Med Cruise: Venice
In this final post of a multi-part series, Bethany explores Venice, Italy on her Mediterranean Cruise on Crystal.
I am exploring parts of the Mediterranean on my inaugural cruise on Crystal. The 7-night cruise on Crystal Symphony kicks off in Istanbul, Turkey and wraps up in Venice, Italy. Join me as I explore the many wonderful ports in Turkey, Greece, Croatia, and Italy along the way!
Crystal Mediterranean Cruise Full Itinerary
Below is the full itinerary for the trip. This post includes details about my time post-cruise in Venice, Italy. Looking for info on other stops? Check out the ‘Links’ section at the end of this post!
- Pre-Cruise – September 6-8: Istanbul, Turkey
- Cruise Day 1 – September 9: At Sea
- Cruise Day 2 – September 10: Kusadasi, Turkey
- Cruise Day 3 – September 11: At Sea
- Cruise Day 4 – September 12: Katakolon, Greece
- Cruise Day 5 – September 13: Corfu, Greece
- Cruise Day 6 – September 14: Dubrovnik, Croatia
- Post-Cruise – September 15: Venice, Italy
Post-Cruise: Venice
I bid a fond “Buongiorno” (good morning!) to my last morning on the Crystal Symphony. One last, beautiful sunrise was waiting for me up on the top deck. We were docked in the industrial port, so my first views of Venice were from afar. I caught my country flag #35 on deck and then headed in for breakfast. After breakfast I caught a shuttle bus for the 30-minute ride to the main port in Venice.
Hotel Antiche Figure
Once at the main port, I hopped onto the People Mover (tram), which dropped me off a short distance from my hotel. After a brief 10-minute walk I arrived at my beautiful hotel, the Hotel Antiche Figure. This is a 15th century palace overlooking the Grand Canal. While my room did not have a canal view, it was large and very comfortable.
Starting to Explore Venice
After dropping my bags off at the hotel, I set off on foot to start exploring this gorgeous city. I had a couple of places that I wanted to visit, but for the most part I was excited to just wander around the city and soak in the sights. I was not disappointed…the winding streets and alleyways led to one interesting view after another!
Basilica Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari
The first stop on my list was the gorgeous Basilica Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari (often just called “The Frari”). Located in the San Polo district, this is the largest church in the city. The brick exterior is fairly plain, but one step inside and you see what the draw is here! This church dates back to the mid-13th century.
Intricate details throughout the interior are amazing. The choir stalls are breathtakingly beautiful, with stunning gold accents. The high altar shows “Assumption of the Virgin” by Titian. There are many other smaller chapels throughout the church, each with its own impressive altar.
It was hard to know what to look at and focus on in this church, as there are beautiful and interesting details everywhere. Even the floors are gorgeous, with many intricate tombs throughout.
Works of art, funerary monuments, and other beautiful architecture are all on full display here. I really enjoyed spending some quiet time here enjoying all of the beauty.
Ponte de Rialto
After visiting The Frari I continued on foot through more of Venice. My next stop was the beautiful (and very crowded!) Ponte de Rialto, or the Rialto Bridge. There are four bridges that span the Grand Canal throughout Venice, and this is the oldest of the four. It was first constructed in 1173! It has gone through several rebuilds since then, with the current version being built in 1588. There are two ramps that lead up to a central portico. Rows of covered shops line either side of the portico. If you are patient enough to battle the crowds and wait for a coveted spot at the top, the postcard-like views of the Grand Canal are certainly worth it.
From the Rialto Bridge I continued my walking tour. Along the way I crisscrossed the many smaller canals throughout the city. It quickly became evident that it definitely takes some energy to walk along the cobblestone sidewalks and ascend and descend the bridges! While they don’t appear terribly steep, climbing up and down the bridges all day long definitely wears you out. I also spotted gorgeous architecture everywhere.
Piazza San Marco
My journey then led me to the stunning Piazza San Marco, or St. Mark’s Square. Since it is the main public square here in Venice, it is often simply referred to as “la Piazza” or “the Square.” I admired St. Mark’s Campanille (the tall brick tower) and the Torre dell’Orologio (Clocktower), but quickly realized it was time for lunch. So, I found a lovely sidewalk cafe across from the Doge’s Palace. Yes, it was a total tourist trap (overpriced and mediocre food), but I thoroughly enjoyed nibbling my pizzetta with prosciutto and mushrooms while watching the crowds go by!
After lunch I walked a few steps past the Doge’s Palace to the water. Here I was able to catch some lovely views.
Back in the main Piazza I admired the stunning exterior of St. Mark’s Basilica. The intricate details and beautiful colors are mesmerizing. I probably stood there and simply stared at it, soaking it all in, for several minutes! Unfortunately, I completely forgot to book a ticket ahead of time (pro tip: if you are visiting Venice, or any area with hugely popular tourist spots, be sure to buy tickets online ahead of time!), and I chose to not wait in the massive line to go inside.
More Amazing Sights in Venice
After spending time enjoying Piazza San Marco, I made my way back to my hotel. Stunning architecture, quirky shops, winding alleyways, and colorful reminders of daily life all caught my eye. Venice is probably the best city I have visited so far to simply wander through and “get lost.” It’s an island, so you really can’t ever get truly lost, and there are charming things to see around every corner.
Even though I practically ate my body weight in gelato on the ship, I simply could not spend a day in Italy and NOT get more gelato! Following some advice I read ahead of time online, I looked for two key factors: 1. a gelateria that was off the beaten path, and 2. gelato that is not brightly colored. There are literally hundreds of gelaterias here in Venice, so it was easy to find one off the beaten path (i.e. not directly in front of a major tourist spot). I also learned that brightly colored gelato is made with unnatural colors and added flavors, whereas the more naturally colored gelato is fresher and, well, more natural. This Fragola (strawberry) gelato was a delicious and refreshing treat!
Once back near my hotel, I stopped to rest for a bit in my room. After a quick rest I headed back out to explore the area around my hotel. I found more lovely views, stunning architecture, and plenty of shops to keep me busy. Since I had been eating a lot of larger meals on the ship, I chose to have a light supper tonight. I found a local grocery store not far from my hotel. It is actually in an old theater, and it was gorgeous! But I digress…I spent some time just wandering the aisles of the grocery store before deciding on a few things to snack on. I headed back to my hotel room and had a little “bed picnic” that evening!
Venice at Night
Once the sun set, I headed back out to the area around my hotel to enjoy the sights after dark. The lights from the shops and restaurants twinkling on the Grand Canal made for some beautiful views.
Ready to Head Home
I had a wonderful start to the last day of my trip. My hotel had a great breakfast buffet available, so I got a few things to eat and a fresh-squeezed orange juice and cappuccino to sip on. I headed out to a table on the front patio and enjoyed breakfast with a view.
After breakfast I checked out of the hotel and found my new favorite way to get to an airport: a water taxi! My driver picked me up at the hotel and we set off. The 20-minute ride started as a leisurely tour of the Grand Canal as the city started to come awake on this beautiful Saturday morning.
Once we navigated through the canals and out of the city, the ride became a speed boat ride as we zipped along towards the airport! It was so much fun to stand at the back of the boat and feel the wind in my hair. The inside of the water taxi was beautiful, but I spent the entire ride out in the fresh air in the back. I could easily get used to this mode of transportation!
My water taxi driver pulled up to the airport and dropped me off near the main terminal. I headed inside and completed my check in before heading to the gate. I said Arrivederci (goodbye!) to Italy and the rest of this fabulous cruise. After a layover in Newark, I was finally back home in Tampa safe and sound later that night. My welcome home committee, my cat Jasper, was full of love and snuggles. While the trip was fantastic, it’s always good to be home.
Conclusion
While I did not have nearly enough time to fully explore Venice, I thoroughly enjoyed the day I did have here. I got to see a few spots that I really wanted to visit, but for the most part I rather liked just wandering around and seeing what I could find around the next corner. This was a fantastic place to bring an absolutely fabulous trip to an end.
I was fortunate to cross four more countries (Turkey, Greece, Croatia, and Italy) off my “been there, done that” list on this trip. Each stop along the way was wonderful. I also really enjoyed my first cruise on Crystal, and I look forward to doing more Crystal cruises in the future.
Links
Check the main page for this cruise to read more about my adventures:
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