Faberge playing in our mind as we took it all in.

Beware if this is your 1st time to Italy, the food varies greatly, region to region, just like in the US.  It is like ordering pizza in NYC compared to Chicago.  In Venice it is obviously more fish oriented in my opinion compared to Rome.  Tuscany had the best pasta with attention to vegetables.  

Last tidbit about Rome.  Rome has a ton of "pan handlers"  By the Trevi they will try to force roses into your hands, keep them in your pockets and keep walking.  Place your wallet in your front pocket (pick pockets) Keep your purse criss crossed across the front of your  body.  If you are training it out of Rome to Florence, at the train station HOLD ON TO YOUR LUGGAGE at all times.  They will act like they are there just a friendly person helping you to get on the train, as if they are taking the train too.  They are not!  They will take your bag and than as they place it on, they hold out one hand while the other hand is on the bag waiting for a tip holding your luggage basically as hostage.  

The trains are amazing, Amtrak should take a page from their books, heck, airlines should too!

Hope this helps.  I am jealous because our 1st cruise ever was out of Venice (Yugoslavia, Greece, Sicily, Elba Naples, Portofino, Nice).  Without a doubt would do it again!