Optional Private Excursions available for purchase
Avoid the crowds and hustle and bustle associated with a group activity. For a memorable trip ashore, we invite you to consider a private shore excursion. Enjoy the undivided attention of your own driver/guide and the flexibility of experiencing the aspects of the local culture that most interest you. Below are just some samples of the private shore excursions we can arrange for you. Give us a call or email us. Let us personalize your experience!
- Introduction to the history of Venice
- Visit to private glass producer in Murano
- Tour of Grand Canal by private boat
- Reservations to St.Marks and Doge's Palace - no lines
Included:
- Private English speaking guide for the day and private boat.
- Clients are picked up and dropped off at the Port
Meals
Venice lies in the centre of a vast lagoon that stretches for about 30 miles from north to south, studded by numerous small islands, mostly deserted. This amazing environment is what drove the Venetians to establish their city here, a perfectly secure and inaccessible little world. Enjoy the beauty of a ride across the waters of the lagoon; visit the island of Murano, where glass has been made for over 700 years and where you can see the age-old techniques of glass blowing still in use today.
Continue to Torcello, to see the breathtaking mosaics in the Basilica di Santa Maria dell’Assunta, the oldest building on the lagoon. After a leisurely lunch (payable locally) you reach the island of Burano, a quaint and colourful fisherman island famous for its lace and charming architecture.
Highlights:
- Cruise across the lagoon to Murano, where glass has been made for over 700 years using the same techniques
- Explore Torcello and Burano, a colourful fishing village famous for its lace and charming architecture
Tour can Operate: Morning
Wheelchair Accessible: Please enquire for more information
Physical Activity Level: Low
Inclusions:
• Return private motorboat transfer between the harbour and the islands
• An expert local guide (7 hours)
• Entrance fees
• All taxes
Exclusions:
• All cruise travel, personal items, meals and associated costs
• Gratuities
Enjoy a very special introduction to the highlights of Italy's most unique city
Meeting your guide on the portside you will enjoy a leisurely transfer through the beautiful minor canals to the St. Marks area of Venice.
During your transfer you will not only experience the atmosphere of Venice and wonders of this unique city, but you will start to understand the city, what it offers, how the people live here and how they cope with 30,000 visitors per day.
On arrival in St. Marks square you will enjoy both the square including the Basilica and Doges Palace as well as the area surrounding the square. Following the tour, enjoy a wonderful introduction to other parts of Venice by your guide who will also give you some great shopping and lunch suggestions and of course show you where the ship's shuttle boat leaves from to return you to the ship at leisure during the day.
Highlights:
- You will begin your journey by meeting your local expert guide portside.
- Enjoy a leisure transfer through the beautiful minor canals to the St. Marks area of Venice.
- Following the tour of St. Marks enjoy an introduction to the other parts of Venice.
- Concluding the tour enjoy leisure time to explore and shop around the city.
Tour can operate: Please inquire
Wheelchair Accessible: Please inquire
Physical Activity Level: Moderate
Inclusions:
- A tour guide for the duration of the tour.Water Taxi at disposal
- Personal items and meals purchased.
- Additional costs accumulated during the tour.
Today's tour takes you behind the scenes of the 'real' Venice, leaving the tourist hotspots behind to explore the sestieri and canali minori where the citizens of Venice live their daily lives immersed in history...
Join your expert local guide to discover 'real life' in Venice. Although the city's charmed citizens have the lagoon and the historic buildings as their daily backdrop, they steer clear of tourist hotspots and cultivate a Venice all their own. Today is your chance to 'live as a local' with a true Veneziana, visiting out-of-the-way neighborhoods, or sestieri, and lesser-known sights, while learning about the current events and everyday concerns of the typical citizen. The tour begins with an exploration of Venice's minor canals by boat where the urban history is revealed in the ornate palazzi and artisan workshops. Later, continue on foot through remote piazzas, secret parks and forgotten churches. This unique glimpse into Venetian traditions - including a maschereria and a squero, where masks and gondolas are made - brings the 'real' Venice into focus.
(Tour duration: 3.5 hours)
Highlights:
- After meeting your guide portside enjoy a leisure transfer to the heart of the historical centre enjoying the view as you go.
- Get introduced to the real Venice by visiting and enjoying the most beautiful, quaint minor canals.
- Enjoy the last half of your tour visiting the parks, the silent squares, the forgotten churches with some of the city’s most beautiful artworks.
- During this tour you will visit and experience the real Venice.
Tour can operate: Afternoon
Wheelchair Accessible: Please inquire.
Physical Activity Level: Moderate.
Inclusions:
- A tour guide for the duration of the tour.
- Water Taxi at disposal for 2 hours
- Personal items and meals purchased.
- Additional costs accumulated during the tour.
Enjoy a very special introduction to three of the most beautiful Islands of Venice with a local expert guide and private water taxi.
From the portside you will head, with your guide and private water taxi, out to the three principle islands of Venice - Murano, Burano and Torcello. During your transfer to these islands you will enjoy a wonderful introduction to Venice from your guide.
You will enjoy and explore all three of the islands, meeting there the local people and learning much about their way of life, their industries (primarily glass and lace), the effect the islands have on 'mainland Venice' and you will also have the possibility to visit some of the factories and places where the lace and glass are produced to learn more about these age old techniques.
Following the tour of the islands we recommend that your transfer with the guide to St. Marks Square (and your private water taxi) and enjoy exploring this area on your own before returning to the ship at your leisure with the ships shuttle boat. Your guide will show you the departure point for this boat.
Highlights:
- Meet your guide and private water taxi portside to begin your introduction to three of the most beautiful Islands of Venice.
- You will enjoy and explore the islands of Murano, Burano and Torcello, meeting the local people and learnin about their way of life.
- Following the tour enjoy time at leisure before heading back to the ship.
Tour can operate: Please inquire
Wheelchair Accessible: Please inquire
Physical Activity Level: Moderate
Inclusions:
- A tour guide for the duration of the tour.
- Personal items and meals purchased.
- Additional costs accumulated during the tour.
Enjoy a little culture at the Guggenheim Museum with your local expert guide.
From the portside you will head, with your guide and private water taxi, up the Grand Canal to the Academy area of Venice to enjoy the Guggenheim Museum. You will enjoy a tour of the Guggenheim Museum whose collection consists of 200 paintings and sculptures, representing almost every modern art movement. The Guggenheim is one of the most visited sites of the city.
The light filled rooms and the large modern canvases provide a striking contrast to the Renaissance paintings which are the main attraction in Venetian churches and museums. From the Guggenheim, enjoy a stroll through some of Venice's backstreets to learn about life here in Venice, the local people and their culture. Enjoy the minor canals and quaint alleyways as you make your way through to St. Marks Square.
Before leaving your guide, he will point out the place from where your ships shuttle boat leaves for when you choose to return to the ship and also give you some great shopping advice and lunch suggestions.
Highlights:
- Meet your local expert guide and private water taxi at the port and begin your journey up the Gran Canal to the Academy area of Venice.
- Enjoy a tour of the Guggenheim Museum, one of the most visited sites in Venice.
- Stroll down Venice’s backstreets to learn about life in Venice, the local people and their culture.
Tour can operate: Please inquire
Wheelchair Accessible: Please inquire
Physical Activity Level: Moderate
Inclusions:
- A tour guide for the duration of the tour.
- A private water taxi to pick you up from the port.
- Personal items and meals purchased.
- Additional costs accumulated during the tour.
- The museum is closed on Tuesday
Highlights:
- Admire the wonderful architecture of the Doge's Palace and St Mark's Basilica
Tour can Operate: Morning/Afternoon
Wheelchair Accessible: Please enquire for more information
Physical Activity Level: Light
Inclusions:
- Return private motorboat transfers between the harbour and central Venice
- An expert English-speaking guide (4 hours)
- Entrance fees to all named sights and museums
- All taxes
- All cruise travel, personal items, meals and associated costs.
- Gratuities
Highlights:
- Admire the many art treasures on display in the Frari Church
- See the masterpieces on display in the Accademia Gallery
Tour Can Operate: Morning/Afternoon
Wheelchair Accessible: Please enquire for more information
Physical Activity Level: Light
Inclusions:
- Return private motorboat transfers between the harbour and central Venice
- An expert English-speaking guide (4 hours)
- Entrance fees to all stated sights and museums
- All taxes
- All cruise travel, personal items, meals and associated costs
- Gratuities
Highlights:
- Visit Verona's impressive Amphitheatre
- See Juliet's House and its famous balcony
Tour Can Operate: Mornings
Wheelchair Accessible: Please enquire for more information
Physical Activity Level: Light
Inclusions:
- Luxury car or minivan transfers between Venice cruise terminal and Verona
- An expert English-speaking guide in Verona (3 hours)
- Entrance fees to the stated sightseeing
- All taxes
- All cruise travel, personal items, meals and associated costs
- Gratuities