Cruise Starts in Florence: Suggestions on Flight Arrival/Hotel ... Etc.

[ajtraveler66]

Our cruise in April is on the NCL Star.  The ship departs 10pm on April 15 from Trieste.  Then we arrive at port the next morning (16th) at 6a.m. so that we can go into Venice until 10pm that evening.  So evidently we will have time to see Venice...and won't need to do any pre-cruise excursions in order to see it what we want to see.

 

Because of the possibility of flight delays, etc., when would you suggest that we fly into Venice .... and where would you suggest that we stay so that we would be reasonably close to the cruise terminal in Triest.  Is there an NCL affiliated with this area that can help with the connections?

 

 

[GeezerCouple]

21 hours ago, ajtraveler66 said:

Our cruise in April is on the NCL Star.  The ship departs 10pm on April 15 from Trieste.  Then we arrive at port the next morning (16th) at 6a.m. so that we can go into Venice until 10pm that evening.  So evidently we will have time to see Venice...and won't need to do any pre-cruise excursions in order to see it what we want to see.

 

Because of the possibility of flight delays, etc., when would you suggest that we fly into Venice .... and where would you suggest that we stay so that we would be reasonably close to the cruise terminal in Triest.  Is there an NCL affiliated with this area that can help with the connections?

 

 

 

 

Your title states "Cruise Starts in Florence: Suggestions on Flight Arrival/Hotel ... Etc."

Is it Venice/Trieste?

 

GC

[cruisemom42]

On 8/12/2022 at 11:43 PM, ajtraveler66 said:

Our cruise in April is on the NCL Star.  The ship departs 10pm on April 15 from Trieste.  Then we arrive at port the next morning (16th) at 6a.m. so that we can go into Venice until 10pm that evening.  So evidently we will have time to see Venice...and won't need to do any pre-cruise excursions in order to see it what we want to see.

 

Because of the possibility of flight delays, etc., when would you suggest that we fly into Venice .... and where would you suggest that we stay so that we would be reasonably close to the cruise terminal in Triest.  Is there an NCL affiliated with this area that can help with the connections?

 

 

 

Trieste (which I think you mean, rather than Florence) is one of the "substitute" ports for Venice. No large cruise ships are allowed to port in Venice any longer. Period. Full stop.

 

What you will do is get yourselves to Trieste from Venice (about a 2-hour drive) to board the ship. The ship will remain there overnight and you can use the following day to visit Venice (but two hours transport each way).  The ship won't be sailing anywhere overnight.

 

I'd want to spend at least one night in Venice prior to the boarding day. As you'll have some extra cushion due to the ship remaining in port, that should be fine if all you're after is not missing your ship.

 

However, ideally I'd spend two nights or even three in Venice, get my sightseeing done while there (e.g., while it's easier), THEN once settled onboard the ship, use the following day to sightsee in Trieste, which is also worth a visit.