Venice

By Melissa Mayntz

Imbued with romance intricately tied to the water, Venice is one of the most popular embarkation ports for Mediterranean cruises. With superior terminals and a rich history of its own, it is the perfect starting point for any romantic sailing.

Cruises from Venice

As the busiest cruise port in the Mediterranean, the port of Venice, ''Venezia Terminal Passeggeri'', coordinates more than 400 sailings and 820,000 passengers annually. Numerous mainstream and luxury cruise lines offer service from the aquatic city, including:

In addition, several European-based cruise lines also offer service from Venetian waters, including Aida Cruises, Ponant Cruises, Hapag Lloyd Cruises, and Hebridean Island Cruises. For updated information about which cruise lines are currently sailing from Venice, interested passengers should contact a travel agent.

Itineraries

Because of the massive variety of cruise lines offering service from the city, there is a wide range of different itinerary options, including both roundtrip and one-way voyages. Naturally, the majority of cruises that depart from Venice are on Mediterranean routes, often visiting ports in numerous European nations, including Greece (Greek island cruises are especially popular), Turkey, Croatia, Spain, Italy, Monaco, and France. Other cruise travel options include transatlantic voyages or the European segments of world cruises that stop in this Italian port.

Depending on the exact itinerary and number of ports of call, cruise lengths range from 5-30 nights, with most voyages falling in the 7-14 night range.

Visiting Venice

Either before or after a cruise, many passengers choose to spend extra time in Venice to experience the city's unique charm. With splendid dining and shopping opportunities to delight any vacationer, the city also offers a number of exquisite attractions, including:

Basilica of San Marco: One of the city's most famous landmarks, this church in the heart of the city clearly demonstrates the region's historic Byzantium heritage.
Grand Canal: With stunning views of gothic palaces and other exotic architecture, taking a boat ride with a knowledgeable guide is a worthwhile way to experience this world-renowned attraction.
Gondola Rides: A romantic way to see the city, gondola rides can be found on all the major canals. Going under the Rialto Bridge or Bridge of sighs are particular treats for couples.
Piazzale Roma: The only part of the city open to cars, visitors will find scrumptious dining and plentiful shopping in this area, easily accessible to the cruise port.
Outlying Islands: There are numerous small islands accessible by ferry or bridge around the city, many offering superior crafts such as handmade lace or exotic class.

Getting to the Port

The port is located on the Venetian Lagoon near the heart of the city, and it is directly accessible from the airport (just nine miles away) in a number of ways - taxi, water taxi, water shuttle, or bus. The trip will take 20-80 minutes depending on the method and time of day. The train station is only six miles away and a number of transportation options are available there as well. For passengers who prefer to drive, guarded and insured parking facilities are available though they are limited to a maximum of 800 cars: online booking is recommended to guarantee a space.

Since the port services a variety of ships - from mega cruise ships to tiny water taxis - passengers should plan on arriving early to avoid congestion. Pre-check in services are available. For guests with limited mobility, all terminals are handicap accessible beyond the regulations required by the Italian government.