Amanapoppy

As already answered, Alilaguna and the vaporettos (run by ACTV) are two different lines.

 

The vaporettos "specialize" in providing transportation around Venice and her outlying islands (Murano, Burano, etc.). They are like your local buses -- lots of stops, can be very crowded, not very fast from point to point.

 

The Alilaguna line has fewer routes and fewer stops on those routes. So I guess you could say it's like a "local express" service. It is more focused on getting you to various transportation hubs within Venice than on having a complete route.

 

So....Alilaguna has lines that go to and from the airport, and one line that goes to the large port (Stazione Marittima) where most cruise ships dock.

 

There is service from the airport to Rialto via the Alilaguna Orange Line. So you can take this service direct from the airport to the Rialto stop on the Grand Canal. Most hotels give directions on how to proceed on foot from here.

 

Unfortunately, the Alilaguna Blue Line, which goes to the port, does NOT have a stop at Rialto.

 

Map of the Alilaguna routes: https://www.alilaguna.it/en/lines/lines-map#&gid=1&pid=1

 

Map of all the ACTV and Alilaguna routes: http://www.actv.it/sites/default/files/ultimamappa.pdf

Hi, Thank you so much for the clarity. This is truly appreciated.

I will put my sights on the Alilaguna Orange Line from the Airport for sure.

Regards

The Vaporetto is not the Alilaguna. Two different services.

Just because, here is a photo primer to some of the Venice water transport:

 

Vaporetto (#2 Line at the S. Tomo bus stop)

 

Alilaguna

 

Water taxi

 

Delivery Van

 

Ambulance (try not to get a ride in one of these)

 

And a couple of ACTV Vaporettos on the Grand Canal at dusk along with a few gondolas just for local flavor...

 

Stan

Hi Stan

A very big Thank you, and much appreciated!

These pictures is really getting my juices flowing. This will be my first visit to that part of the world.

Regards

Ayesha

This is mostly just for people reading this who are staying at a hotel in the San Marco/St. Mark's Square area and coming from the airport to the P. Roma area:

 

I have a few pictures of the area around P. Roma, taken from Google Earth. Here is one: http://www.pbase.com/roothy123/image/161131898

 

I forget which vaporetto stops are right across from the "Coop" store, and occasionally the city makes changes to which vaporettos come to each stop. However, it will at least give you a visual from above of the P. Roma area once you get off the ATVO bus. It may also give you an idea of how far you need to walk with your luggage. There are also a couple of other screenshots before/after the image above that may possibly be helpful in giving you a feel for the area.

 

There are a number of vaporettos that go to the whole San Marco/St. Mark's area, so it's confusing. There's one stop called San Zaccaria that worked well for our hotel (Rio) but it is a little farther away from the actual St. Mark's Square and a few of the hotels, so it may not be better than the stops marked "San Marco." However, if you're near a vaporetto station that has a vaporetto going to San Zaccaria, you could easily walk, without luggage, to St. Mark's from that stop. It's a little tedious, but I found that looking at the ACTV and Alilaguna schedules and then looking at Google Earth (or perhaps just plain Google) helped me figure out just which vaporetto would be best to use.

 

Alilaguna goes right to/into the port, but I forget how close it goes to San Marco/San Zaccaria. If you decide to take the Alilaguna from the airport to the port, post again and I'll find a diagram of the port which shows where the Alilaguna stops.

 

In using taxis or other transportation in Venice, and really in any European city, make sure the driver understands that you want the "port" or "cruise port." Occasionally one will only hear the word "port" and assume you need the airport!

 

Occasionally, a small cruise ship docks in the San Basilio area. If you're on a small ship (maybe 1,000 passengers or smaller?) you might want to make sure you're docking in the regular Statione Maritima.

Hi Roothy 123

A very big Thank You!!

I really appreciate the energy to the responses you and all the cruises have put in to get me sorted with the transport in Venice. I had no idea it can be all so confusing. But I can already feel my cruisefeet.

I am on the HAL, which I believe is the smaller ship.

The "easiest" would be to use a water taxi from the airport's pier directly to your hotel, but that is quite expensive (at least 100€). Otherwise, and assuming you can handle your luggage, you need to use a combination of travel modes. From the airport walk outside the main entrance, cross over to the next walkway, and this is where you can catch the express ATVO bus to the Piazale Roma. You can get the bus ticket in advance online, or at a machine located close to the bus stop (or at a staffed kiosk inside the airport near the exit). Once at the P. Roma if you look towards the Grand Canal (hard to miss) you will see a large ACTV sign which is the office for the vaporetto company. You can purchase a vaporetto ticket (either single trip, 24 hour, 48 hour, etc) at the ticket office or from the adjacent vending machines. You can then take the #1 or #2 vaporetto (in the direction of Rialto...which is towards your right when looking at the canal). You many get charged an additional small fee if you are carrying more than one piece of luggage. Once your vaporetto arrives at the Rialto stop simply walk off the boat and to your nearby hotel.

 

Rialto is actually a pretty decent location as there are lots of shops, cafes and restaurants in that area.

To get to the port you would reverse the process taking the #1 or #2 vaporetto to the P. Roma. You will then have to cross the large square to the People Mover Station where you can take the People Mover over to the port (there is a long walk from the station to the terminal). An alternative is to catch a land taxi at the P. Roma to the cruise terminal. The drive is less than 1 mile, but the taxis usually want at least 20€. If you can get a shared taxi then the cost might only be 5€ per person.

 

Some cruise lines have operated a shuttle bus between the P. Roma and the cruise terminal...but we have never been lucky enough to catch one...or even see one.

 

Hank

Hi Hank, Thank you so much. This will set us going.

One more question please.... Does the alilaguna (is this the same as the vapareto ) not go to Rialto direct.

Regards

"Unfortunately already booked into Rialto!"

 

 

Why unfortunate? Looks like a great hotel and it's only 100 feet from the Rialto Vaporetto Stop. Take the ACTV bus from airport to P. Roma. Walk 100 feet to P. Roma vaporetto stop. Buy 2 or 3 day pass from ticket booth. The ticket booth takes credit cards and the clerk speaks English. Take the #2 Vaporetto from the P. Roma to Rialto stop. Walk 100 feet to you hotel.

You just have to be able to wheel your luggage on/off the Vaporetto and with your luggage you'll want to stand in the main area. I wouldn't even try to wheel my luggage to the seating area, especially if the vaporetto is crowded. And if it is crowded, you'll only get as far as the standing area. If you can't stand the crowded conditions or having to stand with you luggage, then hire a private water taxi at around 100 euro.

Murano is a place to visit, but not a central place to use as a base for Venice.

Thank you dkata, for the directions

"Unfortunately" as another hotel was suggested.

Thank you! for the detailed information. It gives me a good perspective now.

Hi Kawagama, Thank you for the information. Unfortunately already booked into Rialto!

Thank you JodiBB. will research as suggested

Wow! Krazy Kruizers don't think I will ever reach that target. Really looking forward to this cruise.

We are booked in at the Rialto Hotel, what would be the easiest transport transfer from airport to hotel and hotel to cruiseport

Thank you Keith 1010, Nebr.cruiser and Essiesmon, I am learning very slowly how to use forums. Hopefully get there before I Sail!

Hi, As a new first time cruiser there are so many ????.

We are cruising in August on Holland America Oosterdam, Venice to Barcelona.

Has anyone had experience with the operator ITALY TOURS for shore excursions in 1. Naples, 2. Rome and 3. Livorno/Florence/Pisa.

If you have about 9-10 hours in port, can you undertake the excursions on your own and to get back to the ship before sailing.

Thanks in anticipataion