Hotels in that range are few and far between invVenice during high season. I'm paying almost double for a hotel before the same cruise later in June. Im staying at the M Gallery Papodopoli. My advice: look for a well rated hotel near Puazzale Roma and the people mover to the cruise port. That way no crowded vaporettos. And book soon. Most of the better cheap hotels are already booked.

And I would add that you should also re-post this question in the Europe forum, where there are a lot of more knowledgable posters on all things Venice.

We are sailing on the Carnival Legend in early May and we are staying the night before the sailing at the Hotel Arlecchinio in Venice. The price is over $300 but it rated well on tripadvisor.com and it is located very near the port so we will not have trouble getting to the ship.

Thanks everyone ! Someone also suggested an apartment but most of them require a minimum 3 night stay.
Not booked yet but will do soon.

Try different websites to look for hotels in the Piazzale Roma area - the most convenient for cruises, also easy to get on a vaporetto (water bus)

We stayed in Arlecchino on advice of another Fodorite, but it was a few years ago, not sure how much this hotel is now.

NCL runs a free shuttle from P.le Roma.

From hotel you can take a bus to P.le Roma - I think 2 of them, 4 letters abbreviation for each one, Google them. They are the same for convenience.

I don't think people mover is within walking distance from where NCL takes off, especially with luggage, unless you are young and healthy.

Thanks Dayenu, that is very helpful.

From AIRPORT you can take a bus to P.le Roma - I think 2 of them, 4 letters abbreviation for each one, Google them. They are the same for convenience.

Sorry for the typo!

We stayed at the Hotel Olimpia last October before our cruise. It is only about a 5 minute walk from the Piazzale Roma with only 1 small bridge to haul luggage over. The rooms were nice, the breakfast was great and the personnel were wonderful. The vaporetto stop is also fairly close which allows easy access to St Mark's Square.