Hotels needed

My friend and I are booked on Viking’s “Empires of the Caribbean”, leaving Athens on May 12, 2018 and returning to Venice on May 21, 2018. We were just informed from Viking that they have no more pre and post cruise options. Does anyone have any suggestions for hotels that are safe and clean in either of the cities?

Thank you!

If you look on the Italy board, there are many discussions on hotels for Venice.

We are on the cruise in March. We are staying at the Herodion hotel in Athens. It’s in a good area and reasonable. In Venice we are staying at hotel Becher. Located near St. Marks square, moderately price for Venice.

We have stayed at the Santa Chiara hotel in Venice. Close to port, no bridges to cross with luggage. Close to the Vaporetto stop. Small grocery store near. We loved this hotel. We stayed in the old building. Loved the old world charm. In Athens we stayed at the Electra hotel. Close to the hop on bus. many food, shopping and sites within close walking distance.

I stay a lot with Starwood for work (which now includes Marriott- you can interchange points). In Athens we stayed at the Hotel Grande Bretagne which was really, really nice on a combination of points and paying which took a very expensive hotel and made it reasonable. Same thing went for the Hotel Danieli in Venice- also available for points and cash. Both are located incredibly centrally. Worth looking into this type of arrangement either with these or other hotel brands you accrue points with- can put you in a much nicer, more centrally located hotel for a much lower overall price.