Jimani7

I must have not had the correct stations. Thanks you for correcting. This is also less expensive. My man point was that there is train service available.

We have been preparing for Explorer of the Seas out of Ravenna on July 16, returning July 30. We fly into Bologna on July 15, taking the train (Marconi Express) from Bologna Airport (BLQ) to Bologna Centrale and then a train from Bologna Centrale to Ravenna on July 16 and staying overnight in Ravenna. We will then take the bus from Ravenna to the cruise port. We understand the bus station is behind the central train station in Ravenna. Buses will be running between the station and the cruise port. (Information on the buses taken from previous posts above in this thread). Upon return on Explorer, we will take the bus from the cruise port to the Ravenna train station, and then take the train from Ravenna to Bologna, and stay overnight in Bologna, taking the Marconi Express to Bologna Airport the next morning. On Trenitalia, there are between 5 and 8 routes from Roma to Ravenna daily, dependent upon the day of the week. Most involve 2 train changes, and some involve 3. Average time is between 6 and 8 hours. (From the Trenitalia webpage). Once in Ravenna, you can take the bus to the cruise ship the day of the cruise departure. Getting to Venice upon your return is easier, and can be arranged through the Cruise Line via bus, or via train from Ravenna to Venezia. There are many trains daily. In addition, the Cruise Line offers direct transfers via bus to Venice. Also see previous posts in this thread for details.

Thank you so much!

Thank you so much for this response. That would have been my thought, but I had not seen it addressed previously. We are staying at a hotel in Ravenna overnight, so we would just need to get to the station that morning.

So it sounds like as long as the trains are operating, Royal Caribbean has shuttles from the Cruise Terminal at Porto Corsini to the train stations in both Ravenna and Bologna. My concern is getting to the cruise ship terminal from Ravenna. Are there shuttles for that?

Yes, I don't understand that. It's like saying a cruise from Philadelphia is a cruise from New York, except the time to travel between is even more with Venice to Ravenna. Nonetheless, I would think most people, when they find the cruise is out of Ravenna, would fly into Bologna. Unfortunately, all of it is a bad reflection on Royal Caribbean, which I have held in fairly high regard until now.

Just joined this forum. I don't understand. Why would Royal Caribbean do transfers to Venice when Bologna is a much closer airport? I expected to see transfers become available as we get closer to our July 16, 2023 sailing. However, I expected Bologna, not Venice.