DISEMBARKATION IN VENICE: A few Qs....

[DrFUN]

We arrive in Venice at noon on June 11-- our last port on Holland America -- with an overnight onboard and disembarkation the next morning, Friday, June 12. We will be picked up with our luggage by a private driver/licensed guide for our post-cruise touring of northern Italy.

 

I'm a bit confused by all the posts about disembarkation in Venice -- as it sounds as if you can't get from the ship to a waiting vehicle very easily. I need to know what time to tell our guide/driver to collect us -- and we don't want to be standing on the pier with our luggage. :eek:

 

I'd be very grateful if anyone can tell me:

1. Is the ship docked at the Piazzale Roma (in other words, do you just walk off onto the dock) -- and can you get picked up there by car? (I know there's a parking garage nearby--so cars must be able to get there from the mainland. He'll be coming from Milan.)

2. How early in the morning does disembarkation there usually take place after an overnight onboard? The itinerary list 5 a.m.--but I doubt they kick you off that early (though we do want to push off somewhat early).

 

Thanks for any and all advice,

Mary-Lou

[nparmelee]

P. Roma is the closest Piazza to the port, but it would be better to just tell the driver the port and the ship name. They may be able to meet you at the ship that way, they have to get paperwork/clearance to meet you at the ship. They will know that if its a cruise ship it will be one of the two piers in the Venice port. Let them sweat the details, they have very likely done it before.

 

Most cruise lines want you off the ship by 9:00 am and out of cabins earlier than that, often 8:00 am-ish to get started on turn around for the next cruise. I would suggest telling them whatever time by 9:00 am you wish. The car services are usually there ahead of time to meet you. If you want to get going earlier than that, have them meet you earlier and just make sure that you mention that meeting time and private transport on the info the ship will ask you for debarkation.

[nparmelee]

Correction, the car service should easily be able to meet you at the exit from where you pick up your luggage. Sorry!

[Deckhandoug]

We arrive in Venice at noon on June 11-- our last port on Holland America -- with an overnight onboard and disembarkation the next morning, Friday, June 12. We will be picked up with our luggage by a private driver/licensed guide for our post-cruise touring of northern Italy.

 

I'm a bit confused by all the posts about disembarkation in Venice -- as it sounds as if you can't get from the ship to a waiting vehicle very easily. I need to know what time to tell our guide/driver to collect us -- and we don't want to be standing on the pier with our luggage. :eek:

 

I'd be very grateful if anyone can tell me:

1. Is the ship docked at the Piazzale Roma (in other words, do you just walk off onto the dock) -- and can you get picked up there by car? (I know there's a parking garage nearby--so cars must be able to get there from the mainland. He'll be coming from Milan.)

2. How early in the morning does disembarkation there usually take place after an overnight onboard? The itinerary list 5 a.m.--but I doubt they kick you off that early (though we do want to push off somewhat early).

 

Thanks for any and all advice,

Mary-Lou

 

The actual dock site changed on our cruise, but it was no big deal, our driver found us just fine.

 

We were off the ship by 7.00am, no problem!, but of course we carried all our luggage. We got to the airport a lot earlier than necessary (Marco Polo), we had an early flight so we had to actually wait for the personnel from USAIR to get there.

We were on HAL also

 

Doug

[shelbyz]

Sorry, this is a little off-topic, but I have to say that cruising into Venice is one of the most magnificent sites I have ever seen! Enjoy!

[Travel to Ports]

You may find these of use:

 

http://www.vtp.it/pages/comeRaggiungerci/crociere.jsp?n=0

 

http://www.vtp.it/pages/navi/crociere.jsp?language=1

 

 

http://www.mimoa.eu/projects/Italy/Venice/Bridge%20over%20Canal%20Grande

 

You can see the relationship between ship terminal, find where your ship will be berthed, see the highway to the mainland and the location to the east (?) of P. Roma. Even after looking at these, you may find good deal of pleasure from the purchase of a map as well.

 

Hope this helps,

David

[Spygirl13]

We are going to be disembarking in Venice too and then need to take all our luggage to our hotel by the train station. Is it best to take a water taxi? I heard it is quite expensive but I am not sure what else we can do with all that luggage! :confused::confused:

[nparmelee]

Pack lighter!!! :D You could take the vaporetto from P. Roma to the train station and then walk from there. Best is relative, as long as you can pull your luggage along, then you should have no problem with the vaporettos. If you are mobility impaired then a water taxi might be best for your situation. Depending on where near the train station, a land taxi may not be much help to you.

[DrFUN]

Thanks so much for the great info, dear CC friends!!

 

You are so kind to help. I've printed out everything and forwarded it (and the maps) to our Milan driver/guide.

 

These boards are the BEST -- because thoughtful cruisers like YOU make it so.

 

Appreciatively,

Mary-Lou

[luvmy3girls]

You may find these of use:

 

http://www.vtp.it/pages/comeRaggiungerci/crociere.jsp?n=0

 

http://www.vtp.it/pages/navi/crociere.jsp?language=1

 

 

http://www.mimoa.eu/projects/Italy/Venice/Bridge%20over%20Canal%20Grande

 

You can see the relationship between ship terminal, find where your ship will be berthed, see the highway to the mainland and the location to the east (?) of P. Roma. Even after looking at these, you may find good deal of pleasure from the purchase of a map as well.

 

Hope this helps,

David

 

David,

Are these types of maps and schedules available for other ports as well? If so, where could I find them?

Thanks! Misty

[kwk1955]

You may find these of use:

 

http://www.vtp.it/pages/comeRaggiungerci/crociere.jsp?n=0

 

http://www.vtp.it/pages/navi/crociere.jsp?language=1

 

 

http://www.mimoa.eu/projects/Italy/Venice/Bridge%20over%20Canal%20Grande

 

 

You can see the relationship between ship terminal, find where your ship will be berthed, see the highway to the mainland and the location to the east (?) of P. Roma. Even after looking at these, you may find good deal of pleasure from the purchase of a map as well.

 

Hope this helps,

David

 

 

Great maps and info ! Thanks

[jglass]

What would be the best options for getting to the airport? Should I buy the cruise's transport, or is a land or water taxi, or public transportation preferable?