Cruise News and Reviews

Carnival Freedom Sails Down The Grand Canal, Venice

Venice is located on the north-eastern coastline of Italy, and stands at the middle of a large lagoon sheltered from the Adriatic Sea. The larger islands in the lagoon were inhabited from around the 5th century. From the tenth through to the fourteenth centuries Venice grew rapidly because of its location as a trade hub between western and eastern Europe. By the 14th century Venice had become one of the most majestic cities of Europe. The best craftsmen, tradesmen and builders were commissioned to build superb palaces, and the foremost artists of the period were hired to add astonishing interior decoration.

Today many thousands of tourists come to admire the many attractions of Venice, and experience its unique combination of canals, renaissance architecture, and heritage art.

Venice Cruise Teminals

Venice Cruise Port has 3 main harbors: the Marittima basin, which can berth the largest ships that operate from Venice, and and the smaller Santa Marta and San Basilio quays. These two are nearby on the Giudecca Canal.

Marittima Basin, Cruise Port Venice

Marittima is the biggest of the ship docks at the Port’s Venezia Terminal Passeggeri, with five terminal buildings and enough docking space to manage several large ships simultaneously. It includes the Isonzo Quay, the Tagliamento Quay, the Piave Quay and the TM Quay.

San Basilio Quay, Venice

Santa Marta and San Basilio is the long wharf than runs from the mainport basin to the Fondamenta Zàttere, the walkway along the bank of the Giudecca Canal.

For the port website see Venezia Terminal Passeggeri.

Mykonos, a popular destination for Venice cruises

Itineraries Available

Cruises from Venice usually travel to on or more of two areas, the Adriatic Sea, the Ionian Sea. Magical ports of call visited include Kotor, Dubrovnik, Santorini, Katakolon, Izmir, Istanbul and Athens to name a handful among many. Cruises to the further afield Holy Land are also on offer. For a comprehensive presentation of timetables see cruises from Venice.

Things To Do Near The Cruise Port

Basilica
In the Basilica, you can see the famed Pala d’Oro, an alterpiece of solid gold encrusted with precious jewels. It was constructed by expert Byzantine goldsmiths in 976.

Doge’s Palace
See the magnificent Council Hall, and the emblems of the first 76 Doges. Also don’t forget to see the mournful Bridge of Sighs, the bridge taken by criminals and enemies of the state from the palace into the dungeons.

Campanile
The great bell tower in the center of St Marks square was originally built in 912.
From the top enjoy wonderful panoramas across the city.

Getting To The Cruise Port

If you’re embarking on a cruise ship at Venice, the least hassle method to get between the airport and the cruise terminal is to book the transfer from your cruise line. If you’ve booked the components of your vacation separately, the following describes how to travel to the Venice Cruise Terminal.

From the Airport
The cruise terminals are a 15- or 20-minute taxi journey from Venice’s Marco Polo Airport.

From the Piazzale Roma
The Piazzale Roma is the major transport hub for Venice and is the final point motor vehicles can reach before the center of the city. It is located at the end of the access causeway to Venice. The piazza is home to the bus station, and sits between the train station, and the cruise and ferry terminals. There is also a major Vaporetto stop. The least expensive way to get to the cruise terminals from Pizzale Roma is the free shuttle bus service, which runs frequently on days which have cruise ship departures.

For Santa Marta or San Basilio terminals you can take vaporetto lines 61/62 from Pizzale Roma. Don’t try to make it on foot, as it’s over half-an-hour, with intricate routefinding.