Transit Time - Schengen Zone, 2pm tour on arrival day?

You might want to look up what the Schengen Zone is. What is midmorning to you? Keep in mind that flight delays are not uncommon. You will need to pass through Passport Control. Will you need to collect checked luggage? Will you pre reserve the water taxi, or just take one when you get to the dock outside the airport? Does your hotel have its own dock? If not, how far is your hotel from the nearest public dock? Where is your hotel in relation to the Basilica? Will you want to have lunch?

Just to point out the various factors that may affect your ability to make your reserved time. If all goes as planned, then you'll probably be fine.

If this is your first trip to Europe, you probably don't know how you'll react to the overnight flight, especially if you're flying in coach class. I'm always brain dead upon arrival from a combination of jetlag and sleep deprivation. I never pre-book any sightseeing or meals for the arrival day and am aware that I won't be functioning well even on the following day. Being outdoors, rather than inside the church and museum (which together will take a good bit of time) will be helpful in fighting the jetlag.

It costs very little to book an entry to San Marco, so you will have lost very little money if you run late or are too befuddled to be interested in going on your first day, so there's no harm in attempting to go. I would recommend not paying for the museum and Pala d'Oro add-ons ahead of time to minimize the money at risk; you can easily do that after entering the church.

When you arrive at the Venice Airport, you will go through Italian passport control. (Once your passport is stamped, you will be entitled to travel freely in the Schengen Zone.) After that, it will be Customs. For most, customs is just a walk through. (Yes, immigration and customs are two different things.)

From there it's a short walk to the water taxi dock. '

However, as stated previously, there are so many variable that could delay your arrival that booking something that close to airport arrival is risky.

what about a 9am arrival and a 2pm museum ticket?

9:00 arrival and 2:00 pm tour. You might make it. And you will regret the process.

think 3pm works? none of you would schedule anything on arrival day - we just walk around Venice and enjoy the scenery?

just walk around Venice and enjoy the scenery

Probably the better idea; avoids the stress of 'will we make it' weighing on you from the minute you board the flight in the USA.

Doing a museum coming off an overnight flight is not what i would choose. Doing a Church at 3PM, possibly.

What time does you hotel allow check in?

Your trip, your choice.

none of you would schedule anything on arrival day - we just walk around Venice and enjoy the scenery?

I think it's fine to visit attractions on arrival day, but visit attractions that you don't need to make reservations for. Except for St Marks and its related attractions and the Palazzo Ducale, I don't think you need to pre-buy Venice attractions.

"just walk around Venice and enjoy the scenery"

Walking around Venice aimlessly is one of the true joys in my live.

Have a great trip!

It's difficult, I think, to explain to someone who's never been there the degree to which Venice itself is a museum. And it's outdoors, which is the best place to be on your arrival day.

Exactly acraven. The beauty of Venice is on the outside, not on the inside. In fact, I’ve been five times now and only went inside anything on my first visit. The joy and glory is getting lost on the side canals.

I've been three times. My favorite things to do are wander, try to follow conflicting building wall signs to San Marco or the Rialto Bridge, and walking down a narrow street thinking it will take me where I want to go only to come to a canal with no bridge in sight.

My suggestion for your fist day is to put down the guidebook, take a nice long walk, and breathe in the city*. Staying outdoors and active will help get over any jet lag.

Do the tour another day. The Basillica is not going anywhere.

*--if it's summertime and hot, don't breathe too deeply. (LOL)

The other thing besides timing that I am always worried about is how I am going to be feeling that day. I usually want to punch someone by like 5pm my arrival day, and it is HARD to get me to last until dinner. I would go with what the others have said, pick doing something that doesn't require timed tickets or committing in advance. You might feel up for it, you might not. My next trip involves a 4 hour layover in London and I will be only arriving into Nice around my "punch people time". Hopefully I will be able to sleep on the plane and make it to dinner at 9pm :)

Where are you flying from? Do you sleep on planes? In December I flew from California to Brussels with a long layover in Chicago. I doubt I slept more than an hour, if that, on the flight to Brussels and then took a train to Bruges. After dropping off luggage at the B&B I did a walking tour and thoroughly enjoyed it. I always like to stay outdoors on arrival day so I’m ready to call it a night after dinner. I wake up refreshed and ready to go the next morning. YMMV