Venice/boats on & off/luggage

Personally I have never had a problem. When the boat approaches the landing I am ready at the exit - bag on back. (pun very much intended)

I didn’t have a problem with my bags. If the service is busy, don’t take a seat at the furthest point from the embarkation point or if you do, start making your way to this before you arrive at the stop.

It’s no different to getting a bus anywhere in the world.

When you get on or off the vaporetto, be decisive and move - don’t block anyone’s exit or egress by stopping dead once on/off, or you maybe mown down by others behind.

Passengers will exit the boat first, then new passengers will be allowed on. Watching the co-ordination between the conductor, who secures the boat to the dock with the docking line and opens and closes the gate, and the capitano, who drives the boat, is a thing of beauty. Just another one of the fascinating sights in Venice that happens 10,000 times a day.

As others have said, be prepared with your luggage standing in the center of the boat as you approach the dock and you should have no trouble.

Agree that it all depends on WHERE you position yourself and how ready you are to "pick up and go." We took the vaparetto from one location to another in Venice, to board our sailboat. We each had a RickSteves' rollaboard and an Orvis tote bag. We sat in the front of the vaparetto, in front of the wheelhouse, but we also were ready to go when it was our stop. Since you will be getting off at the last stop for your vaparetto, you should have no issues, as it is my recollection that they will pretty much have everyone exit (at the last stop) before loading new passengers to begin the new loop of the route.. We did the vaparetto loop around the Grand Canal one night, and when we returned we HAD to exit the vaparetto...they don't allow people to stay on.

You don't mention from where you would be coming, so I will just assume the airport. If you are not aware, there are shared (with strangers) water taxis that are really rather reasonable on a per-person price,considering the fabulous experience and incredible views you will have arriving in Venice. And, likely the water taxi would get your closer to your ultimate destination.
The shared water taxi was truly one of the highlights of our Venice experience.....my husband kept saying over and over how glad he was we experienced our arrival that way.

Vaporetto stops aren't too fast, but they are efficient. If you mean the airport boats, they'll help you with the luggage and they will wait for you to move. The one time I used the airport boat, you weren't allowed to go up top while the boat was moving.

The number one magic word to assist you when you are trying to get through a crowd and off the boat is “Permesso”. Say it several times and the crowd will part for you as you move to the exit. Keep saying it until you are clear. It works. Really.

Sam's post is spot on. The person that ties the vaparetto to the dock will not untie until everyone is off and on. No worries.

No worries with bags--my 75 year-old mother-in-law and I had no problem. We did not feel rushed and exited at the same stop.

I'm a very anxious person and was also nervous about this. It's not bad at all. My fiancé and I had several bags (backpack and LARGE checked bag for me, a rolling duffel, backpack and some large shopping bags for him). Leaving the train station we just holed up in a corner out of everyone's way and it seemed to work fine. On the way to the airport (alilaguna), the person driving the boat just loaded up all of our luggage above deck by him, allowing us to sit below.

If worse comes to worse, just wait for another boat if it looks too crowded. Best of luck and enjoy :)