post cruise from cruise port (Ravenna) Port Corsini, Italy

The most economical way from Ravenna to Venice is by train.

Welcome first time poster.

Sounds like you have done the research that it takes 2.5 hours. Is that by car or bus? With 17 people and luggage you will not be able to travel together except by train and that takes about 4hours and 20 minutes with 2 changes along the way. I am sure Royal Caribbean can answer that question easily for you as I am sure it comes up a lot for them. You should email them for an answer. Enjoy.

According to Trenitalia, the journey by train is 3 hours with a single change at Ferrara. You take a Regional train from Ravenna to Ferrara, and then a fast Frecce train from Ferrara to Venice. This is a much better route than going through Bologna, as the Bologna station is large and confusing. The Ferrara station is easy.

The cruise ship should provide you with information on getting from the ship to the Ravenna train station. I would expect them to provide a shuttle, but maybe not.

Hello & welcome!

Follow the train directions from Lola, taking the train that connects through Ferrara. I agree this is simpler than going through Bologna. (I’ve done both routes while staying at locations in Italy.)

When you arrive at the Santa Lucia train station in Venice, you have the option to take the vaporetto down the Grand Canal, if that’s where your hotel is located, or vaporettos along other routes. The vaporetto is like a water bus. The other option is to take a water taxi. I know they’re expensive, and you would probably need 2-3 of them, but they would take you directly to your nearest spot to your hotel along the Grand Canal plus the inner canals.

The issue I anticipate you’re going to experience is that you probably have large suitcases and multiple per person. Both the train & especially the vaporetto are not nimble; everyone needs to carry their own luggage on & off of them and quickly. For this reason, I would check what options your cruise provides. If they have a private transfer, it’s probably worth it in this case.

Good replies so far. But note that the Cruise's transfers will probably drop you at a Vaporetto stop, not a hotel. So you still have the problem of people with too many or too big bags, and who are not accustomed to public transit. Honestly, the Vaporetto is easier than a bus because there are no steps. And everyone will object to the price. Others will point out that they could save $25 by doing something else than you suggest.

But 17 is a LOT on a crowded ferry, and it's a cat-wrangling thing as well. I would not want to be responsible for 17 people, whether they are related to me or not. Somebody is going to have to buy those train tickets and those Vaporetto passes. But three people will say that they don't need an unlimited Vaporetto pass because they love walking. So you have some issues of "authority" and "imperative/directive dynamics" to deal with. Being ordered to do something by a Tour Guide is not the same thing as being ordered to do something by your uncle or brother-in-law.

You can’t get to Venice from Ravenna by water taxi.
Well, you could hire a boat, but that would be very complicated indeed!
Cruise lines saying that voyages end in “Venice”are quite misleading for new travelers, as most of the ports nowadays are a good journey to Venice itself after people disembark.

You have to first get from the port to the train station in Ravenna itself, then train to Venice as described by other posters.
That is a 20 minute taxi ride.
With luggage I’d say you will need five taxis for your group, and some people may have to wait to get a taxi, as you will not be the only ones doing the same thing.
The train or road journey to Venice is two and a half hours depending on road or rail conditions.
You then need to know how to get all those people to your hotel in Venice, with luggage.
I think it would be best to see if you can book a bus in advance through the cruise line.
Do let us know what you end up with so others can use the information!
Best of luck.

So this has 2 per possibly 3 parts. If the cruise ship offers a shuttle or bus to Venice itself, that is the simplest option.

If not, they will need a shuttle or 5 taxis from the dock to the train station or bus stop. The train will be more comfortable with their luggage than a bus, unless it is a coach designed for intercity travel, with luggage storage underneath.

For the train, one person can buy all 17;tickets at the station before they board, or tickets can be bought online in batches. You can put up to 7 people on one regular ticket withTrenitalia,, or use the Group booking area for more.

A bus will take them to Piazzale Roma, or the train will take them to The Santa Lucia train station,mboth “in” Venice on opposite sides of the Grand Canal. Unless they have booked a hotel right by one of these two places ( which is possible) they will need a boat transport to their hotel.

The vaporetto has been mentioned above. But getting 17 people with cruise luggage on a vaporetto, particularly at the over-crowded Ferrovia stop (the train station), is an ordeal would not wish on my worst enemy. For this many people, 3 water taxis will carry all 17 plus luggage for a few euros more per person than the vaporetto, with a lot less hassle. The taxi driver will assist with loading luge on and off the boat, and will take them all to the nearest possible landing for their hotel.

My husband and I just did this when we visited Venice last March, as I am so tired of crowded vaporetti, especially with luggage. We paid €70 for a taxi Pre-booked for us by our accommodation. NeR the Accademia. We just walked to the water taxi area frommthe train station ( to the left past a couple of vaporetto docks) and gave the reservation number to the dispatcher. One of the drivers there said “that’s me”:and helped us aboard his very nice, gleaming wooden boat. It was a pleasure to get to our apartment that way.

According to this article, the walk-up fare for a water taxi within Venice is fixed, but varies from €65 to€100 depending on the number of passengers and the length of the route.

Thank you all for such great advice. I will post my transportation selection after I get all the numbers. You have all been a great help.