Venice shuttle??

I last asked about an Istanbul shuttle - thanks for the replies. We'll get a few lire for tram fare.

Now I am wondering if there is anything laid on in Venice, particularly as they cancelled their originally proposed tour. We land at noon, and depending on transfer time to the ship, are wondering if it will be possible to make St Marks before 5 p.m. closing.

I can answer my own question. I just called Viking. They put me on hold while they researched my question, and told me that Viking does not provide any transportation. The concierge will help me once onboard. I explained that I wasn't looking for a 200 euro private transfer.

I will be in the same boat as you when I arrive in Venice (please excuse the pun) but after doing the 3 day Viking pre-cruise extension I am not sure whether we will be relaxing and exploring the ship or heading off for a quick DIY tour of Venice.

There is a UK based blogger who I follow, who published a great guide if you fancied the walk from the cruise terminal to St Marks Square. It can be found at http://solentrichardscruiseblog.com/2014/04/22/one-way-to-do-venice/

It also has some other advice on travel options. I hope you find it useful

Neil

Thanks Neil. I read Solent Richards review of the German ship he was on. I didn't know he did port write ups as well. According to him, there is a vaporetto stop adjacent to the cruise terminal. Last time, we walked to the people mover, and from there to a vaporetto stop outside the train station. It would be convenient if there is one near the cruise port.

What time does your flight get in?

We are not flying in as we are taking the Viking three day tour of Italy, we are flying into Rome, then after a tour of Rome visiting Florence, Bologna and then Verona. We tour Verona in the morning and then Viking provide a transfer direct to Viking Star and promise us lunch on board ship.

Hence I am not sure whether I will get out and see Venice on that first day. I have never been to Venice before but plan to return anyway in the next couple of years, but this time using the overnight Orient Express railway from London.

Look forward to meeting you onboard.

Neil

Are you on the September 3 sailing? That's when I sail. Have you registered in Roll Call?

Just curious, what tour did Viking cancel in Venice?

I'm staying three nights at a hotel prior to boarding. There is a vaporetto stop at the port, but I don't know how far the stop is from where the ship docks.

Diane

porrah,

Have you checked this website? This is what I used to find info on transport after our cruise ended in Venice. http://europeforvisitors.com/venice/articles/transportation-from-the-cruise-port.htm

Also, Trip Advisor is a good resource.

Becki

Diane

Sorry but myself and "Porrah" are on the September 27th sailing out of Venice to Istanbul.

The comment about the cancelled tour for Venice relates to a reference to the fact that when the cruise was originally marketed it had an included tour of Venice on the day of departure but this was subsequently cancelled and only a few optional tours offered. I still feel that given that the Viking Star does depart until midnight then an included tour should be offered but this is a discussion that has long been left behind.

If anybody on your cruise, which I assume is the one to Barcelona, does the 3 day Italian Cities Viking extension, I would love to hear any feedback as I am doing this ahead of our Venice departure.

Neil

Are you on the September 3 sailing? That's when I sail. Have you registered in Roll Call?

 

Just curious, what tour did Viking cancel in Venice?

 

I'm staying three nights at a hotel prior to boarding. There is a vaporetto stop at the port, but I don't know how far the stop is from where the ship docks.

 

Diane

Diane, when I said cancelled tour I was referring to the original magazine/booklet from a couple of years ago before the ship had been built. They led us to believe that there would be a Venice tour with a chance to visit the basilica.

Like you, we have been trying to find vaporetti stops. The alilaguna blue line seems to have a stop in the port, found it on google maps.

We are on the Sept 27th sailing.

Thanks for the information! We will be on the cruise before you, that starts in Barcelona and ends in Venice when you are getting on the Star. We will be spending a few days there after our cruise and Viking air has us flying out at 6:30am.

Alilaguna blue line is something all together different and relatively expensive with limited service.

Best option for more regular transport and better cost take the people mover to catch the vaporetto at Piazzale Roma (assuming you're at Main Cruise Port and not San Basillio). Be cautious about people mover hours else you'll be walking back to ship. Have small euro denominations or I think you can charge at the people mover ticket vending machine.

There is a small kiosk near the security gate that does not make change. However, the attendant very politely suggested he would break the large note I had if I made a minor purchase. He had tourist maps for 0.50 Euro I believe and we were in business.

Lastly, on the maiden voyage stop in Venice there was massive confusion how to get to the ship once on the docks. We had a stern cabin and were yelling to people to go around the terminal building (#107) and enter 1/2 down. Later we were told port authorities restrict the placement of signage and/or personnel that could have helped direct passengers. We were onboard for Star's first stop in Venice so hopefully there has been progress in making the dock area more passenger friendly.

When we were there on the Star last April we were directed to the people mover, then a short walk across the square (to the left) and then boarded the vaporetti along the Grand Canal. You could take line 1 or 2. Both go to San Marco. One line stopped at more stops along the Grand Canal than the other, so was faster, but can't remember which was which. The only boats that came into the pier where the Star was docked were the private water taxis, which we were told were a lot more expensive. Since we were there early in the season, it could be that later on in the season there would be vaporetti in the pier, but not when we were there.

We were on the 50-day cruise and initially there were included and optional tours offered on all the "turn-around" days (disembarkation and embarkation). When we got the details to sign up there were NO tours offered on turn-around days except some optional evening tours. This applied to Venice, Barcelona, and Bergen. If you look at the website general day-to-day itinerary on the website right now, it still says they offer tours on turn-around days, even though they don't.

Neil and Porrah -- So sorry you won't be on the Sept. 3 cruise with me. I leave home in ten days and I'm getting excited about the adventure.

Regarding comments about Viking eliminating tours, I'm surprised. We board in Venice on a Thursday, stay overnight in Venice and take a Viking included tour Friday morning before sailing towards Croatia. We end the cruise in Barcelona on a Monday where we have signed up for an afternoon Viking included tour and have that night onboard in the city. We disembark on Tuesday.

Diane,

My understanding is that the removal of included tours on embarkation/disembarkation days only applies where the ship is not overnight in the port. As you are in Venice overnight your tours are on the day after you have arrived onboard ship. Similarly when we arrive in Istanbul at 1:00pm on the penultimate day of our cruise we have an included tour in the afternoon but there are no tours the following day. I was told by Viking UK that the removal was due to the fact that they did not want to offer a lot of tours at the same time as people were leaving the ship and whole bunch of new people were arriving on the ship all on the same day.

I still don't understand why they could not over an included late afternoon/evening tour in Venice or at least an included tour to those who are on back to back tours.

Neil

Neil - you have it right. Diane - so in your case, there are no daytime tours offered in Venice on the Thursday during the day, the day you embark. However, if passengers got onboard in Istanbul before your cruise, that Thursday these folks have to make their own plans for the day as Viking doesn't offer anything for that day. Similarly, in Barcelona, you disembark on Tuesday. For those who got on in Istanbul and Venice who are going on to Bergen, Viking provides no tours during the day on that Tuesday, so these folks have to plan (and pay for) their own activities for that day. (They are also onboard the following Wednesday where there are Viking tours available - this is the day AFTER embarkation / disembarkation.) Viking's website however, in their still-published itineraries for these B2B cruises has tours offered on all those days. The only folks this affects are people doing back to back segments.

I was looking over our Viking Docs....

It says a local rep will 'escort you to your next destination'. The docs had big red stickers to identify us as Viking peeps.

We're doing the Venice pre-trip (through Viking). So does this mean they'll escort us to the Molino Stuckey, or just far enough to get a boat to the hotel LOL

There is a caveat that if we can't find the rep, we're on our own :confused:

I don't think the rep will be there on the Istanbul end, as we have a 6am flight out in the morning.

I was looking over our Viking Docs....

 

It says a local rep will 'escort you to your next destination'. The docs had big red stickers to identify us as Viking peeps.

 

We're doing the Venice pre-trip (through Viking). So does this mean they'll escort us to the Molino Stuckey, or just far enough to get a boat to the hotel LOL

 

There is a caveat that if we can't find the rep, we're on our own :confused:

 

I don't think the rep will be there on the Istanbul end, as we have a 6am flight out in the morning.

There is a shuttle to the Molino Stuckey, so I would think the rep would escort you at least onto the shuttle boat. In Istanbul, you may have a rep at the airport, despite your early flight. We had a Viking rep at the Lyon, FR airport at 4am to assist with any check- in issues. A very welcome touch,, as the kiosks did not want to accept our passports for check- in ( the same for another couple) and the rep helped us get a customer service agent to take care of it (there were none in the lobby at that hour).

Becki

I would strongly recommend the Alilaguna Blue line from the port. It's convenient and fast and not all that expensive - around 7 euros 1 way..

You dont have to leave the port and it's very easy to find. We took it to our hotel in Dorsoduro....only 2 stops the Hilton Molino Stucky and then Zattere. If you get off at Zattere you can explore Peggy Guggenheim, Accademia and some very interesting shops and restaurants. We always stay in Dorsoduro which we find much more interesting that the touristy St Marks area.

However if you want to go to St Marks then it's the very next stop after Zattere on the Alilaguna blue line.

If you are there for several days then you should get one of the passes for the ferries - and you can have a great day trip going out to Murano, Burano and Torcello and generally hopping on and off all over the city.

Sorry if this info has already been given; I haven't read all the posts, and won't have time to do so until tomorrow. Here's info I compiled, plus some info I just wrote up. Hope it's not too confusing. If so, post again and I'll fix the mess I've caused! I just cut and pasted lots of it - ignore what's not of interest to you.

Arrive VCE. Baggage slow; otherwise easy & quick to get out of airport. Buy tickets for ATVO (€6 or 8) from blue machines in arrival hall, baggage claim area or machines near bus. If won’t accept crisp bills, crinkle. Cross road for blue bus; comes between C & D doors, schedule posted at http://www.atvo.it/index.php?lang=en&area=23&menuid=35 only through Sept. 15 but runs daily every ½ h, 2:50, 3:20, 3:50, 4:20. Make sure says Venice Express or P Roma. Luggage beneath, validate ticket, couple steps up on bus.

OR buy tix for ACTV #5 yellow bus at stop outside door B, farther L than ATVO. Can get €2 discount on vap ticket & maybe save time at P. Roma by combining them. On ACTV 5 bus, have to load own luggage but no steps up. Validate ticket on bus. At P. Roma (25-30m ride), head toward modern Constitution Bridge & take (best) 5.1 from Parisi E to Danieli (22m, 3/hr, no bridge). One person says can be charged 7€ for extra bag exceeding 150 (bit less than LH) as sum of 3 dimensions; other person says never seen it done. Large area in middle for standing, maybe more space. Move toward door in plenty of time. Say “Permesso.” Or can take vap 4.1 from Parisi E to Jolanda (27m, 3/hr, long bridge). Or take #2 if let on with luggage from Santa Chiara F (good location) to Danieli (37m, 5/hr, no bridge). If come into Danieli, head to nearest street (tiny bit left).

OR can take Alilaguna Blu (€15, every ½ hr on hour & ½ hr) to Jolanda, cross long bridge, total trip almost 1h 25m versus 1h 5m on fastest vaporetto/ bus combo. 7m walk to Ali pickup spot; see http://europeforvisitors.com/venice/articles/alilaguna-and-water-taxis.htm. Can get porter but expensive. Suggest getting luggage cart. Ali is past water taxi piers, looks to be 275 yards, less than 2/10ths mile. May have to show passport at hotel or let them keep it for a short while (Italian law). May be charged city tax of €4,50 per person per night by hotel (cash when check in.) Sunday, take Ali or vap to Piazalle Roma, take People Mover (€1,50, buy tix from machine, 5m ride). Supposed to be port people at end of PM directing people to ship or terminal, but some people report there were none. Depending upon where ship is assigned to dock (port web site doesn’t show assignment) walk could be almost 2/10th mile. (See diagram on port website.)

Info for others:

Ali (blu line) airport to Crociere takes 1 hr. 49 minutes, 10 minutes less to Hilton M. Stuckey (stop very close to Hilton). €15; possibly a euro more or less depending upon how purchased. Luggage accepted. See info above about where to get Ali from airport. Runs every half hour. Schedule only good through Sept. 15, however. I plan to check back later.

Ali blu from port (“Crociere” stop) to San Marco – 7 or 8 euros one-way depending upon how purchased, or 15 round trip. Runs every half hour; takes 25 minutes. Last boat to San Marco on Sunday from port is at 5:26pm; runs back to port until almost midnight. Fare is only good in city (including Murano) – not to airport. Luggage accepted. Buy tix at Alilaguna’s kiosk right at the port. Not sure if can purchase on the boat - have seen conflicting info. Schedule is through September 15.

ACTV vaporettos – 1 and 2 most crowded. From Piazalle Roma, have good choices if don’t want to stop at every stop. 4.1, 4.2, 5.1, 5.2 are quickest and least crowded. To get to San Marco, if you don’t want to cross bridges, you should take something that stops at S. Marco (Giardinetti) or San Marco Vallaresso. I think the Hilton offers a free shuttle to San Marco – ask them! (I’m not staying there.) I’ve heard it goes close to San Marco, although crossing a stepped pedestrian bridge or two is necessary. You’ll see where you need to go once you get close – Giardinetti is right in front of SM Square, but other vap stops like S. Zaccaria (Jolanda or Danieli) will get you close. Don't forget to look at the Bridge of Sighs, just east of square.

An ACTV vap costs 7,50 euros one-way, good for 75 minutes. If you’re in town more than Sunday, may want to purchase a 24 hour pass for 20 euros. I think both Ali and ACTV vap tickets have to be “validated” in machines on or near the vap. Watch direction they’re going. Website link is above. Last I looked, schedule was good through September 15 only.

Expensive water taxis are available at the airport - book there or online pre-flight. Might be worthwhile after a long trip, especially if you can share with someone else going your way.

For those arriving in the afternoon without Viking transfers, I would take the bus and People Mover, just drop your luggage at the port terminal as suggested by Viking in its cruise booklet, take the People Mover back to Piazalle Roma, and then take a vaporetto to SMS. Then I’d take a ride on another one – around to Rialto (although that can be walked) or ride an entire loop around the city. Many people remember that ride more than the inside of the basilica, Murano, etc. Rialto, SMS, Bridge of Sighs and other things can be visited without having to spend much time or money. You could even head over to Murano on a vaporetto. You could go up in the bell tower at San Marco – open late. You could take an expensive gondola ride. You could take the one or two optional excursions offered by Viking if you want to minimize the hassle of Venice’s complicated logistics! Sunset is around 7 on Sept. 27. There are TONS of cruisers in town that weekend, though not as bad Sunday as Saturday. There's a Coop store near Piazalle Roma/People Mover in case anyone forgets something. The ship's store won't be open while in Venice - can't open when in a port. Casino will be closed, too - oops! Never mind. Guess I'll be seeing more of my husband on this cruise....

If you have the Viking transfers that (I think) come with pre-cruise extension or hotel purchase or Viking air purchase, I assume Viking will get you to the hotel or ship, not just put you on a boat. However, Venice is a weird city, so who knows what they have to do? I think it's their first embarkation in Venice..

Til tomorrow, cheers!