When to arrive and where to stay Venice before boarding sailing ship week Adriatic 08/25

First make sure your ship is actually docking in Venice
Many do not

If it is just stay in Venice on arrival and yes at least 1 night prior to sailing

Agree with Christine H. Only the smallest cruise ships dock in Venice now. All of the others dock elsewhere: Ravenna and Trieste are most frequently used. Most cruise lines will offer a bus transfer.

Unless they live close to the cruise port, cruisers are always strongly recommended to arrive in their embarkation port AT LEAST one day before embarkation. For only 1 night, a hotel near Piazzale Roma or the train station makes sense ( depending on whether you will get to your ship by train, bus, or taxi.

Yes, maybe spend the night as you have suggested.
The ship is a sailing ship is mot large with under 200 travelers, 100 rooms.
The precise location of embarcation should be clarified but it is Venice and not elsewhere.
Thanks,
S

If you don’t mind telling us the ship’s name and actual port near Venice, we can give you detailed instructions.
If your cruise line is only telling you “Venice”, you absolutely have to find out which port it is in advance.
There are quite a few ports saying “Venice” now, but some are a couple of hours away by train, road, etc.

Gems of the Adriatic Royal Clipper leaving 08/23/2025 departs Venice at 19:30. Not yet sure from where exactly.

Now, I live near NYC, which affects flights. But to me, it makes sense to fly into Milan, and arrive in Venice for the first time three or four days before the ship sails. (Assuming it turns out that Venice is a good place to stay for your ship Embarcation ... ) This eliminates the (small) problem you create by hitting Venice first and last.

Maybe the days of the week, and closing-days of certain museums or monuments might affect the days you want to be somewhere. And it requires far in advance booking to get a desirable hotel in the Lakes district, as it does to get Last Supper tickets in Milan.

In a general way, it does make sense to be in any city the night before a cruise or group tour begins. But it would be reasonable to be in a city that is close enough so that a 125 Euro (made up that number) taxi ride could substitute for the low cost train you planned to take the same morning as the cruise departure. You certainly do not want to wake up in Milan on a Venice departure day. For example, it would not be reckless to wake up in Padua. (I have never been to Padua.)

I personally would like to visit the Villa Pisani in Stra, which is practically next door to Venice. But it is not clear to me that this destination is good for a full day. I fail to see how "one more day in Venice" could EVER be a bad thing!

OK then. It's a Star Clipper ship, which will dock at the San Basilio Cruise terminal in Venice. Which is not very close to the Marittima terminal, at all. Hopefully, as your cruise nears, the cruise line will provide details on where to drop your luggage, and if they have transfers to San Basilio.

Perhaps this link will help: https://quickvenice.com/cruises/san-basilio.htm

If this is the cruise, https://www.harmonyvoyages.co.uk/gems-of-the-adriatic-cruise-2025/ , it does appear to depart from the Venice cruise dock(s) as it mentions to 'be sure to be on deck as it sails past St Mark' s Square"

So the night before the cruise, you could be anywhere in Venice that you want.

Would you agree that we arrive in Venice a day before the ship is boarded?

Yes.

Thanks so much. I am in touch with the cruise company and will keep your advice in mind.