At the customs dock of the selected port you will be greeted by a friendly ship crew and escorted aboard, where you will be able to enjoy a great coffee, snack or refreshment drink (at an extra charge) before departure.
During the sailing to Venice, our experienced guides will give you an insight into the history of the beautiful city, the development and collapse of the Serenissima Republic and explain the course of the program that awaits us upon arrival. After we enter the Venetian lagoon, you will be able to see a completely different world than we are used to. Canals replace roads and streets, vessels replace cars, trucks, buses and all other road transport vehicles. Every building plays an important role in the mosaic of this rich city. After a 45-minute sail through the lagoon, you will berth at the port of San Basilio, scheduled for 11:00. After disembarkation and clearing passport control, you are welcomed to follow the guides to to the heart of the city.
Before you leave the ship, make sure you have enough drinks with you, because if you go into town with the group, any distancing could mean getting lost… and the prices on the ship are not as dear as in the city.
Before arriving at San Basilio Port, guides will offer you the option (for a small supplement) to take a boat transfer and sail comfortably to the city center. Should you not decide for this option, you will be escorted from the harbour to St. Mark’s Square walking with one of the guides. (about 40 minutes walk). If you do choose to embark on the boat transfer to St. Mark’s square, the sailing will include a guided tour of the journey: you will see the house of Elton John, an orphanage called “the Children’s prision”, the church “Il Redentore”, the Danieli Hotel (in which the second episode of the James Bond films – From Russia with Love) and finally the magnificent entrance to the Canale Grande.
After arriving to the square, the guides will walk you around the square and explain about the most important buildings:
After the tour you will be free to walk to the Rialto Bridge, but we advise you to listen to the guides’ suggestions and take advantage of the following optional tours (at an additional charge):
Organized lunch at a local restaurant – drinks included.
A romantic Venetian gondola ride through the secret canals.
A water taxi ride through Canale Grande back to port.
Due to the occasional closure of Canale Grande (during manifestations) we offer an alternative panoramic boat ride to the port of San Basilio along the southern part of the lagoon on offer instead of a water taxi. Accompanied by guides, passengers hear a lot about the lagoon and the many islands. We sail past St. Helene’s island (Mother of Constantine), Armenian Island, San Servolo, San Clemente, various Lazarettes (plague-time quarantine islands) and past the island of San Giorgio Maggiore) back to port.
All of these options can be booked with your guide during the morning sailing to Venice.
Departure from Venice is planned at 5:15 p.m.*, once again passing through the city centre to Lido island, where the oldest film festival is held every year in September. After exiting the lagoon, a sailing across the Adriatic awaits us. Arrival the port of origin is scheduled in the evening hours.
*Check the exact time of departure with the guides, as they may vary according to traffic in the lagoon.
Informative prices of the above mentioned trips on the San Frangisk and San Pawl catamarans:
Transfer
- 10 € chd till 13.99 yrs
- 5 € chd up to 3.99 yrs
- In the morning from the port to the square
Lunch
- 15 € chd till 13.99 yrs
- 0 € chd up to 3.99 yrs (no meal)
- with drinks included
Gondola
- 25 € chd till 13.99 yrs
- 25 € chd till 3.99 yrs
Water taxi
- 15 € chd till 13.99 yrs
- 5 € chd till 3.99 yrs
- Canale Grande to the port
Package
- 60 € chd till 13.99
- 30 € chd till 3.99 yrs
- (for all services)
Due to the occasional closures of the Grand Canal (various eventes), we sometimes offer a panoramic cruise to the port of San Basilio in the southern part of the lagoon instead of a water taxi. Accompanied by guides, passengers hear a lot about the lagoon and the many islands. We sail past the island of Sv. Helena (Constantine’s mother), the Armenian island, San Servolo, San Clemente, various Lazarettes (quarantine islands from the time of the plague) and past the island of San Giorgio Maggiore) back to the port.