Venice disembarkation

[DrJJ]

We will be ending our cruise on the Viking Sea in Venice, Italy on April 24, 2020. Any idea how early disembarkation begins and how long it takes to get through custom? I want to take a private tour on disembarkation day and need to plan the starting time. Thanks in advance for help.

[worldtraveler1234]

We disembarked in Venice last Oct. The process started at 8am. We were going to the extension at the Hilton and left the ship about 9am. There was no customs activity needed. We had to identify luggage and then walked to the water shuttle for the hotel. We checked in at the Hilton about 11 am , but rooms were not ready until 3pm. They held our luggage. We took the water shuttle to St Marks and had lunch. Our private tour began at 2pm.

 

Disembarkation is scheduled by wave according to flight times or extensions. If you are staying in Venice on your own you should have guest service arrange for early exit.

[Laurie17]

We are also doing the Venice extension through Viking.  What type of assistance does the on site  Viking host provide?  Help booking tours or water taxis?  How was the Hilton hotel in Venice?

[Dauntless]

If you overnight in Venice, you can leave as early as you wish if you are not using Viking Have room service for breakfast. You just walk off the ship. Short walk to people mover and then a short ride that let's you off about a block from the bus gathering spot.and your guide could meet you there.  I don't remember seeing any transport around the dock unless it was by private arrangement.  

[worldtraveler1234]

We stayed at the Hilton. Both hotel and Viking water taxis ran on schedule about every half hour.No additional charge. The host offered tours but we had pre booked private tours. Disembarking was easy. We identified luggage that was transferred to the hotel and walked to the water taxi to the hotel. It was about a quarter mile walk. The rooms were not available until 3pm, but luggage was held in a secure area.

 

Certainly not as good as the Athens Hilton.

 

Not really impressed with the hotel. Confusing elevators, staff not very friendly The rooms were very nice but housekeeping was just average. The informal restaurant in the lobby was good and reasonable.

[Cienfuegos]

If you are leaving the ship in Venice, and departing the city by train, there is an obstacle to consider.  While the walk and people mover is manageable, the last few hundred feet over the Constitution Bridge can be difficult if you have luggage.

 

The bridge extends from just east / north of the bus depot, over the Grand Canal, and drops you just south of the train station. But the steps are a problem if you have luggage or mobility concerns.

 

FWIW, it's much easier to spend a few Euro and take the C vaporetto one stop from the bus terminal area to the steps of the station.

[Dauntless]

59 minutes ago, Cienfuegos said:

If you are leaving the ship in Venice, and departing the city by train, there is an obstacle to consider.  While the walk and people mover is manageable, the last few hundred feet over the Constitution Bridge can be difficult if you have luggage.

 

The bridge extends from just east / north of the bus depot, over the Grand Canal, and drops you just south of the train station. But the steps are a problem if you have luggage or mobility concerns.

 

FWIW, it's much easier to spend a few Euro and take the C vaporetto one stop from the bus terminal area to the steps of the station.

 

 

I would totally agree with this.  A guy came up and offered to help us cross the bridge.  He took a 50 lb.bag in each hand and seemed to scurry across the bridge.  Once we reached the train station he told us there would be a charge for his help.  A rather hefty one at that.  We paid half of what we wanted but it was no more than taking the Vaparetto.  Better to cut out the scheming middle man,  We were approached by the station security officer and asked about the incident.

[YWW]

Am I to assume the Viking ocean ship won't dock next to a pier near "downtown" Venice but instead passengers need to board a tender or water taxi before one can get ashore? If so, how long is the water taxi ride?

[Cienfuegos]

Venice is a series of islands, some natural, others created by people. Cruise ships dock at the Tronchetto, where passengers can meet tour buses, get on water taxis and vaporetti, or walk a few hundred feet to a monorail station. The other end of the monorail line is the main bus terminal and parking garage, called the Plaza Roma. It's at the Grand Canal.

 

The Tronchetto is not near Saint Mark's or other major tourist facilities. But the setup allows passengers to distribute over the area in a reasonable fashion.  A quick look at the map of Venice shows how this works in practice.