Venetian Lagoon Cruise

Description

Be sure to read the Special Notes further down this page for important requirements and restriction.

Departing from your ship, you'll board your motor launch for a scenic, ride through Venice's famed lagoon which makes up part of this UNESCO World Heritage Site. Be sure to bring your camera for the endless photo opportunities.

You'll start by gliding along the broad Giudecca Canal, past St. George's Island, which is home to the beautiful 16th century San Giorgio Maggiore, or St. George's Church and Monastery, designed by the great architect Andrea Palladio. From there, you'll cross the southern part of the Lagoon to the islands of San Servolo, the site for numerous exhibitions, festivals and artistic performances, and San Lazzaro, one of the world's foremost centers of Armenian culture.

Continuing northward, you'll enter the canal that separates the islands of Le Vignole and Sant'Erasmo and proceed to Murano Island, the home of Venetian glass making. While you will find examples of this exquisite art all over the city, true Murano glass originates here, as it has since 1291 when the Republic ordered the glassmakers to move from the city to the island for fear of the city's mostly wooden buildings catching fire.

Cruising backwards towards Venice, you'll get a view of the impressive Arsenale, a vast walled dockyard originally constructed in the 12th century. Once the most efficient industrial complex in Europe during the Serenissima Republic, it's now home to a naval base, a research center, an exhibition venue, and a historic boat preservation center. You'll also see the ancient church of San Pietro di Castello, the city's cathedral church, serving as both the spiritual and administrative centre of religious Venice until the 19th century.

Definitely have your camera ready as you approach St. Mark's Basin. You'll have views of St. Mark's Square, or the Piazza San Marco as it's known locally. You'll be able to capture the stunning Doge's Palace rising from the water, and the spectacular St. Mark's Basilica adorned with golden facade mosaics, marble and bronze statues, and five domes reminiscent of St. Sophia in Istanbul.

Your panoramic vision of Venice wraps up as your water launch transports back to your waiting ship.

Special Notes:

This tour is not available to passengers beginning or ending their voyage in Venice.

Guests must be able to negotiate 5-10 steps on and off of the launches.

The second level of motor-launches are not covered.

This is a non-stop tour. Passengers are advised that there are no toilet facilities on the motor-launches.