Italy cruises?

very new to river cruises......can you tell me if any of the river cruise companies offer itenaries thru Italy? and if not? why not?

I know some do. However (IMO) it seems a stretch to call it a "cruise" as you don't travel much of a distance by boat... I don't think that much of the Po is actually navigable.

Sample itinerary from Uniworld, for illustrative purposes:

http://uniworld.com/boutique-river-cruises/europe/venice-and-the-gems-of-northern-italy/2015/day-to-day/

And a map. See, not much cruising:

We have not tried this yet so my impression from reading the description might not match the experience of one who's actually taken it.

I am planning to take the Uniworld Italy cruise in 2016. From my research Uniworld is the only main line river cruise company to offer a cruise in Italy due to the lack of rivers long and deep enough to Navigate. As JP mentioned it isn't a traditional River cruise. So if you are looking for the experience of cruising down a scenic river stopping each day at a different Village then this cruise will probably disappoint you. We sailed on the Rhine last July with Uniworld and were so pleased with their service that we have decided to sail with them in Italy since we were planning to go to Italy anyway. This cruise will spend most of its time in the Venice lagoon since most of the Po isn't reachable due to depth of river. Then there are a number of bus tours to smaller cities/villages as well. Think of it as a floating motel as you spend 3 days in Venice then experience additional towns along the way such as bologna, verona, etc...

We are also taking their land extension that spends 2 nights in Florence and 3 days in Rome. Having looked at both Ocean tours and land tours of Italy I felt this provided the best of both worlds. I encourage you to get a Uniworld brochure and good look with your planning

Then there are a number of bus tours to smaller cities/villages as well. Think of it as a floating motel as you spend 3 days in Venice then experience additional towns along the way such as bologna, verona, etc...

 

The boat actually stays put in Venice the whole time, based on the itinerary on their website, and every day is a bus trip.

We love Italy and enjoy river cruising but to call that a river cruise IMO is a real stretch.

The boat actually stays put in Venice the whole time, based on the itinerary on their website, and every day is a bus trip.

 

We love Italy and enjoy river cruising but to call that a river cruise IMO is a real stretch.

Oh, be fair now... it may cross the lagoon once in a while! ;)

I do agree that it's a stretch to call this a river cruise. I don't think we'd be interested either. I suppose one advantage over a land-based trip would be only unpacking once...

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Oh, be fair now... it may cross the lagoon once in a while! ;)

 

I do agree that it's a stretch to call this a river cruise. I don't think we'd be interested either. I suppose one advantage over a land-based trip would be only unpacking once...

 

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That's what I like about it - unpacking once. Plus all the luxuries awaiting you every day.

Travel by bus puts me off though.

I'll be researching this next year. OH and I want to go to Italy and I'll be comparing Hotels along the way (plus travel cost) to the cost of a river (land) cruise.

It may even be worth it just to get the cheapest room on the ship and do our own travel to different cities.

That's what I like about it - unpacking once. Plus all the luxuries awaiting you every day.

 

Travel by bus puts me off though.

 

I'll be researching this next year. OH and I want to go to Italy and I'll be comparing Hotels along the way (plus travel cost) to the cost of a river (land) cruise.

 

It may even be worth it just to get the cheapest room on the ship and do our own travel to different cities.

I have booked Venice and the Lagoon with Croisieurope next year plus hotel in Rome. Intend taking the train from Venice to Rome and also a possible day trip by train from Rome to Pompei. Only problem so far is it is too early to book the railway tickets.

That's what I like about it - unpacking once. Plus all the luxuries awaiting you every day.

 

Travel by bus puts me off though.

 

I'll be researching this next year. OH and I want to go to Italy and I'll be comparing Hotels along the way (plus travel cost) to the cost of a river (land) cruise.

 

It may even be worth it just to get the cheapest room on the ship and do our own travel to different cities.

I have been to Italy 25+ times since the 70s. The cost of the river cruise and time to stay in Venice and commute to other places does not make any sense IMO. It is not strategically located and trains will eat up time and money.

My favorite way to visit Italy is to fly open jaw and use 3 locations as a base for a 12-14 night stay and travel by train in between. I did not find Med ocean cruises to be the best way to experience Italy at all. Independent land vacations are my preference.

The boat actually stays put in Venice the whole time, based on the itinerary on their website, and every day is a bus trip.

 

We love Italy and enjoy river cruising but to call that a river cruise IMO is a real stretch.

I agree with you! DH is Italian and we have family there. It's so easy to get from city to city, I think you would be much better off taking trains. JMHO.

I agree with you! DH is Italian and we have family there. It's so easy to get from city to city, I think you would be much better off taking trains. JMHO.

We had this cruise booked last year and after reading several reviews describing it as not being a river cruise, but long bus rides, etc. we changed with Uniworld and did the Douro and were extremely pleased. One previous passenger said it was an expensive hotel stay with bus rides every day. As other OP's have said, there are probably better ways to tour Italy.

Cole

I have been to Italy 25+ times since the 70s. The cost of the river cruise and time to stay in Venice and commute to other places does not make any sense IMO. It is not strategically located and trains will eat up time and money.

 

My favorite way to visit Italy is to fly open jaw and use 3 locations as a base for a 12-14 night stay and travel by train in between. I did not find Med ocean cruises to be the best way to experience Italy at all. Independent land vacations are my preference.

Yeah, I know what you mean (I spent my summers there).

Plus I have family there but they are the kind of people that if I go there - I have to stay a least a couple of WEEKS at each location AND at their house AND they will dictate where to take us and so on. I love em but I spend 80% of the time at the table.

No way OH will go for that.

IF it were up to me, I'd just set up a base and travel to where I want to go. Now I just need to convince fussy bigger OH that it's the ONLY way to see Italy.

We did the Uniworld Italy trip in August, 2013. We opted to take the extended trip which included land travel to Florence and Rome after a week in Venice on the ship.

We were very pleased with the trip--the only downside was the buses used for the side trips. They weren't very comfortable-but, generally speaking, the trips weren't that long and once we arrived at the destination of the day, the tours were always first class. The coach used to go to Florence and Rome was very spacious and comfortable.

We docked in 2 separate places in Venice and it was easy to either take a walk or hop into a water taxi to explore in your own. One night, after taking taxis to St. Marks for a private showing, we were escorted to the vaporetto and took that back to the ship. Lots of good memories and interesting experiences.:)

One night, after taking taxis to St. Marks for a private showing, we were escorted to the vaporetto and took that back to the ship. Lots of good memories and interesting experiences.:)

We were able to do this private tour of St. Marks on a Crystal cruise, and as we left the Basilica we noticed another group waiting to go in -- I believe it was a Uniworld group. This was one of the highlights of our cruise, and I imagine it would be for this Uniworld itinerary also. During the day, St. Marks is crawling with tourists inside and out -- but at night there were only the 8 of us inside the church and as they gradually turned the lights on it was a truly magical experience! Since you can't do this on your own, it would be a very positive reason to consider the Uniworld cruise.

We were able to do this private tour of St. Marks on a Crystal cruise, and as we left the Basilica we noticed another group waiting to go in -- I believe it was a Uniworld group. This was one of the highlights of our cruise, and I imagine it would be for this Uniworld itinerary also. During the day, St. Marks is crawling with tourists inside and out -- but at night there were only the 8 of us inside the church and as they gradually turned the lights on it was a truly magical experience! Since you can't do this on your own, it would be a very positive reason to consider the Uniworld cruise.

This can also be booked by anyone in advance. It is offered by several companies for St. Marks.

I cannot imagine choosing bus (or a bus based tour) over train for travel within Italy. Traffic can be problematic and it takes much longer even without traffic. We traveled with friends a few years ago and they had too much luggage (despite my warnings) so opted for private transfer from Venice to Rome. We hopped a train. We left the hotel at the same time and it took them 6 hours due to traffic while we were there in 2.5.

Nor would I personally choose to visit Bologna and Ferrara for a fixed tour if I really wanted to experience these areas. I love that part of Italy and for us, we enjoy immersing ourselves in local life.

Different strokes.

This can also be booked by anyone in advance. It is offered by several companies for St. Marks.

 

I cannot imagine choosing bus (or a bus based tour) over train for travel within Italy. Traffic can be problematic and it takes much longer even without traffic. We traveled with friends a few years ago and they had too much luggage (despite my warnings) so opted for private transfer from Venice to Rome. We hopped a train. We left the hotel at the same time and it took them 6 hours due to traffic while we were there in 2.5.

 

Nor would I personally choose to visit Bologna and Ferrara for a fixed tour if I really wanted to experience these areas. I love that part of Italy and for us, we enjoy immersing ourselves in local life.

 

Different strokes.

Caviargal: If you really want to immerse yourself in Italy, you need to have the family pack you like sardines into their car and drive you around at breakneck speed!! They know all the really good restaurants where the locals eat (and very few speak english). Otherwise, like you, i prefer the train. It's safer!!:D

Caviargal: If you really want to immerse yourself in Italy, you need to have the family pack you like sardines into their car and drive you around at breakneck speed!! They know all the really good restaurants where the locals eat (and very few speak english). Otherwise, like you, i prefer the train. It's safer!!:D

I have family in Catania and Ascoli Piceno and completely agree :)