Dukey1

The situation: arriving by rail from Milan on the day of a cruise departure.

I am aware of the situation once outside of Santa Lucia: that "people mover" and the walk, etc.

I am wondering of it would be easier to simply get off the train at Mestre and take a taxi to the cruise terminal. Yes, I know it would be more expensive but I am wondering of it would also be a lot more convenient and less hassle.

Thoughts appreciated and thank you.

Dukey1

Sorry for the typos above.

suec1

We opted to disembark at Mestre - our train arrived on a track that we had to take stairs with our bags down and up. There did not seem to be an elevator, ramp or escalator - this was probably 3 years ago.

If you disembark at S. Lucia, there will be bridges.

You might want to go over to Cruise Critic - ports section, and see what folks are saying over there. Maybe the Mestre station has become more passenger friendly to folks with bags.

rialtogrl

You don't have to go over any bridges if you get off at Santa Lucia, if you take the vaporetto across to Piazzale Roma. There are handicap ramps for luggage on both ends.

There are also a gazillion porters hanging around the station these days. So you could get a porter to shlep your stuff over the Calatrava bridge while you follow behind.

I am not sure about the ease of a taxi but going to Santa Lucia is not going to be terribly difficult, unless you have a ton of luggage.

Dukey1

I am sorry but I think rather than buying a vaporetto ticket and hauling luggage lon and off of that I'd just as soon do the walk and use that people mover to get over to the embarkation point.

I appreciate the comments and will sign off this thread now.

wesleymarsh

>>There are also a gazillion porters hanging around the station these days.<<

Are they official employees of a legitimate business? Or are they the typical train hustlers in every train station in Italy? I don't recall ever seeing anyone at Santa Lucia resembling an official baggage carrier. How does an official porter identify himself?

rialtogrl

wesleymarsh, there are a bunch of them outside the station. They all seem to know and work with each other, and if I remember correctly they wear some kind of badge thing. They are not hustlers, they are immigrants though and they are happy for the work. I used a couple of them in May when I needed to get to Castello with a lot of luggage and the vaporetti and water taxis were not running due to a regatta. They gave me business cards and told me to call them if I needed them again.

Which I will if the need arises.

Bedar

Disappointed in you for taking a cruise from Venice. Seems the only way to stop all cruise traffic there is for people to not sign on for them. Shame on you ! Don't do it again !!