Hi!!!
About to book our train from Rome to Venice, where we will board the Norweigian ship! But I'm not sure which train station to get off at in Venice? Mestre or St Lucia?
Obviously we want the closest and easiest to access the ship. Does anyone know or done this type of route? What is also the best way to get to cruise line from the train station, (cheap and easy)?
Venezia Santa Lucia is the one you want.
Cheap? About a quarter mile walk over the Ponte della Constitizione to the People Mover by the Piazzale Roma parking structure, then ride the People Mover (1.50 EUR per person) to the cruise ship area, then more walking across the parking lot and to your ship. Be aware that the Ponte della Constituzione over the the Grand Canal has a number of shallow steps up, then down. It has to be high enough for boat traffic on the Grand Canal pass underneath.
If you go to Venezia Mestre, you can take a land taxi to the cruise port. If you go to Venezia SL, you have to either walk a fair way or take a water bus and then a walk.
I would advise Mestre.
There are several cruise terminals in Venice - has NCL advised you at which location they will dock?
How much luggage will you have?
Have you looked at any maps of the port online?
We walked from Stazione Marittima Porto, used the People Mover, and walked to S. Lucia and then to our hotel. As I recall it took about 20 minutes walking. If you have multiple large luggage pieces, there are porters you can hire.
http://europeforvisitors.com/venice/articles/people-mover-to-marittima-cruise-terminals.htm
Mardan raises a good question. Which cruise terminal? If it is the one by Piazzale Roma then Sam's directions are spot on. Even if it is another terminal, St. Lucia is the train station to use. Another cruise terminal will necessitate new directions from the train to the ship.
