marg

We're cruising with Norwegian and returning to Venice at the end of the cruise. On arrival we will need to get to the station to catch a train to Milan. Does anyone know how far the station is from the cruise terminal and how long it would take to get there. We can catch the train from Venice Mestre or Venice St Lucia.

Thanks for any information.

Reme

I'm not sure where Mestre is, but I think it likely is on the other end of the causeway on the mainland. St Lucia is not too far - a bit of a walk, but impossible with luggage. It has been a couple of years since I was there, but there was a vaporetto and a shuttle bus to the main vaporetto docks and hence to Stanta Lucia. A certain amount of baggage handling is inevitable.

Jeff801

The Mestre station is on the mainland, but, paradoxically, it is easier to reach from the cruise terminal. The cruise terminal has access to the mainland across the causeway, and you can take a taxi from there to the mainland. The problem with that is the competition for taxis from the other passengers. (It's always the other guys who are the tourists.) I do not know if you can arrange a car service from the cruise terminal to Mestre.

To get to St. Lucia, I think you will have to take a water taxi, again competing with other passengers. There will be any number of people willing to help you get your luggage down into the taxi. (The hot rumor last year was that the helpful people pay a fee to local organized crime for the privilege of being on the pier. Not only do they expect tips, they need them!)

All trains that originate at St. Lucia stop in Mestre.

All things considered, if I were arriving in Venice from a cruise ship, this is the likely the only location where I would purchase my transportation from the ship to the train station.

skyFoster

WE, ARE COMING FROM MILAN TO (NCL PORT) Via of VENEZIA MESTRE train, <STATION> .... OUR "HILTON" HOTEL CONCIERGE' TOLD US TO TAKE THE TRAIN TO "MESTRE", THEN GET A "LAND TAXI" FOR ABOUT 10 MIN., FOR ABOUT 20-30 EURO's! <DEPENDING ON WHAT MONTH/YEAR !!!> (to NCL) SO, TAKE THIS IN REVERSE! <TAKE A TAXI ,from NCL CRUISE SHIP> TO THE "MESTRE TRAIN!! I HAVE CALLED "NCL" & THEY ARE TOTALLY "OBLIVIOUS" TO THE SITUATION!!! (thanks NCL!)

doug_stallings

Getting to the Venice Santa Lucia train station from the cruise pier is fairly easy but requires some walking. Not all people want to do this or can deal with their luggage.

To get to the Venice train station from the cruise port:
1. Walk to the People Mover stop. This takes about 5 or 10 minutes. You have to walk past Royal Caribbean's pier and out to the station (it can't be missed).
2. Take People Mover for 1 euro to Piazaalle Roma.
3. Get off the People Mover and walk over the bridge to the train station (about 5 minutes, but the bridge is kind of high).

If you have luggage, this can be a pain, but there's really no other way. So if you can't navigate a bridge with your luggage on foot, then you should not go to the Santa Lucia train station in Venice.

Alternatively, take a land taxi to the Maestre train station directly from the cruise pier. It's not horribly expensive (perhaps 25 euros). The taxi stand is immediately outside of the ship, and you will probably not have to wait very long for a taxi (I didn't this summer at the height of the season). Make sure you tell the driver the Maestre train station. You might have share with another couple, who will pay the same fare. The taxis prefer to leave full, and the driver will likely want you to wait until he finds two more people for the train station before he leaves, so this can also take a while.

But there is no need to take an expensive water taxi unless you want to.

worldinabag

Hi

Take it from Santa Lucia. I have just returned from a cruise that started in Venice. I used the People Mover service from the station to the pier and can highly recommend it. Your cruise line will provide a shuttle service to it. There is an elevator you can use to get down to street level. After that there is some walking as Doug pointed out. It's a short walk on fairly level ground. Then there's the bridge - OMG! There are numerous steps up and numerous steps down. They are small ones, obviously made for luggage but a pain nonetheless. Just take your time, stop for a break and admire the view TIP: 1. Keep walking to the end of the station. Turn left and you will see a sign indicating a ramp providing easier access, particularly for the handicapped. It's not common knowledge but I've used it a couple of times. It will take you straight onto the platform. Ask the attendant for directions if needed. 2. I would pre buy your train tickets on the internet. You're guaranteed a seat and it's probably cheaper. Check the Trenitalia website. Once you're at the station check the electronic board for your platform number. Just get onboard, no check in required. Too easy! If you buy tickets there I think you have to validate them at a machine before you board but I'm not sure.

Dayenu

SkyFoster, you take information from a hotel clerk to start a campaign against NCL? So the clerk failed to tell you that you can walk from the train to P.le Roma (or take a vaporetto - just one stop) and there you will see a FREE NCL shuttle waiting for you to take you to the ship.

Now, don't blame hotel's employee's incompetence on a cruise line. We took that free shuttle, it was a pleasant ride. Just make sure you and your luggage are on the same bus.