Venice – Italy Cruise Tour Information

VENICE, ITALY

A floating jewel among Italy’s dynamo cities, Venice captivates in unexpected ways. Spanning over 100 islands, its maze of canals winds around world-renowned sights like San Marco Campanile— and tucked-away adventures loom beyond every backstreet corner. With no roads, the City of Bridges is best explored by gondola or on foot. Admire Palazzo Ducale’s pink marble colonnades and explore the city’s political life in Doge’s Palace. View Venetian masterworks in Gallerie dell’Accademia or relish Italian opera in Teatro La Fenice. From sunning along the Adriatic to shopping in waterfront markets to engaging in a Venetian Carnevale mask-making workshop, Venice’s serene waterscape overflows with adventure.

THINGS TO DO IN VENICE

IN GOOD CAMPANILE
Discover the heart of Venice in Piazza San Marco, home to outdoor cafés and flocks of hungry pigeons. Enter San Marco Basilica to admire its Byzantine architecture and golden mosaics. Then take an elevator to the top of the 320-foot-tall Campanile bell tower for rewarding views of Venice.

PADDLE THROUGH THE AGES
A boat cruise is a must-do when visiting the City of Canals. Relax in a gondola, as you’re rowed along the Grand Canal and under the stone-arch Rialto Bridge. Paddle your own kayak through the Venetian lagoon. Or take the motorized Vaporetto waterbus around neighboring islands.

SEE HOW IT’S MADE
Travel to the offshore island of Murano to go behind the scenes in a historical glass-blowing factory. Watch local artisans create one-of-a-kind glassworks, using techniques dating from the 13th century. You can even bring home your own masterpiece from one of the island’s glass showrooms.

LOCAL CUISINE
Fresh-off-the-boat seafood from the surrounding lagoon highlights many Venetian menus. Try fritto misto (lightly fried seafood) or risotto frutti di mare (fruit of the sea). Afternoon cicchetti (small plates) come in the form of meatballs and bruschetta, while baicoli (thin oval cookies) and fregolotta (almond cake) satisfy dessert lovers. Enjoy a bellini in Harry’s Bar, birthplace of the Italian cocktail.

SHOPPING
A string of souvenir kiosks borders the Grand Canal, but roam the backstreets to shop artisan studios. Pick up authentic Venetian pearl jewelry, marbled paper travel journals and long-nosed carnival masks. Burano is known for its handmade lace products, while hand-blown Murano glass comes in the form of vases, jewelry and housewares.

Venice, a romantic Mediterranean Cruises destination, is an artisan masterpiece. The city is built on 118 small islands, separated by canals, in a shallow lagoon in the Adriatic Sea. This UNESCO World Heritage Site overflows with beauty – from the gondola-lined canals and ancient marble palaces to historical architectural feats like St. Mark’s Basilica and the Palazzo Contarini del Bovolo. Visiting Venice is like being in a fabled land, a scintillating mix of culture, history, and water.

Cruises excursions offer plenty of exciting things to see including:

Saint Mark’s Square
Famous Venetian Museums
Gondola Experience

Cruise excursion to the illustrious St. Mark’s Square, Venice’s cultural, religious, and political centre. See the iconic Basilica, an Italo-Byzantine masterpiece, with its beautiful bell tower and golden mosaics. Next door, Doge’s Palace, a Gothic jewel, will impress with its seriously sublime ornamentation. Next, cast your eyes over the Bridge of Sighs, an ornate white limestone beauty. At the end of the tour, unwind in one of the piazza’s chic cafes for a coffee and a sweet. People watch, read a book, or gaze down to the sea.

Explore Venice’s fascinating museums on a cultural Cruise excursion. After a leisurely boat ride to iconic St Mark’s Square, you’ll visit an array of museums near the piazza. Explore Correr Museum to glimpse collections of historical Venetian paintings. Swing by the Archaeological Museum to discover is a treasure chest of antique sculptures, pottery, coins, and gemstones. Finally, wander the Biblioteca Marciana, one of most extensive libraries in Italy. This literary paradise houses one of the world’s greatest collections of classical texts including Greek, Latin and Oriental manuscripts.

Explore the romantic city of Venice with an exciting cruise along its mysterious canals. This Cruise excursion will see you taking a boat ride through the city’s world-famous waterways, admiring magnificent bridges, grand patrician palaces, and the city’s famous narrow streets, the calli. Soak up the ancient atmosphere as you make your way through the world’s most incredible aquatic maze. Afterwards, enjoy a guided walk around the calli to learn more about the city.