We are spending a few days in Venice before a cruise and a few days in Greece following the cruise. We'd like to hire a guide or join a tour that is about 4 or 5 hours to orient us in both cities. If anyone has recommendations, I would be most grateful. This trip is for my husband's 50th birthday.

Sounds like a great idea! I've never used them but this company looks promising-

http://www.walksinsidevenice.com/

I highly recommend Context. We took their private Vatican Museums tour and it was awesome. Their guides are scholars, historians, etc. If you search Fodors, you will find many trip reports that give this group a thumbs up. We will absolutely use them again on our return trip to Italy in April. They give tours in several cities, including Venice.

http://www.contexttravel.com/venice/

Hi LJ - The following have all had good reviews on this forum:

www.walksinsidevenice.com

www.tours-venice-italy.com/

http://www.tours-italy.com/venice-ci...e_in_1_day.htm

www.citytoursinvenice.com

www.venicescapes.org

www.aguideinvenice.com

Hope this helps ...

Steve

http://www.venicescapes.org/ offers the best tour service we have EVER taken (we take a guide in every place we go); I highly recommend them.

For Athens and Greece, I highly recommend Takis. I have used him every time I go to Greece. He speaks excellent English.
I just got back from Greece and spent 3 1/2 days with him. Fantastic.
You can contact him at [email protected].
Tell him hello from Marinos.

Great info! Thanks everyone!