Jade in Venice: enough time to get the train?

[Paulras]

Will be returning from a 14 day on Jade on September 5th. Itinerary shows we arrive back in Venice at 8am. But flying out of Milan at 4:00pm. Sounds like alot of time but there's about 3+ hours of trains between Venice and Milan airport.

 

I'd like to catch the 9:50am train from San Lucia train station. The next one isn't until 10:50am which would still work but gives us no room for delays to check-in at the Milan airport.

 

Once we get off the ship, we'll take a taxi or the peoplemover to the train station. It looks like this shouldn't take more than 20 minutes or so. Anyone have experience?

 

Does a 9:50am train sound reasonable? Assuming we walk off with our own luggage as early as possible. Does there tend to be a long wait to get through customs when you get off the ship?

Edited March 3, 2015 by Paulras

[TrumpyNor]

Will be returning from a 14 day on Jade on September 5th. Itinerary shows we arrive back in Venice at 8am. But flying out of Milan at 4:00pm. Sounds like alot of time but there's about 3+ hours of trains between Venice and Milan airport.

 

I'd like to catch the 9:50am train from San Lucia train station. The next one isn't until 10:50am which would still work but gives us no room for delays to check-in at the Milan airport.

 

Once we get off the ship, we'll take a taxi or the peoplemover to the train station. It looks like this shouldn't take more than 20 minutes or so. Anyone have experience?

 

Does a 9:50am train sound reasonable? Assuming we walk off with our own luggage as early as possible. Does there tend to be a long wait to get through customs when you get off the ship?

 

All I can say is that you should definitely take a taxi and NOT count on taking the people mover to get to the train station. You should also make certain to be among the first people to get off the ship, even if that means that you have to take the luggage ashore yourself. And make sure that you are standing in line early, because there will be many others doing the same thing (leaving the ship early). If you have Platinum Latitude status, or if you are in a suite, the concierge will lead you to the gangway (making a "shortcut"), if not, there might be many people already in line if you are "late". Unless some unexpected delays with the ships arrival in port, you should be able to get the 9:50 AM train - but it is tight...... You should also purchase the train ticket in advance, I guess this can be done when you arrive in Venice to start your cruise.

[rochelle_s]

If the ship docks in time I believe your plan for the earlier train is doable. Lots of positive things working in your favour:

• The train station is not that far from the port.
   
  
• The Jade is selling their cruises as either 7 or 14 days so not everyone will be disembarking on that same day.
   
  
• There will likely be numerous people staying in Venice post cruise and will not be in a hurry to disembark (hotel check-ins, etc)
   
  
• Your itinerary has Croatia (an EU member) after Turkey and before Venice which means you will have already completed any necessary customs requirements prior to your arrival back in Venice.
  

 

Be up bright and early and in one of the first groups off the ship and everything should work in your favour. Catching that early train will also leave you that breathing room provided by the 10:30 train.

 

Looking forward to being back on the Jade myself in May. Have a great cruise!!

 

 

Rochelle

[Paulras]

Thanks for the quick replies. We'll definitely reserve the train ahead of time and be up bright and early. I found some posts that make it sound like you can't carry your own luggage off in Venice. Probably not a big delay to pick up luggage if there's no customs line to stand in.

 

I booked through the Casino so I wonder if I can get them to give me some priority to be in the first group to get off the sthip.

[bluesea777]

Thanks for the quick replies. We'll definitely reserve the train ahead of time and be up bright and early. I found some posts that make it sound like you can't carry your own luggage off in Venice. Probably not a big delay to pick up luggage if there's no customs line to stand in.

 

I booked through the Casino so I wonder if I can get them to give me some priority to be in the first group to get off the sthip.

 

WAIT!!

 

We were on the Jade last Oct. I had booked tickets for the 10:50 am from Venezia St. Lucia, and then realized it's a bit of hard work for us (we are no spring chickens) to walk with bags from Piazzale Roma to Venezia St. Lucia. I also found that it's better to grab a taxi from the ship to Venezia Mestre which is on the mainland and is the first stop for the train from Venezia St. Lucia. I emailed the railway asking if we could change from Venezia St. Lucia to Venezia Mestre but they said I could not change b/c I bought the cheapest tickets. They said since I reserved the seats we should be OK boarding the train at Mestre.

 

Cruise docked, we left ship too early at 9am, caught taxi to Mestre - fixed fare (I can't remember but I think it was 25 or 30 euros) - taxi took about 15 mins and dropped us off right at the station entrance.

 

We had over an hour wait (remember we bought 10:50 am from St. Lucia and the train was stopping at Mestre at 11am). The coffee shop there was wonderful - we sat there and had fantastic coffee and pastries and did people watching.

 

So ... go ahead and buy tickets for the 10am train from Mestre to Milan (9:30 am would be better if there is one).

 

Outside Milan Station there are airport buses - 2 different companies - every 10 mins - an hour ride.

 

If we were to go back to Venice and take a cruise we'd take that route again.

 

You should be able to leave ship earlier than 9am.

[Demonyte]

Easy Walk-Off is not an option in Venice, everybody needs to wait for colored tags to be called. (My experience after two cruises there and others have recently also confirmed this.)

[TrumpyNor]

 

Does a 9:50am train sound reasonable? Assuming we walk off with our own luggage as early as possible. Does there tend to be a long wait to get through customs when you get off the ship?

 

Easy Walk-Off is not an option in Venice, everybody needs to wait for colored tags to be called. (My experience after two cruises there and others have recently also confirmed this.)

 

What Demonyte is stating is correct and IMPORTANT, I am sorry that I forgot that Venice is one of the ports where Easy-Walk-Off is NOT possible. That means that you have to make certain to get one of the very first colors on your luggage-tag for disembarkation. Book your train with reserved seats for the 9:50 departure from Venice, and "worst-case-secenario" you have to take a taxi to one or two train stations further if you are running late... And you should probably pay the extra price to have a train ticket that can be changed if needed.

 

I have cruised out of Venice with NCL several times myself, but have always had flights from the Venice Airport, and never needed to be off the ship early....

Edited March 4, 2015 by TrumpyNor

[KeithJenner]

I can confirm no easy walk off at Venice as of last August.

 

Whilst the cruise is sold as a 14 day option, the vast majority of people are on 7 day itineraries so it makes minimal difference to the number of people disembarking.

 

I would strongly advise against using the people mover unless you can absolutely guarantee being off the ship very early. The queues get very long there.

 

Also, I'd just check what other ships are in port that day. It will just give you an idea of how busy it will be (less taxis if more ships need covering).

[fabnfortysomething]

Saturday is peak arrival and departure day in Venice so once you are off your ship there could be several other ship passengers all wanting the same facilities ie peoplemover and taxis so could be long queues

 

You may be OK on the other hand it's a bit of a risk

[4774Papa]

One issue that has not been discussed is taxi access to San Lucia train station. I may be wrong, but you may not be able to take a taxi directly to that station. There is a canal inbetween with a foot bridge only.

We walked the footbridge with luggage in July, but it was not fun.

 

Most people take the taxi to the Mestre station on the mainland. Is that an option for you?

[Paulras]

I like the idea of getting the train at Mestre. I've read a few things now that says taking a taxi there is quicker and eaier than S Lucia. It also gives us an extra 12 minutes.

 

Thanks for the replies. I just booked the flights! Hopefully the airline won't do something crazy like change the time to earlier as we get closer.

[Paulras]

Just checked on the 6 ships in port that day. 3 are very small (few hundred passengers), 1 large MS ship arrives at 10am and Splendour of the Sea arrives at 7:30 which is a little smaller than Jade. So I don't think it'll be too hectic getting off.