megr1125

I should have added a day and gone to Burano.  I could have but I was exhausted and had a sinus infection so I spent more time than usual sleeping.  Ugh. Well, maybe I'll go back.  

The photos are beautiful.  And I agree, while I didn't go into the basilica, I did see some mosaics in Ravenna and photos just don't do any of it justice!  

I was bored, I made a video of the walk.  I edited out a LOT of the walking but it's basically 10ish minutes of the same.  My water taxi driver found the cart for me, and he loaded/unloaded my bags.  IMO even though it isn't cheap (and there may also be a charge for extra bags) it's worth the money. Plus you get to see a lot of stuff from the water!
 

Water taxi.  I prebooked directly with this company:  They were very responsive to my questions too (based on a big time difference of course.)  

https://www.motoscafivenezia.com/en/

50 minutes ago, irishgal432 said:

For venice,how easy was it to get to Tronchetto station as we are getting the shuttle to ravenna?

Looking at google maps, you'd need a water taxi or Vaporetto to get to Tronchetto.

https://actv.avmspa.it/en/content/vaporetto  should give you some info about getting around.  😄

Don't underestimate the amount of bridges you may (or may not) have to cross!  I stayed after my cruise, and took a private (expensive yes, but worth every penny and they can hold several people) to my hotel, which was the Hotel Rialto near the bridge of the same name.  (TL;DR, but wound up at the JW Marriott as my room was quite hot, very small, especially the bathroom - knees hit wall when using the throne. I did book a small single, I should know better, and the area was a bit too crowded for my sanity.)

There's a website that will tell you how many bridges you'll have to cross to get to your hotel too (which appears to be associated with the link provided above.  Also, there are some great YouTubers who make using the Vaporetto almost 100% idiot proof. (As in I did it successfully several times, so if I can, you can.  But I did it without luggage!)   This is their channel name :  Nomad Citello (you can search for it on YT. Not sure if we can link...)

I agree with Piazzale Roma.  St. Mark's Square is crazy busy and probably not a good hotel choice.  Are you only in Venice for a day?  I had friends stay at the AC by Marriott hotel and they liked it.  Sure, it's a chain but they too used the bus and it worked out well for them.  

I was just in Venice in June and I loved it.  I found the water taxi to be well worth the cost since I'm a compulsive over packer with a bad knee.  People will use the Vaporetto and/or Alilaguna to get around (Alilaguna is also a floating bus but it has fewer routes and stops.  The Vaporetto is like a floating city bus).

15 hours ago, kazu said:

 

I don’t use interline.  I’m just a regular passenger.  We had to do it in the last 8 years IIRC - probably 3 times - no biggie.

 

and yes, it’s normally checked right through.

 

But we got to immigration/customs (i never get it right) and were told we had to pick up luggage.  It was not a big deal - we were probably “chosen” since we weren’t the same colour of skin.  It was all quick and easy but I wanted to alert the OP.  My experiences are real and honest and other than covid we travelled extensively.

You're not understanding what interline means in this case.  It's not an airline employee or travel industry employee discount, it's partner airlines and/or ones who will transfer bags if they aren't normally partners.  (Sorry, very bad sinus infection and headache so I am probably not explaining things as they should be)

1 hour ago, Banjo said:

When I was in BLU on the Constellation back in March, not even asking, the hostess when seating us gave us both the BLU & the MDR menus. I did not but my wife ordered off the MDR menu a few times with no long waits or difficulty. The waiters did not seem to mind. 

 

You won't have this issue being on a S Class ship, just curious, what would they do on the Edge Class ships where they have 4 Main Dining Rooms with different menus?

The 2 times I sailed on Edge class ships, my waiters all said that if there was something on say the Normandie menu that I wanted  in Cyprus for instance, that wouldn't be an issue. The 4 dining rooms are all next to (and/or above/below) each other and likely share kitchens for each pair.  

I think I did order something from one into a different one on Apex, and I know I did on Beyond. 

It's 55 per person each way from Tronchetto/Venice City Center as they call it, but honestly get your own bus. You need to give X your flight info and if you booked thru Air2Sea, and you're obviously arriving early, you CANNOT take their shuttle from the airport.  If you have your own air, you can, but you'll have to give them fake flight info for one that arrives that day.  

Call X and ask the timings for each bus but for 50 people, get your own bus, or 2 that way you can stop en route.  Comfort stops are not always given with X, (I didn't get one going from Ravenna to Tronchetto, other buses did.)

Chances are you'll save money and time looking on your own.  If you booked a group thru a TA, ask them for help.

It's a 2-2.5 hour trip depending on traffic. 

You get what you get with NCL air unless you pay for their premium service so you're stuck.

That said, NCL has freestyle debarkation.  Just pick the luggage tags that correspond to the time you need and be done with it.  No one will care on the ship.

25 minutes ago, Daniel A said:

Thanks, I have been trying to get an answer to this question from the hotel, but the contact person doesn't seem to understand my concern.  She keeps merely sending me a response advising the shuttle bus or private transfer rates and booking info.  Very frustrating especially since DW is very concerned she won't be able to take her bags very far at all.

Maybe the hotel can give you the name of the service they use and you could contact them directly?

Also it could be that something is getting lost in translation, literally.  Of course most people in hotels speak English but if by chance their reading of English isn't as good, and they're translating the email, it may not come across correctly.  

I used Shared Shuttle, post covid, and was dropped off right at my ship. (Or as close/far away as you'd be dropped in Miami or Port Everglades if you follow that line of thought! 😄  )

There were porters as well.  Funny thing, a LOT of people blew them off and TRIED to get their giant suitcases through the scanners.  Security was NOT having it and told them to go back outside.  Not sure if they understood the English (with a heavy Italian accent) but one of the guards got so annoyed that he took a bag and started walking outside with it. Eventually they followed (we're talking 20+ people) and the line finally moved.  

Wish I'd been able to record it as it was rather comical.  Annoying because of the hold up but comical to see.  Oh and these pax did speak English as soon as they got on the ship  

8 minutes ago, Danor71 said:

Assuming I have a 12:55pm flight departing from Venice Airport, is it feasible to catch a 8am shuttle to from the Cruise ship and make my flight?

 

I've read here that's it about 2.5 hours.  So assuming its 3 hours to be safe, I would arrive at the airport at 11am and have 2 hours to complete check-in.  It is an international flight to Canada so it would be tight but feasible...

 

Any thoughts?

 

Thank you

Personally I would not.  The first shuttle ( I have a copy of the times from a sailing this year, though not my own sailing-I cannot find the list) was at 6:30AM and then every half hour (ish) thereafter.

Venice airport was a hot mess when I checked in for my flight and that was not on a ship day. I was in business class so I had fast pass through security (a much shorter line).

Could you make it?  Probably.  Should you?  That's on you.  When is the next flight?  Our shuttle did not stop for a rest room break but others did.  (No rhyme or reason as to which ones stop and which ones do not).

That said, I was on BA from VCE-LHR-EWR and the check in counter opened like 2.5 or 3 hours ahead so I got there 4 hours early as suggested and had time to kill.  LOL.  You know your level of comfort and stress. 

I had maybe 90 minutes to connect in CPH from the USA on to AMS.  Aside from a longish, straight walk, getting through passport control was fast (though of course I got behind some people whose reason for transit caused a slight hang up-I think they were students or something, I forget but it may have taken 5-10 minutes).

I still had time to hammer down a coffee and a couple pastries in the lounge before heading to the baby plane to AMS (I hate regional jets, ugh!)  But the whole transfer process was super easy.  No security and no customs in CPH

On 7/17/2023 at 6:55 PM, JerryInIL said:

Wow, Athens Gate is already booked for our May 2024 Athens to Venice cruise.  Does anyone know the Marble House? 

Keep checking Athens Gate.  I looked at several random dates in May 2024 and they show plenty of rooms, though I don't know your exact dates.

Or maybe email them to see if they have a room?

I could have saved my 30 euros for the affogato and spritz I had at Florian.  And I wasn't even outside.  Maybe I had water too.  It's not even really comfortable to sit inside.  

Had I skipped that, and in hindsight probably should have, I'm sure I could have given that 30-35 Euro to the gondola operator and had a longer tour. Yes, touristy but lots more fun IMO.  😄

You're welcome.  If you're at the Hotel Rialto (I stayed there.  Great location, but I wound up changing hotels.  Long story.  Lesson learned, Megr1125: don't book the SMALLEST room, otherwise your knees will hit the wall when using the facilities.  True story)  Ask them for directions here: Trattoria Al Gazzetino.  I asked for a place for lunch and it was only about 5 minutes away. Great food, not crazy expensive.   The places right by the hotel near the bridge aren't that good.  There were a bunch of little markets (they don't look like much from the outside) and a slightly larger grocery store one bridge away (Sort of south, parallel to the canal).

Have a great time!  

15 hours ago, BillinTexas said:

We are arriving by Celebrity transfer bus coming from Venice on a weekday (Oct 12 Thursday). Right now I’m leaning to picking up a couple of bottles of wine in Venice if possible since the options in Ravenna aren’t looking good. 

That's probably your best option.  There's nothing near the port, very few cabs and the bus isn't going to stop.  The port area is somewhat empty.

You could POSSIBLY get a cab but they are in short supply and it will likely waste an hour between calling for a cab, waiting for it to arrive, getting somewhere, and getting back to the pier.  It'll be easier in Venice as I remember lots of little markets here and there that had wine.  As for soda, I didn't see any 6 or 12 or 24 packs, just singles.

I stayed near the Rialto bridge and there were at least 6 little shops (deli, coffee, wine, etc) and I think some over in the Rialto market area.  I don't recall any near Plaza San Marco but I wasn't looking!  

The Ravenna port is about 20 minutes from Ravenna proper.  I don't recall seeing anywhere in Ravenna to buy wine and I don't remember anything on the way.  Are you staying over the night before?  How are you getting to Ravenna/the pier? (A little more info might make it easier to guide you!)

If you depart on a Sunday, pretty much everything will be closed, though I did a quick google search and found 1 or 2 shops that open on Sunday from like 9-1 and then later in the afternoon.

12 minutes ago, Another_Critic said:

Did you turn the magnet over?  They are two-sided.

Actually, some were double sided, and others were single sided. I was on several Royal ships with 2 magnets.  

Twice per day room cleaning and the old menus with the always available stuff on them.  Better quality meat without paying an upcharge.  I'll stop now.

23 hours ago, NCteacherlovescruising said:

Some recommend storing our luggage, others staying near the train station since we will come and go by train. I know another option is taking it on the vaporetto. One of the hotels I like, Rialto, is right by one of their stops. They have also been very responsive to my emails, so they have scored major points already!  Dh just wants to do what’s easiest so IMO that would either be to store luggage or get a room near the train station. It looks like storing luggage would only cost about 20 euros, unless I looked at the wrong location. 
 

I googled luggage storage near the train station and several popped up. Which one is right by the train station and do we need to reserve ahead of time or can we just show up and get one?  I feel better knowing our luggage would be in lockers and it’s insured, although not for near enough to cover the contents. I pictured a big mess of luggage like you see in airports and cruise terminals, only with employee only access. 

If we decide to stay near the train station, which hotels would you recommend and why?  
 

Any suggestions, other than Rialto, if we opt to store our luggage?  
 

Are the checkin/checkout times appropriately the same as in the states?

 

I stayed at Hotel Rialto and took a private water taxi. Walked maybe 50 feet or less to door.  One Vaporetto stop was close and no stairs required.  Another stop there was a small bridge and some steps.  

Rialto let me check in early but they will store luggage.  Do NOT book the smallest room.  Well, you can't anyway since it would have a single bed. Book a larger room, you'll be happier. )  😄

I had friends stay at the AC Hotel by Marriott. It's  reachable via bus or taxi as it's on Piazzale Roma.  They loved it 

The Polaris lounge at EWR is awesome.  Showers, quiet rooms with lounge chairs to nap and a sit down restaurant.  Also excellent drinks at the bar.  You won't need the lounge passes.  

I went to Café Florian.  It's overpriced, WAY overpriced, crowded and slow.  

While I splurged on private water taxis, it's easy to get luggage onto the Vaporetti but they can get crowded.  Just keep in mind bridges and steps if you are staying in Central Venice.  That's why I spent the extra money, to cut down on my climbing.  I stayed at Hotel Rialto and walked maybe 20 paces to the door from the water taxi dock.

40 minutes ago, LIxo said:

Did you (or your travel agent) book it for you? I called my travel agent yesterday and she was pretty sure they didn't offer a transfer from Raveena to Bologna airport. She was going to call Celebrity and find out, but I have not heard back yet. 

They do, and you can book it on the ship.  BUT your air needs to be on the same day OR you'll need to find a fake flight to give them if you book it ahead. 

Looks like someone took a can opener to it.  OMG.  Hopefully Rimowa did the right thing---depending on the size, that's a $1500-2000-ish dollar bag.  I think I sold 2 in 5 years.  😄

 

Ravenna, and generally the cruise line's transfer service is the easiest and best price as it's around 90 minutes give or take.

I used this company however to get FROM BLQ to my hotel in Ravenna.  Reasonable price, nice car, on time too.  https://transfer-voyage.com/