You'd have to check the terms to see if this is covered. The travel insurance I have is supposed to cover this, including bad weather scenarios, and I discussed it in detail with the agent. I hope not to have to put it to the test. I haven't checked Ryanair's terms lately, but I did check Wizzair's contract terms, which I think are very similar, and it specifically lays out what it will do when it cancels flights and specifically advises adequate insurance. The insurance I have specifically does not cover terrorism. I'm unsure what would have happened in the wave of August cancellations, when there was a fear of terrorist attacks but no actual attacks, for example, but I'm sure the insurance company would argue a lack of liability.

I guess the thing to do would be to find out if someone who has what is supposed to be adequate insurance has indeed been covered for any losses resulting from a low-cst carrier cancellation, and how much effort was required to get the payout.

It is worth going to Venice for a few minutes, not to mention a few days.

You don't have to do everything and see everything to begin to get to know (or to enjoy) a place. Especially a place like Venice, which is so multilayered, you could spend two lifetimes there and still not know it!

Enjoy yourself, lennyba.

Easyjet would be more convenient than ryanair for a short trip. As well as departing from Stansted, Ryanair flies into Treviso not Venice. The easiest would be Gatwick to Venice Marco Polo with easyjet. If possible, I would go for 3 nights rather than 2.
Carolena