cruise ship venice marco

• Cruise Ships
• Carnival Venezia

Carnival Venezia ™

• Dining & Activities
• Sails From:

It's a long way from Venice to NYC, but Carnival Venezia thinks the two could be next-door neighbors. This ship is now sailing from its Big Apple homeport... and already has big Port Canaveral plans for the winter/spring 2025 season! What can you expect to find in this ship? Well, there’s more than a little Italy in this one — that’s why we’re calling this new type of cruising Fun Italian Style ™ . It starts with the Venice-inspired atrium Piazza San Marco , the onboard flavor and flair continues at the three-course Marco Polo and Canal Grande Restaurants , La Strada Grill ™ and its Italian street food, plus fusion spots Tomodoro ™ (Mexican-Italian, yum!) and Guy’s Burger Joint (new burgers with Italian flavors — also yum!). And in authentic ristorante style, the elevated Italian of Il Viaggio . Sip well at bars that each specialize in their own thing: complex and sophisticated cocktails at Amari ™ , bubbly stuff (plus snacks and coffee) at Frizzante ™ , frozen everything at Rococó ™ and fine Italian wines at Carnevale Bar & Lounge ™ . There’s great entertainment at the red-velvety Teatro Rosso and its Playlist Productions ™ shows, plus Gondola Lounge was inspired by the famous canals of Venice. Terrazza staterooms are a whole new way to stay in style and comfort, all in a great location close to amenities like the exclusive Terrazza Carnevale , a private terrace deck made for lounging, sipping and fun, day or night! There’s also a lot of the classic Carnival fun that repeat cruisers ( hey there!) know and love. Deliciously familiar flavors come from spots like Bonsai Teppanyaki ™ and Fahrenheit 555 Steakhouse ™ , while celebration spots include Piano Bar 88 and Serenity Bar , and relaxation happens at Cloud 9 Spa ™ and Serenity Adult-Only Retreat ™ . For the kids, there’s spaces just right for their age like Camp Ocean ™ , Circle “C” ® and Club O2 ® . And outdoors, get ready for a very splashy WaterWorks ™ and SportSquare ™ featuring a ropes course, jogging track, mini golf and outdoor fitness center. So as we were saying… hey, we’re cruising here! Carnival Venezia and all this Fun Italian Style sailing now from NYC. Andiamo!

• 135,225 Gross Tonnage
• 4,090 Guest Capacity
• 1,061 Length In Feet
• 1,424 Onboard Crew

INSIDE THIS SHIP

Just like a delicious cake, your ship is made of layers. Find out which fun ingredients — staterooms, dining, activities — go into each deck.

YOUR STATEROOM

Terrazza interior.

Amenities exclusive to Terrazza staterooms:

• Access to the Terrazza Carnevale area for that seaside-lounging lifestyle
• Morning access to the Carnevale Lounge for a daily continental breakfast
• Specially-curated brunch on select sea days, with a complimentary Spritz or Mimosa
• Sailaway event at Terrazza Carnevale, featuring live music
• Comfy Terrazza-branded robes and towels for your use

Plus, every room includes:

• Dedicated stateroom attendant
• Soft, cozy linens
• Plenty of closet and drawer space
• In-room safe for valuables
• Stateroom climate control

Interior with Picture Window (Walkway View)

Every room includes:

Interior with Portholes

Interior upper/lower with portholes, interior upper/lower, deluxe ocean view.

Deluxe Ocean View staterooms are a great choice for families who want to let the sun shine in as they sail. Rooms of this type feature great views, a full bathroom — plus a separate washroom.

Deluxe Ocean View (Obstructed View)

Terrazza premium vista balcony, terrazza premium balcony, terrazza aft-view extended balcony, terrazza cabana, premium balcony.

We designed balcony staterooms for maximum sea breeze and the most stunning views, and this stateroom features a balcony that's even wider than our standard balcony for extra outdoor space.

Aft-View Extended Balcony

Aft-View Extended Balcony staterooms feature a larger balcony for more lounge-around room, more kick-back space... not to even mention some of the best views. Get ready to relax as you gaze upon the ship's gentle wake from your spacious balcony.

Cove Balcony

Cove Balcony staterooms get you close to the waterline, and feature balconies that let you make the most of your location, for one amazing up-close view of the wake and sea foam as the ship cruises along.

Ocean Suite

An Ocean Suite lets you experience private, spacious relaxation... more space for stretching out indoors, including a walk-in closet and bathroom with whirlpool tub, plus a large balcony for kicking back outdoors.

Amenities exclusive to suites:

• Priority check-in and boarding
• Priority Main Dining Room time assignment
• Priority debarkation at homeport, and ports of call requiring a water shuttle or with arrival times later than 9:30 AM
• Access to the Terrazza Carnevale area for that seaside-lounging lifestyle (guests 12 or older only)
• Two large bottles of water
• Pillow-top mattress

Ocean Suite (Obstructed View)

Onboard activities, onboard dining, where to for you.

Carnival Venezia gives you so, so many choices: Bermuda, Canada, Caribbean and more. How do you say smörgåsbord in Italian?

* Taxes, fees, and port expenses are additional per person.

Venice Italy Cruise Port Guide: Everything You Need to Know

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Wondering about the Venice Italy Cruise Port?

You’ve come to the right place! As a travel advisor, who specializes in cruise travel, I have taken many hours of courses on cruise ports, and have booked numerous clients on cruises with stops at the Venice Italy Cruise Port.

Nestled within the Venetian Lagoon is Venice, an Italian city famed for its numerous scenic canals and beautiful historical architecture. It’s one of the most romantic cities in the world and a popular destination for cruisers.

In this article, I will delve into everything you need to know about Venice Cruise Port including tips and recommendations for shore excursions.

Where is Venice Cruise Port Located?

The official Cruise Port of Venice, also known as Terminal Venezia Passeggeri, is located to the west of the historic city, 4 km south of the causeway that links historical Venice to the mainland.

The cruise terminal consists of two parts: the Stazione Marittima cruise terminal which houses the largest cruise ships and the San Basilio cruise terminal.

However, as of 2021, the Italian government has placed a ban on large cruise ships which weigh over 25,000 tonnes, docking inside the Venetian Lagoon. Only smaller ships below this weight can dock in the official Venice Cruise Port.

Large cruise ships are being rerouted and instructed to dock in the industrial port of Marghera which is on the mainland, just below the causeway to Venice.

However, some large cruise ships are now stopping in Ravenna Cruise Port (a 2- hour drive south of Venice) and cruisers are journeying by bus to Venice.

Despite cruise ships docking in Marghera industrial port, cruise passengers will still be shuttled to and from the main Venice Cruise Port for both logistical health and safety reasons, as Marghera does not have the infrastructure to act as an official cruise port.

As the majority of cruise ships will be docking in Marghera industrial port, this will be the focus of our article rather than Ravenna Cruise Port.

⭐️ Purchase Venice Shore Excursions at a Discount Here

Venice Italy Cruise Port

Getting around venice from the cruise port.

Although your cruise ship will dock at Marghera industrial port, shuttle services will likely be provided by your cruise liner from the passenger terminals to the official Venice Cruise Port.

This could be via bus or private water taxi.

If shuttle services are not available, Marghera Port is conveniently located beside a train station. It’s a quick 7-minute train journey from this station to Santa Lucia station, nestled in the heart of Venice. Trains are frequent, several journeying each hour, and cost €2,90 per person each way.

Another way to reach Venice from the cruise port is via bus. The bus stop in Marghera is right beside the train station. The journey takes 8 minutes and will drop you at Venice Piazzale Roma . You can book a day pass online in advance of your visit.

There are also water buses available that travel between Venice and the cruise port. This service is offered by ACTV. If you wish to travel by water bus, then I’d recommend booking your day pass online in advance.

Private water taxis are also available. They’re significantly more expensive than the waterbuses (around €90) but you will have the boat all to yourself.

Alternatively, it’s an 8-minute taxi ride to journey from Marghera Cruise Port to the center of Venice.

Are There Free Shuttles From Venice Cruise Port?

Your cruise liner should offer you a free shuttle service to and from the cruise ship in Marghera to Venice Cruise Port which is on the edge of Venice.

I’d recommend checking with your cruise ship in advance to clarify if they offer this service.

If your cruise ship doesn’t offer this service, trains, buses, and water buses are all available between Marghera and Venice.

✅ You can book a private water taxi from Venice to the cruise port here

Can You Walk into Venice from Your Cruise Ship?

It’s very easy to walk into Venice from Venice Cruise Port (which is where your cruise liner should drop you) as it is perched on the edge of the city. It will take just a few minutes for you to be engulfed by the beautiful city.

If your cruise liner doesn’t offer a shuttle service to Venice Cruise Port, Marghera Port (where your cruise ship will be based) is too far away from Venice for you to easily walk into the city.

It’s located on the other side of a lengthy causeway which, although does have a pavement, isn’t convenient.

It would take over an hour to walk from the cruise terminal into Venice, and that doesn’t include all the further walking you will then complete around the city.

I’d recommend taking public transport or a taxi instead.

Are there Taxis Available from Venice Cruise Port?

Yes, you can grab a taxi from Venice Cruise Port which you can take to Venice Marco Polo Airport.

A taxi isn’t necessary to journey between Venice Cruise Port and Venice City as the cruise port is so close to the city and the city doesn’t have any roads for motor vehicles beyond Piazzale Roma.

✅ Book a shuttle from Venice to the airport

Best Shore Excursions from the Venice Cruise Port

There are a number of fantastic things to see and do during your time in Venice. Below are some of my favorite Venice shore excursions.

1. Gondola Ride

By far one of the most popular and unique ways to view Venice is by gondola . These charming small boats without a motor are able to navigate down quiet canals, allowing you the opportunity to soak up the fantastic architecture from the comfort of your traditional boat.

Being one of the more popular activities in Venice, there are a host of gondola tours available, from private to small group tours. Your excursion can be booked in advance online or you can just turn up on the day.

➡️ Book ahead for this top rated Gondola Ride

2. Basilica San Marco (St. Mark’s Basilica)

Nestled in the heart of St. Mark’s Square is a magnificent cathedral called St. Mark’s Basilica. It’s one of the most famous and iconic landmarks in the city, as well as a prime example of Byzantine architecture.

The cathedral is incredible to marvel at from afar. It’s also worth paying a visit inside. In order to beat the queues, I’d recommend booking a tour which includes skip-the-line tickets, such as this one .

If you’d like to visit several of Venice’s key attractions then it may be worth booking a walking tour that visits St Mark’s Basilica as well as other magnificent sights.

➡️ This is a great skip the line tour !

3. Piazza San Marco (St Mark’s Square)

No visit to Venice would be complete without soaking up the vast historical monuments which call St Mark’s Square home. As well as housing the majestic St. Mark’s Basilica, this vast square is also the refuge of St Mark’s Campanile, a 16th-century cathedral tower.

The corner of Doge’s Palace is also visible from this beautiful square.

Within the square, you can find a number of cafes and restaurants, the perfect place to enjoy a coffee or some lunch whilst enjoying fantastic views of the square.

4. Palazzo Ducale (Doge’s Palace)

Doge’s Palace is a magnificent palace located in St. Mark’s Square. It served as the residence of the Doge, the chief magistrate and ruler of the Venetian Republic, as well as the seat of the government for close to 1000 years.

Today this historically significant landmark is a museum. You can visit Doge’s Palace along with the neighboring St Mark’s Basilica as part of a skip-the-line walking tour.

➡️ See Doges Palace, St Marks and a Gondola Ride with this incredible tour!

5. Food & Wine Walking Tour

Italy is a country renowned for its delicious cuisine and locally-produced wines. One of the best ways to try the local dishes is to take a food and wine tour.

This food and wine tour has exceptional online reviews and specializes in allowing you to sample Venetian appetizers known as Cicchetti.

Alternatively, this tour allows you to sample some lovely sweet treats such as traditional Venetian cookies and homemade gelato.

6. Rialto Bridge

Spanning the Grand Canal, Rialto Bridge is the oldest and most renowned bridge in the city. Designed by Antonio da Ponte, it features a single stone arch that spans the Grand Canal, supported by two inclined ramps on either side.

Rialto Bridge can be viewed either from the water on a boat tour or you can walk over the top of it. The bridge is so large that it even houses shops! Alternatively, you can admire the bridge from the streets on either side of the canal.

7. Teatro la Fenice (Opera House)

Teatro La Fenice is an internationally renowned opera house that’s nestled in the heart of Venice. It’s in fact considered one of the most prestigious and historic theaters in the world. The original opera house sadly burnt down in 1996 and has since been rebuilt.

Teatro la Fenice is an active opera theater. You can book tickets to view operas that are performed there. If you would like to view a performance, I’d recommend booking in advance as tickets can quickly sell out.

Even if you don’t plan on viewing an opera, Teatro La Fenice is still worth viewing from the exterior.

8. Grand Canal

The largest canal in Venice, the 4-kilometer (1.5 mile) Grand Canal cuts through the city of Venice and houses some of the city’s most beautiful buildings.

With barely any walkways beside the canal, the best way to view it and absorb the colorful atmosphere is to take to the water.

This wide waterway is a little too big for gondola rides to take you the whole way but there are plenty of other boat tours available, which journey down this long and majestic canal, passing under the canal’s 4 bridges, including the famous Rialto Bridge.

Getting From Venice Airport to the Cruise Port

There are a number of ways to journey from Venice Marco Polo Airport to Venice Cruise Port.

The quickest and easiest way to journey to the Venice cruise terminal is via water taxi . Being located right on the water, taxi boats are conveniently available just outside the airport. Although this is the quickest way to reach the cruise terminal, it’s also the most expensive way.

You can alternatively take a land taxi between Venice Marco Polo Airport and Venice Cruise Port. The journey is typically between 15 and 20 minutes in length.

Finally, you can journey by bus to Piazzale Roma which is just a short walk away from the cruise terminal.

Places to Stay Near Venice Cruise Port

There are a number of fabulous hotels that are located in Venice’s city center, just a stone’s throw away from the cruise terminal.

Cinqueteste Luxury Home is one of the best-reviewed hotels in the area. It’s a 25-minute walk from St. Mark’s Square and a 20-minute walk from Venice Cruise Port. The hotel is perched right on the canal so if you choose a canal-facing room you will have exceptional views.

Another fantastic option is Hotel Cipriani , a luxurious hotel on an island to the south of the main city which looks across the waterway to Doge’s Palace.

Hotel Moresco is one of the closer hotels to the cruise port, only a 20-minute walk from it. It’s a charming boutique hotel and rooms are dressed in a combination of 19th-century and modern design.

Venice Quick Facts

Best time to visit venice.

The best time to visit Venice in terms of weather is between May and October .

Venice is an extremely popular city and so during the holiday season, you will no doubt be contending with crowds.

In order to get the best balance between beating the crowds and having lovely weather, May, September, and October are the best times to visit.

What kind of currency is used in Venice?

The currency accepted in Venice is the Euro. It was previously the Italian Lira, but is no longer in circulation.

Cruise Liners that Visit Venice Cruise Port

As of the 2021 changes to Venice Cruise Port, which doesn’t allow large cruise ships to dock in the port, a reduced number of cruise liners now dock in Venice at Marghera industrial port.

Some of the cruise ships that still stop in Venice are:

• ● MSC Cruises
• ● Norwegian Cruise Line
• ● Silversea Cruises
• ● Seabourne
• ● Azamara Cruises
• ● Fred Olsen
• ● Viking Ocean

Other cruise ships such as Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises now dock in nearby cities such as Ravenna.

Venice Cruise Port FAQS

Where do the cruise ships dock in venice.

Cruise ships to Venice now must dock in Marghera industrial port, on the mainland, across the lagoon from Venice. This is a result of a 2021 ban on large cruise ships from docking in Venice.

Cruise passengers however will be shuttled by their cruise liner to and from the official Venice Cruise Port which is right next to the city of Venice.

Why is Venice closed to cruise ships?

The reason for closing Venice to cruise ships is to preserve the Venetian lagoon. Venice had been put on the UNESCO World Heritage’s blacklist as a Heritage Site in danger and the large numbers of cruise ships that visit the fragile city were listed as part of the reason for this.

How long does it take to get from the Venice cruise terminal to the airport?

It takes between 15 and 20 minutes to journey between Venice Cruise Port and Marco Polo Airport via taxi. Journeying by water taxi boat takes a similar amount of time.

Final Thoughts on the Venice Cruise Port

Venice is a very beautiful city that’s unlike anywhere else in the world. Famed for its picturesque canals lined by historic buildings, a day spent in this Italian city is never anything short of magical.

The new regulations for cruise liners do make a cruise visit to Venice a little more complicated than it used to be. Different cruise liners now dock at different cruise ports so it’s important you check with your cruise line exactly where you will be docking and if a free shuttle service to Venice city center is included.

If you need any help at all planning your European Cruise, please reach out ! I help at no additional cost to you!

Chantelle Kincy

Chantelle is a nationally syndicated travel writer, and travel advisor. An avid cruiser, Chantelle has explored many parts of the world through her travels. She is also a dedicated National Parks enthusiast and loves to hike in these beautiful locations. To further her expertise in the industry, Chantelle has taken numerous courses to become a specialist in various destinations, including the Bahamas, Caribbean, Mexico, and Alaska. Through her blog and advising business, Chantelle shares her love for travel and helps others plan their dream vacations.

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Venice Cruise Terminal: Where It Is & How to Get There

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Location of the Venice Cruise Terminal/Port of Venice

How to Get to the Venice Cruise Terminal/Port of Venice

Now that you know where the Venice cruise terminal is, let’s talk about the best way to get there. Your options will vary depending on where you’re coming from, so I’ll try to outline the most common places you might be arriving from on your way to a Venice cruise. Arriving at the Venice Cruise Port from Venice Marco Polo Airport Note: These instructions will get you from the Venice Marco Polo Airport on the mainland to the islands of Venice, but may not get you all the way to the cruise terminal. For instructions on reaching the cruise terminal from the train station or the bus stop, scroll down to those sections below.

• Taking a bus from Marco Polo Airport to the Piazzale Roma is the fastest and cheapest transportation method. The coach-like ATVO Venice Express bus reaches Piazzale Roma from the airport in less than a half-hour, and a one-way ticket is only €3. There’s also a local city bus that takes roughly the same amount of time, and costs €2.50 one-way. The Venice Express buses are more comfortable and allow for stowing bags underneath, so for the extra 50¢ I’d say they’re worth it.
• From the Marco Polo Airport you can take a water bus – called a vaporetto – directly from the airport to the cruise terminal, which might be advisable if you have loads of time before your cruise and you want a more romantic entry to Venice than in a regular bus. It takes much longer – 1.5 hours at times – and since you’re going to be getting on a boat fairly soon anyway, don’t feel bad if you skip the vaporetto and head for the bus with wheels instead. A vaporetto ticket from the airport to the Venice cruise port will cost €13 one-way (less if you book online with VeniceLink ), and you can either take the red line ( linea rossa ) all the way around the islands of Venice to the Tronchetto stop (which is right next to the cruise docks), or take the orange line ( linea arancio ) to the Giuglie stop behind the train station and then walk across a couple bridges to the Piazzale Roma.
• The luxury option for getting to the cruise terminal from the airport is to hire a private water taxi. The trip will still take you an hour or more, and the fare can be in the €100+ range, but if you have a party of 4-6 people to split the cost it’s definitely more reasonable. The VeniceLink site mentioned above will let you book “tickets” for spaces on shared water taxis, which can help cut down on the price.

>> Here’s more information about how to get into Venice from the Venice Airport . Arriving at the Venice Cruise Port from the Piazzale Roma Parking Lot/Bus Stop On the map above showing the cruise terminal area, you’ll see that the Piazzale Roma – where the buses stop and where people park their cars – is not far from the Marittima cruise terminal. If your ship is docked in the Marittima terminal and you don’t mind walking, it takes 10-15 minutes to walk. Otherwise, most of the cruise lines run regularly scheduled free shuttles back and forth from Piazzale Roma to the cruise terminal on certain days of the week. By either the free shuttle or a privately hired taxi the trip is very short, usually only 5 minutes or less. If your cruise is setting off from San Basilio terminal, on the other hand, a walk – while totally possible – is significantly further. San Basilio is reachable via private water taxi from the Piazzale Roma parking lot, or if you’re more adventurous and have more time, you can take a vaporetto around the islands to the Zattere stop and walk to the cruise terminal from there. Arriving at the Venice Cruise Port from the Santa Lucia Train Station The cheapest option for getting to the Venice cruise terminal from the main Venice train station is to walk across the brand new and ultra-modern Grand Canal bridge – the “Constitution Bridge” – that leads to the Piazzale Roma parking lot, and then follow the instructions above. It’s a short walk, and the bridge’s steps are graduated so slightly that you could probably even more or less roll a suitcase over it (although it’d be easier to pick a bag up and carry it). Another option is to take a private water taxi from right in front of the train station directly to the cruise terminal. If money isn’t a concern, this is an easier transport method to stomach – but if you’re traveling in a group (or meet a group of fellow cruise-goers on the train) and can share the water taxi fare among 4-6 people, it’s a pretty reasonable price to pay for the convenience and comfort. You can also catch one of the vaporetti that dock right in front of the train station, just make sure you’re getting on one that will drop you off at Piazzale Roma. From there, you’ll follow the instructions above. Arriving at the Venice Cruise Port from the Mestre Train Station If you’re coming to your Venice cruise from elsewhere in Italy, you might be confused into thinking that the Venezia Mestre station is the train station you want for your cruise. It’s not. The Mestre station is on the mainland – the last stop on the mainland before trains snake across the long bridge to the islands of Venice – and since the cruise terminal is on the islands, Mestre isn’t where you want to be. Here’s hoping you’re reading this in time to book the right train tickets – in which case you want to book tickets through to Venezia Santa Lucia station (the station on the islands), and then follow the instructions above for getting to the cruise terminal from the Santa Lucia train station. If you’ve already got your tickets booked and you don’t feel like booking a separate ticket from Mestre to Santa Lucia, there are buses that connect Mestre’s station to the Piazzale Roma parking lot/bus stop on the islands. It’s about a 15-minute trip and only costs a few euro. The directions for getting to the cruise terminal from Piazzale Roma are listed above.

How to Get to St. Mark’s Square from the Venice Cruise Terminal/Port of Venice

Homeport Cruise Ships at the Venice Cruise Terminal/Port of Venice

The list of cruise companies that dock in Venice can change at any time, so this list may not be completely up-to-date. If you see an error, please let me know so I can fix it! Cruise companies are listed in alphabetical order, followed by the names of the ships that dock in Venice.

• Azamara Club Cruises – Azamara Journey, Azamara Quest
• Celebrity Cruises – Celebrity Equinox
• Compagnie des Iles du Ponant – Le Boreal, Le Levant, Le Ponant
• Constellation Cruise Holdings – Arion
• Costa Crociere – Costa Deliziosa, Costa Fortuna, Costa Serena, Costa Victoria
• Crystal Cruises – Crystal Serenity
• Cunard Line – Queen Victoria
• Ellevi Shipping – Vistamar
• First Quality Cruises – Athena
• Fred Olsen Cruise Lines – Balmoral
• Hapag Lloyd Cruises – C. Columbus
• Happy Cruises – Gemini
• Helios Shipping – Corinthian II
• Holland America Cruises – Nieuw Amsterdam, Westerdam
• Iberocruceros – Grand Celebration
• Marine Trade Consulting – Delphin, Delphin Voyager
• MSC Crociere – MSC Armonia, MSC Magnifica, MSC Musica, MSC Opera
• Norwegian Cruises – Norwegian Gem
• Oceania Cruises – Insignia, Nautica, Regatta
• Pegasus – Pegasus
• Premicon Kreuzfahrt GmbH & Co. – Astor
• Princess Cruises – Crown Princess, Pacific Princess, Ruby Princess, Star Princess
• Regent Seven Seas Cruises – Seven Seas Mariner, Seven Seas Voyager
• Royal Caribbean Cruises – Splendor of the Seas, Vision of the Seas
• Salen Ship Management – Island Sky
• Sea Cloud Cruises – Sea Cloud, Sea Cloud II, Sea Cloud Hussar
• Sea Dream Yacht Club – Sea Dream I, Sea Dream II
• Seabourn Cruise Line – Seabourn Odyssey, Seabourn Spirit
• Silversea Cruises Ltd. – Silver Cloud, Silver Spirit, Silver Wind
• Star Clippers Ltd. – Royal Clipper, Star Clipper
• Voyages to Antiquity – Aegean Odyssey
• Windstar Sail Cruise Ltd. – Wind Spirit, Wind Star, Wind Surf

>> You can also consult the official Venice cruise port website for a list of the homeport ships . This video shows what it’s like to arrive at the Venice cruise port by cruise ship. It’s an early morning, but the views are worth it.

>> More information about Venice’s cruise terminal is available at the Port of Venice website – in Italian and English – and cruise passengers may be interested in this detailed PDF guide to the Venice cruise port .

Trieste Cruise Port – the essential guide

If you’ve eagerly anticipated setting sail from Venice on your dream Mediterranean or Greek Isles cruise, prepare for an unexpected delight.

Venice, in 2021, had to bid adieu to many of the larger cruise ships due to rising water levels, creating a unique opportunity for the picturesque Trieste Cruise Port to steal the spotlight.

This charming Italian port, nestled gracefully along the scenic Adriatic coastline, now beckons you with open arms, offering itself as the gateway to your unforgettable voyage.

Read on to discover all the essentials for a smooth cruise experience, setting sail from Trieste Cruise Port.

Quick navigation

Trieste Cruise port

So where exactly is Trieste cruise port, and how easy is it to spend time in Venice before or after a cruise from Trieste?

First, you must check which ports to head to with your cruise line when booking a cruise from Venice. If it’s from Trieste or Ravenna , you need to consider this before you book your flight and make transfer arrangements.

Trieste is located 160 km northeast of Venice. It has the Adriatic Sea to the west and borders Slovenia to the east. It’s about a two-hour transfer either by road or rail from Venice.

If you plan to spend a few days in Venice before your cruise, we recommend saving a night or two to stay in Trieste. It’s a great city, with plenty to see and do.

The good news is that getting to Trieste from Venice is not tricky, and you have choices. Allow for the travel time and budget for the extra cost. We discuss all your transport options further below in this article.

Given that most cruise ships arrive at Trieste’s Stazione Marittima cruise port (the more central cruise port), the information we give here is for Stazione Marittima port. The historical cruise passenger terminal building is close to the city’s largest square, Piazza Unità d’Italia.

What are the closest airports to Trieste cruise port?

• Trieste Airport TRS (40 km)
• Venice Marco Polo Airport VCE (150 km)

If you prefer to skip Venice, search for flights to Trieste’s airport. To get from the airport, book an airport transfer to your hotel before you leave home. Alternatively, below you have the following public transport options.

Trieste Airport (TRS) to central Trieste

Trieste airport is around 40 km from central Trieste. Here are the transport options available to get you to the city center:

Bus : APT Gorizia is the local bus company operating bus number 51 from the airport. You can buy a one-way bus ticket for about 5 euros.

Taxi : There are taxis at the airport as you exit the arrivals area. The journey time is an estimated 30 minutes for around 50 euros. Expect to pay more if you are traveling in the evenings.

Train : Our favorite way to travel is by train. A direct train from Trieste airport to the central train station runs 2 or 3 times every hour. It’s a quick 29-minute journey costing around 5 euros per person.

Check out Omio’s website to easily search and compare train ticket prices to find your journey . Tickets can also be booked through Trenitalia or Italotreno. However, Omio offers price comparisons for your trip and a more straightforward booking process.

Venice Marco Polo (VCE) Airport to central Trieste

Venice airport is around 150 km from central Trieste.

If you arrive on an international flight to Venice Marco Polo Airport and want to transfer directly to Trieste, here are your best options:

Private Transfer: a private transfer is the easiest but most expensive option. Book through a trusted supplier such as Viator and have a driver waiting for you as you exit the arrivals lounge. The journey time is around 2 hours and can cost about 200 euros. This becomes more affordable if you have four or more guests and can share the cost for a hassle-free way of getting there.

Train: there is no train station at Venice Marco Polo airport. Take a taxi about 10 km from the airport to Venice’s central train station, Mestre. From there take a train direct to Trieste center. The journey takes 2 hours. You can book train tickets in Italy online before you leave home or at the train station.

How to travel between Venice island and Trieste

If you have chosen to explore Venice for a few days before or after your cruise and are staying on Venice Island, the train is a great way to get to or from Trieste. Purchase tickets to travel from Venezia S. Lucia train station to Trieste Centrale (or vice versa).

Choose the quickest journey where you do not need to change trains.

Trenitalia and Italo Treno are the leading train operators in Italy. They have high-speed Frecce trains that connect you to major cities and numerous regional trains.

You can book train tickets before you leave home, about three months after your travel date.

Alternatively, you can purchase train tickets directly at the train station. The cost of a single journey between Venice island and Trieste for an adult is around 15 euros per person.

Taxes are readily available to get to the port or your hotel from Trieste train station. Prices do vary, especially in the high season. Check with the taxi driver before you climb in. The journey time is about 20 to 30 minutes. The price will increase if it’s a national holiday or an evening journey.

Local buses also run from the train station to central Trieste and the cruise port.

Where to stay in Trieste

We recommend at least one hotel night in Trieste before your cruise starts – it’s a great city to explore. Here are our top 4 hotel recommendations for your stay in Trieste:

1. Double Tree by Hilton Trieste

The Double Tree by Hilton Hotel is centrally located about a 10-minute walk from the cruise port. The building is beautiful and is surrounded by a good selection of cafes and restaurants. If you are a Hilton Honors member (it’s free of charge to join their loyalty program), expect extra perks when you check in. We appreciated the chilled bottled water and fresh cookies.

2. Savoia Excelsior Palace

This is an excellent hotel, architecturally stunning, right next to the cruise port near Piazza Unità d’Italia. Enjoy good service and friendly staff – everything you’d expect for a 4-star plus experience. Ask for a balcony room directly overlooking the pier for a beautiful view. And to top it all, their lounge has an excellent cocktail menu.

3. Grand Hotel Duchi d’Aosta

This small, intimate boutique hotel has excellent facilities and a restaurant, Harry’s Piccolo. It’s located right on Piazza Unità d’Italia.

A popular feature includes a heated indoor pool in a city center location, and the hotel enjoys an excellent rating at Booking.com .

4. Hotel Continentale

The Hotel Continental is centrally located just a 10-minute walk from the central train station in Trieste and 15 minutes from the cruise port. Some rooms are a little dated, but overall, it is a good 4-star experience.

5. Hotel Solun

Hotel Solun is a great 4-star choice! The hotel is only 10 years old and has spacious, light, modern rooms, an excellent bar, and a nice restaurant. There are just 34 rooms and apartments, so book early. On our cruise embarkation day, we took a taxi from the hotel to the port for just 10 euros.

Splendid Trieste, Italy – a walking tour

Trieste, located in Italy’s Friuli Venezia Giulia region, is the region’s historical capital. The architecture, cuisine, and languages reflect its multicultural diversity, a mixture of Mediterranean and central European heritage.

A great starting point for getting to know the city is Piazza Unità d’Italia (Unity of Italy Square). This is the main square in Trieste. Once home to the old marina, it faces the sea and is the city’s commercial hub, with many beautiful government buildings lining three sides of the square.

There is a tourist information office right in the square. The friendly staff will provide information and paper maps of the city if you like, so visit them before you start your day.

From Piazza Unità d’Italia, head towards Piazza della Borsa. This square is an excellent place to shop or shop for coffee. Enjoy walking and exploring the area until you reach Canale Grande. This 2 km long waterway is a lively area of shops and restaurants; it’s also an excellent place to return to for an evening restaurant as the whole area is beautifully lit at night.

Just a 20-minute walk southwards of the canal is the Roman Theatre of Trieste on Via del Teatro Romano. A beautifully preserved Roman theater, it was built at the base of a sloping hill called San Giusto. Many of the archaeological finds discovered when the site was excavated in 1938 can be viewed in the museum at the Castle of San Giusto , located a short walk away.

When you reach Castello di San Giusto, you will have fantastic panoramic views over Trieste. It’s a bit of a climb but well worth it. End your city walk at the cathedral, Cattedrale di San Giusto Martire.

If you are hungry and looking to try local seafood dishes, we recommend Antica Trattoria Le Barettine, located between the cathedral and Unity of Italy Square. If, however, they are closed for the season, there are many restaurants to choose from in this area.

Favorite day trips from Trieste

Here are our favorite spots just a short distance outside Trieste that are worth visiting during your stay:

Miramare Castle – Castello di Miramare

Crowned by the spectacular 19th-century Miramare Castle located on a rocky spur on the Gulf of Trieste, this grand house once owned by the Habsburg family is a must-see while visiting the city. The castle and surrounding park are open every day except Christmas and New Year. The park is free of charge to enjoy, and the fee of 10 euros per person to enter the castle is well worth it.

Sistiana Bay

Just 20 km north of Trieste is the stunning bay of Sistiana. You could combine a visit here with Miramare Castle as the castle is on its way, about halfway between Trieste and Sistiana. You drive along the beautiful coastal road known as Costiera Triestina . There are plenty of places to stop and take photos, the most picturesque being at Santa Croce Mare and Grignano.

Book an excursion with a trusted supplier such as Viator so that transportation and a guided tour of the bay are included. You will even have time to explore and swim at the beach there. Note that it’s a shingle beach, not sand, edging the inviting turquoise water of the Adriatic Sea.

How to get to Port of Trieste from the historical center

The passenger cruise terminal, Stazione Marittima (Port Station), is located right next to the historical center and is within walking distance from Piazza Unità d’Italia (Unity of Italy Square).

If you are not within walking distance, we recommend asking your hotel concierge to book a taxi for the short ride to the port. Even if your hotel is only a 20-minute walk, remember you will have all your cruise packing and luggage with you, so a taxi is the best choice to avoid the long walk with suitcases.

How to get to Trieste Airport from the Port of Trieste

If your cruise ship arrives at Stazione Marittima cruise port in Trieste and you fly the same day as you disembark your cruise, here are your options for transportation to the airport in Trieste.

Taxi: The most straightforward way but also one of the most costly ways to travel is by taxi. Taxis are available at the port or by calling tel. +39 040 307730. Note you cannot book a taxi in advance. There is a flat rate from Trieste cruise port to Trieste airport at 60€. It takes about 45/50 mins.

Bus: You need to make two separate journeys to reach the airport using the bus.

a) Stazione Marittima cruise port to Trieste Piazza Libertà bus station

The distance is 1.1 km, about 15 minutes walking or 5 minutes by taxi (tel. +39 040 307730). Note you cannot book a taxi in advance.

Alternatively, take a bus (12-15 mins) from Riva del Mandraccio, numbers 8/24/30. You can purchase a ticket on board for 1.40€ single ticket. Buses leave every 10 minutes.

b) Trieste Piazza Libertà bus station to Trieste Airport

Bus G51 buses approximately every 30 mins, depending on the time of the day. It takes approx 55mins/1hour. You can purchase tickets for the G51 bus at the Trieste bus station (payment cash/credit card/debit card) for 4.40€ single ticket.

Train: You must make two journeys to reach the airport using the train.

a) Stazione Marittima (cruise port) to Trieste Centrale train station

The distance is 1.1 km and takes approximately 15 minutes to walk or 5 minutes by taxi tel. +39 040 307730 (you cannot book a taxi in advance). Alternatively, take a bus 12-15 mins from Riva del Mandraccio, number 8/24/30 (you can purchase a ticket on board 1.40€ single ticket, buses every 10 mins).

b) Trieste Centrale train station to Trieste Airport

There are trains about every 30/45 minutes, depending on the time of the day. Check the timetable with Omio, which includes the Trenitalia trains . It takes 28 minutes, and a single ticket costs around 5€.

Cruise lines departing from Trieste Cruise Port

• Ships: Norwegian Pearl, Norwegian Viva, Norwegian Gem, Norwegian Epic, Norwegian Dawn, Norwegian Escape, Norwegian Breakaway
• Destinations: Mediterranean, Greek Isles, Adriatic Coast
• Ships: MSC Splendida, MSC Fantasia
• Destinations: Eastern Mediterranean, Turkey
• Ships: Azamara Onward
• Destinations: Greek Isles, Ionian Sea
• Ships: Seven Seas Navigator
• Destinations: Mediterranean, French Riviera, Spain
• Ships: Queen Victora
• Destinations: Adriatic Coast, Western Mediterranean
• Ships: Star Princess

These cruise lines offer a variety of itineraries departing from Trieste, allowing you to explore stunning regions of the Mediterranean, the enchanting Greek Isles, the picturesque Dalmatian Coast, and more for your upcoming cruise in 2024 and 2025. Be sure to check with our travel partner, Cruise Direct , for specific departure dates and availability.

Trieste awaits you with exciting cruise adventures!

Meet the author: Sarah has created and booked hundreds of travel itineraries for thousands of customers during a career in the travel industry that spans 20 years. Having worked hand in hand with cruise lines, hotels, airlines and tour operators worldwide, she offers inspiring & detailed insights in the world of travel and tourism.

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30 thoughts on “Trieste Cruise Port – the essential guide”

We are tentatively booked at Forum Bijou in Trieste. How far is that from the port for Norwegian line?

Hello Marge

Thank you for contacting us. We apologize for the delay in replying to you. The latest information we have received from NCL is that they are using terminals Molo Bersaglieri for Pier #29 and Pier #30 OR Trieste Marine Terminal (TMT) – Via della Rampa for pier #57.

Kindly check with NCL which terminal they intend to use for your cruise sailing; the address should be on your cruise tickets.

If you are staying at Forvm Boutique Hotel, on Via Valdirivo, 30, this is about 10 minutes by taxi from the cruise terminal Molo Bersaglieri. This cruise terminal is very central.

To get to Trieste Marine Terminal is a little further; it is south of the city center, but it is still an easy taxi journey of around 15 minutes.

I recommend you ask your hotel to assist with booking a taxi to ensure you get to the cruise port in good time. We wish you a great stay in wonderful Trieste and a super cruise vacation.

Hello Sarah,

We will be departing Trieste on October 27 on the Norwegian Epic. Our cruise docs give the port address as “Trieste Cruise Terminal Via Della Rampa1,Trieste 34123, Italy”. Looking at the address in Google maps, it doesn’t quite make sense. Would this mean we are using Ormeggio 57? What address or location would you recommend we give the taxi driver (we will be staying at the DoubleTree in Trieste)?

Hello Mark,

Thank you for contacting us at CruiseTrail! It is important that you use the address given to you by your cruise line. Some cruise ships use the Trieste Marine Terminal, reached via Via Della Rampa, a few kilometers outside of the city center. I recommend you check with your cruise line if in doubt or if you have questions, and that you give the full address on your ticket to your driver. Be sure to give them the cruise line’s name so they get you as close as possible to the cruise ship.

In May 2024 we will be staying in Venice 2 days and then Trieste 1 day before boarding the NCL Pearl. We are already booked at the Doubletree Hilton in Trieste. Since we’re staying on the island of Venice a train sounds like our best option to travel to Trieste. I plan to buy the train tickets early but am concerned about navigating the train system in italy. Is it easy to find the correct train?

Hi Wanda! Thank you for contacting us at CruiseTrail! We have used the train system many times in Italy without any problems. I recommend the following: 1. Purchase your tickets online (we like Omio) and download them onto your smartphone, so you can show them when onboard the train. 2. Turn up to the train station in good time so you do not feel stressed in finding your train. Find your route on the announcement boards, and it will tell you which track you need. The tracks are numbered. 3. If in doubt, ask an attendant, or go to the information desk, they will be able to help you in English. If you are staying on Venice island, you need to book from the Santa Lucia train station in Venice, to Trieste Centrale train station. Enjoy your cruise vacation, it sounds like you have a good plan! Trieste is lovely.

Our NCL cruise ends in Triste. How difficult is it to disembark and travel to the train station with luggage? We booked a hotel in Venice hoping to have time to tour the city before returning to Rome the next day. Any guidance is greatly appreciated.

Many thanks for contacting us at CruiseTrail!

You do not mention which cruise terminal your ship arrives at, do check your cruise ticket however very often it is Stazione Marittima.

To get from Stazione Marittima cruise port to Trieste Centrale train station takes approximately 15 minutes to walk, about 1.1 km. This does not sound a long way but actually with luggage it can be difficult walk along a busy road. I would certainly opt to take a taxi to the train station which will only take 5 minutes (depending on traffic). There are often plenty of taxis in the port area when cruise ships arrive. You can also call tel. +39 040 307730 (you cannot book a taxi in advance).

Alternatively, take a bus 12-15 mins from Riva del Mandraccio, number 8/24/30 (you can purchase a ticket on board for about 1.40€ single ticket, buses every 10 mins). However, this is a public bus and can get crowded and be problematic with a lot of luggage.

Once you are at the train station, the regional Trenitalia train will take you directly to Venice in around 2 hours.

Book a train ticket to Venice Mestre if your hotel is on the mainland, or to Venice Santa Lucia station if your hotel is on Venice island.

You can search and compare tickets with our travel partner Omio before you leave home if you like. They have a very handy app where you can download and store your tickets on your phone.

I hope this information is of help. Good luck and have a wonderful cruise vacation with NCL!

Best regards Sarah

Hi What’s the best option to get to the city centre from the cruise port. We are on MSC cruise arriving Trieste on 18th October

Hi George, thank you for contacting us at CruiseTrail!

If your MSC Cruise ship is docking at Stazione Marittima, Molo dei Bersaglieri, you are within walking distance (5 mins) of the main square in the city, Unity of Italy Square (Piazza Unità d’Italia).

Depending upon where your hotel is located (if you are staying in Trieste after your cruise) then you may either choose to walk or take a taxi from the port. I hope you enjoy your cruise and the city of Trieste – it’s really lovely and a great place to end a cruise vacation.

We are taking a cruise with Norwegian Cruise Line. We were told the ship will leave from Trieste Marina Terminal. The address is Punto Franco Nuovo Molo VIII. We are staying by the Roman Theater in Trieste. How do we get to the port?

Hi Nancy! Thank you for contacting us at CruiseTrail! Trieste Marina Terminal is located south of the center of Trieste, and I recommend you ask your hotel for help in booking a taxi to get you there as it is too far to walk. Be sure to give the name of the cruise line and cruise terminal when you book to ensure the driver takes you to the correct terminal. I hope you have a wonderful cruise from Trieste.

Thanks Sarah, Very helpful information. Looking forward to our cruise from Trieste.

Thank you for your kind words. I hope you have a wonderful cruise vacation.

Hi Sarah, thank you for the article. We will embark our cruise ship in Trieste in the summer of this year with Holland America line. The port address that HAL gives is: “Via Von Bruck, 3 Trieste, TS 34143 Italy”. From the Google map, I see this address is kind of far from the train station. Since we will stay in Venice for a few days before the cruise and would like to take the train to Trieste. Can you tell us what is the best way for us to get to the port from train station? Or is there any other ways to go to Trieste’s HAL port from Venice other than train? Thank you.

Many thanks for contacting us at CruiseTrail, and I do apologize for the delay in replying. I was awaiting more information from Holland American but it seems very vague from them regarding the cruise port they are using in Trieste.

From the information I received over the phone, it seems the Holland American cruise port is a short walk from the center of Ravenna, less than 10 minutes. I would, however, recommend that you check your cruise ticket for the exact address or contact your local cruise representative and have them check the correct port for your particular sailing.

The easiest and most cost-efficient way to get from Venice to Trieste is by train. You can find out all about booking train travel in Italy on our website. There is the option of a private transfer , with, for example, Viator, but this is the most expensive way to travel unless you are a small group and can share the cost.

To get from the train station to the cruise port, there are local buses from the train station, and also taxis. The journey time from the train station to the center is about 10-15 minutes. We usually recommend staying at least one night in Trieste prior to embarkation day to ensure that you arrive at your cruise ship in good time.

We hope you have a wonderful cruise vacation. Please check your cruise port address on your cruise ticket or with your HAL representative before you travel to ensure you arrive at the correct embarkation port.

We are cruising into Trieste later this year. We want to go to Venice for a couple of days. Is there a web site that would give me a phone number so someone can help me book train tickets to Venice?

Thank you for contacting us at CruiseTrail. How wonderful you are taking the time to visit Venice during your cruise vacation!

If you are not using a travel agent to help you with your booking, I recommend that you book directly with Omio, who offer train tickets with the fast train (Frecciarossa) and regional trains. You will most likely need to change in Bologna for your journey between Trieste and Venice. Omio also has an online help center where you can email them your questions. The Omio website is available in English, and you can pay in your local currency. It is very user-friendly. I recommend that you first create an account with them (free of charge), and you will have access to the information you need about managing your booking and also contact with their help center. When you have made a booking, you can download your tickets to the Omio app on your smartphone (if you like) and have them all in one place and easily accessible when you travel. We partner with Omio, and you can choose to book your train tickets here .

Good luck with your booking; we hope you enjoy Venice!

NCL has a homeport in Trieste now. On the Gem we embark in Trieste. The next day our stop is Venice (from 6:30a to 11p). I cannot locate information on how we get into Venice on May 23, 2023. If it’s a tender, where does it drop you off? I tried NCL without success. Their answer was Port of Venice and it’s a tender port. Does that mean we take a 2 hr. city operated tender to Venice from Trieste? I need details for a tour @ 9:30a meeting near St. Mark’s. As an organized traveler who pre-books as much as possible from home, I find no detailed information. Do I need a day pass or water taxi – I’m not able to determine based on what information is available on groups on FB, NCL or Cruise Critic.

Hello, and thank you for contacting us!

If your ship visits the Port of Venice, it will most likely anchor off-shore and use tender boats to get you into Venice. I have found this pdf from the NCL website which has more information about the port. I recommend you contact NCL again and ask them if this is the port you arrive at on the tender boat.

Once you are at the Port of Venice, you have several options to get to St. Mark’s Square.

NCL may offer a water bus that you can book in advance to get you there, this may be rather expensive, but it will get you there relatively quickly. You must be prepared for queues in Venice, especially when cruise ships visit and thousands of passengers are disembarking around the same time. Ask NCL if they offer water bus transportation and the price, and if you can be off the ship in the earliest group.

You can walk; this will take a good hour, I would guess, bearing in mind the crowds and finding your way. Although the walk is often delightful, it will take time. Hop on the People Mover (1 EURO each payable at the ticket machines with cash or a credit card) from the port to get you to Piazzale Roma, and you walk from there.

Alternatively, you can ride a water taxi from one of the first stops on the Grand Canal to St. Mark’s Square. It will be quicker than walking.

Perhaps you may consider booking a private transfer from the Port of Venice to St. Mark’s Square to get you there even quicker. We trust Viator as a travel partner for transfers in Venice, and you can look closer at the prices they offer here , although this may be the most expensive option for you.

We hope this information is of help to you. We wish you a fantastic day on Venice Island.

Hello Sarah We are flying into Venice Marco Polo Airport looking for any hotel, near Venice Maestre Central Station (MCS), that can provide a shuttle bus to pick us up at the airport. After staying for 3 days, we will check into Holland American Line Cruise ship at Trieste Marine Cruise Terminal. We will take ±2 hours train ride from Venice MCS to Trieste Central Train Station, and stay two nights in Trieste Town. If I take Local Bus #30 from Trieste City Center to Trieste Marine Terminal. There is no Inside Port Transportation from Passeggio Sant’ Andrea (GdF) at the port entry Gate to the Holland American Line Cruise Ship (Except for Walking that may be restricted). As you suggested we will take a taxi instead from our hotel in Trieste to HAL Cruise Port Terminal.

Hi George! It sounds like you have a good plan for your cruise vacation! If you are still searching for a hotel in Venice Maestre, you may like to look at Ambasciatori Hotel Mestre Venice. They offer an airport shuttle bus transfer. It is the same complex as Delfino Mestre. Located very close to the train station, next door to a supermarket, and the bus stop is outside the hotel to get you into Venice island. It is a 3-star option if this suits you. I recommend you read the reviews then contact the hotel regarding an airport shuttle transfer. If you like, you can start your hotel search on our hotel booking resource page . If you decide to look at hotel accommodation on Venice island instead, you can travel by train from Santa Lucia train station (located on the Grand Canal, Venice island) to Trieste. Good luck! I wish you a fantastic trip.

What is the best way to get to Friuili Venezia Guilia airport from the Trieste Cruise terminal? Is the bus station in walking distance (considering bag drag, etc.)

Hi Melissa! Thank you for contacting us!

You have a few options for transport from Trieste cruise terminal to Trieste Airport. If you cruise ship arrives at Statzione Marittima cruise port. Here are your options:

1. TAXI: The easiest way but also one of the most costly is a taxi. Taxi are available at the port or by calling tel. +39 040 307730. Note you cannot book a taxi in advance. There is a flat rate from Trieste cruise port to Trieste airport at 60€. It takes about 45/50 mins.

2. BUS: You need to make two separate journeys to reach the airport using the bus.

The distance is 1.1Km, about 15 mins walking or by taxi 5 mins (tel. +39 040 307730). Note you cannot book a taxi in advance. Alternatively take the bus (12-15 mins) from Riva del Mandraccio nr 8/24/30. You can purchase ticket on board 1.40€ single ticket. Buses leave every 10 mins.

b) Trieste Piazza Libertà bus station to Trieste Airport with Bus G51, buses approximately every 30 mins, depends on the time of the day. It takes approx 55mins/1hour. You can purchase tickets for G51 bus at the Trieste bus station (payment cash/credit card/debit card) 4.40€ single ticket.

3. TRAIN: You need to make two separate journeys to reach the airport using the train.

a) Stazione Marittima (cruise port) to Trieste Centrale train station: 1.1Km / approx 15 mins walking / 5 mins by taxi tel. +39 040 307730 (you cannot book a taxi in advance) / by bus in 12/15 mins from Riva del Mandraccio nr 8/24/30 (you can purchase ticket on board 1.40€ single ticket, buses every 10mins)

b) Trieste Centrale train station to Trieste Airport: There are trains about every 30/45 mins, depends on the time of the day. Check timetable with Omio which include the Trenitalia trains . It takes 28 minutes, single ticket is around 5€.

I hope this information helps you to decide which alternative suits you best. There are often many taxis at the cruise port when ships dock, but I have included the phone number for you as well. I also recommend that check with the guest services on board to see if they offer a transfer to the airport.

I was wondering the best way to get from Trieste port to Marco Polo airport. I will be traveling on my own. Taxi would be the preferred option but seems expensive. Thank you

Hi, Taxis and private transfers can get pricey when traveling alone or in smaller groups.

Depending on your travel dates, some buses and trains are pretty convenient. You can search for buses and trains with the provider we recommend and use. Click here to read more: Search, compare, and book transport .

I find it convenient to travel by train in Italy. One solution could be to take the train to Venice Maestre central station and then, from there taxi or bus to Marco Polo airport. I wish you a wonderful trip, and let me know if you have further questions.

Thank you for this helpful information! My husband and I are taking our first cruise, and Trieste is our embarkation port. We were unsure how to get from the airport to the ship, but your article spells it all out for us. We hope to have a little bit of extra time to explore what sounds like a beautiful city before we set sail. Thanks again for this awesome info!

How exciting, I am sure you will have a lovely trip. Thank you for your kind words; I am happy I could help. And yes, there is plenty to do and see in Trieste. I hope you enjoy the city before your cruise.

Thank you so much. Very helpful. We will be in Trieste September 2024. Brenda Brisbane Australia

Thank you for your kind words. Have a great time in Trieste, there is a lot to see and enjoy.

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Essential cruise trip items

A guide for Venice ship passengers

By Durant Imboden

Venice's partial cruise ban:

In August of 2021, the Italian government banned nearly all cruise ships from Venice's historic center. For more information, see " Venice cruising changes " at Veniceforvisitors.com.

Many small ships (below 25,000 GRT) continue to moor in central Venice. These include small luxury oceangoing ships, private yachts, and river vessels that cruise in the Venetian Lagoon and the Po River Delta.

Here's what you need to know as a cruise passenger today

Cruise terminals:

The Port of Venice has two terminal areas:

• San Basilio , a quay and terminal building next to the Giudecca Canal. This is used by small to medium-size ships and hydrofoil ferries to Croatia.

Where to board your ship:

If your cruise is departing from Venice, consult your cruise documentation for information on where to check in. Unless your ship is smaller than 25,000 GRT, your ship's berth will be at one of several ports on the Italian mainland .

However, as we mentioned above, you may be able to check in at the Marittima cruise basin (where large ships moored until the Italian government's ban). If that's the case, a bus will take you to the ship's pier on the mainland.

Getting to the pier:

If your cruise departs from central Venice, or if you're checking in at Marittima, see these pages for information on how to reach the terminal:

• San Basilio

Many cruise lines also provide transfers from Venice Marco Polo Airport to their ships, either free or at extra cost. Check your cruise documentation for details.

From the pier to the airport:

If your ship is arriving in Venice and you're flying out the same day, allow plenty of time for your airport connection. Here's why:

• Immigration isn't always quick (we once waited 2½ hours to get our passports at Marittima).
• Unless you've arranged a transfer with your cruise line, getting to the airport may take a while. (Taxis are often in short supply.)
• Check-in, baggage drop, and security can be very slow at Venice Marco Polo airport at busy times or on mornings when several large cruise ships have arrived in Venice.
• Treviso Airport (used by many Ryanair and Wizz Air flights) is nearly an hour from Venice.

Our advice:

• To be on the safe side, spend a night in Venice before flying home, or book an airport transfer with your cruise line and hope for the best.

Pre- and post-cruise hotels:

Before reserving a hotel through your cruise line, make sure you know and like the location. (Some cruise lines' "Venice hotels" are half an hour from the city by train or bus.)

For advice on booking hotels that are convenient to the piers, see:

• Hotels for Marittima
• Hotels for San Basilio

In-depth information at Venice for Visitors:

• Venice for Cruisers (index of articles)

Port Web site:

• Venezia Terminal Passeggeri S.p.A.

Related page:

• Venice-to-Venice Cruises

Getting to Venice by cruise ship or ferry

Arriving in venice aboard a cruise ship or ferry from greece or croatia —how to get between the port and either the airport or downtown venice.

• Most cruises dock at the green buildings.
• Ferries to Greece (and elsewhere) usually pull into the lavender building or the violet building flanking the lower leftmost corner.
• Hydrofoils to Croatia and Slovenia often use the separate San Basilio dock in the very lower right-hand corner of the map.

Most cruise ships to or from Venice dock at one of two nearby ports in the southwest corner of the historic center (between the Piazzale Roma parking garages and Tronchetto, just south-southwest of the train station ).

The main port of Venice is called Stazione Marittima, and is where most Mediterranean cruises and other big ships dock.

Some smaller ships and ferries and hydrofoils to Croatia and Slovenia (and, in summer, even some larger boats when the Staz. Marittima's full) pull into the old S. Basilio ferry docks just to the southeast of Stazione Marittima along the Zattere.

The easiest way to figure out which one you need is, if you're just arriving in Venice, simply ask as you disembark "Stazione Marittima o San Basilio?"

If you're already in Venice and need to head to the port to catch a ship, make sure you ask beforehand which dock you want. (All things being equal, your best bet is to head first to the main Stazione Marittima; you can always make your way around to the other slip if need be.)

How to get to and from the Venice Airport and the cruise terminal

Many cruises that start or end in Venice include transportation to or from the airport.

If it's not included, do not buy the cruise line's "transfer" option.

It will inevitably cost far more than what you'd pay just doing it on your own. (The reason cruises are so relatively inexpensive is that they make virtually all their profits from shore excursions—that and on-board gambling and booze sales.)

The way to get between San Marco airport and Venice's cruise ship port that combines an almost reasonable price with a lovely journey is to hop on the Alilaguna public ferry blue line ( tel . +39-041-240-1701, Alilaguna.it ). ( » more .)

At the airport, grab Linea blu (blue) ferry, which makes its leisurely way around Venice, stopping several times and arrives at the Cruise Terminal—the end of the line—in 114 min. (a few early morning runs, from 6:10 to 8:10am, are express and only take 94 min.).

The ticket is only €15 , and that includes 1 suitcase and 1 piece of hand luggage (extra bags: €3 each).

Only chumps shell out more than €100 for a public water taxi. If you book one ahead of time, you can get a private transfer in a motorboat —exactly like the taxi—for for only €34.

Even better (a service the public water taxis do not offer): a representative will meet you on the airport arrivals hall and escort you to the boat.

(For about €4 more, the rep will accompany you all the way to your ship.)

The rub: That's the price if you book the whole boat. If just, say, four people are using it, the cost is more like €55 per person.

• Venice Airport Private Arrival Transfer
• Venice Airport Private Departure Transfer

If you want to save a few dollars off the cost of a private boat transfer, take a shared motorboat transfer instead. This is the best semi-provate boat deal for 2–3 people—still cheaper than a water taxi.

It makes up to nine scheduled stops; the irst one is the stop that is closest to the cruise terminal: Piazzale Roma (see "the bus" below for details on options to cover the remaining 900 yards to the port):

• Venice Marco Polo Airport Link Arrival Transfer
• Venice Marco Polo Airport Link Departure Transfer

You could also take a private water taxi from the airport to the cruise terminal, but it'll take nearly an hour and cost a dizzying €110 ( tel . +39-041-522-2303, www.motoscafivenezia.it ).

A taxi (regular, land taxi) from the airport to Stazione Marittima will take about 20 to 30 minutes and cost about €35.

Take the €6 ATVO airport shuttle bus ( tel . +39-0421-383-672, www.atvo.it ; 20 min.) to the end of the line at Piazzale Roma —which is very close to the port...but not quite there yet.

To cover the final 900 yards from Piazzale Roma to the cruise terminal, you can either:

• Hop the shuttle bus - Free, and runs every 15 or 20 minutes, but usually available only Saturdays through Mondays, during cruise season, when a big ship is in port.
• Take the Venice People Mover - A fancy name for a small shuttle train (picture one of those terminal-to-terminal connectors at a large airport). Buy the €1.30 ticket at a machine; get off at the first stop—"Marittima"—less than 2 minutes later. It runs Mon-Sat 7am–11pm, Sun 8am–10pm (Nov-Mar 8:30am–9pm).
• Take a (land) taxi - Takes about two minutes, and should run about €5 ( tel . +39-041-523-7774 or +39-041-595-2080).
• Walk - It's 10 to 15 uninspiring minutes along sometimes busy roads. Head away from Venice and up along the beginning of the bridge/causeway to the mainland, then turn left into the port area just after crossing above all the railroad tracks.

How to get to and from the Venice train station and the main cruise port

If you've arrived at the Venice train station , and want to get to the ship terminal, just turn right out of the station, walk up the Grand Canal a bit, and cross over that shiny new glass-and-steel Ponte della Costituzione to Piazzale Roma .

How to get to and from your hotel in downtown Venice and the main cruise port

Fastest and easiest option: Simply take the Alilaguna Blue public ferry ( tel . +39-041-240-1701, www.alilaguna.it ) from the San Marco-Giardinetti docks. It will cost €8.

More elegant option (direct to hotel): Take a private motorboat transfer either to/from your hotel's dock or to/from the nearest one (a representative will meet you in your hotel and take you to the launch site).

It costs €25–€35 (about €10 more after 9:30pm)—or, for about €4 more, you can get "full service" and the representative will accompany you the entire way:

• Venice Arrival Transfer: Cruise Port to Central Venice
• Venice Departure Transfer: Central Venice to Cruise Port

Otherwise, grab that brief land taxi ride (or walk in 15 minutes ) the 900 yards around to Piazzale Roma, which is a major stop for the vaporetti , Venice's public ferry system of water buses.

If you're made of money, you can take a private taxi acquei (water taxi )—though these motoscafi are monstrously expensive, they might actually make sense if you're toting all your luggage , since most other options involve a healthy walk coupled with an often crowded ride on Venice's floating equivalent to a public bus, the vaporetto (which will cost you €7 anyway).

The San Basilio docks

If you happen to land at (or need to get to) the San Basilio docks, in the southwest corner of Dorsoduro, to get downtown you can either hop a water taxi, or take the public ferries/water buses known as vaporetti (lines 2, N, 8, 61, 62) at the S. Basilio vaporetto stop, just east of the ferry docks along the Fondamente Zattere (the quaiside promenade) and across a bridge.

(By the way, they aren't trying to rip you off on the vaporetto . Even though this is the local equivalent of a public bus, the tickets really do cost €7. Welcome to Venice.)

If you're coming from or going to the airport from the San Basilio docks, your best best is to continue walking east-southeast along the Zattere 450 yards to the Zattere vaporetto stop, where you can grab blu (blue) line of the Alilaguna traghetto (ferry) to Marco Polo Airport in 1 hour and 20 minutes (€15; tel . +39-041-240-1701, www.alilaguna.it ).

The Venice cruise port and approach may change

There has been a strong movement to deflect large cruise ships from the familiar downtown docks, as they are having a deleterious effect on the fragile old city. This was to have happened in 2014, but the powerful cruise industry deep-sixed the plans to force larger ships to dock at Mestre instead of "downtown" Venice.

Those who actually care about the preservation of Venice did win one small concession: Ships will no longer cruise into Venice along the wide Giudecca Canal but rather come up from the south nearly to the mainland before turning to arrive at the old cruise port via a freshely, more deeply dredged Canale Contorta Sant'Angelo.

If nothing else, this new route will eliminate the despicably frequent occurance of some idiot captain, trying to give his passengers a thrill, nosing his boat— entirely illegally— into the mouth of the Grand Canal itself, sometimes getting stuck in the process, and nearly always damaging the already fragile city fabric.

There is also a plan to divert ferries (mostly from Greece and Istria in Croatia ) to the mainland docks. If that ever happens, and they have new maps of all of this, I will post them.

Tips & links

Stazione Marittima Venezia Piazzale Tronchetto Alilaguna ferry : B (seasonal) Vaporetto : Staz. Marittima or S. Basilio tel . +39-041-240-3000 www.vtp.it

• Venice cruise terminal
• Transport Venice airport—cruise terminal
• Alilaguna.it (public ferry: €15)
• Viator.com (shared boat: €30)
• Viator.com (private boat: from €34)
• Motoscafivenezia.it (water taxi: €110)
• Atvo.it (shuttle bus to Piazzale Roma: €6) 
• Actv.it (city bus to Piazzale Roma: €6)
• Transport Venice hotels—cruise terminal
• Actv.it (public vaporetto: €7)
• Alilaguna.it (public water shuttle: €8)
• Viator.com (private motorboat: €18–€35)
• Motoscafivenezia.it (water taxi: from €85)
• Sights & experiences
• Tourist info
• Turismovenezia.it
• Activities & tours
• ContextTravel.com
• SelectItaly.com
• City-Discovery.com
• Other useful sites
• Agendavenezia.org [events]
• Veneziaeventi.com [events]
• Veneziadavivere.com [events]
• Veniceforvisitors.com [guidesite]
• Venezia.net [guidesite/events]
• Veneziatoday.it [news/events]
• Booking.com
• Hostelz.com
• HotelsCombined.com
• Priceline.com
• Bedandbreakfast.com
• Bed-and-breakfast.it
• Hostelworld.com
• Bbitalia.it
• Karenbrown.com
• Apartments & villas
• Rentalo.com
• Homeaway.com
• Belvilla.com
• Interhomeusa.com
• Villasintl.com
• Craigslist.org
• Hostels & campgrounds
• Hostelbookers.com
• HostelsClub.com
• Residence hotels
• Biz-stay.com
• Agriturismo (farm stays)
• Terranostra.it
• Turismoverde.it
• Agriturist.it
• Public transit
• Actv.it ( vaporetto [public "water buses"]; traghetti; land buses)
• Motoscafivenezia.it (water taxis)
• Alilaguna.it (airport ferry)
• Amazon.com (print maps)
• Maps.venicexplorer.net (address locator)
• Smu.insula.it (route finder)
• Venice airports
• Veniceairport.it (Venice Marco Polo airport)
• Trevisoairport.it (Treviso airport ~30 min. away; used by some low-cost airlines)
• Airport transfers: By sea (to downtown Venice)
• Viator.com (shared boat: €30; private boat: from €34)
• Motoscafivenezia.it (water taxi: €100)
• Airport transfers: By land (to Piazzale Roma)
• Atvo.it (shuttle bus: €6)
• Actv.it (city bus: €6)
• Momondo.com
• AutoEurope.com
• CheapOair.com
• Cheapflights.com
• CheapTickets.com
• ItaliaRail.com
• Raileurope.com
• Trenitalia.com
• Venice rail station
• Venezia Santa Lucia: Grandistazioni.it , Fondamenta S. Lucia (in the NW corner of the city)
• Vaproetto to San Marco: 1, 2, N
• Driving/parking
• Asmvenezia.it (Piazzale Rome garage: most central, €23–29; S. Giuliano lot: farthest, €12)
• Veniceparking.it (Tronchetto garage: fairly central, €21)
• Autoeurope.com
• RentalCars.com
• CarRentals.com
• AutoSlash.com
• Europebycar.com
• Renaultusa.com
• Short-term leases
• Car resources
• Emergency service/tow: tel . 803-116
• Highway agency: Autostrade.it (traffic info, serivce areas, toll calculator, weather)
• Italian automotive club (~AAA): Aci.it
• ZTLs: Ztl-italia.blogspot.com (lightly outdated, but handy, links to cities' traffic-free zones)

Walks & Day tours

Longer tours.

• Intrepidtravel.com
• Gadventures.com
• Regional & long-distance bus (coach) info
• Orariautobus.it
• Italybus.it
• Oraribus.com

Related pages

• Map of the Stazione Marittima cruise terminal
• Arriving in Venice
• The Venice airports (Marco Polo and Treviso)
• Getting around Venice
• Taking the vaporetto (water bus or public ferry) in Venice
• Private water taxis in Venice
• Venice planning FAQ
• Saving money on cruises
• D.I.Y. shore excursions
• How to get into town from other major ports of call ( Civitavecchia/Rome , Livorno/Florence , Livorno/Pisa , Naples )
• Ferries to Greece (Patras, Igoumentisa, Kerkyra)
• Ferries to Croatia and Slovenia (Piran, Porec, Rovinj, and Pula in Istria)

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• CruiseMapper
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• Mediterranean - Black Sea Cruise Ports

Venice (Marghera, Italy)

Cruise port schedule, live map, terminals, news.

Region Mediterranean - Black Sea

Local Time 2024-04-15 18:53

Port Venice cruise ship schedule shows timetable calendars of all arrival and departure dates by month. The port's schedule lists all ships (in links) with cruises going to or leaving from Venice, Marghera, Italy. To see the full itineraries (ports of call dates and arrival / departure times) and their lowest rates – just follow the corresponding ship-link.

Venice (Venezia) is a major seaport in the Adriatic (northeastern Italy) and one of Italy's most visited ferry and cruise ports serving turnaround operations (roundtrip Mediterranean itineraries) and also connecting to North Africa and Middle East. The city is the capital of Veneto (one of Italy's 20 regions) and has population over 260,000.

Venezia was established in the 7th century as a cluster of total 124 island settlements. Current-day Venice City is spread across 118 isles ( Venetian Islands ) separated by canals and interlinked by 400+ bridges. All these isles are in the Venetian Lagoon - a bay between the mouths of two rivers (Po and Piave). The entire Venetian Lagoon and part of Venezia are designated as UNESCO Site.

Venice City is currently served by two cruise ports - Porto Venice (locode ITVCE, for smaller ships and riverboats) and Porto Marghera (for large liners).

• Marghera was developed to serve as the city's commercial/cargo and industrial port (outside downtown) and is one of Europe's largest coastal industrial zones.
• On April 9, 2022, was inaugurated Marghera's provisional dock/temporary berthing facility (at Liguria Quay/EUR 1,9 million project) dedicated to cruise liners.

The Port is managed by AdSPMAS/Autorita di Sistema Portuale del Mare Adriatico Settentrionale/Porti di Venezia e Chioggia (Port Authority of Venice and Chioggia).

(IMPORTANT) Port Venice cruise ship ban

On July 13, 2021, Italy permanently banned large cruise ships from entering the Venice Lagoon (via Giudecca Canal) and docking at downtown terminals. The ban (effective since August 1, 2021) prohibits all vessels with GT 25,000+ tonnes.

• As an alternative cruise port is being developed Port Marghera, with expected completion in 2021-Q4. By this ban, only small-sized vessels ( passenger ferries , cargo ships, riverboats) can navigate the Giudecca and enter Venice's downtown.
• In July 2021, Costa and MSC replaced Venice (as homeport) with other Italian ports. Passengers were actually collected at Venice, then via buses transported to a different Italian port ( Trieste or Monfalcone).

In mid-June 2020, RCI-Royal Caribbean replaced Venice (as homeport) with Ravenna . The change affected the Rhapsody of the Seas ' Mediterranean schedule 2021 (May 1 through October 23). Ravenna is approx 144 km (90 mi road distance) to the south from Venice, or ~2,5 hours drive (via SS309 / Ravenna-Chioggia road).

• The itinerary change was explained with "increased concerns regarding the future of cruising in Venice Italy due to port congestion and the ability to control port traffic".
• Customers with already purchased through RCI airfare received complimentary shuttle bus transportation (pre- and after-cruise). Optionally was offered purchasing bus transfers from both the Ravenna cruise terminal and/or the Venice Marco Polo Airport.

In September 2023, Fulvio Lino Di Blasio (Port Authority's President) announced that cruise ships will be allowed to use Stazione Marittima di Venezia starting in 2027-Q2. The new plan grants entry to relatively smaller vessels (with max volume 60,000 GT-tons and max length 250 m/820 ft). Like the big liners, they will be also banned from the San Marco basin (Guidecca Channel route) and instead will access Stazione Marittima using the Vittorio Emanuele III Channel route.

The larger cruise ships will continue to visit Venice via Port Marghera.

Fincantieri Marghera shipyard

Fincantieri (one of the world's largest shipbuilding companies ) owns the merchant shipbuilding yards Monfalcone (near Trieste ), Marghera (Venice), Sestri Ponente ( Genoa ), Ancona , Castellammare di Stabia (near Naples ) and Palermo Sicily . The company also owns the naval shipyards Riva Trigoso (Genoa) and Muggiano ( La Spezia ).

Next are listed all cruise ships constructed at the Marghera yard, by the year built.

• (1991) Pacific Dawn, Costa Classica
• (1993) MS Statendam, MS Maasdam, Costa Romantica
• (1994) MS Ryndam
• (1995) Sun Princess, Carnival Destiny-Sunshine
• (1996) MS Veendam, Dawn Princess
• (1997) MS Rotterdam
• (1998) Sea Princess, Disney Magic
• (1999) MS Volendam, Carnival Triumph-Sunrise, Disney Wonder
• (2000) MS Zaandam, MS Amsterdam
• (2000) P&O Oceana, Carnival Victory-Radiance
• (2001) MS Zuiderdam, plus two cruiseferies (Pride of Hull, Pride of Rotterdam)
• (2002) MS Oosterdam, Carnival Conquest
• (2003) Carnival Glory, Costa Fortuna, Costa Magica
• (2004) MS Westerdam, Carnival Valor, P&O Arcadia
• (2005) Costa Concordia, Carnival Liberty
• (2006) MS Noordam, Costa Serena, Carnival Splendor
• (2007) MS Eurodam, Queen Victoria, Carnival Freedom, P&O Ventura
• (2008) Ruby Princess, Costa Luminosa, Costa Pacifica
• (2009) MS Nieuw Amsterdam, Carnival Dream, Costa Deliziosa, P&O Azura
• (2010) Queen Elizabeth, Costa Favolosa, Carnival Magic
• (2011) Costa Fascinosa, Carnival Breeze
• (2013) Royal Princess
• (2014) Regal Princess, Costa Diadema
• (2015) P&O Britannia, Ponant Le Lyrial, Viking Star
• (2016) MS Koningsdam, Carnival Vista, Seabourn Encore, Seven Seas Explorer, Viking Sea
• (2017) Majestic Princess, MSC Seaside, Viking Sky, Viking Sun, Silver Muse
• (2018) MS Nieuw Statendam, Carnival Horizon, MSC Seaview, Viking Orion, Seabourn Ovation
• (2019) Sky Princess, Costa Venezia, Carnival Panorama, Viking Jupiter
• (2020) Enchanted Princess, Costa Firenze, Scarlet Lady, Seven Seas Splendor
• (2021) MS Rotterdam, MSC Seashore, Valiant Lady, Viking Venus
• (2022) Discovery Princess, MSC Seascape, Resilient Lady, Norwegian Prima, Cunard-tbn, Viking Mars, Viking Neptune
• (2023) Norwegian Viva, MSC Explora 1, Virgin-tbn, Princess-tbn
• (2024) NCL-tbn, MSC Explora 2
• (2025) NCL-tbn, MSC Explora 3, Princess-tbn
• (2026) NCL-tbn, MSC Explora 4
• (2027) NCL-tbn

The list of brands/shipowners includes CCL-Carnival , MSC , Costa , Princess , HAL-Holland America , Virgin , P&O (UK and Australia) , Disney , Viking OCEAN , Ponant .

Port Venice

Porto di Venezia is a seaport in northeastern Italy, ranked Italy's 8th largest commercial port and also among the largest and most important cruise ports in southern Europe (Mediterranean Sea). As shipping volumes, in 2006 the port handled around 30,937 million cargo tons and over 1,453 million passengers (ferry and cruise).

Port Venice is currently the 2nd largest Mediterranean cruise port (after Barcelona ) by passenger volumes. However, due to environmentalist campaigns (since Concordia's sinking in 2012) to stop large-sized liners in Venice (vessels over 10 decks high), Port Venice started progressively to lose ship calls. In 2017, their number dropped over 10% - from 529 (in 2016) to 470. Cruiseship passenger numbers decreased by 11,4% (to around 1,4 million), which resulted in an income fall. Since the mid-1990s, cruising tourism is an important income source for the city and its citizens.

Environmentalists demand larger cruise vessels to stop navigating along Guidecca Canal to reach the seaport, as the route takes them within just 300 m (1000) ft of Piazza San Marco (St Mark’s Square). Besides the visual impact, other concerns are the damage caused by marine diesel engine pollution and the vessels' water displacement. New port regulations will require cruise ships to reduce emissions by switching to LSDO (lower-sulfur diesel fuel) before entering Venice Lagoon .

The controversy over whether cruise ships should be allowed into Venice was heightened right after Costa Concordia ship's capsizing near Giglio Island. Following the accident, the government issued a law banning cruise liners with gross tonnage over 96,000 GT from navigating the Guidecca Canal. The number of smaller cruise vessels (over 40,000 GT) along the channel was limited to 5 per day. In 2014, this law came into effect, just to be thrown out 2 months later by the Venice Court of Appeal.

In mid-June, 2017, over 18,000 Venetians voted in an unofficial referendum about banning large cruise vessels that navigate near St Mark Square. Activists set up a total of 60 polling booths, where 17,874 citizens voted to eject the ships which produce waves shaking the city's wooden foundations.

• In September 2017, three of the world's largest cruise companies ( Carnival , Royal Caribbean , MSC ) run shipping simulations on large liners navigating the Vittorio Emanuele III Channel route (Stazione Marittima) as a proposed alternative to the banned Guidecca Channel route.
• Since November 2017, Venice seaport access (through Giudecca Canal) is denied to cruise liners with GT tonnage over 100,000 tons. Instead, the vessels are rerouted to Port Marghera, from where passengers are ferried to downtown.

Since September 2019, Venice City charges day-trippers a tax of up to EUR 10 / USD 11 pp, which brings tens of millions of EUR annually. Of the ~24 million tourists in 2019, ~15 million were day-trippers. The new tourist tax (entrance fee) was approved by the Italian Government and contained in the country's 2019 budget. The new charge is included in the cost of hotels, trains, buses and cruise ship tickets. The tax ranges between EUR 2.50 to EUR 10 per person, depending on arrival time (low or high season).

Regularly scheduled cruiseferries link Venice City with Ancona and also with Slovenia ( Piran ), Croatia ( Pula , Rovinj , Umag, Porec) and Greece ( Kerkyra-Corfu , Igoumenitsa , Patras ).

• Venice-Piran route is served by Venezia Lines with 1 weekly crossing (travel time 2,5 hours).
• Venice-Pula route is served by Venezia Lines (4 weekly crossings) and Atlas Kompas (3 weekly crossings), travel time is 3 hours.
• Venice-Porec route is served by Venezia Lines (7 weekly crossings) and Atlas Kompas (5 weekly crossings), travel time is 3-3,5 hours.
• Venice-Rovinj route is served by Venezia Lines (7 weekly crossings) and Atlas Kompas (3 weekly crossings), travel time is 2,5-3,5 hours.
• Venice-Umag route is served by Venezia Lines (1 weekly crossing) and Atlas Kompas (1 weekly crossing), travel time is 2,5-3,5 hours.
• Venice-Corfu route is served by Minoan Lines (2 weekly crossings, time 26,5 hours) and ANEK Superfast (1 weekly crossing, time 25 hours).
• Venice-Igoumenitsa route is served by Minoan Lines (2 weekly crossings, time 28,5 hours) and ANEK Superfast (2 weekly crossings, time 25,5 hours).
• Venice-Patras route is served by Minoan Lines (3 weekly crossings, time 30,5 hours) and ANEK Superfast (2 weekly crossings, time 32 hours).
• Venice- Ancona route is served by Minoan Lines with 2 weekly crossings (travel time 6,5 hours).

MOSE - Venice flood barrier project

MOSE project is designed to protect Venice and Venetian Lagoon from flooding caused by high tides (up to 3 m / 10 ft). The integrated system consists of rows of large mobile gates at 3 inlets (Lido, Malamocco and Chioggia) through which Adriatic Sea water enters and leaves the Venetian Lagoon.

These gates are able to temporarily isolate the lagoon from the sea during high tides as they open and close separately thus controlling the water flow.

MOSE system's control center is in Venice's Arsenal, where 9 people constantly monitor the lagoon's conditions. The monitoring staff's training started in 2011 by simulating real-time flood defense operations. During that period was also collected data about water levels, waves, water pressure, and fresh river flood.

Flooding due to high tides mires Venice during winter months. During high tide forecasts, sirens all over the city sound a warning, and real-time information is provided (online and via mobile phones). Other measures are setting up temporary elevated platforms in city parts with heavy pedestrian traffic. High tides usually last 2 1/2 hours. The flood of November 4, 1966, saw water levels reaching up to 194 cm (6 ft). This was the end of the agriculture in the lagoon and also resulted in the death of the majority of its plants. Previously, the lagoon was a winemaking region.

The Mose barrier concept was first proposed in 1988. The consortium Venezia Nuova was contracted by Italy's Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport. Construction works (simultaneously at all 3 lagoon inlets) started in 2003. The project also included other anti-flood measures - coastal reinforcement, raising quaysides, and lagoon improvements. The project was 85% completed in 2014. In 2016, the gates arrived and were inserted into their concrete foundations.

The project's total cost was EUR 5,4 billion (GBP 3,9 billion), with its completion scheduled for 2020.

Construction works on the MOSE system were slowed due to investigations into corruption, with allegations of bribery and illegal political party financing. The investigation resulted in 35 arrests (in June 2014). Among the arrested was Consorzio Venezia Nuova's former president, who was accused of diverting funds to Venice's mayor for financing his campaign for office in 2010.

Construction works included pre-building concrete foundations (23,000 tons each) and then lowering them into the lagoon. Gates have spares (for each inlet), which allow being removed every 5 years (for maintenance) without interrupting the barrier's service. All hinges on the gates are equipped with a waterproof camera that permits removal operations to be accurately monitored and controlled.

The commercial harbor is impacted each time the gates are lifted. The amount of electricity used for the operations is also considerable.

According to CLIA (data 2019), in Italy, the ship cruise industry generates an annual turnover of ~EUR 16,2 billion (USD 19,1B / GBP 14B) and supports 120,000+ jobs (direct and indirect).

Venice cruise terminal

Port Venice is the leader not only in one traffic segment. It is the largest Mediterranean cruise port (in terms of annual passenger shipping numbers) and also main cargo port. Roundtrip cruise itineraries from Venice (homeport) go mainly to ports in Adriatic Sea (Croatia, Montenegro, Albania) and Aegean Sea (Greece and Turkey). Port Venice has 10 multifunctional (cargo) terminals and 6 dedicated cruise piers/passenger terminals.

Venice Cruise Port Terminal (VCT or Terminal Venezia Passeggeri) is Europe's 3rd busiest cruise port and world's 13th largest. Each year, Port Venice handles thousand cruise ship calls and over 1 million passengers. The seaport is located at the end of Venice (the road to the continental Italy, at the 4th km).

The seaport is in the Venetian Lagoon and the Porto di Lido channel links it to Adriatic Sea (Mediterranean). Over 20 cruise companies are hosted by Venice Cruise Terminal. Major companies, like NCL Norwegian Cruise Lines, Carnival, Royal Caribbean and MSC, homeport large-sized liners here.

The cruise port has 3 main quays, the biggest being Marittima. It has 3 passenger terminals with capacities to handle world's largest liners. The cruise port comprises TM Quay, Piave Quay (berth 117), Tagliamento Quay (berths 107, 109, 110, 112) and Isonzo Quay (berths 18 and 20). Two terminals serve smaller ships - San Basilio (berths 29 to 31) and Santa Marta (berths 24 to 28). All these docks are in the Giudecca Canal.

On November 8, 2017, was officially announced the decision to not allow Venice seaport access (through Giudecca Canal) to cruise liners of GT tonnage over 100,000 tons. Instead, the vessels are rerouted to Port Marghera, from where passengers are ferried to Venice.

Venice is known to be the “Queen of the Adriatic”. It is one of the most romantic world cities. Venice can enchant anyone with its breathtaking palazzos, canals and beautiful bridges. This city is so spectacular, that you will need at least three days to enjoy some of its wonders. Spend a day in a gondola at the narrow channels and be amazed by Venice. Go to Murano, the Venetian glassmaking center, or visit some of the famous places near the St Marks Square:

• Basilica: the place where you can see Pala d’Oro. This famous altarpiece dates since 976. It is made of solid gold by the Byzantine goldsmiths and it has precious gems encrustations.
• Doge’s Palace: situated right to the Basilica. You can see the Council Hall, plaques of the Doges (all 76, except Doge 55) and the world-famous Bridge of Sighs (the last walking place for the criminals before their transfer from the palace into the jail).
• Campanile: dating since 912. The Campanile is the third building you have to see. There is astonishing city view from the top of it. This is not the exact original of the building, but a rebuilding with the original materials after its collapse in 1902.

From Venice City are offered tours to Bologna - located approx 130 km (80 ml) to the southwest. Train travel time is 1,5 hours.

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City tours and shore excursions.

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Venice - user reviews and comments

Cruise Maven

Cruising the World One Port at a Time

How to Navigate Between Venice Italy Cruise Ports, Train Station and More

By: Sherry Laskin · Updated On: September 24, 2022

Gondolas and canals. Romance and intrigue. Mystery and magic, Venice, Italy has it all. But there’s one major change for passengers that hope to cruise past Piazza San Marco.

As of July 2021, cruise ships weighing over 25,000 tons are now banned from using the Venice Cruise Port. This means that the view of sailing past iconic St Mark’s Square, and into the narrow Giudecca Canal is over. 

With cruise ships will no longer able to dock in the city-center port, they’ll be rerouted to the mainland and to the industrial port of Marghera. 

This creates an entirely new set of directions to get to the Venice city-center, airport, train station and the other embarkation ports.

There’s not much more to say about this iconic view in Venice. Simply amazing.

How to Go from Porto Marghera Cruise Port to Venice

Porto Marghera is where almost all cruise ships will have to dock when visiting Venice. The new law forbids cruise ships from sailing past Piazza San Marco to or from the city cruise port. This could cause your few days in Venice before or after your cruise to be a little more complicated. 

The good news is that there’s a train at Porto Marghera that will whisk you into the heart of Venice at Santa Lucia train station, in just seven minutes. Another reason to make sure that you pack light so you can manage to haul your suitcases.

Once you arrive at Santa Lucia Station, this is when you need to know how to get around a city that doesn’t have any street transportation. 

Most people fly directly to Venice for either their vacation or to board a cruise ship. Others may opt for a river cruise Or like me, spend a night or two in Paris and then take an overnight train from Paris to Venice .

It’s a memorable sight as your train slowly crosses the Venice Lagoon and the Venetian skyline appears on the horizon as you enter heart of this island-city. 

Getting Between Porto Marghera, Santa Lucia Station, Airport and Hotels

Although the new big ship cruise port in Marghera isn’t very pretty or scenic, it is easier to get into Venice with only taking one train and you’re there.

But first, there are some basics to learn. Knowing the difference between a vaporetto or private water taxi is crucial. Riding in a private water taxi, in my opinion, something everyone should try at least once. It’s expensive as a solo traveler, but I would do it again without hesitation. 

Difference Between a Vaporetto and Water Taxi

This used to confuse me and I’ll clarify for you. Think of a vaporetto as a public bus on the water. There are two companies that operate vaporetti (plural for vaporetto); ACTV and Alilaguna.

ACTV is best for traveling around Venice and the islands. Alilaguna, as far as cruise passengers are concerned, is mainly for connecting between the airport and cruise port. Links to both companies are at the bottom of this article.

If you want to avoid crowds and glide through the canals on your own private “yacht” then opt for the more expensive water taxi.

Think of these as land-based taxis back home. This is your best option for early morning flights TO the airport from your hotel. Yes, there is rush hour on the canals.

First view of Venice as you exit the Santa Lucia train station.

To and From Santa Lucia Train Station to the Former Large Ship Cruise Port

If you’re booked on a very small ship or taking a river cruise from Venice, this is still where you’ll board the ship. 

Going from Santa Lucia Station may seem daunting but it’s actually easy. You can even walk part of the distance if your luggage isn’t too heavy. 

• After you exit the train station, turn right and walk along the Grand Canal for a short distance.
• Cross the Ponte della Costituzione glass and steel bridge to Piazzale Roma.

From Piazzale Roma

There are a few choices to reach the nearby Stazione Marittima (former large ship cruise port). Remember, as of July 2021, ships over 25,000 tons are not permitted to dock here. They are now rerouted to Porto Marghera, an industrial port. 

Once again, if you’re on a very small ship or river ship, this is where those ships will dock. 

• If your arms are tired from hauling luggage, you can take a taxi for a few euros right to the terminal from Piazzale Roma
• Wait for or hurry to the free shuttle bus which runs about every 15 minutes
• Take a really short tram/train ride on the driverless People Mover. Sort of like the connector trams at airports. You’ll find a ticket machine inside the glass-enclosed ticket kiosk. You’ll quickly reach the Marittima exit (cruise terminal) – it’s the first stop along the way – in only a few minutes.
• If you’re traveling really light and feeling adventurous, you can walk to the cruise terminal from Piazzale Roma. Start walking as if leaving Venice, following the busy causeway that leads over to the mainland. Once you’ve crossed over the water and train tracks, turn left into the terminal. But I really don’t recommend walking over to the port.

Take a Vaporetto Part of the Way

• After exiting Santa Lucia train station, in front of you is the magnificent Grand Canal. You’ll find the ACTV vaporetto floating docks to your left. You want to buy a ticket for either #1 or #2 vaporetto going to Piazzale Roma.
• Be prepared for a 30-40 minute boat ride. #1 is a local water bus and #2 is an express water bus. Both will give you a lovely waterborne introduction to Venice.
• Once you arrive at Piazzale Roma, follow the options above.

Transportation to Your Hotel

Whether you arrive by air or train, the public vaporetti (plural for vaporetto) and private water taxis are waiting to take you to your hotel as soon as you step out of either terminal. Here’s where it gets tricky and a little preparation can go a long way.

Remember, there are only two ways to get around Venice: by foot or by boat.

Most important: pack light. The less luggage you have to haul around, the happier you will be. It’s probably more daunting to arrive into Venice by train than depart. And getting to or from the main cruise port, Stazione Marittima, is an experience worth planning in advance.

If you’re arriving into Porto Maghera, it’s easier to get to the city center, as I mentioned earlier in this article. 

At the Stazione Marittima Cruise Terminal via my water taxi. You won’t see these big ships here anymore.

Venice Cruise Port – Stazione Marittima

You can hire a private water taxi (90 € or more) or hop aboard a public vaporetto to travel between Santa Lucia train terminal and either of the two cruise ship ports.

It’s the walk between where your water vaporetto or water taxi docks, at either Venice cruise port – the larger Stazione Marittima cruise terminal or the adjacent smaller San Basilio port, that can be a potential nightmare if you’re not prepared.

San Basilio Cruise Port

If you are lucky and your smaller ship is docked at San Basilio, you are a short walk along a paved path to the San Basilio vaporetto and water taxi station.

It is likely, when docked at San Basilio, that your ship will run a 2-minute shuttle bus ride between the ship and the San Basilio water taxi/vaporetto floating station. This was the case on my recent Viking Star cruise from Barcelona to Venice.

From your hotel or train station to your ship at Stazione Marittima, luggage is usually checked right where either the water taxi or vaporetto lets you off, assuming that cruise ship representatives and luggage trollies are present.

On a cruise a couple of years ago, arriving by private water taxi, I was able to check my biggest suitcase to send to the ship. But because I had a case with my computer, another packed full with camera equipment and yet another small case with makeup/breakables.

I ended up pulling three small but very heavy two-wheeled suitcases for what seemed like miles.

My pre-arranged private water taxi to get to the cruise terminal.

Arriving or Departing From the Airport

You’ll still have to get to or from the airport (mainland) and Venice Island. If arriving, look for signs to the water taxis and vaporettos just outside the arrival area and it’s the same procedure as above at the cruise port.

Take a public vaporetto (water bus) to your hotel or cruise ship if you don’t have much luggage.

Getting to/from Your Hotel in Venice

Many times for new visitors, finding their hotel means walking and pulling luggage on cobblestones, up steps and over bridges and sometimes up several flights of stairs if you’ve chosen a penzione.

INSIDER TIP:  choose accommodations near a water bus (vaporetto) stop.

The #1 vaporetto runs between the cruise terminal, the train station and St. Mark’s Square and other stops in-between which may be convenient to your hotel. Note: Your vaporetto may be crowded so be prepared. This is why I love the private water taxis.

Note:  Since private water taxis can hold up to six-eight people, you could ask others in the water taxi queue if they’d like to share, provided of course that you are all headed to the same destination.

Entrance to the Hotel Danieli for the private water taxis.

Believe it or not , there are land porters for hire to haul your luggage from point to point. Either phone or ask your hotel concierge for a list of companies. 

READ NEXT:   My review of the glamourous Hotel Danieli in Venice

They’re expensive but might be worth it. This saved my sanity when I had to change hotels from the Hotel Danieli to the Westin Europa, on totally opposite sides of St. Mark’s Square.

Yes, people carry their luggage up and over bridges to get to their hotels.

Buy Your Vaporetto Pass Online

You can buy your water bus (vaporetto) pass before you leave home. Simply visit the ACTV website  where you can view all of the options. This will cost about 7.50 € pp and it makes several passenger stops. This is not the private water taxi service. For that, you look for a private water taxi at the dock or arrange it online or through your concierge. It’s at least 90 € but it’s the entire boat.

Alilaguna operates several lines, noted by their color. But for going from airport to cruise port, they depart every 15 minutes. Click the link for schedules and to purchase online.

Reserve Your Private Water Taxi

Some private water taxis add a mandatory meet and greet at the train station and charge for the service.

But the upside is that you don’t have to pull/push/drag your luggage through the station, down the steps and through the crowds at the waterfront and then determine which water taxi is the one you reserved.

Princess cruise ship on the Grand Canal 

Cruise ships on the Venetian Lagoon in Venice are gone. Conservation groups finally won the battle of the behemoths, citing erosion and pollution as the two main reasons. 

You can’t blame the Venetians for their drive to preserve this easily flooded and slowly sinking magnificent island.

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About Sherry Laskin

I'm the editor and creator of CruiseMaven.com, a solo traveler cruising the world without flying. I hope my articles and photos entertain, advise and inspire you to travel the world without flying. Take a breath...stop for a local meal and a glass of wine along the way.

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April 2, 2022 at 11:59 am

Hi Barry, Thank you for reading my article. Yours is the first question I’ve received since Venice banned the large ships. I’m guessing you are cruising with Royal Caribbean aboard the Brilliance. Because there is no direct train from Venice Santa Lucia to Ravenna, I would suggest taking the ship’s shuttle service that is most likely offered at the Venice airport to Ravenna. Check with your travel agent or contact your cruise line. It’s not a short jaunt between the two cruise ports. Definitely think about arranging transportation with the cruise line from the Venice airport. It would be a shame to get all the way to the airport in Venice and not be able to spend the day there, so maybe they offer a pre-cruise shore excursion to Venice. I hope this is somewhat helpful. Enjoy your cruise and thank you again for writing. I am sorry if I can’t be of more help.

March 27, 2022 at 4:25 am

Hi Sherry, We have a group of 8 people – arrive to Venice Marco Polo Airport on Sept 10, 2022 and need to get to “Ravenna Cruise Port, Porto Corsini 48123, Ravenna – Italy on Sept 11, 2022. Please advise is there Airport Shuttle or Water taxi from Venice Marco Polo Airport to the Ravenna Cruise Port?

Best, Barry Ma

November 14, 2021 at 10:20 am

Hi Margaret, Thank you very much for your kind words. And lucky you for going to Venice! You didn’t mention your ship’s cruise port but unless you’re on a very small ship, you will most likely (if the law should suddenly change) have to now board your ship at Porto Marghera, an ugly industrial port. From the airport you can can hire a taxi, take a vaporetto (they’re right outside the airport) or reserve a private water taxi. Most likely and the easiest to do would be to arrange transfers through the cruise line. They’ll collect you and your luggage and head straight to the ship.

After your cruise, it’s an easy 10-minute train ride from Porto Marghera to Venice’s Santa Lucia Station. From there, you have only two choices; walk to your hotel if it is very close (remember there are bridges and cobblestones and narrow streets), pile into a vaporetto, or hire a private water taxi.

Thank you again for taking the time to read my article and submit your question. Have a wonderful vacation in Italy.

November 10, 2021 at 2:57 pm

Great Article! My friends and I are heading to Venice in June for a 7 night cruise then returning to Venice to stay for 2 nights before heading home. What is the best way to get from the airport to the cruise port? Thanks in advance!

January 27, 2020 at 8:20 pm

Hi Debra, Thank you for reading my Venice article. I highly recommend that they do not attempt to walk from the cruise port to the People Mover to the bridge and train station. The bridge that have to cross is the Ponte della Costituzione, a new, very long glass bridge that can also be slippery when wet. Please have them take a look at this bridge before making a decision. With five people, they could (you could do it for them) reserve a private water taxi and split the cost. I think this would be the most convenient, less stressful and certainly less strenuous way to get to Santa Lucia train station. It should only cost about $20 USD or less with all five of them. I hope this is helpful. Once you see the bridge, you’ll know what I mean. Tourists hauling luggage trip, fall or twist ankles because of the way the steps are arranged. Thank you again for reading my article and taking the time to write. Best, Sherry

January 27, 2020 at 6:07 pm

Hi Sherry, Great information. I am a travel agent and haven’t been to Venice in about 10 years. I have 5 ladies (2 in their 70’s and 1 of the younger gals has difficulty with a limp). They are arriving May 9th on the RCL Rhapsody of the Seas. They want to take their luggage to the Trains Station and store it there while they sightsee. My question to you, how should they get from the cruise port to the station? Can they get on the people mover and if so, should we purchase the tickets ahead of time? Thank you, Debra

January 6, 2020 at 12:08 pm

Hi James, I sort of thought that once you saw the bridge and the very low steps, it would be do-able. For your train ticket, if it was me and I knew the time and date that I’d leave from Santa Lucia to Rome, I’d get my ticket ahead of time here. Mainly because I don’t want to fumble with getting out my wallet and guard my luggage to purchase my ticket. In your case and with two people, one is the “luggage guard” while the other gets the ticket. It’s always easier with four eyes. I’ve purchased tickets on the fly at Roma Termini using the kiosk and all was fine, though I was constantly watching my luggage and carry-on.

Which brings me to the next point, when you get to Roma Termini, walk straight head towards the main doors, directly and firmly from the train platform to the taxi rank directly in front of the station. Maybe you’ve already been in and through Termini in which case, please disregard my warning. If anyone asks you if you need directions or assistance, a loud, firm “NO” will do and keep walking. Head out the doors to the taxi. I’ve arrived into Termini at 10pm and there were a few panhandlers working the taxi line, too.

And one more suggestion, at Santa Lucia, there are handicapped (accessible) ramps on both sides of the station that makes it much easier to enter the station instead of the long flight of steps in the front. If you’re early, once you’re in the station…all the way in the left corner (as you face the trains) is a coffee shop. One of you can sit with the luggage while the other gets coffee. Have a fabulous cruise! And thank you very much for reading my article and taking the time to write. Best, Sherry

January 6, 2020 at 12:08 am

thank you Sherry. after google I think it will be ok for me to carry the luggege over the bridge. one more question: is it easy to buy train tickets to rome at Santa Lucia stations or I have to buy them in advance ? thank you again. James

January 3, 2020 at 1:35 am

Hi James, Thank you for your questions. With your two large pieces of luggage, you will end up dragging them up the steps and there are a lot of step. If you google “Calatrava Bridge Venice” you’ll seen what I mean. And with such a long bridge, going back and forth twice would be a long haul. On the positive side, the rise of the steps is very low and thousands of people bump their luggage up, across and down the bridge every day. If your luggage wheels are sturdy, I’d say that’s the way to do it. I don’t know you or your wife’s ages, strength or mobility, but when you see the photo of the bridge, I think you’ll have a much better idea. I’d bet it’s at least 200 steps total, up and over and down.

For your second question, you can buy your People Mover ticket at the station from the kiosk. Have euro change with you, enough for both of you. So far, the cost is 1.50euro per person. An alternative is to take a taxi from outside the cruise terminal to Maestre and then a train into Venice Santa Lucia station.

Your ship’s front desk will also be able to give you a map and maybe more advice.

Thank you again for reading my article and have a wonderful cruise and time in Venice. Sherry

January 2, 2020 at 12:48 am

hi, sherry: I plan to use the people mover and walk over bridge to the station. only thing I am worrying about is the luggage. I an d my wife have two large luggage and one small luggage. is it ok for me to carry two large luggage to walk over the stairs to cross the bridge, or one by one each time? total how many stairs ? also is it ok if I just go to the train station and buy the ticket? or I have to buy the ticket in advance? thank you

August 10, 2019 at 11:09 pm

Hi Annette, Thank you for your comment. In a perfect world, one would think that you should be able to get your luggage and take the people mover, walk etc. to Santa Lucia in time for the 10:25am train. However, in my opinion, that is cutting it a little close. You could ask MSC when you are onboard for priority debarkation. Assuming that the ship is cleared at exactly 8am (or maybe earlier!) then if you do not put your luggage outside of your door the night before and do a self-assist early walk-off, then yes, it definitely could be possible.

I am confused as to why you are going to Civitavecchia via Florence and Pisa for six hours. The train to Roma Termini is about a 3 1/2 hour ride and then to connect to Civitavecchia would be another 45 minute train ride. Maybe for the chance to go through Pisa and Florence.

I hope your connection works. I’ve taken an 11 am train from Santa Lucia on debarkation day, but as a solo, I opted to share a private water taxi with two other people from my ship. We arrived at the train station with about a half-hour to spare. There is a busy coffee shop at the Venice terminal if you should be lucky and have time before your train arrives. Keep an eye on your luggage. Have a wonderful cruise! Please let me know if this works out for you. Sherry

August 9, 2019 at 7:38 am

Hi Sherry We are sailing with MSC and will be docking in Venice at 08h00 (Oct 2019). I would like to book the 10h25 train departing from Santa Lucia to Florence, Pisa and Civitavecchia , which will take about 6 hrs. We plan to use the people mover and walk over bridge to the station. Is there enough time to catch that train? Is one able to request an early disembarkation from MSC Info desk on the ship? Kind regards, Annette

June 4, 2018 at 10:42 am

Hi Nicole, No worries. Your best bet is to contact a travel agent who can find a bus to Florence for your group. I’m sorry I can’t help you with it. From the Marittima to Santa Lucia train station, as you exit the port, follow the signs and you can take the People Mover (little tram ride) to the Piazzale Roma. From there, you’ll cross the glass and metal Calatrava Bridge. It’s only a 10-minute walk to the station. Otherwise you can take the #1 vaporetto somewhere around 7Euros. The staff onboard your ship will be able to answer any logistical questions that you may have. I hope you have a wonderful time in Italy. Sherry

June 2, 2018 at 10:16 pm

I apologize if this sounds redundant, but can you again explain how to get from Marittima to St Lucia train station via water bus and its associated price. After the cruise we would like to visit Florence. Also is there a bus that goes from Venice to Florence? if there is can you please give directions and info for that. My very small group is REALLY trying to keep the price low….any added links are much appreciated.

May 31, 2018 at 7:52 pm

I apologize if this sounds redundant, but can you again explain how to get from Marittima to St Lucia train station via waterbus and its associated price. After the cruise we would like to visit Florence. Also is there a bus that goes from Venice to Florence? if there is can you please give directions and info for that. My very small group is REALLY trying to keep the price low….any added links are much appreciated.

May 3, 2018 at 5:21 am

Hi Marisa, To get from Venice Marittima to Piazza San Marco, yes, a vaporetto is the least expensive and easiest way. You can also arrange a private water taxi, but it is very expensive, around 80-100 Euro. The alternative is to take the land-way with the People Mover tram to Piazza Roma. If you like to walk, you can get to Piazza San Marco that way, too. Have a great time in Italy! Sherry

April 27, 2018 at 10:20 am

To get from the cruise port to Piazza San Marco you have to go by vaporetto ? or you can use some other public transport.

March 21, 2018 at 11:54 am

Hi Deb, Lucky you! I love Budapest. Be sure to use Budapest Keleti station (and be sure to admire the beautiful train station!).

For Venice, I think your best, easiest and least expensive and stressful hotel option would be in Maestre, right across the water from Venice island. The city is directly on the train route to Vienna. There’s a Best Western hotel (they’re very nice in Europe) right across from the train station. Then you can zip in and out of Venice via the train and on departure day to Vienna and Budapest, you’re right there.

Another nice feature of staying a couple of nights in Maestre is that it is accessible from the Marittima cruise terminal by land instead of staying in Venice proper and worrying about getting to your hotel from the ship.

Have a wonderful time! Oh! When you’re on the Railjet to Budapest, be sure to order (for a fee) their homemade Hungarian Goulash. I thought it was really good…and fun to have a “local” meal while in transit! Sherry

March 20, 2018 at 7:31 am

We are arriving from Holland Cruise and would like to stay an extra day or two in Venice, before leaving by train for an additional week ending up in Budapest. We are thinking train from Venice to Vienna to Budapest. Any thoughts of where to stay in Venice and how long to stay? Ship arrives Saturday June 16 @ 1pm and we are officially off the ship @ 6am Sunday June 17. We are hoping to be in Budapest on Thursday June 21st. Where to stay in Vienna, near train? Anyplace else we should look at?

March 15, 2018 at 11:37 am

Hi Peggy, The least expensive and easiest way to Marittima Cruise Terminal is to get a hotel in Maestra, just across the water from Venice Island. From there it’s a quick taxi or bus ride to the terminal. If they’re on Venice itself, a hotel close to Piazzale Roma and take either the People Mover tram, taxi or free shuttle to Marittima would be the second choice. If they are staying downtown near Piazza San Marco, they’ll need to haul their luggage to a vaporetto stop, probably over bridges. They will then take the Alilaguna Blue water bus from San Marco-Giardinetti docks to Marittima cruise terminal. It will cost somewhere around 8 euro.

I hope this helps.

March 13, 2018 at 7:34 pm

I have clients who are arriving by Rome to Venice for 1 night and then taking cruise from Venice next day

How do they get from Venice Island to the Port of Venice —easiest and least expensive

thank you Peggy

March 9, 2018 at 6:54 pm

You are on the right path. Yes, I would suggest the #1 Water Bus/vaporetto. It will be somewhat scenic as you make your way to the Rialto Bridge stop. If you can budget for it, I like to suggest to first time visitors to reserve a water taxi. Yes, it is more expensive, but for some first timers, it takes away any anxiety. Since you are a “we” that means you’ll have four eyes to help you navigate through this incredible city. You can always ask the ticket seller for directions…most have a good grasp of English. Have a wonderful time! Sherry

March 9, 2018 at 3:00 am

Hi we disembarking at Marittima Port and need to get to Hotel Rialto which I understand is at Rialto Bridge, we haven’t been to Venice before so have little idea on which Water Bus we should get in order to get to the Rialto- can you guide me – I’ve been looking at the ACTV Water Bus Map Routes and thinking we need get on either the 1 or 2 line which both stop at Rialto Bridge is the correct? you help is soooo appreciated as we are very very green.

January 8, 2018 at 4:56 pm

Lucky you! It’s easy to get from the Maritima Cruise Terminal to Santa Lucia train station. The most expensive way (and most scenic) is to arrange for a private water taxi. The ride to the station will include a trip down the Grand Canal, too. That will run about $120 USD. It can be arranged onboard. Alternatively, walk from the Maritima Cruise Terminal to the People Mover and take it to the Piazzale Roma exit. From there you can walk to the Venice train station if you do not have much luggage, due to steps over bridges, or take a Vaporetto to the station. Also, your cruise ship might have transfers available to take you from the cruise terminal to Maestre, the train station on the mainland.

Please read my post again, only read the directions in reverse. You can also look at my map here to get your bearings.

Have a wonderful cruise and enjoy Venice and Rome. Thank you for your email.

January 8, 2018 at 1:05 am

Hello, we are planning to take a train from Venice to Rome this summer after our ship docks in Venice. What is the best way to travel to the train station from the cruise ship dock? Which train station is closest to the dock. I believe we are docking the main pier in Venice.

September 9, 2017 at 1:46 pm

Hi Joelle, I’m so sorry I couldn’t be of help earlier; it’s a transit day for me, too. I hope your transportation worked out okay. Have a wonderful cruise! Sherry

September 9, 2017 at 2:19 am

Hello Sherry, Do you know how to get to the Royal Carribean Rhapsody of the sea ftom Venice Calle Del Magazine Tre Archi? Thank you! We have to check out at 1030am and cruise departs at 5pm today!

June 29, 2017 at 11:28 pm

Hi Beth, Oh good! I hoped that you would nix the walking to the port. I think you’ll do fine! Have a wonderful trip! Sherry

June 29, 2017 at 3:46 pm

THANK YOU, THANK YOU. Definitely not going to navigate stairs with luggage. #2 Vaporetto it will be 🙂

Have a great day!

June 27, 2017 at 9:31 pm

Hi Beth, Thank you for your question! I’m doing a brand new post with photos, just for you. I’ll publish it tomorrow, Wednesday, and I’ll go back here and insert the link. Thank you again. I’m sure this will be helpful for others, too.

My best advice is to not walk the distance. It’s not easy, has tons of bridges with steps. It’s also not a great walk from the train station to the main cruise terminal either. The new article is done and here’s the link: https://cruisemaven.com/venice-train-station-san-basilio-cruise-terminal/

I hope this clears up all questions. Have a wonderful trip!

June 27, 2017 at 1:54 pm

Hi Ms. Kennedy,

Your information is so helpful. I just want to make sure I have the most up to date information. I read your post to Ms. Karen on May 10, 2016. We are arriving by train to the VENEZIA S LUCIA on July 14, 2017. Our ship departs from San Basillo pier. After being on the train for 7.5 hours from Basel we will need a walk I understand that we “Turn right after you exit the train station, walk along the Grand Canal for a short distance. Cross the Ponte della Costituzione glass and steel bridge to Piazzale Roma” from another website. Is this where we purchase a ticket to the pier or can we continue and walk from Piazzala Roma. Our luggage is on wheels and we love to walk. I thank you in advance for your time and assistance.

June 2, 2017 at 10:28 am

Hi Robyn, From Hotel Baglioni, there are two vaporetto platforms – San Marco Vallaresso and San Marco Giardinetti. You will want to take either the #1 or #2 vaporetto. Keep in mind that the #1 vaporetto does not stop at Giardinetti. The #2 water bus will be a little shorter travel time than the #1. But allow an hour including walking time with luggage, buying your ticket etc. Your stop for Santa Lucia train station is Ferrovia. Once there, the station is right in front of you. There are gentle walking ramps that flank the wide staircase. You just have to look a little to find them as the concrete sort of blends in with the steps and buildings.

I always suggest arriving at any train station in Europe no more than 30 minutes prior to departure. Since your train begins in Venice, you will be allowed to board maybe 10-15 minutes prior to departure. There’s a café overlooking the train platforms but finding a seat can be a challenge at times. So for a 10:25am departure, if you are planning to take a vaporetto, I’d leave the hotel by 8:30am. If you want to splurge a bit (really a lot!), consider hiring a private water taxi. It will whisk you from the hotel to Santa Lucia station in about 20 minutes and you’ll have the entire boat to yourself. You can ask your hotel to arrange it (they’ll probably pad in a fee) or book it yourself, either online or when you’re in Venice.

I hope this information is helpful. Have a wonderful time in Venice!

June 2, 2017 at 8:43 am

Hello I am travelling from baglioni hotel to Venice s Lucia train leaves at 10.25am to go to Naples what do you suggest best way to get to station and what time do you think I should plan to get to station, Thankyou for you help

June 1, 2017 at 10:29 am

Hi Diane, As you exit from Santa Lucia train station, there’s a wide flight of step downward (there are also two ramps on either side of the entrance) and right in front of you, you’ll find the vaporetti boarding docks. Here’s the link the schedule (copy & paste): . I didn’t find an English version, but the route you want is Ferrovia to P. Le Roma. Translated it’s from Santa Lucia to Piazzale Roma, where the People Mover tram is located. Alternatively, you can make a right turn out of the train station, walk along the Grand Canal for a short distance and cross the glass-and-steel Ponte della Costituzione bridge to Piazzale Roma and the People Mover tram. If your arms hurt from hauling luggage, for a few euros you can catch a taxi to the cruise port. There should also be a free shuttle public bus to the cruise port, too. Once you’ve done this, it will be easy peasy the next time! Thanks for asking…I hope this is helpful. Sherry

May 30, 2017 at 6:34 am

Can you please tell me where to get the vaparetto from San Lusia and how long and how much it costs to get to the port we are sailing on Royal Carabbean thank you in advance.

May 23, 2017 at 8:33 pm

Hi Catalina, Thank you very much. You’ve welcome! Have a wonderful trip! Sherry

May 23, 2017 at 2:15 pm

Thank you so much Sherry!!! This was incredibly helpful!

May 22, 2017 at 4:11 pm

Hi Catalina,

My first suggestion would be to purchase your cruise line’s airport transfers to the cruise port. If you have their transfers, then there’s no worry about getting to the ship on time as other guests will also arrive and have purchased transfers, too. It’s about a 2 hour public boat ride from the airport to the cruise port.

It helps to know that both the airport and Maritima cruise port are accessible via land transportation as well as water transport.

A taxi ride from the airport to the Maritima takes about 20 minutes for about $40. Or you can take an public airport shuttle to Piazzale Roma and then take a short taxi ride or the People Mover (an elevated tram/train) to the Maritima Basin entrance. Or if you don’t have much luggage, it’s somewhat walkable (15-20 minutes) from Piazzale Roma to the cruise port.

The best way to get to Florence from Venice is by train and Santa Lucia is the train station on Venice island. There’s also Maestre station on the mainland but I’ve never used it. There are several departures throughout the day leaving at :25 past the hour. I’d suggest nothing before the 11:25am train. You don’t want to arrive more than 30 minutes before your train. There’s a café there but seats are hard to find. It’s only a two-hour and five minute train ride.

Getting to Santa Lucia: If you don’t have tons of luggage you can make your way from the cruise port to Piazzale Roma, either on foot or People Mover train. From Maritima to Santa Lucia station, follow the signs as you leave the port for the People Mover to Piazzale Roma. From there, you can follow the crowds and cross the bridge to the station. Keep in mind that you will encounter steps (all bridges have steps) and hauling luggage up, across and over can be exhausting. You can also find water taxis to the train station.

Because it’s an island without cars or taxis, getting around Venice can be very confusing on your first visit. After that, it all makes sense!

Good luck and have a wonderful time in Italy and on your cruise.

May 22, 2017 at 3:35 pm

I need some help/advice. I arrive into Marco Polo and my cruise leaves from Marittima. I was looking at the Ailaguna passes as I would rather not pay for a private water taxi. On the way back my ship arrives into Marittima and I need to go to Florence. I was considering taking the train to Florence. My question is my plane arrives in Venice at noon and we should be boarding the ship about 3ish is that enough time to go from the airport to the cruise port? Also would Ailaguna be the best option to get from the airport to the cruise port other than the private boat? One last thing, where would I grab the train to get to Florence from the cruise port and what mode of transportation would be best to use? Thanks a million!

May 12, 2017 at 9:05 am

Hi Melanie,

My best advice, since there are four of you, would be to hire a private water taxi and share the cost. It will take you directly to Santa Lucia station with plenty of time for a coffee at the café near the platform. Also, Santa Lucia station has two accessible ramps that flank the entrance to the station which are perfect for hauling a large suitcase, instead of bumping and dragging it up the stairs. I have taken the exact same train to Rome and used a private water taxi to make life easier and less stressful with connections.

If you are all on a budget, then yes, I’d say to go to Maestra instead, since it’s on the mainland. But make sure your train stops there! To the best of my knowledge, not all Santa Lucia trains stop at Maestra. Have a fabulous cruise and trip in Italy!

May 5, 2017 at 4:17 pm

I have a couple of questions. We will be getting back to Venice from our MSC cruise at 9am. We want to take the high speed train to Rome. There will be 4 of us each with a large suitcase. Is it easier to get to the Maestra train station or the Lucia train station and is it doable to arrive to the train by 11:45 am?

March 18, 2017 at 5:13 pm

Hi Dita, thank you for your nice comment about this article. The most simple way to get from the airport to Marittima cruise terminal is to purchase the cruise line’s transfers . To take the tram from the airport to Piazzale Roma is the least expense way to go.

If you want to take the ATVO to Piazzale Roma (the junction where you make connections to the port) visit ATVO Web site’s Venice Airport pages and select Venice Marco Polo Airport – Venice Piazzale Roma (Express Service).

Once you’re at the Piazzale Roma, that’s when you can decide if you’d like to try the People Mover for a one-minute ride to Marittima Terminal. It’s a little bit of a walk as you exit the People Mover train just outside the port entrance. You could also take a taxi to the port or look for a possibly free shuttle at Piazzale Roma to your ship.

Figure that unless you take a private water taxi at about 120€ (for 6-8 people), you can expect to pay less than 10€ per person. I hope this additional info is helpful. Have a wonderful trip! Sherry Sherry

March 15, 2017 at 10:46 pm

Hi Sherry, Looking at the Alilaguna blue line, it looks like you can take it from the airport and stops at the cruise terminal. But which Terminal is it? Is it the Marittima Cruise Terminal? This is the other option I am exploring vs. the ATVO airport express to Piazzale Roma. Which will you recommend? Thanks again. Dita

March 15, 2017 at 10:36 pm

Hi Sherry, your information and tips on getting to/from airport to Marittima Cruise Terminal is very helpful. We are taking NCl cruise from Venice in August,2017. Our plane arrives at VCE airport at around 9.40 am. on the day the cruise departs. I am thing of taking The airport express (ATVO) to Piazzale Roma. I have read from your post that you can Tram 1 from the Marittima cruise terminal to Piazzale Roma. Can we take this tram from Piazzale Roma to Marittima Cruise Terminal? Do we enoough time to do this? How much does it cost to take this Tram ? Are there othe tram, since you mention Tram 1. Your advise is greatly appreciated. Dita

December 2, 2016 at 9:41 am

Hi Marshal, If you arrive into Venice airport at 2pm, keep in mind that you’ll need to check in at the cruise terminal no later than 4 or 4:30pm. I would advise that you ask your travel agent or contact the cruise line to know exactly when the cut-off time is for embarkation. Two hours should be enough time for public transportation as long as you don’t get lost. You might also ask about purchasing airport to ship transfers through the cruise line. It could save you a lot of headache. Then you could take public transport from the ship to the airport, instead. Have a wonderful cruise!

November 30, 2016 at 3:56 am

hi my plane arriving in venice airport @2pm and my cruise (ncl) departs at 6pm is that enough time for me if I use public transportations.

September 7, 2016 at 9:48 pm

Hi Joe, thanks for your question. The travel time between Santa Lucia and the Marittima Cruise Terminal could be determined on how you choose to get there. If you make a reservation for a private water taxi, it would only be about a 20-miinute scenic, stress-free boat ride. Or you could take a public vaporetto; they run about every 15 minutes from Santa Lucia and could take about 30 to 40-minutes. My article has links to both so you can make your reservation. If you are traveling with several others, a private water taxi is definitely the best way to go, as it costs about 90 euro for the entire boat vs. less than $10 for a vaporetto ticket.

For me, when I arrive into Venice after an overnight train ride, I’ve saved up to afford a private water taxi along with someone at the platform to help me with luggage. There are now two ramps on either side of the exit doors so that makes getting from the station to the water’s edge a little easier.

Have a wonderful trip! Sherry

September 7, 2016 at 6:35 pm

How long does it take to get from Santa Lucia train station to the cruise port (NCL)?? What is the best way to get there?

May 31, 2016 at 10:14 pm

Hi Marline, I’m guessing you will be staying at a hotel in Mestre. It’s easy to get there from the big cruise ship terminal, Marittima. For about €30-40 you can hop into a taxi as you exit the terminal (follow the signs or follow the crowd!). If you’d rather save your money, you can take the T1 tram to Piazzale Roma, a central hub for vehicles. If you’re traveling light, there is a public bus but if you’re not familiar with the buses, especially just coming off a ship, I’d go with the other two ideas. I hope this is helpful. Have a wonderful cruise. Sherry

May 31, 2016 at 8:01 pm

What is the best way to get from the cruise port (NCL) to Mestre?

May 23, 2016 at 2:05 pm

Hi Ana, The BEST way is of course the most expensive: by private water taxi. This can set you back about €110. The good new is that if you can find more people (up to 10 total) to share it with you, the price can be a bargain. I would inquire at the Shore Excursion Desk on your ship if they will sell group transportation to Santa Lucia. It is possible. Also, Viator.com offers a meet and greet at the ship to Santa Lucia station. There is always public transportation on the water bus (vaporetto) that you can try. If you were to take transportation from the ship (at Marittima) to Piazzale Roma, you can the take the #1 ACTV vaporetto to Santa Lucia station. Yes, it all sounds confusing but once you get there, it will be easier. The distance, as the crow flies, from Marittima to Santa Lucia is very close. But because of the canals, it’s a round-about way to get there. Easiest: private water taxi. Least expensive: walk from ship to the People Mover to Piazzale Roma and vaporetto to Train. But…you will have luggage and it’s not always easy to drag luggage. Take land taxi to Piazzale Roma and then the vaporetto.

Thanks again, Ana. I know this is a lot to try to absorb. Best bet, like I mentioned, is to first ask the ship’s tour dept. when you board. Then if they aren’t providing a purchasable transportation option, you’ll still have enough time to book with Viator.

Yes, there is left luggage storage (baggage office – deposito bagagli) at Santa Lucia near Track #1.

May 23, 2016 at 12:24 pm

What is the best way to get from the port terminal (Celebrity cruise ship – Venezia Terminal Passenger Maritima) to the St Lucia train station to go to Florence?

Do you know if the St Lucia train station has lockers or baggage storage?

May 20, 2016 at 3:30 pm

Hi Karen, Lucky you! I would suggest Santa Lucia train station. If you go through Mestre, it’s on the mainland, so it will add to the time needed to get between San Basilio. San Basilio is closer to Santa Lucia than the major Marittima Cruise Terminal. You have options when you arrive in Venice. Walk directly straight ahead after you exit your train and you’ll be right there at the canal. There may even be a vaporetto to go direct to San Basilio. It can be a bit overwhelming so just take a breath, enjoy the first glimpse of Venice and simply ask the ticket vendor (go down the stairs and you’ll see it)for a ticket to San Basilio. There are ramps if your luggage is cumbersome. The ramps are on your right and hopefully the ramp on your left is open, too. Once you get to San Basilio, you’ll see your ship, and there may even be a shuttle provided by your ship between San Basilio Cruise Terminal and boarding. You’ll do embarkation at the small terminal right there as you exit the water transport. Thank you for reading my website! Happy travels! Sherry

May 19, 2016 at 4:34 pm

Hi Sherry. We are going to San Basilio Cruise port from the rail station. Which rail station is best to arrive and the least amount of hassle and expense to San Bailio? Thank you!

March 18, 2016 at 11:00 am

Hi Dolores, Simply exit the airport terminal and look for the Water Taxi sign. You’ll need to know at which cruise port your ship is docked…San Basilio or Marittima. The same will apply from the cruise port to Santa Lucia station. If you’re feeling flush, you can pre-arrange a private water taxi. There are links to all of the info in this article. Have a terrific cruise and Happy Travels! Sherry

March 12, 2016 at 10:12 pm

What’s the best way to get to Venice cruise port from Venice airport, and from cruise port to Saint Lucia. Train station

June 17, 2015 at 8:34 am

Hi Charlene, Yes, you can come and go from Santa Lucia to the Airport (VCE) but you have to change trains on the mainland at Mestre station. And yes, you can take either a land taxi, water taxi or bus to and from Piazzale Roma. Or take a water bus (about an hour boat ride) from right outside the airport to Piazza San Marco and walk from there.

June 15, 2015 at 6:22 pm

Regarding this informatio “From the airport, you can take either a bus or taxi to Piazzale Roma. From there, you can either walk across the modern-looking bridge or take a vaporetto/water taxi to your hotel. If this seems too daunting (too much luggage) you can board a water taxi at the airport (outside of the customs area) to go to your hotel in Venice. It’s strange to think of Venice as an island without roads. You can buy your water taxi tickets here” Can you also go to the airport via taxi or bus from Piazzale roma? I was under the impression you could take a train from the Santa Lucia station to the airport. I guess I was wrong, thank you for your help.

June 15, 2015 at 9:58 am

Hi Charlene, I’m not sure if you meant to take the train from the airport to Venice (the city/island) or the Marittima Cruise Terminal. Assuming that you mean to go from the airport into Venice, no, you cannot take a train directly into Venice from the airport. On an aside note: You could take a land taxi or bus from the airport to Venice Mestre train station. From there, you can board a train that goes across the water into Venice proper. But that’s a lot of work.

From the airport, you can take either a bus or taxi to Piazzale Roma. From there, you can either walk across the modern-looking bridge or take a vaporetto/water taxi to your hotel. If this seems too daunting (too much luggage) you can board a water taxi at the airport (outside of the customs area) to go to your hotel in Venice. It’s strange to think of Venice as an island without roads. You can buy your water taxi tickets here http://www.venicelink.com/index.php?lang=english .

I hope this is helpful. Thank you for your comment.

June 15, 2015 at 1:34 am

Hi, Can you take the train from Marco Polo airport to Venice?

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Venice Cruise Port Terminal: Guide & Location

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Venice is a city that is known for its beautiful canals and waterways, which have been an integral part of the city’s history and culture for centuries. The city has two primary cruise terminals: Marittima Cruise Terminal and San Basilio Cruise Terminal. Of these two terminals, the Marittima Cruise Terminal is the larger of the two and is located in the western part of Venice’s cruise port.

The Marittima Cruise Terminal is easily accessible by several modes of transportation, including water taxi, private water taxi, or vaporetti (water bus). Passengers arriving at Marco Polo Airport can also take advantage of private water taxis or a free shuttle bus to reach the terminal. Once at the Marittima Cruise Terminal, passengers will find themselves surrounded by various facilities such as restaurants, shops, and easy access to the canals for exploring Venice.

One of the reasons why Venice has canals is due to its unique geography. The city was built on a group of islands located in a lagoon off Italy’s northeastern coast. Over time, Venetians developed a sophisticated system of canals to navigate between these islands and connect them with other parts of Italy and Europe.

Today, Venice’s canals continue to serve as an essential mode of transportation for both tourists and locals alike. Visitors to Venice can explore the city by taking a gondola ride through its winding waterways or hopping on one of the many vaporetti that crisscross its numerous canals.

In addition to offering convenient access to Venice’s famous canals, the Marittima Cruise Terminal also provides passengers with easy access to some of the city’s most popular attractions. From St. Mark’s Square to Doge’s Palace, there are countless sights within walking distance from this bustling hub.

Schedule and Information for Venice Cruise Port

Cruise companies such as MSC, Costa, and Royal Caribbean offer a wide variety of itineraries that include Venice port as one of their destinations. With its beautiful canals, historic landmarks, and rich culture, it’s no surprise that Venice is a popular choice for many travelers. To help passengers plan their trips accordingly, the port offers various information services.

Information Services

The port provides maps, brochures, and multilingual staff to assist passengers with their inquiries. Passengers can also check the schedule of Venice port cruises on the official website or through their cruise company’s website. The website provides detailed information about each terminal and transportation options available.

Venice port has three terminals: Marittima, San Basilio, and Fusina. Each terminal has different facilities and transportation options. Marittima is the main terminal where most large cruise ships dock. It offers a range of amenities such as restaurants, shops, currency exchange offices, ATMs, luggage storage facilities and more. San Basilio is smaller in size but closer to the city center than Marittima. It’s mainly used by smaller ships that can navigate through the narrow canals easily. Lastly,Fusina is located on the mainland opposite to Venice island; it’s less crowded compared to other terminals but offers limited transportation options.

Arrival Time

It is recommended to arrive at least two hours before departure time to allow enough time for check-in and security procedures. This will ensure a smooth embarkation process without any delays or complications.

Getting to Know the Surrounding Areas of Venice Cruise Port

San basilio vaporetto stop: your gateway to venice city.

The San Basilio vaporetto stop is located just a 10-minute walk from the Venice Cruise Terminal, making it a convenient way to explore the city’s main attractions. The vaporetto is a water bus that runs along the Grand Canal and other waterways in Venice, providing an affordable and unique way to see the sights.

From San Basilio, you can hop on a vaporetto and head towards famous landmarks like St. Mark’s Square, the Rialto Bridge, and the Doge’s Palace. You can also take a leisurely ride through smaller canals to discover hidden gems like quiet neighborhoods, charming bridges, and local shops.

Stazione Marittima: A Perfect Starting Point for Your Italian Adventure

If you’re arriving at the Venice Cruise Terminal by car or train, you’ll likely end up at the Stazione Marittima. This terminal is located at the western end of the promenade and offers easy access to nearby attractions.

From here, you can stroll along the promenade towards Piazzale Roma parking lot and catch a bus or taxi to other parts of Venice or beyond. You can also walk across Ponte della Costituzione bridge towards Santa Lucia train station for connections to major cities throughout Italy and Europe.

Porto Marghera: An Industrial Area Worth Exploring

While most visitors come to Venice for its historic charm, there are some interesting areas outside of the city that are worth exploring too. Porto Marghera is one such area located on the mainland side of the lagoon.

This industrial area was once home to large factories but has since been transformed into an eco-industrial park with green spaces and sustainable businesses. If you’re interested in learning about environmental sustainability or want to see a different side of Venice, consider taking a land taxi from the cruise terminal (approximately 15 minutes) to explore Porto Marghera.

Parking at Venice Cruise Terminal: Hassle-Free and Secure

If you’re arriving at the Venice Cruise Terminal by car, you’ll be pleased to know that there is ample parking available. The terminal offers both covered and open-air parking lots for your convenience.

The covered parking lot is located just a few steps from the terminal entrance and provides protection from the elements. The open-air lot is located slightly further away but offers more space for larger vehicles like RVs or buses.

Santa Lucia Train Station: Your Gateway to Italy and Beyond

If you’re planning on exploring other parts of Italy or Europe after your cruise, the Santa Lucia train station is a great starting point. This station is just a 10-minute cab ride from the Venice Cruise Terminal and provides connections to major cities like Florence, Rome, Milan, and beyond.

Whether you’re traveling solo or with a group, taking the train is an easy and affordable way to see more of this beautiful country. Just be sure to book your tickets in advance to secure the best prices!

Tips for Navigating Venice Cruise Port with Ease

Use the shuttle service provided by the venice cruise terminal for a hassle-free transfer to and from your ship.

One of the easiest ways to navigate the Venice Cruise Terminal is by taking advantage of the shuttle service provided by the terminal. This service offers a hassle-free transfer from your ship to the terminal, and vice versa. The shuttle is available for all passengers, and it runs on a regular schedule throughout the day.

To use this service, simply follow the signs at the port that direct you to the shuttle pickup location. Once there, look for staff members who can assist you in boarding the shuttle. They will be wearing uniforms and will be easily identifiable.

The shuttle ride is typically short, taking only a few minutes to get from your ship to the terminal. It’s also free of charge, so you don’t have to worry about any additional expenses.

Consider Taking a Taxi if You Have A Lot of Luggage or Prefer A More Direct Route to The Port

If you have a lot of luggage or prefer a more direct route to the port, consider taking a taxi instead of using the shuttle service provided by Venice Cruise Terminal. Taxis are readily available at various locations throughout Venice, including Marco Polo Airport and Piazzale Roma.

Taxis offer door-to-door service and can drop you off right in front of your ship at Venice Cruise Terminal. They are also ideal if you’re traveling with young children or elderly passengers who may find it difficult to walk long distances.

When taking a taxi, make sure that it is licensed and authorized by Venice’s municipal government. Licensed taxis are required to display their license number on both sides of their vehicle as well as inside their car.

Follow The Instructions Given By The Terminal Staff To Ensure A Smooth Check-In Process And Avoid Any Delays

To ensure a smooth check-in process and avoid any delays when navigating Venice Cruise Terminal, it’s important that you follow all instructions given by the terminal staff. These instructions may include where to go, what documents to have ready, and how to proceed through security.

Make sure that you have all necessary travel documents with you, including your passport and boarding pass. You should also have any necessary visas or other documentation required for your specific itinerary.

When going through security, be prepared to remove any metal objects from your pockets and place them in a bin for screening. You may also need to remove your shoes and belt before proceeding through the metal detector.

Arrive Early To Avoid Long Lines And Give Yourself Plenty of Time To Navigate The Terminal And Board Your Ship

To avoid long lines and give yourself plenty of time to navigate Venice Cruise Terminal, it’s recommended that you arrive early on the day of departure. This will allow you ample time to check-in, go through security, and board your ship without feeling rushed or stressed.

Plan on arriving at least two hours before your scheduled departure time. This will give you enough time to get settled in and explore the terminal before boarding begins.

If you’re traveling during peak season or holidays, consider arriving even earlier than two hours to account for larger crowds and potential delays. Remember that it’s always better to be early than late when it comes to cruising!

Best Time to Visit Venice Cruise Port

High tides are a significant concern for visitors to the Venice cruise port. The city is built on a series of islands, and when the tide rises, it can cause flooding in low-lying areas, including the cruise terminal. This can make it difficult for passengers to access their ships and navigate around the city.

Low Tide Season: May to September

The best time to visit the Venice cruise terminal is during the low tide season, which runs from May to September. During this period, water levels are typically lower, and there is less risk of flooding. Visitors will find it easier to move around the city and access the cruise terminal without any issues.

In addition to lower water levels, visiting during this season also means better weather conditions. The summer months offer warm temperatures and plenty of sunshine, making it an ideal time for outdoor activities like sightseeing and exploring.

High Tide Season: October to April

During high tide season, which runs from October to April, visitors may encounter more challenges when trying to access the Venice cruise terminal. Water levels can rise significantly during this period due to storms and other weather events. As a result, some areas of the city may become flooded or impassable.

November and December are particularly prone to high tides and flooding in Venice. Visitors should check weather forecasts before planning their trip during these months.

If you do decide to visit during high tide season, be prepared for potential delays or cancellations due to flooding. Wear waterproof shoes or boots as you navigate through flooded streets.

Transportation Options

When planning your trip to Venice’s cruise port area, consider transportation options that will help you avoid any potential issues caused by high tides. The closest airport is Marco Polo Airport (VCE), which is about 10 km away from the port area.

From VCE airport:

• Taxi: A taxi ride from VCE airport takes approximately 20-30 minutes and costs around €40-€50.
• Bus: ACTV bus line 5 connects the airport to Piazzale Roma, which is the last stop for vehicles in Venice. The journey takes about 20 minutes and costs approximately €8 per person.

From Venice Train Station:

The train station is located on the mainland side of Venice, and you can reach it by taking a water taxi or vaporetto (water bus) from the port area.

Trieste Cruise Port:

Trieste cruise port is located about 150 km away from Venice’s Marco Polo Airport. You can take a taxi or shuttle to reach Trieste cruise port from VCE airport.

Exploring Venice Before or After Your Cruise

Explore venice on foot.

Walking around Venice is one of the best ways to explore this beautiful city. You’ll find yourself wandering down narrow streets and alleys that are lined with colorful buildings, many of which have been standing for centuries. As you walk, be sure to look up at the buildings’ facades – they’re often decorated with intricate stone carvings and other details.

Some of the must-see sights include St Mark’s Square, which is home to St Mark’s Basilica and Doge’s Palace; Rialto Bridge, one of Venice’s most iconic landmarks; and Campo Santo Stefano, a picturesque square that’s surrounded by cafes and shops.

Plan Your Day Carefully

If your liner only docks in Venice for a few hours, it’s essential to plan your day carefully so you can make the most of your time there. If you have a morning arrival, consider taking a trip out to one of the nearby islands for a peaceful start to your day before returning to explore Venice itself.

You can also book a guided tour of the city, which will help you see all the major sights in a short amount of time. Alternatively, if you’re more interested in exploring on your own, be sure to pick up a map and plan your route carefully so you don’t waste any time getting lost.

Venice is one of the most beautiful cities in Italy, and exploring it before or after your cruise is an experience you won’t forget. Whether you choose to take a scenic vaporetto ride, explore on foot, or book a guided tour, there’s plenty to see and do here. Just be sure to plan your day carefully so you can make the most of your time – even if it’s only a few hours.

Must-See Attractions Near Venice Cruise Port

Explore the stunning venetian lagoon.

The Venetian Lagoon is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that offers stunning views of Venice’s islands and canals. The lagoon is an essential part of Venice’s history and culture, and it provides a unique perspective on the city. Visitors can take a boat tour to explore the lagoon, which includes stops at various islands such as Murano, Burano, and Torcello.

Murano is famous for its glassmaking industry, while Burano boasts colorful houses and lace-making traditions. Torcello is home to some of Venice’s oldest buildings, including the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta. Exploring these islands gives visitors a chance to experience different aspects of Venetian life while taking in breathtaking views.

Cruise Down the Iconic Grand Canal

The Grand Canal is Venice’s main waterway and one of its most iconic landmarks. It stretches for 2.4 miles (3.8 km) from the entrance near Piazzale Roma to St. Mark’s Square. Along the way, visitors can admire historic palaces and buildings that line its banks.

One popular way to experience the Grand Canal is by taking a vaporetto (water bus) ride along its length. This allows visitors to see many of Venice’s most famous sights from the water, including Rialto Bridge, Ca’ d’Oro Palace, and Accademia Bridge.

Take a Stroll Along Giudecca Canal

For those seeking a quieter atmosphere than the bustling Grand Canal offers, Giudecca Canal provides an excellent alternative. This canal runs parallel to the main waterway but sees far fewer boats passing through it.

Visitors can take a leisurely stroll along Giudecca Canal’s banks or enjoy a meal at one of several restaurants located nearby. The canal also offers fantastic views of some of Venice’s most beautiful churches and palaces.

Visit Famous Piazza San Marco

Piazza San Marco, also known as St. Mark’s Square, is one of Venice’s most famous landmarks and a must-visit destination for any visitor to the city. The square is home to several stunning buildings, including the Basilica di San Marco and the Doge’s Palace.

The basilica features intricate mosaics and beautiful architecture that reflects Venice’s Byzantine heritage. The Doge’s Palace served as the seat of government during Venice’s Republic era and now houses several museums.

Alternatively, visitors can head to Piazzale Roma for a more modern side of Venice with its shops, restaurants, and transportation hub. Nearby Hotel Danieli offers luxurious accommodations for those seeking a more upscale experience.

Best Places to Eat Near Venice Cruise Port

Trattoria al ponte del megio: authentic venetian cuisine.

If you’re looking for an authentic taste of Venetian cuisine, Trattoria al Ponte del Megio is the perfect spot for you. This family-run restaurant is located just a few minutes’ walk from the Venice cruise terminal, making it a convenient choice for travelers who want to experience local flavors without venturing too far from their ship.

At Trattoria al Ponte del Megio, you’ll find classic dishes like spaghetti alle vongole (spaghetti with clams) and sarde in saor (sweet and sour sardines), as well as seasonal specialties like risotto with radicchio and Amarone wine. The restaurant’s cozy interior and friendly service create a welcoming atmosphere that’s sure to make you feel right at home.

Osteria Ae Cravate: Cozy Atmosphere and Local Wines

For a cozy dining experience in the heart of Venice’s historic district, head to Osteria Ae Cravate. This rustic restaurant offers a variety of seafood dishes made with fresh ingredients sourced from the nearby Rialto market, as well as an extensive selection of local wines.

The menu at Osteria Ae Cravate changes regularly based on what’s in season, but some standout dishes include grilled octopus with potato puree and cherry tomatoes, and linguine with clams, garlic, and parsley. The intimate setting and attentive service make this restaurant a great choice for a romantic dinner or special occasion.

Ristorante da Poggi: Fine Dining with Fresh Seafood

If you’re looking for a more upscale dining experience near the Venice cruise terminal, Ristorante da Poggi is an excellent choice. This fine dining establishment specializes in fresh seafood and traditional Italian cuisine, using only the highest quality ingredients to create elegant dishes that are both beautiful to look at and delicious to eat.

Some of the standout dishes at Ristorante da Poggi include the sea bass carpaccio with citrus fruits and fennel, and the spaghetti with lobster and cherry tomatoes. The restaurant’s location near the Giardini della Biennale park offers a peaceful respite from the crowds of tourists in central Venice, making it a great place to relax and enjoy a leisurely meal.

Al Timon: Casual Eats Along the Canal

For a more casual dining experience that still offers plenty of local flavor, check out Al Timon. This laid-back eatery is situated along the picturesque Fondamenta della Misericordia canal, offering stunning views of passing boats and colorful buildings.

At Al Timon, you can sample a variety of cicchetti (small plates) that are perfect for sharing with friends or family. Some popular options include fried calamari, grilled polenta with codfish cream, and marinated anchovies. The restaurant also has an extensive wine list featuring local varieties like Prosecco and Soave.

Making the Most Out of Your Venice Cruise Port Experience

To truly make the most out of your Venice Cruise Port experience, it’s important to plan ahead and take advantage of all that this beautiful city has to offer. From exploring the surrounding areas of the cruise terminal to indulging in delicious local cuisine, there are endless ways to enhance your trip.

One of the best ways to fully appreciate Venice is by taking a stroll through its charming streets and canals. Whether you have a few hours or a few days before or after your cruise, be sure to explore popular attractions such as St. Mark’s Basilica and Doge’s Palace. For those looking for a more off-the-beaten-path adventure, head over to the colorful island of Burano or take a gondola ride through the quieter canals.

There are plenty of delicious choices for every taste bud. Sample traditional Venetian dishes such as sarde in saor (sweet and sour sardines) or fegato alla veneziana (Venetian-style liver) at local restaurants like Osteria al Bacareto. For something sweet, indulge in some gelato from Gelateria Nico or try some cicchetti (small bites) paired with wine at one of the many bacari (wine bars) throughout the city.

Navigating Venice Cruise Terminal can also be made easier with a bit of preparation beforehand. Familiarize yourself with the layout and schedule ahead of time so you can avoid any unnecessary stress on embarkation day. Arrive early if possible and consider hiring a porter service to help with luggage transportation.

Lastly, timing is everything visiting during shoulder season (April-May or September-October) can provide a more enjoyable experience without sacrificing good weather.

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• Travel Destinations

Where Is The Cruise Ship Port In Venice

Published: December 13, 2023

Modified: December 28, 2023

by Prissie Rone

• Travel Tips

Introduction

Welcome to the enchanting city of Venice, Italy, renowned for its canals, rich history, and cultural treasures. While Venice is famous for its gondolas and picturesque streets, it is also home to a bustling cruise ship port that welcomes thousands of tourists each year. In this article, we will explore the location of the cruise ship port in Venice, as well as the transportation options available for those embarking on a cruise.

Venice’s cruise ship port is a gateway to exploring not only the city itself but also the stunning Adriatic Sea and the surrounding region. Whether you’re visiting Venice for a day before boarding a cruise or planning to spend some extra time exploring the city after your voyage, understanding the logistics of the cruise ship port is essential to make the most of your visit.

With its unique and intricate network of canals, Venice presents a charming and romantic backdrop for cruise ship passengers. The port is strategically located near the historic center of the city, allowing travelers to easily explore the iconic landmarks, magnificent architecture, and vibrant Venetian culture.

As we delve into the details of Venice’s cruise ship port, we will also discuss the environmental impact of the cruise industry on the delicate ecosystem of the city and the debates surrounding its presence. Additionally, we will touch upon the future plans and potential relocation of the port, which have generated both local and global controversies.

Whether you’re a seasoned traveler or a cruise ship enthusiast embarking on your first adventure, this article will serve as your guide to the cruise ship port in Venice, providing valuable insights and information to enhance your experience in this extraordinary city.

Overview of Venice’s Cruise Ship Port

Venice’s cruise ship port, also known as the Venice Cruise Terminal, is a bustling hub that serves as a gateway for cruise ship passengers looking to explore the city and its surrounding regions. The port is strategically located on the western edge of the historic center of Venice, providing convenient access to both the city’s famous landmarks and the beautiful Adriatic Sea.

The cruise ship port is comprised of two main terminals: the Marittima terminal and the San Basilio terminal. The Marittima terminal is the larger of the two and can accommodate multiple cruise ships at a time, while the San Basilio terminal is primarily used for smaller vessels.

Upon arrival at the port, passengers are greeted with a lively atmosphere, as various cruise lines from around the world dock here. The terminals are well-equipped with modern amenities, including check-in facilities, baggage handling services, and comfortable waiting areas. The staff are friendly and efficient, ensuring a smooth embarkation and disembarkation process for passengers.

The port is conveniently connected to the city’s transportation network, allowing passengers to easily access Venice’s enchanting sites. Water taxis, known as vaporettos, and water buses, known as traghetti, are available near the terminals and provide a convenient way to explore the city’s famous canals and reach popular attractions.

For those who prefer to explore on foot, the cruise ship port is just a short distance away from iconic landmarks such as St. Mark’s Square, the Doge’s Palace, and the Rialto Bridge. The narrow streets and charming alleyways of Venice are easily accessible from the port, allowing cruisers to immerse themselves in the city’s unique atmosphere.

Additionally, the cruise ship port offers a range of facilities and services to enhance the passenger experience. There are shops, cafes, and restaurants where visitors can indulge in local cuisine and shop for souvenirs. Passenger services such as currency exchange and tourist information are also available to assist travelers during their time in Venice.

Overall, Venice’s cruise ship port provides a seamless and welcoming experience for passengers, combining modern amenities with the timeless charm of the city. Whether you’re embarking on a grand Mediterranean voyage or exploring Venice for a day, the port serves as the perfect starting point for an unforgettable adventure.

Location of Venice’s Cruise Ship Terminal

Venice’s cruise ship terminal is strategically positioned at the western edge of the city’s historic center, making it easily accessible for cruise ship passengers. The terminal is situated in an area known as the Marittima basin, which is located between the Giudecca Canal and the Canale della Giudecca.

Specifically, the main cruise ship terminal in Venice is called the Marittima terminal. It is located at the entrance to the Port of Venice and is composed of several terminals designated by letters, such as Terminal 103 and Terminal 107. These terminals are designed to accommodate large cruise ships and are equipped with the necessary facilities and services to ensure a smooth and efficient embarkation and disembarkation process.

The San Basilio terminal, on the other hand, is smaller and primarily caters to smaller cruise ships and private yachts. It is located on the southwestern side of the historic center, near the San Basilio neighborhood.

Both the Marittima and San Basilio terminals offer convenient access to the city’s iconic landmarks and attractions. From the Marittima terminal, you can easily reach Saint Mark’s Square, the Doge’s Palace, and the Rialto Bridge by foot or public transportation. The San Basilio terminal provides access to the charming Dorsoduro neighborhood, known for its art galleries, museums, and historic sites like the Accademia Bridge and the Peggy Guggenheim Collection.

The proximity of Venice’s cruise ship terminals to the city center allows passengers to make the most of their time in Venice. The terminals are well-connected to the city’s transportation network, providing easy access to water taxis, water buses, and other forms of public transportation. Additionally, various taxi services and private transfers are available for those who prefer more personalized transport options.

Overall, the location of Venice’s cruise ship terminal ensures that passengers can seamlessly transition from the port to the vibrant heart of the city, allowing for a memorable and convenient experience in this enchanting destination.

Transportation Options to the Cruise Ship Port

Getting to Venice’s cruise ship port is relatively straightforward, thanks to the city’s well-connected transportation system. Whether you’re arriving by air, train, or car, there are several options to reach the cruise ship terminals with ease.

If you are arriving at Venice Marco Polo Airport, one of the most convenient ways to reach the cruise ship port is by taxi. Taxis are readily available outside the airport terminal and can take you directly to the port. Another option is to take the ACTV bus, which offers a direct route from the airport to the Piazzale Roma, a transportation hub near the cruise terminals. From there, it’s a short walk or water bus ride to the port.

If you are arriving at Venice Santa Lucia Train Station, you can easily reach the cruise ship port by taking a water taxi or water bus. The water taxi provides a more luxurious and private option, while the water bus, also known as a vaporetto, offers a more affordable alternative. Both options will take you directly to the cruise terminals or to the nearby Piazzale Roma, from where you can easily reach the port on foot or by water bus.

For those arriving by car, it’s important to note that Venice is a pedestrian city, and cars are not allowed in the historic center. If you are driving to the cruise ship port, you can park your car at one of the many parking garages located near the Piazzale Roma or the Tronchetto parking island. From there, you can walk or take a water bus to the cruise terminals.

If you’re staying in a hotel in Venice, many hotels offer shuttle services to the cruise ship port for their guests. Be sure to check with your hotel in advance to see if this service is available. Alternatively, you can arrange for a private transfer or taxi to take you directly to the port from your hotel.

Once you arrive at the cruise ship port, navigating the terminals is simple and straightforward. The terminals provide clear signage to guide passengers to the appropriate check-in areas, baggage drop-off points, and waiting areas. Port staff are on hand to assist passengers and ensure a smooth embarkation process.

Overall, Venice provides a variety of transportation options to cater to different preferences and budgets. Whether you choose to arrive by taxi, water taxi, water bus, or shuttle service, reaching the cruise ship port is hassle-free, allowing you to begin your cruise adventure or explore the enchanting city of Venice.

Nearby Attractions and Landmarks

Venice’s cruise ship port is not only a gateway to the city itself but also a convenient starting point to explore the nearby attractions and landmarks that make this destination truly unique. From historic sites to cultural treasures, there is no shortage of things to see and do in the vicinity of the cruise ship terminals.

One of the highlights near the cruise ship port is undoubtedly St. Mark’s Square, the heart of Venice. This iconic square is home to several remarkable landmarks, including the majestic St. Mark’s Basilica, renowned for its intricate Byzantine architecture and stunning mosaics. Adjacent to the basilica is the Doge’s Palace, a remarkable Gothic masterpiece that once served as the seat of the Venetian government. Exploring the opulent rooms and crossing the iconic Bridge of Sighs is an unforgettable experience.

The Rialto Bridge, another prominent landmark, is within walking distance from the cruise ship port. This beautiful bridge spans the Grand Canal and is lined with bustling shops and markets, offering a vibrant atmosphere and a chance to soak in the local culture.

For art enthusiasts, the Peggy Guggenheim Collection is a must-visit attraction just a short distance from the cruise ship terminals. Housed in the former residence of the renowned art collector herself, this museum features an impressive collection of modern and contemporary art, including works by Picasso, Pollock, and Dalí.

Exploring the charming neighborhoods surrounding the cruise ship port is also a delight. Dorsoduro, located near the San Basilio terminal, boasts picturesque canals and is home to world-class art institutions like the Accademia Gallery. The district of Castello offers a glimpse into the traditional Venetian way of life, with its narrow streets, local shops, and hidden gems waiting to be discovered.

Additionally, the Venetian Lagoon, which surrounds the city, is an attraction in itself. Island-hopping to Murano, known for its glass-blowing tradition, and Burano, famous for its colorful houses and lace-making, gives visitors a taste of the unique charm of the Venetian islands.

Whether you have a few hours or a few days to spend in Venice, the cruise ship port’s proximity to these renowned attractions and landmarks ensures that you can make the most of your time and immerse yourself in the captivating history, art, and culture that defines this extraordinary city.

Impact of Cruise Ships on Venice’s Environment

Venice’s cruise ship industry has had a significant impact on the environment of this delicate and unique city. The presence of large cruise ships in the lagoon has raised concerns regarding water pollution, erosion, and the overall sustainability of Venice’s ecosystem.

One of the primary concerns is the environmental impact caused by the emission of greenhouse gases and particulate matter from cruise ships. The combustion of fossil fuels, such as diesel and heavy oil, releases pollutants into the air, contributing to air pollution and climate change. This issue is particularly significant in Venice, where the city’s narrow canals and confined spaces trap pollutants, leading to poor air quality.

In addition to air pollution, the wake created by the passage of large cruise ships also contributes to erosion and damage to the fragile foundations of Venice’s buildings and infrastructure. The force generated by these ships can cause the already vulnerable city to sink further into the lagoon over time, exacerbating the risks posed by rising sea levels.

Water pollution is another concern associated with the presence of cruise ships. The discharge of wastewater, including sewage and graywater, can introduce pollutants and contaminants into the sensitive ecosystem of the lagoon. Efforts have been made to regulate waste disposal and improve onboard treatment systems, but the impact on the surrounding environment still remains a concern.

Furthermore, the sheer volume of tourists brought in by cruise ships has placed additional pressure on Venice’s already strained infrastructure and resources. The influx of visitors can strain the city’s waste management systems and crowd popular attractions, negatively affecting the local quality of life and the overall visitor experience.

Recognizing the environmental impact of cruise ships on Venice, steps have been taken to address these concerns. In 2019, the Italian government implemented regulations aimed at redirecting large cruise ships away from the central areas of Venice. The plan is to reroute these ships to a new terminal at the industrial port of Marghera, located on the mainland, reducing their presence in the historic center.

Efforts are also being made to raise awareness and implement sustainable practices within the cruise industry. Cruise lines are investing in greener technologies, such as shore power systems that allow ships to turn off their engines and connect to electric power while docked. Additionally, initiatives promoting responsible tourism and the protection of the lagoon’s fragile ecosystem are gaining momentum, with a focus on education, conservation, and sustainable management of resources.

While progress is being made, the impact of cruise ships on Venice’s environment remains an ongoing concern. Striking a balance between tourism and the preservation of this unique city’s ecological integrity is of utmost importance to ensure the long-term sustainability and protection of Venice’s fragile ecosystem.

Local and Global Controversies Surrounding the Port

The cruise ship port in Venice has been at the center of both local and global controversies, with debates and concerns surrounding its impact on the city’s cultural heritage, environment, and quality of life for its residents.

Locally, there has been a longstanding debate about the effects of large cruise ships on the historic fabric of Venice. Critics argue that the presence of these massive vessels in the lagoon threatens the city’s fragile foundations and contributes to the erosion of its unique architectural and cultural heritage. Concerns have been raised about the compatibility of the cruise industry with the preservation of Venice’s artistic and historical integrity.

Furthermore, there are concerns about the impact of mass tourism, largely driven by the cruise industry, on the daily life of Venetians. The influx of tourists from cruise ships can overcrowd the city’s narrow streets and popular landmarks, diminishing the quality of life for residents and straining the infrastructure and resources of the city.

On a global scale, the controversies surrounding the Venice cruise ship port highlight broader issues within the cruise industry itself. Critics argue that the industry’s focus on mass tourism and profit often comes at the expense of environmental sustainability and the well-being of local communities. The clashes in Venice have sparked discussions regarding the responsibility of cruise lines to minimize their impact on the destinations they visit, as well as the need for stricter regulations and sustainable practices within the industry.

The controversies surrounding the cruise ship port in Venice have garnered international attention and have led to calls for change and action. Environmental organizations, cultural heritage groups, and local activists have been advocating for a more sustainable approach to cruise tourism in Venice. Their efforts have prompted governmental interventions, including the recent decision to reroute large cruise ships away from the city center. This decision, however, has also faced its own share of controversy, with some arguing that the proposed alternative still poses risks to the fragile ecosystem of the lagoon.

The controversies surrounding the port of Venice highlight the wider debate about the balance between promoting tourism, preserving cultural heritage, and protecting the environment. They serve as a reminder of the need for collaboration between stakeholders, including local communities, cruise lines, and government authorities, to find sustainable solutions that prioritize the long-term well-being of the city, its residents, and its irreplaceable cultural heritage.

Future Plans and Potential Relocation of the Cruise Ship Port

The future of the cruise ship port in Venice has been the subject of much discussion and debate, with proposed plans and potential relocation efforts aiming to address the concerns surrounding the port’s impact on the city and its environment.

In an effort to alleviate the strain on Venice’s historic center and reduce the environmental impact of large cruise ships in the lagoon, the Italian government has proposed a plan to reroute these ships away from the city’s central areas. The proposal includes the construction of a new cruise terminal at the industrial port of Marghera, located on the mainland. This potential relocation would remove the direct presence of large cruise ships from the historic core of Venice, alleviating concerns about erosion, pollution, and overcrowding.

The proposed plan has faced mixed reactions. Supporters argue that the relocation would preserve the delicate foundations and cultural integrity of Venice, while still allowing cruise passengers to access the city through alternative transportation options. They believe that the move would help strike a balance between tourism and the preservation of the city’s unique heritage.

However, critics have expressed reservations about the potential relocation. Some argue that the proposed new terminal at Marghera may still have a negative impact on the delicate ecosystem of the lagoon and the surrounding areas. Concerns have been raised about increased ship traffic and the potential impact on the industrial port itself.

Additionally, there are those who advocate for a more comprehensive and sustainable approach to the cruise industry in Venice. They argue that simply relocating the port does not address the broader issues of mass tourism, environmental impact, and quality of life for residents. These critics propose alternative solutions that focus on limiting the number of cruise ships, implementing stricter environmental regulations, and promoting responsible and sustainable tourism practices.

Ultimately, the future of the cruise ship port in Venice will depend on ongoing discussions, collaborations, and decisions made by various stakeholders. Balancing the economic benefits derived from tourism with the preservation of Venice’s unique character and environmental sustainability is a complex challenge.

It is important for all parties involved, including cruise companies, local authorities, residents, and cultural heritage organizations, to engage in a dialogue aimed at finding sustainable solutions that ensure the long-term prosperity of the city while respecting its rich history and delicate ecosystem.

As the discussions continue, the potential relocation of the cruise ship port remains a compelling possibility and topic of interest in shaping the future of Venice’s tourism industry and protecting the city’s irreplaceable cultural heritage.

Venice’s cruise ship port serves as a gateway to the enchanting city and the mesmerizing Adriatic Sea. While the port provides convenient access for cruise ship passengers to explore Venice’s historic center and nearby attractions, it has also been embroiled in controversies and debates regarding its impact on the environment, cultural heritage, and quality of life for residents.

The port’s close proximity to Venice’s iconic landmarks and vibrant neighborhoods offers a seamless transition between the cruise terminals and the city’s captivating sites. From St. Mark’s Square to the Rialto Bridge, the rich history and culture of Venice beckon just a short distance away.

However, concerns have been raised regarding the environmental effects of cruise ships, including air and water pollution, as well as the erosion of Venice’s delicate foundations. The popularity of the cruise industry and the influx of tourists has also generated debates about the sustainability of mass tourism and its impact on the local community.

Efforts are underway to address these concerns, such as the proposed plans to relocate large cruise ships away from the historic center to the industrial port of Marghera. This potential relocation aims to strike a balance between tourism and the preservation of cultural heritage, although it has faced mixed reactions from various stakeholders.

The future of the cruise ship port in Venice ultimately lies in collaborative efforts between cruise lines, local authorities, residents, and cultural heritage organizations. Finding sustainable solutions that prioritize the long-term well-being of the city, protect its fragile ecosystem, and respect its rich history is of paramount importance.

As Venice continues to evolve, it is crucial for all involved parties to work together towards a harmonious balance between tourism, preservation, and sustainability. By doing so, the cruise ship port in Venice can serve as a gateway to not only the city’s captivating sites but also to responsible and thoughtful exploration, ensuring a memorable and sustainable experience for generations to come.

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• Italy Ports

Venice - How to get from Cruise Ship Terminal to San Marco Hotel

By CruisinGrams , May 13, 2009 in Italy Ports

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CruisinGrams

This is our first cruise to the Med and we will disembark in Venice. We are staying over one extra day at the BW Hotel Montecarlo close to San Marco Square. We have NO idea how to get from the Cruise Ship terminal to our hotel, and can't picture ourselves dragging our luggage through San Marco Square through the Clock town and down a side street. Desperately need your help. I am almost wishing we had not decided to stay one day because it sounds so onerous taking water taxis/buses everywhere.

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Bruin Steve

Well...You have options...depending on what cruise line and what is arranged at the time, there may be a free shuttle to Piazzale Roma...You could hop that and then schlepp your luggage onto the #1 Vaporetto and take it to the San Marco station and walk to your hotel from there ...the MonteCarlo isn't exactly in the most convenient location for the Vaporetti, so you ARE going to have to schlepp your luggage a little ways...That would be the CHEAPEST way to do it by far...We did it that way to our hotel (the Anastasia--getting off on the other side of San Marco at the Valleresso stop)...

There is also a boat called the Alilaguna...from the docks to the Sn Marco area--again leaving you with a little bit of a walk...

You can likely get a little closer with a water taxi...though, yes, it will be expensive...

Once you are settled into your hotel, getting around Venice is easy...most is pedestrian friendly (though often confusing without a good map--I recommend buying the AAA Spiral Guide- Venice...great maps and illustrations including a Vaporetti route map). Definitely buy a Vaporetti pass for unlimited Vaporetti and bus travel...includes the boats to Lido, Murano and Burano and the bus from Piazzale Roma to the Airport (we took that and it was remarkably quick and easy)...

I would have stayed longer than one night...You will want to also once you are there...

There is another current thread on how to get from the Hilton Stuckey to the port. Read it and you will see all the different options in reverse. My opinion is that even though it's more expensive a water taxi is the best and easiest way to go, especially since you'll be burdened with your luggage. Sometimes it just doesn't pay to economize and this is one of them. Maybe you can find two other passengers to share with.

If you're going to do a water taxi (and it's the easiest way to go with luggage), then consider booking it in advance via email. Just google "Venice water taxi" and look for one you like. The fares should all be just about the same. If you wait until you get off the ship to decide on a water taxi, you'll have a couple of potential problems -

• Depending on how long it takes you to disembark, there could be no water taxis at their landing stage; and
• You will be at the mercy of the "driver" as to the fare.

Consider the water taxi part of your entertainment in Venice. There are ways to get from the port into the Grand Canal. Try to get him to take you to San Marco that way.

You're gonna love Venice - there's no place else on earth anything like it. Just don't blow all your cash on the cruise - it's quite expensive. Rick Steves' Venice book recommends some excellent restaurants and bars that won't cost a fortune!

Bell2cruise

Thank you for all the help. I am going on the Splendor of the Seas Oct 10-17 and have both a pre and post night stay in Venice. I have been searching the boards for help on this part of my cruise as I will be planning these days on my own.

For those who have been to Venice, what are the "must sees" especially if you do not have a lot of time?

CathyCruises

NEVER be sorry to spend time in Venice!!!! And it's really easy--we did it! Just get on Alilaguna right at the port--just outside the baggage claim area. It is a private water bus service. It was 6 euros/pp for us, and 3 for each large suitcase. It will take you straight to San Marco. Then just like everyone else, you just wheel your suitcases to your hotel--you shouldn't even have any canals to cross. Many people will be doing this--don't worry!! Just get directions from the vaporetto stop to your hotel from the hotel itself.

Yes, you can also take a water taxi from the port, but it will be 80-100 euros, unless you can find some folks to share with--and there is no guarantee that you will be able to get all that much closer to your hotel anyway--but the hotel will know.

The best thing to do in Venice is just to wander, no itinerary, just follow your feet to enjoy this wonderful city!

We have sailed out of Venice twice on the Splendor of the Seas. What an incredible experience. We did a 1 night pre-cruise stay in Venice both times. We used a water taxi to get from the airport to our hotel which was a wonderful start to our trip. We then also used a water taxi to get from our hotel to the cruise ship. Fortunately we were with 2 other couples so the cost of the water taxi was split 3 ways. I would say the cost was well worth it.

The first time there, we walked to St. Mark's square, via the Rialto bridge, where we toured St. Mark's Basilica and the Doge's Palace, viewed the Bridge of Sighs and took the elevator up the bell tower for incredible views of the city. That pretty much filled up the day. The second time we were there we headed to St. Mark's square again for lunch but then spent most of the afternoon wandering around the city, just getting lost in the maze of streets and canals. It is truly a beautiful magical place to be. You will all love it.

We have another inquiry with our disembarkation......Our flight out of Venice leaves at 7PM, and would like to spend our afternoon sightseeing. Is there a place to store our luggage? Also what is the best and least expensive transportation options from the port to St. Marks and then to the airport?

Thanks everyone for your good suggestions. I have posted on our role call for our sailing to see if anyone else wants to share a water taxi, so we shall see what happens. I just thought we would look very silly walking through San Marco dragging our luggage behind. We located our hotel on a map and it looks like it will be easy to find, but it would have been better if it is was located closer to a water taxi drop off point. Now I really have to pack conservatively so we don't have too much luggage.

beachnative

Don't regret your decision to stay pre and post cruise in Venice. Venice is a lot easier than you anticipate.

We sailed out of Venice last summer on the Splendour of the Seas and rank the experience among the our favorite cruise experiences. To complicate matters, my wife broke her ankle a week before the trip. We had been to Venice and knew what to expect. Even with a broken ankle we were able to negotiate the transportation. We took advantage of the luggage check at Piazza Roma and left our largest suitcase with them before and after the ship thus avoiding being schleppers. We also booked hotels right on the Grand Canal...Hotel Rialto (pre) and Hotel Monacco and Grand Canal (post).

Some must does: take Rick Steves book with you; get lost on the back streets; splurge and have a bottle of wine while seated in St.Mark's square at night; buy cheese, bread, and wine at the Rialto market and have a picnic.

Don't regret your decision to stay pre and post cruise in Venice. Venice is a lot easier than you anticipate.   We sailed out of Venice last summer on the Splendour of the Seas and rank the experience among the our favorite cruise experiences. To complicate matters, my wife broke her ankle a week before the trip. We had been to Venice and knew what to expect. Even with a broken ankle we were able to negotiate the transportation. We took advantage of the luggage check at Piazza Roma and left our largest suitcase with them before and after the ship thus avoiding being schleppers. We also booked hotels right on the Grand Canal...Hotel Rialto (pre) and Hotel Monacco and Grand Canal (post).   Some must does: take Rick Steves book with you; get lost on the back streets; splurge and have a bottle of wine while seated in St.Mark's square at night; buy cheese, bread, and wine at the Rialto market and have a picnic.

___________________________________________

You make it sound sooooo inviting. I think I like your idea of a bottle of wine, cheese, and bread. I can't imagine anything more wonderful in Venice. I also like the idea of staying on the Grand Canal, I may just change our hotel reservations.

If you are thinking about changing to a hotel on the Grand Canal you might want to consider Hotel Rialto. It is at the foot of the Rialto Bridge. At night there are small round tables and chairs set up at the foot of the bridge and directly across the sidewalk from the hotel entrance. Sitting there one has their toes dangling over the edge above the water. The wine is reasonable and the view is beautiful, interesting, and relaxing (we discovered this because of the broken ankle). The hotel also has an outdoor terrace with table, chairs, and umbrellas on the third floor. It overlooks the hustle and bustle of the Grand Canal. It is a perfect location for that afternoon bottle of wine, cheese, and bread you will buy at the market (which is across the bridge and only a couple of "blocks" away). The vaparetto stop is in front of the hotel. It is on a moderately short walk to St.Marks Square. The staff at the hotel was delightful. Be sure to check out the reviews on the trip advisor web site. No matter where you stay, get up early (between 6 & 7am) and you will have Venice to yourselves. The only people out are locals going to work, delivering goods, etc. You will love Venice. Paris used to be our favorite city but Venice surpassed it. P.S.: this old romantic couple had a "Venice" rule...we had to kiss each other each and every time we crossed over a bridge...and there are a lot of bridges in Venice.:):D:);)

desert traveler

We just returned from a cruise that left out of Venice (we flew home from Athens). So we did the reverse of what you plan.

We took the vaporetto to Piazza Roma from our hotel and then met a free cruise shuttle bus that took us to the port--this may be available for you.

If you will be traveling on the vaporetto several times I would suggest you look into getting a Venice Connected Card. You would need to purchase on line before you leave. We got a 72hr pass which was cheaper than buying in Venice. Along with it we received free WiFi access (but only when we were in St Marks-but we had iphones so it worked). Also I believe with the Venice Connect card you do get access on the Alguana(sp) bus to or from airport-which you may need. Since we were staying at the Hilton on Guidecca we took a water taxi--pricey but very nice. Another thing you can order off Venice Connect is a WC pass for 1euro/day.

You have several options so it is important to look at them before you go. The vaporetto pass (via Venice Connected) was a life saver.

Recommended things in Venice:

getting lost and just looking around!-but do get a good map-you still might get lost anyway-we did and it was our 2nd time there.

We enjoyed the market and the fish market next to it. It is truly amazing.

If you can order tickets ahead for a tour of St Marks or we did the Secret Itiniery of the Doge Palace-which was quite interesting. Again they should be ordered in advance as the lines were unbelievably long when we were there 4/30-5/2.

• 1 month later...

I just booked our water taxi in Venice....here is how the cost breaks down...in EUROS:

1-6 passengers with up to 6 total bags.....95 Euros

7-12 passengers additional cost 6 EU per person and 6 EU per bag (carry on is considered a bag and is charged 6 EU each)

if you are traveling to or from the port to a Hotel in Venice...there is an additional tax per taxi of 25 EU...

there are 8 of us.....2 bags each and 1 carry on per person......$335 each way from the hotel to the cruise port

Whew.....hope it is a great ride....:eek:

We just booked our private water taxi with Venice Guide and Boat . For the three of us, the cost was 84 euros (from pier to hotel). This included tax and 6 pieces of luggage (2 bags per person). If we went over, there would be an additional charge of 6euros per bag. Hope this helps.

If you are taking the Aliguna from the cruise terminal to St. Marks, There are porters who will load your luggage on a special cart that allows them to negotiate the canal steps. This will help to get to your hotel and transport your luggage. Unfortunately, I don't remember the charge.

The price for a water taxi from the Hilton Molino Stucky to the ship is 60 euros. Split with other guests and cut your fare.

I am planning MSC Magnifica cruise Apr 2010, r/t Venice. My 2 options for return flight leave Venice airport at 11:30AM, or 8:30PM. I really don't want to wait around 10 hours after the cruise to fly 20 hours home (SLC). Do I have a good chance of making the 11:30AM flight to JFK?

I know this ship is not in service yet, however I would like opinions by others returning from Venice.

Sorry, put this in wrong place, started new thread.

We stayed in Montecarlo 4 years ago. It's very easy walk from St Marco Square stop. Just one block from Clock Tower. Great hotel and location!!! If we'd go Venice, we'd stay there again!

Our hotel told us that it was not necessary to prebook a water taxi from the airport to the their hotel. Any suggestions? I am nervous not making any arrangements, Also what is the best way to go from the hotel to the port. has anyone stayed at this hotel?

• 5 months later...

luv2travell

why carry your luggage when you can ship your luggage to your hotel when you get off the ship for 4 euros each bag i did that since i have 3 luggage and with my 3 year old son

Earl Rosebery

Desperately need your help. I am almost wishing we had not decided to stay one day because it sounds so onerous taking water taxis/buses everywhere.

We were in Venice in October. Fortunately we had 3 days there as it was the best part of our trip. Don't worry about walking with your luggage. Everyone does it. Your hotel is close to St Mark's The Alilaguna water bus is the direct route to St Mark's. You would then walk about 250 metres. A private water taxi could get you closer. You will notice a large canal just behind your hotel. (Google earth or google maps) . If you want the grand canal we stayed at Ca' Angeli. It was wonderful. It is halfway between Academia and Rialto. Don't worry, Venice is very small. Ca' Angeli's water taxi stop is 50 feet from their door. Believe me, it would be worth it.

QueensChick

Message deleted. Sorry, I made a mistake. :o

I am traveling with my mother (91 years old) and will be bringing a wheel chair. She can walk just fine but tires easily and stairs are difficult for her. Can anyone recommend a hotel near San Marco that is (1) easy to get to from the ship, and (2) accessible by wheelchair to walk around and sightsee, shop, eat, etc? Thanks!

I would recommend that, rather than worrying about being near San Marco, you instead consider looking for a hotel with it's own dock and near a Vaporetti Station...

Last visit, we stayed very near San Marco (The Anastasia--and a few other hotels are around the same square)...but, even so, in order to get to San Marco, one had to go up and down several steps and over a couple of small side canals...

It may be more convenient to find a hotel along the Grand Canal (We've also stayed at the Carlton--which has its own dock on the Grand Canal but is near the Piazzale Roma)...You could use a water taxi to take you and your luggage right to the hotel and use water taxis (expensive) or Vaporetti (cheap--I recommend buying the 24 hour or 3 day pass depending on the length of your visit)...As long as your mom can step in and out of the boat, you could bring the wheelchair along with and access most major sites without a lot of walking or stairs or bridges by planning out your vaporetti stops carefully...

When you check out hotels, ask each if they have a dock and if they are near a Vaporetti station without having to cross a bridge...

Good luck...

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

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Marghera is a city that belongs to Venice. It is located on the mainland and although it is not considered a tourist point, many local people live here because of the proximity to the center of Venice and Mestre.

Porto Marghera was developed to give Venice a commercial and industrial port outside the city center. In fact, this area houses the industry of Venice and is considered one of the largest coastal industrial areas in Europe.

At the beginning of 2021, the construction of a new cruise terminal in this port was approved to free up the existing cruise traffic to the port in the center of Venice. The Italian authorities came to this conclusion due to the great discontent of the local population caused by the structural damage that large cruise ships generate to the city.

Similarly, the creation of this terminal is expected to be a new opportunity to receive a greater number of cruise ships in a more organized way without a negative impact on the city.  

NOT TO BE MISSED

​​​​​​​From the port of Marghera you can go to the center of Venice where you will surely admire the main points of interest of this beautiful city on the water:

• The Basilica of San Marco , dating back to 1060, one of the most beautiful European cathedrals reaching a height of 43 meters. You can also admire The Doge's Palace, which stands side-by-side with the basilica.  
• Walk over the Bridge of Sighs . It is the only covered bridge in the city, and famous for the legend that if lovers pass under the bridge, their love will last forever.
• The most famous bridge in Venice is the Ponte di Rialto , built in 1591, designed by Antonio da Ponte, and the two basilicas: Santa Maria Gloriosa Dei Frari dating back to the 15th century and Santa Maria Della Salute from the 17th century.

HOW TO GET TO THE PORT

From the airport: Venice Marco Polo International Airport is a 10-15 minute taxi ride, depending on traffic.

From Santa Lucia train station: The easiest way to get to the port from the station is with a taxi or private transfer service since the port is only 15 minutes away by car.  

USEFUL CONTACTS

Hospital and medical services: the closest hospital to the pier is the San Marco Mestre Polyclinic. Phone: +390415071611

Pharmacies: The closest pharmacy to the port is A.M.E.S. Comunale Pharmacy N ° 4 - Serenissima. It is an 8-minute drive away. Phone: +39041900616

Taxi Service: +390415964

Consulates: There are currently 38 representations in Venice. The representations include 5 general consulates and 33 honorary consulates. Be sure to have the address and telephone number of your representative office before traveling.  

TOURS FROM MARGHERA

No tours available, please contact [email protected] for more information.

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Private Transfer from Cruise Terminal in Venice to the Marco Polo Airport

Keep the good work !!

Private transfer service in Venice, from cruise port to airport

Your ship has just docked at Venice Cruise Terminal and you need to reach the Marco Polo airport of Venice ? This transfer service is the ideal choice for you: a private transfer , convenient and reliable, to smoothly reach your destination, aboard a comfortable car .

Private Transportation from Cruise Terminal in Venice to the Marco Polo Airport highlights: 

• Choose the quickest way to reach the Venice airport, departing from the port
• Your private driver will pick you up directly at the Arrival Terminal of the port
• Enjoy your journey, as you comfortably travel aboard a reliable car
• Reach the Marco Polo airport perfectly on time to catch your next flight
• Relax and enjoy your journey!

Private Transportation from Cruise Terminal in Venice to the Marco Polo Airport

If your cruise ship stops at the port of Venice and you need to get to the Marco Polo Venice’s airport to take your next plane, there is nothing better than planning your transfer in advance. This  private transfer , reliable and safe, will save you time and energy.

Getting to the airport from the port of Venice

With the unreliability of the taxi and with the known delays to public transport, the airport of Venice is often a source of stress for travelers who are Venice . But thanks to this  private transfer service you can forget the stress: your professional driver will pick you up directly at the Cruise Terminal (a few steps from where your ship will dock) and will take you to the Marco Polo airport aboard a luxury car equipped with all comfort.

A private transfer service to travel in total comfort

With this  transfer service from the port of Venice to the airport will not have to think about anything except to enjoy the journey. You will be taken to the Departures Terminal of the airport , on time to attend the check-in and all pre-flight formalities. This service is available 7 days out of 7.

Relax and enjoy your journey

There is only one thing to do: booking the service , specifying the arrival time of your ship, and the departure time of your flight. You will see: leave the city of Venice to get to the airport has never been easier!

Other transfers in Venice

If you need a private transfer from the airport of Venice , check out the   Private Transfer service from Marco Polo Airport to the Cruise Terminal in Venice . Have also a look at other private transfers from/to Venice .       All our vehicles are thoroughly sanitized and the passenger's compartment areas are subjected to frequent cleaning before and after each service. During the time spent inside the vehicle, the use of anti-covid masks is mandatory. The driver will also proceed to measure the body temperature before the start of each service.

• Pick-up from the Cruise Terminal in Venice
• Drop-off at the Marco Polo Airport
• Private transfer by car or minivan - depending on the number of the passengers
• Private driver
• Baggage/Luggage Assistance
• Tips (optional)

Further meeting point information and local telephone numbers at your destination are included on your Confirmation Voucher.

We strongly recommend informing us in advance about any delays.   Driver's Waiting limits:15 minutes from the agreed meeting time. If the delay exceeds this limit, the driver might have to leave due to other scheduled service. In this case we can try to arrange another transfer with the standard fare. If the driver can wait over the limit above, an extra fare will be applied, to be paid on the spot.   Luggage policy: 1 suitcase + 1 hand luggage per person allowed.  Inform us in advance if you exceed this limit, so we can consider the opportunity to reserve a proper vehicle, with an extra cost.  

Reviews of Private Transfer from Cruise Terminal in Venice to the Marco Polo Airport

First class service and first class driver, excelllent service highly recommend them, on time, excellent/clean vehicle, friendly knowledgeable driver.

The ultimate guide to a Grand Canal Cruise Venice

Things to do in Venice Grand Canal Venice

Venice’s most treasured boulevard, the Grand Canal is a 3 km strip of glistening water dotted with gondolas, vaporettos, tragettis and many other water crafts. Considered Venice’s ‘busiest street’,the Canalazzo as it is commonly called divides the city of Venice into 2 halves. This truly Grand canal serpentines from the central neighbourhoods of Venice and ends near the St Mark’s square. In its course, it passes under 4 bridges crossing buzzing markets, well-manicured gardens and regal canal-front restaurants, lined by grand museums, churches and iconic structures. In essence, the Grand Canal not only connects the top attractions of Venice, it is a top attraction by itself.

Quick Jumplinks to Navigate the Guide

The grand canal of venice.

• Evolution of the Grand Canal - An architectural delight
• What are the best ways to cruise the Grand Canal
• Top 5 attractions along the Grand Canal
• Santa Maria della Salu

Peggy Guggenheim Collection

• Corner della Ca' Grande
• Learn about the 4 Bridges connecting the Grand Canal
• Ponte Di Rialto
• Ponte dell’Accademia
• Ponte degli Scalzi

Ponte della Costituzione

• Insider tips for the perfect Grand Canal ride

Have you ever seen pictures so postcard perfect that you end up convincing yourself it’s a painting? Grand Canal is one of those surreal picturesque beauties you can’t believe exists.

The Grand Canal is flanked by a total of 170 structures, a mix of Byzantine Romanesque buildings, Renaissance Palazzos and Neoclassical mansions. Pastel yellows, mellow greens and creamy orange buildings rising out of clear blue water, cobbles streets lining its periphery and tourists and locals whizzing past its shore is a basic bird’s eye view of the Grand Canal.

This bustling canal is never idle. Being the artery of Venice, you have water crafts shuttling people at the oddest of hours simply because there is no other way to get around this Floating City. Be it the bedecked gondolas, the public vaporettos, the private acquei or the tragettis, the Grand Canal is perpetually astir. Before you get on your chosen mode of transport to glide on the Grand Canal, take a few minutes to consume this brewing commotion.

If you happen to cruise the Grand Canal around sunset, you are in for a soulful treat. In the backdrop of cotton candy sky, the sun’s soft yellow hues creates a golden glow so magical that the city looks akin heaven. Adding on to this beauty is the stirring reflection of the grandeur structures on the emerald water you are cruising on. You are not likely to forget this scenario for a long long time.

Evolution Of The Grand Canal - An Architectural Delight

The Grand Canal is believed to be a branch of the ancient Brenta River that opens into a lagoon. In the 10th century, the Byzantine Empire settled and sprung on the banks of the Grand Canal. Trading flourished due to the easy accessibility via sea and most of those who stayed by the peripheries of the canal were established merchants and traders.

By the 12th century, houses along the canal became ornate with Byzantine arches and loggias. The oldest building along the canal namely Ca’ da Mosto is a 13th century palazzo which flaunts the Venetian-Byzantine style of architecture. Cut to 15th century when the European Gothic style of construction spread across Europe like blazing fire and Venice too succumbed. The Ca d’Oro( House of Gold) plastered in bright colours with skinny arches and intricate carvings is a fine blend of Venetian Gothic architecture by the Canal.

The 16th century saw the Renaissance architecture creeping into buildings around Venice. Pastels were replaced by clean whites and windows started becoming curvy from its pointed stance. The Palazzo Dario and Palazzo Grimani are fine examples of the Classical Renaissance architecture. During this period, having a palace facing the Grand Canal was considered a status symbol.

By the 17th century, the Grand Canal was crowded enough but certain Baroque styled constructions made its way to the pier. This prolific era saw the creation of the Santa Maria di Nazareth Church and the world renowned Santa Maria della Salute Basilica. These were perhaps the last few structures to adorn the Grand Canal because by the 18th century, construction along with Grand Canal saw a complete halt.

Ever since, it has just been restoration and preservation works to maintain these splendid structures that are the pride of Venice.

What Are The Best Ways To Cruise The Grand Canal?

Grand canal gondola ride with romantic serenade and dinner.

• Enjoy a traditional serenade on a Gondola ride on the Grand Canal and venture into the meandering venetian canals during your ride.
• Explore parts of the Grand Canal and other hidden canals under the magical evening sky
• Savor authentic Italian cuisine with fresh seafood and local delicacies at a fine dine restaurant
• Lay your eyes on important landmarks like the Accademia Bridge, La Fenice Theatre, St Mark's Basilica and more while you're traversing the Grand Canal.
• Be transported to a time in history without the rush and noise of vehicular traffic and simply the sounds of the water and people enjoying their evenings.

Grand Canal Gondola Ride With Serenade

• Explore the lifeline of the city, the web of canals that helped turn Venice into an economic and cultural powerhouse, elevating the city to the status of ‘La Dominante’.
• Enjoy 30 minutes of blissful cruise on the Grand Canal with your gondolier and guide enlightening you with lores, facts and stories of yore
• Entry for children below the age of 2 is free, as long as the child does not occupy a seat of his/her own. Children over the age of 2 pay full price.

Grand Canal Gondola Ride with Audio-Guide

• Enjoy the grandeur of Venice through its canals in the iconic gondola with skip the line tickets on a 30-minute shared gondola ride.
• Explore the waterways and the celebrated parts of the Grand Canal including the Peggy Guggenheim Collection, Desdemona’s House and Mozart’s House.
• Immerse yourself in the opulence of Venice and learn about its vibrant history with a handy multilingual audio guide app.

Save €6 on your first booking with Headout when you use promo code GOVENICE

Top 5 Attractions Along The Grand Canal

The Grand Canal stretches across the whole city in the shape of an inverted S. It is lined by numerous structures of importance like churches, government offices, museums, palaces, historical markets and more. Make sure you don't blink too often lest you miss a wonderous building. Amongst the umpteen structures, here's a list of 5 attractions along Grand Canal you absolutely cannot miss.

Santa Maria Della Saluta

The monumental baroque of Santa Maria Della Saluta , commonly known as the Salute is the most impressive structure on the Grand Canal. This church dedicated to the Lady of Health was erected as a votive offering for the city’s deliverance from the plague outbreak in 1630. The massive dome is sure to catch your attention from even the furthest point on the Grand Canal.

This is a modern art museum housed in the Palazzo Venier dei Leoni, an 18th-century palace, which was home to the American heiress Peggy Guggenheim for almost 30 years. It is a low white contemporary structure that is always bustling with tourists and if you crane your neck enough, you may see a few prominent sculpts of art from around the world.

Palazzo Corner della Ca' Grand

Bang opposite the Peggy Guggenheim's Collection, you will see a fine example of Renaissance architecture. This is the Corner della Ca' Grande built in 1545 by Italian master sculptor Jacopo Sansovino, for the powerful Cornaro family. It was built in order to showcase the Carnaro family’s status. Notice the Ionic columns on the first floor and Corinthian columns on the second while you cross by this grand palazzo.

The House of Gold is an exemplary example of Venetian Gothic architecture and considered one of the most eye worthy sights on the Canal. Though the Ca' d'Oro has lost its original lustre, its shimmering mosaic and gold might cause you to flinch a little. The interiors of this masterpiece houses a museum which illustrates the lives of the Venetian Nobles during the Middle Ages.

San Stae Built in 1678, this church was built in shape of a Greek Cross and the facade that you see from the Grand Canal was built 30 years after its original construction by Domenico Rossi. This finely embellished roccocò styles structure was initially built as dedication to Saint Eustacchio. San Stae is a part of the Chorus Circuit and houses the tomb of the Mocenigo Family, an affluent Venetian family who gave 7 Doges to the Republic.

Learn about the 4 bridges connecting the grand canal.

On the Grand Canal, there are 4 bridges connecting parts of it for easy pedestrian access. Each of these have been built in different eras and are integral connecting points. Don't forget to notice these 4 canals during your cruise.

Ponte Di Rialto The Rialto Bridge is the first and oldest bridge connecting San Marco and San Polo. It took 3 years to erect this ornate structure engraved with Istrian stone reliefs depicting St Mark, St Theodore and the Annunciation.

Ponte dell’accademia this bridge is a wooden bridge which derives its name from the accademia galleries close by and connects dorsoduro and saint mark's district and is very close to the peggy guggenheim museum as well. ponte dell’accademia has a terrific vantage point overlooking the grand canal and is hence considered a shutterbug's paradise., ponte degli scalzi ponte degli scalzi translates to bridge of barefoot monks and is a stone arch bridge connecting two frequented areas - santa croce and cannaregio.if you arrive by bus or train you are likely to use this bridge to move into the city as it connects the santa lucia railway station and piazzale roma bus station..

TThe last and latest bridge connecting the Grand Canal is Ponte della Costituzione commonly called Calatrava Bridge. It crossed the Grand Canal at the terminus of 3 modes of transport - Buses, Boats and Railways. It is a long, sweeping curve of glass and steel designed to complement both the historic buildings on the Piazzale Roma side of the canal and the 1950s modernity of Venice's main railway station. Though it is considered the gateway to Venice, it has received much criticism as it is not luggage and wheelchair friendly.

Insider Tips For The Perfect Grand Canal Ride

• The Grand Canal is lovely year around, both by day and night. So whenever you go, rest assured it will be a feast for your senses.
• Booking tickets online will save you the hassle of standing in mile long queues.
• Combo tickets with a serenade, dinner or walking tour works out economically and enhances your experience further.
• Taking the public vaporettos to cruise the Grand Canal for pleasure is least advised due to the incessant stops and crowd.
• A private taxi, a shared boat for your family/friends alone or gondolas are the best modes to cruise the Grand Canal as you can travel into lesser visited parts of the Canal and experience calming solace.
• It's best to avoid cruising the Grand Canal during the community hours in the morning (7 am - 9 am) and evening( 6 pm - 7 pm).

FAQs: Grand Canal Venice

Why is the grand canal in venice famous.

The Grand Canal is famous worldwide  for the centuries-old palaces which stand on both sides of the water . Most of them date from the 13th to the 18th century, a time in which existed the Venetian Republic. These magnificent buildings show the wealth Venetian families had at the time of the powerful Venetian Republic.

What is the Grand Canal called in Venice?

The Grand Canal of Venice, also known as  Canalazzo , is the most important waterway sweeping through this amazing city. While the ancient canal measures 3.8 kilometres long, it snakes through Venice in a large S shape and splits the city in two sides.

Where is the Grand Canal Venice?

Grand Canal, Italian Canale Grande, main waterway of  Venice, Italy , following a natural channel that traces a reverse-S course from San Marco Basilica to Santa Chiara Church and divides the city into two parts.

Where does the Venice Grand Canal start and end?

The Grand Canal, also known as canalazzo is the main channel of transportation in Venice. It  starts from the Saints Mark's basin and ends at a lake near the Santa Lucia railway station .

Where does the poop in Venice go?

Most of Venice's sewage goes  directly into the city's canals . Flush a toilet, and someone crossing a bridge or cruising up a side canal by gondola may notice a small swoosh of water emerging from an opening in a brick wall.

Can you swim in Venice canals?

So, can you swim in the Venice canals? The simple answer is:  no, you are not allowed to swim in the Venice canals , nor in any other place in the historic center of Venice.

Can you walk along the Grand Canal in Venice?

Either side of the Grand Canal private buildings front the waterfront,  there is no footpath alongside the Grand Canal . You can walk between Santa Lucia Railway Station and St Mark's Square and view the Rialto Bridge on the way, but your only glimpse of the Grand Canal will be at Rialto Bridge.

Why is the Grand Canal important?

The Grand Canal  played a huge role in reunifying north and south China . The canal was built by conscripted laborers and connected the Yellow River in the north with the Yangtze River in the south, which made it much easier to transport grain from the south to the centers of political and military power in north China.

Lakshmi Menon

Born to parents bit by the wander bug, Lakshmi calls her love for travel "hereditary and habitual". Perpetually ensconced with a book in her hand and a mug of coffee in the other, she has been to over 15 countries in her 23 years of existence and is currently saving miles and money for her solo trip to Iceland. Always hustling towards the least trodden path, she has encountered some wonderful people during her escapades and if you ever meet her, she won't stop gushing about them.

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17 replies to this topic

This post has been removed at the author's request.

Murano is OK, Torcello is wonderful but Burano is tourist tat central, ideal if you wish to buy Chinese 'lace'.

For self-guided walks, google: http://gpsmycity.com/Venice

Actually there is authentic gorgeous Venetian lace handmade on the island of Burano. I went there…this is the place.

https://emiliaburano.it/

This is the typical Burano embroidery.

https://emiliaburano.it/products/bramante-collection

There are also fakes made in China... but just look at the quality of the fabric, the finishes and the price to unmask them.

It takes many hours of work to make an embroidery, so if the price is too low it is probably a fake.

FWIW I don't think one massive ship docking outside Venice is going to be as bad as when there were 3 big ships docked in the city. That wasn't very nice so we went to the Lido and Murano which were OK. Or our visit once over Easter...

The next day there are 3 ships in ports around the area with a total passenger capacity of 5800, so perhaps that is the day to head out to the islands?

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Welcome to Venice. That’ll Be 5 Euros.

Starting this month, tourists intending to visit the city on busy dates will be required to register on a website, and those coming for a single day will have to pay an entry fee.

By Elisabetta Povoledo

Reporting from Italy

On its busiest days, Venice swells with tourists who clog the city’s narrow streets, leave behind piles of garbage and often frustrate locals. So the canal-crossed city is fighting back.

Starting on April 25, and for another 29 days scattered mostly around national holidays and weekends through mid-July, day trippers to the historic part of Venice will have to pay 5 euros, about $5.40, a measure that city officials hope will encourage people to come during less busy times.

All visitors to Venice will also have to register their presence in the city on the specified days, filling out an online form that will help officials gauge how many visitors to expect and strategize about how to handle them.

“It’s not about making money — the costs of the operation are higher than what we’re going to make,” Mayor Luigi Brugnaro told reporters on Thursday as Venetian officials kicked off a global advertising campaign.

Instead, said Michele Zuin, the city official in charge of budgeting and economics, the aim is “to better manage the numbers of tourists and disincentivize mass tourism, which is what creates, let’s say, the difficulty of living in this city.”

Visitors staying overnight in Venice will not have to pay, nor will those traveling there to work, to visit relatives or to study. Anyone born in the city is also exempt , as are minors under 14. And Mr. Brugnaro said there would be no cap on the number of visitors allowed in.

Rising improbably from the waters of the Venetian lagoon, the city is as delicate as it is beautiful, and in recent decades it has struggled to protect a uniqueness that is threatened by climate change and rising seas, as well as by mass tourism .

To counter that figurative and literal erosion, the city has installed giant gates at four mouths of the lagoon to keep seawater out and pavements dry, and banned cruise ships from the inner canals. Those efforts helped keep Venice off UNESCO’s list of “World Heritage in Danger” even after experts at the agency raised concerns last year that Italy had not done enough to protect the city.

From 1976 until this year, Italy had allocated funds to help safeguard Venice, and on Thursday, Mr. Brugnaro chided the country’s central government for not renewing that funding. He said he had asked the government for €1.5 billion for the next 10 years to help preserve a city with a unique heritage that requires continuous maintenance.

“We need that financing,” he said.

Occasionally, days have been so busy with tourists that the city has had to limit some streets to one-way pedestrian traffic.

Simone Venturini, the city official in charge of tourism, said of the new measures, “We will be the first city in the world to know exactly how many tourists will come to Venice that day — whether exempt or paying, they have to register.”

After registering on the website, visitors will receive a QR code — valid from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. — that they will be required to show when entering the city at points like the train station, Piazzale Roma, the municipal parking lot, some beachfront locations and St. Mark’s Square. There will also be spot checks throughout the city.

For now, anyone arriving in Venice without a QR code will be allowed to buy it at the last minute, either on a smartphone or at kiosks set up leading up to the access points, officials said.

Transgressors will face fines of €50 to €300 plus a €10 fee, Mr. Zuin said.

The initiative is being introduced on a trial basis so that city officials can see whether the system works and how it can be improved, he said. In the future, the entry fee could be calibrated — “a sliding scale of prices,” Mayor Brugnaro said — depending on the day.

“We’re asking for collaboration,” Mr. Brugnaro said, adding that the data accumulated during the 29 days would be made public. He said that officials from other cities around the world had contacted his administration to find out more about the access system.

So far, more than 50,000 people have registered through the website — about a third of them paying for one-day visits, officials said.

“The entire world wants to come to Venice,” Mr. Venturini said at the introduction of the advertising campaign, which included a video message of the mayor speaking in various languages using A.I.-generated speech translation.

In the video, Mayor Brugnaro apologizes for any inconvenience that the new system might create. But, he said, “the city has to be protected.”

Elisabetta Povoledo is a reporter based in Rome, covering Italy, the Vatican and the culture of the region. She has been a journalist for 35 years. More about Elisabetta Povoledo

2-Day Venice Sharks Tooth Festival wraps up

VENICE, Fla. (WWSB) - The annual tradition continued in Venice for their annual Sharks Tooth Festival.

Many attended this year’s event including some of our ABC7 team who was a proud sponsor of the event.

The event was filled with live music, food vendors, and a lot of activities for the whole family.

Each year since 1987 Venice Mains Street has put this event on.

Copyright 2024 WWSB. All rights reserved.

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