cruisinclined

Thank you, I clicked on Port Marghera above and it shows a berth called New Cruise Port Venezia, which is probably the answer to my question. Marghera is much closer to Venice than Chioggia. Next is to confirm that Azamara does in fact intend to use this port in 2025.

So you headed from the airport to Venice Terminal where you checked in and left luggage? How did you then get to Marghera and the ship? What water transportation was then available to visit Venice and how long did it take, which you presumably had to pay for? A lot higher number to move from a larger ship.

At the very well known cruise agency site Azamara ships are shown arriving/departing from Venice not Ghioggia/Fusina next year. In clicking on the Venice shown it led to the Venezia Terminal. This is where many of us have berthed with other lines in the past. Unless someone has made an error.

Having recently joined the Quest in Chioggia with some other ships berthing in Fusina I was surprised and relieved to see 2025 Azamara ships returning to Venice. Not where the Azamara ships used to berth but where mid-sized vessels did in Venezia Terminal. We have used this terminal with other ships in the past and it is a short vaporetto journey of about 10/15 minutes to St Marks Square. I am speculating that smaller ships are being welcomed back to this more central terminal and doubtless they will arrive and depart from the lagoon and not use the canals in a way which led to the ban on cruise ships originally. Welcome news for those of us who were put off visiting Venice from other ports like Chioggia with lengthy boat journeys each way. Much easier to access from the airport too.

Thank you all for your input. It reinforced what I had picked up from hints in some previous posts about Chioggia that the ship excursion was very lengthy. Interesting to hear reports that the ship excursion or bus visit had indeed become a trial. Two hours each way is too long for us, perhaps most of us. Advice for those visiting Venice for the first time to top or tail their visit with a stay in the city seems very sound but will be expensive most times of the year. We will stay in Chioggia and explore, it sounds similar to some of the lovely Venetian islands we have visited in the past. In summary, cruise companies which add Venice to their itineraries are no longer able to offer this city as an accessible destination where you can step off and explore easily. That perhaps needs to be made clear to passengers who may be assuming access formerly available. Having sailed down the grand canal it makes complete sense to me to have finally stopped that to start the process of saving this historic city and its lagoon although cruise ships are still entering the latter.

We start an October cruise in Chioggia where the Quest docks for two days allowing a full day Venice visit. We have been before and are evaluating the value of taking a ship excursion on the full day in port, day two. We have OBC and have heard from these boards that it can be used in advance to book such excursions. We have also read that the trip by hired boat into Venice can take up to two hours and disembarks at St Marks Square. The four hours of travel sound something of a trial so am asking for feedback from those who have experienced this excursion. It is not a 'must do', due to former visits, but Venice is such a treasure that one can never tire of it. Was there high demand for this excursion so that early booking is essential? How long did this boat journey take in reality and was the boat comfortable and were the usual needed facilities available on board? Were there several morning sailings to Venice and what timeframe for departure was there? Possible to leave at, say, 10am? Pick up time for return from St Marks? More that one pick up vessel? Your overall assessment of this excursion mode, was it worth it? Other feasible travel options into Venice from Chioggia and back which have been successful and perhaps better ones to consider? But we need to keep things simple so preferably not a series of buses or trains. Thank you in advance for your experiences.

That's great let's include the cellar reds! Thank you. Drinking only wine, the packages seem superfluous when excellent red is all I am likely to drink. If I can find the right one OBC is available.

Can anyone recommend an outstanding red from the ultimate package which can be bought by the bottle (and its bottle price)?

Would you mind sharing your price quote for this itinerary by Rome Cabs?

Having just booked a cruise with the basic package included my TA sent me the Bar Menu including beers, cocktails up to wines and I am assuming that this menu covers all the drink options that the basic package includes. I now realise that they apply only to meals. This menu shows four late harvest and fortified wines. I haven't yet looked them up and and hoping they include a good dessert wine?

Yes I agree and having googled a few of the reds they look fine.

We have the Simply More package and the wine selection looks quite good. Hoping we can choose a glass of our choice from any of the 11 reds on the bar menu?

Did you have to pay him in advance or with euros on the transfer day?

Thank you, I have emailed Stefano and asked him for a quote. We are just a couple with bags so hopefully a reasonable price quote. I take it his English is fine from your post.

Also asking whether any AZ embarkation transfers include Rome centre? Getting the feeling that they only end at the airport.