Springermad

I am sure some people will think I am really stupid, but I am going to ask anyway.

We are going to Italy next year, flying into Venice and staying for 6 nights.

I am very worried about getting from the airport into Venice as I am not a boat person, I'm fine if the ride is smooth, but have problems with rough crossings and if boats move up and down too much. I don;t get sea sick at all, so can't take anything to help, I just panic, I realise my fears are totally irrational and I don't want to spoil the beginning of our holiday for my family. We would also like to be able to visit some of the islands like Murano, Burano and Torcello.
I have read stories of rough crossings and choppy water and would like advice about travelling on the various boats around Venice and which would be our best option.

MmePerdu

Have no fear. There is bus service from the airport to the parking garage across the Grand Canal from the train station, the Piazzale Roma. Regarding boats, you'll be able to see the state of the chop before you get on the boat so I don't see a problem there. Have a wonderful time and don't miss Torcello if you enjoy peace and quiet as I do.

nytraveler

I am not aware of any rough water crossings or choppy water. Much of the water around Venice is very shallow and I have always seen it flat. However, I suppose it is possible there would be times when it isn;t.

However, getting anyplace without spending time on a boat is very difficult.

You can take a bus from the airport to the train station area -- and if you get a hotel near there you can walk (but will have to haul you luggage to the hotel probably over bridges). Once there you can walk to most places in Venice proper.

However, getting to the outer islands will require a boat ride - a sizable boat with a lot of people - of some length (30 minutes or so). And once the boat leaves the dock you're on for the duration.

Not sure what to do about your problem. There is no way to get there. Boats are perfectly safe - but clearly that won't affect an irrational fear. You could try a short ride on a vaporetto (just from one dock to the next - to see if you can handle it - before arranging for the longer and more expensive trips to the outer islands.

Or, you might consider counseling to help you get over the fear.

ellenem

All boats that travel along the canals of Venice have strict speed limits to avoid churning the water too much and therefore reduce erosion of the buildings bordering the canals. Even when crossing the lagoon to Murano, Burano, and Torcello, boats are restricted to specific channels and speed limits, though when away from islands they can pick up speed even in the channels. This increase in speed is not particularly speedy. A private water taxi or other small private boat might experience the up and down movement you describe, but the public water buses are large, stable boats designed to be steady.

As others have stated, it is possible to arrive in Venice by land bus and foot depending on our hotel location. It is also possible to visit most of Venice proper on foot and never board a bat. The water buses on the Grand Canal move slowly, particularly the #1 which makes every stop. You will experience slow back and forth motions as the boat sidles up to the dock. Once you are there, you can make a visual assessment of the water and smooth passage of the boats heading to the other islands.

Springermad

Thank you for all your replies I feel a bit happier now and probably have nothing to worry about.

Irrational fears are a problem and telling yourself the boat is safe and the problem is you does not help. I think it partly stems from nearly drowning a few years ago and as for counselling, counsellors make the worst patients.

I think the suggestion about taking a short trip from one dock to the next is a great idea.

Also as you have pointed out I will be able to check how rough the water is before we get on a boat for longer trips. I am sure we will find one day when its not rough.

Holly_uncasdewar

For the ride to Murano, it's a lot quicker to get on the boat at Fondamenta Nuove than from San Marco (something like :10 ride vs. :30-40 ride). Getting to the fondamenta, you'll also get a walking tour of parts of Venice which you might not otherwise see.

rhkkmk

the boats often bounce a bit when pulling up to docks, but you will be fine.. this is not the open ocean

ellenem

If you go to the link below, my Shutterfly site, and watch the video called "Vaporetto." You will see how boats move on the Grand Canal and the movements a vaporetto makes as it docks.

http://ellenem.shutterfly.com/621

This one will show you how smooth the ride is. I was seated at the back of the vaporetto when I recorded it.

http://ellenem.shutterfly.com/331

Perhaps I won't recommend a traghetto . . .

http://ellenem.shutterfly.com/332

uhoh_busted

What a great idea. Nice to share with newbies!

Springermad

Thank you so much for the replies and the links, having watched them I know I will be fine, you have set my mind at rest.

Venice looks so beautiful and I am really looking forward to finishing planning our trip and actually going to Italy at last.

caroline_edinburgh

At times during the last week it's been very windy so the water has been quite choppy - but that's the first time I've seen it like that in a cumulative total so far of 8 months here. As someone else said, you can look at the vaporetti and see what you think each time, once you are here - but they are quite heavy, slow-moving (sluggish, even) & stable.

Also, except Murano, Burano & Torcello, you can walk anywhere you are likely to want to go. Or as Holly says, if you just stick to Murano, you can walk to Fondamenta Nove then take a very short vaporetto crossing (only 6 mins to the first Murano stop, if it not stopping first at San Michele).

You probably do want to get the land bus & vaporetto from & to the airport, though, as the Alilaguna boats can pick up a lot of speed and bounce around a bit during the stretches where they are allowed to.

"You could try a short ride on a vaporetto (just from one dock to the next - to see if you can handle it - before arranging for the longer and more expensive trips to the outer islands." Vaporetto rides are all the same price regardless of length, from E1.10 each when buying 10 singles with an IMOB card to E7 each for a tourist single. (I am disregarding a) residents' monthly/annual passes & b) the possibility of your taking a journey of more than 75 minutes, which would involve more than one boat and would need a 2nd ticket after the first 75 minutes - Burano involves 2 boats but takes less than 75 mins.) Rather than pay E7 for each single ride (of whatever length) many tourists buy a pass giving unlimited travel for 12/24/36/48/72 hours, which is not always cost-effective if you don't use it much but makes things simpler. But in your case, you maybe need to 'suck it and see', forking out E7 for a single before thinking of investing in a pass.

pizzocchieri

It is a lagoon, not a sea, so that helps. For me, the worst part of the vaporetti ride is the pollution when the boats back up (the gas fumes) and also sometimes when two or 3 of them bunch up at the same stop and lots of passengers get on and off, so the boat rocks a lot. It is sort of like a bus ride in bad traffic.

But you can walk almost everywhere in Venice. Just go to Torcello on a windless day.

pizzocchieri

Also, I am not laughing at your fear, but if you fall in a canal the danger to your health is not drowning but the poisonous water.

Springermad

Thanks again for all your replies and many excellent suggestions. I am fine with rocking motion on boats its when they go up and down and very fast I have problems.
I am sure pizzocchieri that you are right and the poisonous water is far more of a consideration than drowning, especially as I am a reasonable swimmer. But a phobia unfortunately knows no reason and I am talking from a personal and professional viewpoint.
Also I am not sure I am afraid of falling in the water in fact I am not sure I know what my fear is, I just panic and get dizzy and feel ill and generally spoil things for people with me, which is very sad.
However with all the very kind and welcome advice I am feeling a lot happier and I'm sure we can walk most places if we need to and I will pick nice calm days to go visit the islands and visit anywhere else we wan to see that involves boats.

pizzocchieri

Yes, I completely sympathize. You needn't feel a need to explain. All of us have irrational fears -- some more life-diminishing than a rather normal fear of being on boats. It appears to me that your phobia is not paralyzing you or preventing you from heading out into the world, which is great. I find the vaporetti merely optional when it comes to getting around Venice. I actually prefer to go on foot, just because they are usually too crowded and I don't like gas fumes.

Venice is known in history as Le Serenissima, and will find many a serene corner in which to enjoy the visual delight of things reflected in the waters of the lagoon without having any need to get any closer to it than your cafe stool.

maxima

Just back from Venice. I would recommend that you do not enter the boarding area for the vaporetto until you see the boat pull in. Although there are seats and standing room as well, these boarding areas do tend to sway up and down, especially if its windy or other motorized boats pass close by. However, they are easy to enter with luggage and once on the vaporetto the ride is smooth and rather slow paced.. these are large boats with indoor and outdoor seats, as well as standing areas, and you are not likely to sway up and down or experience high speeds.

avoid the water taxis and alilunga as you will be bouncing around in those.

You can take an airport bus (ATVO blue bus) to Piazzale Roma, its the bus station in Venice, and then the vaporetto to your hotel area... but be prepared to walk a bit to a hotel, and you may have to go up and down a bridge or two..plenty of people do it with baby carriages so dont worry it is not all that hard with luggage.. the smaller your suitcase the easier it will be to get around, and if you use a separate carry on bag or tote, it would be easier to strap it to your suitcase if you can.. a luggage strap or a bungee cord may help.
once in venice.. you can certainly walk almost everywhere.. except for murano and the islands..
have fun and dont worry

Springermad

Thanks for the replies and the really useful tips and info, which will certainly make our stay in Venice more enjoyable and stop me worrying as I know what to expect and what to avoid.
I am really grateful to everyone who has taken the time to post and for all your kind thoughts.

Byron1

Springermad, did you go to Venice? How did you find the waters? Hope you had fun.

MarySteveChicago

Considering Venice for spring trip and found this post and responses most informative. Ellen, if you ever read this a big shout out for the videos!

annhig

Getting to the fondamenta, you'll also get a walking tour of parts of Venice which you might not otherwise see.>>

yes, do go to the church of the Gesuiti just round the corner from the vaporetto stop on the Fondamente nuova - the marble curtains and swags are amazing. it only opens in the mornings so better to do it on your way there, not on your way back.

oops - i just saw that this is a year old thread, so presumably the OP has been and come back. but someone else may read it, so I'll leave my tip about the Gesuiti in for them.