Hi.We have just returned from this cruise.
We took the 9.39 am train from Venice and was aboard the ship for Lunch. I had been concerned about luggage space on the train but everyone in our carriage placed medium 20 kg ( and I think some larger ones too) on the overhead racks. You need to be able to lift them up though. A couple of passengers had large bags on seats but this did mean passengers getting on at later stations had to search for free seats.
We got to Santa Lucia station early, about 9.25 am and had no problem getting 4 seats together. At Trieste there was a queue for taxis but seemed to move quickly.
NCL use 1 of 2 ports at Trieste and I had used a tracker website to locate the ship but the taxi driver also knew where the ship was.
On disembarkation day there were no taxis at the port. NCL provide a shuttle from the Marine (or Cargo) terminal to the cruise port opposite the Excelsior hotel. From there we walked to the station but this could be an issue if you have very heavy luggage or not used to the heat. It would make sense for NCL to run the shuttle a few extra yards to the train/bus station area.
We took an Itabus bus from Trieste bus station to Marco Polo airport. The bus was comfortable but the bus station itself was grim particularly on a Sunday. Facilities in nearby train station much better though still short of seats for waiting.
Bus station toilets for example need coin for entry but still dirty and had no toilet paper for example.
NCL were selling coach transfer tickets to Marco Polo for nearly 4 times the price we paid.
