Hotels Venice - Before Cruise

We've been to Venice a number of times and have also cruised in and out of there a couple of times. To the best of my knowledge, none of the hotels offer a conventional shuttle service. They might arrange a private water taxi for you, but that would be about the extent of it. I might be wrong so if anyone has different knowledge about shuttles to the port please let us all know. Assuming you are staying on the main island, consider the following. In all probability your ship will use the big terminal near Piazzale Roma. If that is the case, simply take the vap. to P.Roma. Of course if you are loaded with luggage you may have to get a regular ($$$) water taxi there. Once there, P. Roma is a big open area with buses and such. Facing the square is a big white building that houses the "people mover". Last time it cost one Euro each but it may have gone up. Take it to the first stop and get off. From there it is a short walk to the cruise ship area. If you have baggage that the ship is going to deliver to your stateroom, look carefully for the drop off point. Last trip it was on the right as you walked, but the signage wasn't very good and some people had to backtrack from the ship to the drop off point. If you are staying on the mainland your hotel may or may not have a shuttle service to P. Roma or you might have to take a regular land taxi there. If you are going on a smaller ship it might dock at a terminal on the Giudecca Canal. If so, ask at your hotel. You may have to do a water taxi or perhaps the Alilguna boat will take you there. We've never used that terminal so I just do not know. If you go to bing.com, and click on maps, and type in Venice Italy, you will find it has excellent maps. You can zoom in / out, move about, and even get aerial or birds eye views of P. Roma, the people mover, and everything. Googlemaps.com also offers street views that can be a big help. A great way to get a visual lay of the land before you ever get there. If you know the hotel you will be using we might be able to give even more specific information.

This might help: http://europeforvisitors.com/venice/articles/venice-cruise-terminal-hotels.htm

We've stayed at Hotel Arlecchino several times when cruising to/from Venice & found it very convenient. It's just off Piazzele Roma so only very short walk (& one bridge) to/from the People Mover to the port or to/from the main train station. Staff are wonderful & the breakfast there is our favorite of any we've had while travelling. There are good eateries nearby & it's easy to catch a vaporetto for a ride down the Grand Canal to San Marco; however, we enjoy walking the streets of Venice to St Marks, then taking a vaporetto back. We HATE dragging luggage on/off vaporettos or buses or taxis so the location is the major plus here. It is so nice to step off the People Mover & SEE our hotel, drop our bags, then take off to enjoy all that Venice has to offer.
There is also a Best Western (Olympia, I think?) nearby - it's a "sister hotel" to Arlecchino & also a good location. We've heard good reports but have not stayed there.

thendriks, You will not get a hotel in Venice (on the island) with a shuttle service (minibus service), because there are no roads, that is the whole point about Venice, it does not have roads, it has canals.
The only part of Venice with road access is the docks area and Piazzele Roma (which is next to the docks). So the only places you can get to by road from there is the mainland, and you don't want to stay on the mainland.
You can get the people mover from the port to Piazzele Roma, from there it is on foot, Vaporetto (water bus) or expensive water taxi. If you have a lot of luggage, you need to look for a hotel near Piazzele Roma or the railway station, which is opposite Piazzele Roma.

We stayed at the Best Western Hotel Olimpia last year. It is next door to the Arlecchino.

Don't let the name fool you. It is a typical Venetian hotel. Google or tripadvisors for photos and reviews. If you have a canal view, you can lean out the window and see the top of the cruise ship in the distance on your left. Great breakfast was included.

Great information! Our family's is planning a cruise out of Venice at the same time. With a week ahead on land.