Venice & The Veneto Discovery Cruise

Welcome to Italy! Upon arrival at Venice Marco International Airport, you’ll be met by your driver for a private transfer to the ship on the Venetian lagoon. You can enjoy a welcome drink at Hari’s bar and perhaps meet some of your fellow travelers as this is the main gathering place onboard. Afterward, get settled into your stateroom, unpack, relax, and explore the facilities. Then prepare for the Welcome Dinner that will be hosted this evening with introductions to the crew and a preview of the exciting adventure that lies ahead.

Meals Included: Dinner

Your first destination is Doge’s Palace located in St. Mark’s Square. The complex dates back to around 800 AD although most that survives was built in the 14th and 15th centuries. Explore the palace building, exploring corridors and prison chambers, before crossing the famous Bridge of Sighs. Continue to the historic Castello district with homes that are over 800 years old while laundry hangs over balconies above the narrow canals. This evening, St. Mark’s Basilica opens for a special exclusive after-hours visit without the crowds. Marvel at the mosaic-covered domes telling the story of the New Testament and the famed altarpiece created in the 10th century complete with precious gems. 

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Included Excursion Options Available:
– A Walk in Venice with Doge’s Palace Visit
– Private After Hours Visit to Saint Mark’s Basilica

Today provides you with an opportunity to visit your choice of Vincenza or Padua in the Veneto region. Vincenza hosts the famous Teatro Olimpico, the oldest still active Italian Renaissance theater. You’ll enjoy a mesmerizing light and music show followed by lunch on your own. Or take a guided walking tour in medieval Padua to admire its lovely squares, historic churches, and palaces. It’s home to Italy’s second-oldest university, founded in 1222 with famous former students including Copernicus while Galileo was a faculty member. You’ll have time to explore on your own afterward. This evening, cruise to Mazzorbo, where you’ll be able to explore Burano with its vibrantly painted fishermen’s cottages after most of the tourists have left. Then prepare for the Captain’s Welcome Reception and Dinner, this evening.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Included Excursion Options Available:
– Vicenza with Teatro Olimpico
– Padua Walking Tour

Explore Venice’s northern lagoon and its picturesque islands, starting with its crown jewel, Torcello, and it’s famous Basilica of Santa Maria Assunta, the lagoon’s oldest church. Join your art historian guide for an early visit to see the 11th-century mosaic of the Last Judgement with expert commentary minus the crowds. Afterward head head back to Mazzorbo, an agricultural island, and colorful Burano. Take an afternoon excursion to Murano where you can witness the skilled glass-blowers at work. A tradition for eight centuries, you’ll see them in the Murano workshop before enjoying time to browse or shop the factory’s gallery with a wide variety of styles and pieces for sale.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Included Excursion Options Available:
– Torcello: Hidden Treasure of the Lagoon
– Murano Glass Blowing Demonstration

Today, you’ll be based in Chioggia, one of the most charming towns within the Venice lagoon, some say it’s like Venice in miniature. Delve into well-preserved traditions with a refreshing lack of crowds, with a choice of excursions including hopping into a bragozzo (wooden sailing boat) to take in the views from the perspective of the water. Afterward, you’ll visit a magnificent Venetian villa with beautiful grounds to explore along with a family chapel and historic stable. Conclude with a local product tasting of cheeses, honey, olive oil, and wines. A market visit in Chioggia is also possible or, join a gentle bike ride alongside the beaches, heading to Lusenzo Lagoon.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Included Excursion Options Available:
– Bragozzo Ride with Tastings at Ca’ Zen
– Chioggia Market Visit
– Let’s Go: Biking Chioggia
– A Noble Country Villa and Its Wines

This morning, embark on a sailing tour exploring the Po Delta where the Adriatic Sea and Po River meet, cruising back to Venice during lunch. Or, visit Castello del Catajo, tucked into the Euganean hills. One of Europe’s most breathtaking castles, it was once a resort for the Habsburg Dynasty but was ultimately returned to Italy after World War I. You’ll join a guide for a tour that includes highlights like the frescoed walls followed by a guided walk around the colorful gardens. Or, enjoy leisure time to wander on your own before returning to the S.S. La Venezia.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Included Excursion Options Available:
– Po Delta Sailing
– Castello del Catajo Visit

Take a scenic water taxi ride through narrow side canals and the Grand Canal to the iconic Rialto Bridge which hosts multiple shops and dining venues. Or, explore a more authentic side of Venice, The Dorsoduro, more tranquil than most of the popular districts, visiting a gondola artisan where you’ll meet masters at work. Or take a walking tour that follows in the footsteps of locals by visiting the renowned Rialto markets, concluding with happy hour at a wine bar. Alternatively, learn how masks are made at a mask atelier. The Captain‘s Farewell Reception and Dinner is hosted this evening.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Included Excursion Options Available:
– Venice Walk with Gondola Artisans Visit
– Venice Walking Tour
– Ca’ Macana Mask Atelier
– Rowing Venice

After a week of discovering Venice and The Veneto region, it will soon be time to disembark. You can take a private transfer to the airport to catch your flight home, extend your time in Venice by taking your private transfer to a local hotel, or perhaps continue your travels. We recommend the Highlights of Italy tour or a bespoke addition to your itinerary can include either Croatia or Greece. Whatever your choice, we wish you safe travels with memories of a lifetime to bring with you.

Meals Included: Breakfast