What it means for you
NEW CRUISE PORT OPTIONS
New cruise terminal options for large ships (Map courtesy of Google)
With over 1,000 cruise ships traversing the Giudecca Canal a year safety and environmental concerns have won out. Officials are looking at several locations as possibilities for new cruise terminals near Venice.
CLIA proposed a different route. (Courtesy: CLIA)
Long term options that have been discussed include Port Maghera, a new terminal between Lido and Cavallino, as well a terminal at southern end of the lagoon near Chioggia.
The cruise lines industry (CLIA) has proposed using different routing which takes large ships away from central Venice, but which would allow them to dock at the larger Venice port in central Venice allowing passengers direct access to central Venice without the need for additional transportation services.
But none of the options have been acceptable to both the cruise lines which don’t want to make the large investments that new terminals would require, and locals demanding options that will provide better safety and which will protect the environment.
The interim terminal options are about three miles across the lagoon from Venice. No longer would cruise visitors be able to leave the ship and step into the heart of Venice. For cruise lines this means having to work with local officials for new transportation systems to easily move people from the new ports to central Venice. These options will increase costs as well as add significant time to their passengers wishing to visit Venice. Officials say the long term plans will take time to develop with local involvement.
Luxury cruise lines operate smaller ships and will benefit from these changes as they will still be able to berth in central Venice and traverse the Guidecca Canal.
Summer months are the most popular, which means lots of tourists. In addition, the summer months are the hottest with temperatures becoming stifling, especially with the uncomfortable overload of fellow visitors. We recommend visiting in the shoulder months of April and May, or October and November with cooler day time temperatures and less tourists.
So how to choose the right vacation for you?
Picking the right vacation is a decision with many variables: which hotel, cruise line or tour company is right for you, which destinations interest you, what are the demographics of fellow travelers, what are the service standards, what activities are available, and most importantly exactly what do you desire from the experience. We want you to make an informed, intelligent buying decision where you get the best value for your money! We work with our clients to ensure the vacation or cruise they choose is right for them and those traveling with them.
The world awaits you and we look forward to assisting you in choosing the exact right adventure on the waters or land for you and your companions!