Perhaps the first time you imagined Venice was after seeing it represented in a cartoon as a child… or maybe in a James Bond film. There is no doubt that Venice is a unique place that captures the imagination.
Given its position in the Mediterranean, it’s also in a prime location for servicing cruise ships, which it did very well until 2021. After sabre-rattling for years about cruise ship traffic in the Venetian Lagoon, the Italian Government acted with uncharacteristic swiftness in outlawing any cruise ship over 25,000 tons (which is essentially all of them). This left cruise lines scrambling to find alternative docking locations that could still provide reasonable access to the many attractions in Venice.
If you are booked (or are considering) a Mediterranean Cruise, it’s worth asking where you’ll be docked if you’ve not been to Venice previously. Here’s the most common docking locations currently in use for Venice:
- Porto Marghera – this is the closest port, and it is on the mainland side, close to the airport. It’s about 20 minutes into town.
- Fusina – this is near Porto Marghera. It’s about 30 minutes by car or water taxi into the city center.
- Chioggia – this charming little town is sometimes called “Little Venice” and is on the opposite side of the Venetian Lagoon from Venice. By car or bus it’s about an hour from Venice. You can also take local (boat) transit, and transfer at Lido to get into Venice.
- Trieste – this is about 120 kilometers or 90 minutes from Venice. You will want to look at a cruise line transfer to get here to/from Venice.
- Ravenna – is actually the port for Bologna. If your ship is docked here, it’s about 150 kilometers or between 1.5 and 2 hours into Venice.
The bottom line regardless of where your ship is docked is that you’ll be some distance from the Venice city-center – at least compared to prior to 2021 when you could walk right off your ship, and into the sites of Venice.
The cruise lines are still operating shore excursions in Venice – there’s just a bit longer of a motor coach ride to get there from the ship.
Even without this complication, Venice is a place that warrants more than a few hours to explore, and most people using Venice as an embarkation or disembarkation port spend a few days pre or post. If you want to stay on or near the Grand Canal, you won’t find many cheap hotel options – for those you should look near the airport (about 30 minutes out of town).
If you’re thinking of staying 3 or 4 days pre or post in Venice to really see the region in depth, you may want to look at Uniworld’s river boat La Venezia that resides in the lagoon. It’s well under 25,000 tons, so it is not forbidden from the City of Canals. You’ll be staying waterfront everyday in a different location, but you only have to unpack once. They run one-week itineraries that start every week on Sundays. You’ll also find that a week aboard La Venezia (that includes all your drinks, meals, gratuities, transfers, and daily shore activities) will be more cost effective than staying in a hotel in the city.
Uniworld is the Boutique Hotels operator on the rivers, and there’s no doubt when you’re on board La Venezia, that you’re in Venice. Here’s our ship tour video from when we were on board in 2022: https://youtu.be/hUDyly0PG4w?si=1YLOPZt2CtGPfiTb
Today’s Travel Opportunities
If you’re considering pre/post in Venice, here’s a bit more information about Uniworld’s La Venezia:
- Departs every Sunday, round-trip from Venice (yes – they actually port in the city-center)
- During your week on board, you’ll visit several spots in Venice, and a bit further afield in the Venetian lagoon: Venice (several locations across several days), Padua, Tocello, Murano, Mazzorbo, Burano, and Chioggia.
- Sites visited: Doge’s Palace, St. Mark’s Square, St. Mark’s Basilica, colorful fishing village of Burano, Glass Blowing in Murano, Po River Delta, as well as the townships mentioned above.
- Available March through October with pricing starting at $3299 – $3799 (dependin on your departure date).
- All 2024 departures eligible for a 10% early booking discount, AND a $150 per person on board credit.
- Includes transfers, open bar, a choice of included shore excursions daily, gratuities and wifi on the ship.
Here are some ocean cruises that start or finish near Venice:
Istanbul to Venice for 10-days departing June 19 on OCEANIA VISTA
- Visit Istanbul (overnight), Izmir, Santorini, Argostoli, Corfu, Dubrovnik, Kotor, Hvar, Koper, Trieste.
- Verandas from $4999.
- Includes $400 per person shore excursion credit, beer/wine with meals, specialty dining, wifi on the ship.
- Do post-cruise on Uniworld’s La Venezia from $3499
Venice round-trip for 9-nights departing September 8, 2024 on AZAMARA PURSUIT
- CROATIA intensive voyage: Visit Opatija, Sibenik, Split, Kotor, Dubrovnik, Hvar, Zadar, Pula.
- Verandas from $3599
- Do pre-cruise on Uniworld’s La Venezia from $3799
Venice to Athens for 7-nights departing April 28 on SEABOURN ENCORE
- Visit Vodice, Kotor, Corfu, Sami, Nafplion, Athens
- Verandas from $3609
- Do pre-cruise on Uniworld’s La Venezia from $3799
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If you’re planning a trip, I’d love to help! Click here or call 800-876-0168 to get in touch today.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Sue Bradley
Sue Bradley
