One day in Venice
 

We are arriving in Venice a day ahead of taking a Mediterranean cruise. Found a super deal at the Westin Europa & Regina (right near St. Marks), but don't have a clue on the best way to get there from Marco Polo airport. (Since we will be at sea for two weeks, we will have several pieces of luggage.) If there is a guru out there who can advise us we will be most greatful. Also getting from the hotel to the cruiseship terminal......

patmike,
Here's a suggestion, don't take too much luggage. Take one suitcase apiece and a carry bag. Believe me! Even if you are on a cruise you will still have to negotiate through cobblestone or narrow passageways.
You can do one of the following to get to St. Marks: Alilaguna is a water bus that you can catch right outside of Marco Polo. It is pretty cheap, compared to a water taxi. You would only be able to take one suitcase apiece on that one. A water taxi will cost you a pretty penny! I am thinking it would be around $75-80 to get to San Marco. Or, you can take the train to Venice Island and then get a water taxi.
My husband and I are sailing on the Splendor of the Seas in November and we are staying on Lido before the cruise and Marriott Courtyard Airport after.
Have a great time.

Hello patmike. I would take as little luggage as possible although I know cruising always seems to require more clothes.

The private taxi will cost you at least 90euro..but it would be well worth it in my opinion.

There is a walk from the airport to the dock..I thought there was the shuttle again that passengers could take for the short ride to the docks but a Fodorite posted some days ago there is not.

With several pieces of luggage you will probably want to use a private taxi a lot..that will become expensive.

Here is the website for the Marco Polo Airport.

http://www.veniceairport.it/core/ind...mp;language=it

You can click on the English flag (upper right on your screen) for the English version.

The water taxi in December 2005 was E85 and I hear it's now E90. You could also take a land taxi to Piazzale Roma but from there you's still need a water taxi to your hotel as vapporettos only allow one suitcase, each. A water taxi from here would cost about E45.
Here's a link to the airport that has travel information to help you decide:
http://www.veniceairport.it/page/ser...no?m=01020201#

Thanks so much for the info.....we are trying to "skinny down" the luggage as we speak - even tho' we don't leave until the end of August!!! When quoting Euros, is that per person?? How much would the train to Venice Island be?? Sounds like that may be the least cost option.....

Hi patmike, the cost of the water taxi is for the trip, it is NOT per person thankfully.

Do check out the Marco Polo Airport website to see your various options. Best regards.

The train is a somewhat silly option. To take the train from the airport, you would have to take a land bus or land taxi to the Venice Mestre train station. Then take the train to Venice SL. Then take a vaporetto (local water bus) or water taxi to your hotel.

The truly cheapest way from the airport: there is a local land bus (about 1 euro per person) or express land bus (about 3 euros person) from the airport to Piazzale Roma right next to the Venice SL train station. From there, if you have only one suitcase and shoulder bag each, you can take the vaporetto for about 5 euros per person.

However, since you are staying near San Marco, the Alilaguna is really a good option for you. For about 12 euros per person, you could go directly from the airport to San Marco.