Need help with pre-cruise hotel location in Venice

We are booked on a cruise leaving Venice in August 2018. Embarkation begins @ 1 pm on a Thursday and the ship stays in Venice that evening, departing @ 4 pm the next day. Our plan is to fly into Venice on Wednesday, just to give us that extra day to deal with jet lag and in case of flight delays. However, I'm wondering re: location of the hotel. I'm not sure if we should find a hotel in Venice for that first night, even though we'll still be in Venice for another night (albeit staying on the ship), or if we should just get a cheaper hotel room around the airport for the first night and then go directly to the ship the second day, and then tour Venice that afternoon and the following day. We are a family of five so we will most likely need two rooms, which obviously adds to the cost. Has anyone been on a cruise with similar embarkation schedule and Venice itinerary as this one, and what did you do re: your hotel? Thanks!

We were a family of 8 in June this year going out of Venice on Constellation. We had lots of luggage and needed 4 hotel rooms. This scenario is quite difficult for staying in Venice itself and quite expensive. We decided to stay outside the city not far from the airport at the Crowne Plaza (in Quarto d"Altino). Prices are very reasonable and rooms are nice, free internet. They have a cruise package that includes transportation from the airport to the hotel and on the day of your cruise transportation from the hotel to the cruise port. Free breakfast (nice buffet). A lot of people staying there were going on a cruise. Furthermore the train station is literally behind the hotel. For about 3 euro each way you can get to Venice Santa Lucia Train Station in 20-25 min. We took advantage of the train to easily get into Venice then tour. All modes of transportation including the public vaporetto and even a Hop On Hop Off Boat are there.

We are booked on a cruise leaving Venice in August 2018. Embarkation begins @ 1 pm on a Thursday and the ship stays in Venice that evening, departing @ 4 pm the next day. Our plan is to fly into Venice on Wednesday, just to give us that extra day to deal with jet lag and in case of flight delays. However, I'm wondering re: location of the hotel. I'm not sure if we should find a hotel in Venice for that first night, even though we'll still be in Venice for another night (albeit staying on the ship), or if we should just get a cheaper hotel room around the airport for the first night and then go directly to the ship the second day, and then tour Venice that afternoon and the following day. We are a family of five so we will most likely need two rooms, which obviously adds to the cost. Has anyone been on a cruise with similar embarkation schedule and Venice itinerary as this one, and what did you do re: your hotel? Thanks!

We're on the Pacific Princess this coming November and like you we overnight on the boat before sailing from Venice. We're going in the day before and spending one night near San Marco so we can experience more of Venice, especially being there in the evening and morning hours. We chose Hotel Paganelli, which is on the Alilaguna line from the airport and to the cruiseport. No bridges to cross with luggage. Here is a good resource for choosing a hotel in Venice: http://europeforvisitors.com/venice/venice-warning.htm Be sure to look at the "How many bridges to cross" listings if hauling luggage up and down the stairs on bridges is a concern for you.

If you don't want to stay in the center of Venice, maybe one of the hotels near P. Roma would be a good choice.

Thanks for this information.

The downside to staying by the airport is that you will lose most of Thursday due to checking out of the hotel, transferring to Venice, then waiting to board the ship. On Thursday you will probably sleep in, have b'fast, putz around until 11am, checkout, travel to Venice, then wait around until 1pm to board the ship. And then you'll want to unpack and eat, so it will be around 4pm.

OTOH if you stay in Venice, you could check out after b'fast, ask the hotel to store your luggage for the day, then go exploring until dinner when you will board the ship and head to the buffet ! There are some budget friendly hotels in Venice if you check around (and you can easily manage your luggage to walk a few blocks and over couple of bridges).

Another option .... instead of the airport area, look at hotels in Mestre which is just across the causeway from Venice ( only 5 minutes and 2E by bus). Again the hotel will hold onto your luggage for the day. (You can take the ATVO express bus from the airport to Mestre since you won't find a cab for 5 pax with luggage).

http://europeforvisitors.com/venice/mestre/mestre-hotels-train-station.htm

Thank you! It really would be nice to stay in the center of Venice, especially if we have some sort of canal view as well. Know that will add to the cost, but where else can you get a hotel room like that around the world? :)

Our embarkation time is actually @ noon but would you recommend that we not arrive at the port until we're ready to stay for the rest of the day, instead of boarding, checking in, grabbing something to eat and then going back out? Is that b/c the port is in a rather inconvenient location?

Thanks again!

The port isnt inconvenient.....Venice is quite small. But the further away your hotel is, the more time you lose due to the commute.

I think you will lose valuable time by waiting around to check in at noon. But thats MHO.

The down side of a canal view is the noise. On one trip we spent 3 nites at a budget hotel with a canal view, the Dalla Mora. People travel by motorboat, so we were woken up at 1am when they came home from the bar and at 5am when they left for work.

We did the same thing a few years ago. Traveling with my mom who has mobility issues. We took a water taxi from the airport to our hotel near St Marks (Hotel Violino d'Oro). That allowed for us to spend the afternoon and evening in that part of town.

The following day, we took another water taxi to the ship. Overnight on the ship. The following morning, some of us got off the ship and wandered in areas closer to the port and train station.

Back on he ship mid-afternoon for sail away.

Staying near St Marks was more expensive and water taxis are about 100€ each way, but well worth it for convenience.

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Here's what we do when we visit Venice:

Fly in, get luggage, take the blue bus to Piazelli Roma.

Get off the bus, cross the street to the baggage hold depot (next to the People Mover),

check all the luggage except the minimum we need for the venice stay. (7 euro per bag, per day.).

Then, with two small rollers, we turn left after walking out of the luggage storage shop and walk down to the Vaporetto stop, where we buy our passes for however long we are staying, and get on the vaporetto to our hotel stop. Come embarkation day, take vaporetto to P Roma, pick up luggage, get on People Mover to cruise port.