Temple domes reach to the sky as the sun rises to illuminate the water-laced city of Venice. Water taxis follow speed boats in their wake eager to reach the cultural treasure trove of this famous destination with its impressive architecture, swan-like gondolas and its history which has seen explorers like Marco Polo, painters such as Canaletto, composers like Vivaldi and Casanova, the scandalous celebrity of his time.
There’s so much to see, so much to do while weaving between crowds but exploring the area on a river cruise is a smart move and one I chose with CroisiEurope travelling on their ship, The Michelangelo. Gleaming in white, the exterior had a sophisticated look while the interior was designed in shades of brown, cream and yellow ochre. On board there were 78 cabins over two floors to accommodate up to 154 guests. My cabin was elegant and functional, the bathroom with shower and toilet was compact. There was adequate storage space and the bed extremely comfortable.
The Social Scene Onboard
The lounge and bar formed the social heart, located at the front of the ship This was where the daily evening talk for the next day’s schedule was presented, and where the music drew guests to the dancefloor, the quiz challenged the attentive audience amidst a jovial atmosphere which forged new friendships especially sipping the ‘cocktail of the day’. I met two Spanish childhood friends travelling together, Canadian friends ticking off yet another bucket list experience, a multi-generational family from France celebrating granny’s birthday, a sister duo and tour groups from the UK and The Netherlands. Definitely an international cruise!
The Dining Experience
The restaurant was located at the back of the upper deck. The breakfast buffet included a selection of fruit, cheeses and cooked items while fresh croissants and French bread sat temptingly in baskets on each table. With one set menu for lunch and dinner, lunch included insalata giardiniera, pan-fried fillet of sea bream, lentils with chorizo sauce with mixed vegetables followed by a delicious raspberry cake. Throughout the cruise, dinner included starters such as smoked salmon and duck terrine, chased by pork, cod, quail and veal coated with various sauces, and of course, being in Italy, risotto and spaghetti. There was a cheese course and then dessert. Service was always delivered with a smile and dietary requests catered for if requested in advance. The boat was pushed out for the gala dinner when canapes were served with bubbly in the bar lounge beforehand and in the restaurant, lights were softly dimmed for guests in their finery to enjoy a four-course dinner of foie gras with caramel spice, quail fillet and parsley in a port wine sauce, brie filled with mascarpone and pignolat, concluded with the sparkly baked Alaska flamed in Grand Marnier yellow fruit sauce as dessert. Buon appetito!
The Venetian Treasures
Over five days and four nights, we explored the Venetian waterscape to submerge ourselves into its culture and culinary delights, admire the architectural wonder of palaces and bridges, the romanticism of the gondolas and the rich history around the lagoon and islands. The Lagoon is an enclosed bay of the Adriatic Sea, stretching 34 miles (56km) in length and seven miles (11km) wide, forming a crescent shape along part of the north east coast of Italy. Founded in the 5th century and spread over 118 small islands, Venice became a major maritime power in the 10th century. Today, it’s a tourist paradise and certainly a bucket list destination. The ship was moored at San Basilio Quay for ease of arrival and departure of passengers. For the remainder of the trip it’s usually located closer to the centre of Venice, accessible for strolling around the city after dinner or during free time.
This destination is an archipelago of 118 islands, separated by around 177 canals which are linked by 400 bridges. The largest S-shaped Grand Canal divides the city while the most famous, and oldest bridge across it is the Rialto Bridge. Linking Doge’s Palace with a former prison, the other iconic bridge is the Bridge of Sighs which crosses the Rio di Palazzo canal where prisoners walked across taking one last look at Venice before their dungeon home. Venice is renowned for its labyrinth of narrow streets and passages where it’s easy to get lost amidst maze-like streets so guided tours are a good investment. CroisiEurope offers a number of optional excursions on the five-day Venetian Treasures cruise which takes in Venice, Mazzorbo and Chioggia.
GOURMET WALK THROUGH VENICE
This tour provided an insight into the daily life of Venetians. As a small guided group, we strolled leisurely through the San Polo area which included the age-old, authentic Rialto Market. Colourful and lively, it was packed with stalls overflowing with seasonal vegetables and fruits, from white onions, artichokes and oranges to pomegranates and packets of coloured rice. The fish market was stacked with fresh local fish such as monkfish and shellfish sprayed out on ice. After two hours touring, we visited a typical Osteria to taste Cicchetti, venetian tapas – plates of cheese, ham and vegetable on chunks of bread and the buranelli ring or S-shaped butter biscuits flavoured with vanilla, rum or lemon, a speciality of the island of Burano. And of course, a glass of the local Prosecco.
GUIDED WALKING TOUR OF DOGE’S PALACE
Imposing, ornate and richly decorated, the Doge’s Palace, also known as the Palazzo Ducale, was built in the 11thcentury as the residence and seat of government. In this Gothic-style palace, it was easy to feel like royalty climbing the richest staircase in the world. The Scala d’Oro, the Golden Staircase showcases the magnificence of Classical and Romanesque decoration with gold and white stucco. The palace rooms appear more like art galleries with paintings of Tintoretto and Veronese. But beware, it is said there are ghosts in the Palace.
With free time, St. Mark’s Square was the place to people watch next to St Mark’s Basilica, the most famous of the city’s churches at the eastern end of the piazza. It can be expensive (18 euros for a glass of wine at Café Lavena) but it was worth it for the orchestral entertainment while I watched people as they marvelled at the architectural splendours around. If energetic, there was the opportunity to climb to the top of the Campanile, a tall bell tower for the views.
VISIT THE ISLAND OF MURANO
A leisurely, short cruise through the Venetian Lagoon transported us to Mazzorbo one of the islands in the northern part of the Lagoon of Venice. It was the site of one of the earliest settlements in the lagoon which predated the development of Venice as an important trading centre and is linked to Burano by a wooden bridge. Burano is known for its traditional lacemaking and its picture-perfect brightly coloured homes that border the canals. According to legend, the colour and design of the individual houses made it easier for fishermen to find their way home in the fog after a night of heavy drinking. This island is enchanting with bridges over the narrow canals, passageways begging to be explored, signs of local life with washing hanging from windows and flower boxes adding splashes of shades. Quaint shops were decorated with lacey textiles and some with ladies showing the delicate skill in process. And there’s a lace museum too.
A private boat took us to the island of Murano, the largest on the lagoon and famous for its glassworks. Historically, rich and noble people used to holiday on this island. Today, most venetian glassmaking takes place here, not only to keep this artisan tradition alive but protect the city of Venice from fires. After a glass blowing demonstration, there was time to browse the shops showcasing the glass figurines, plates and jewellery. The islands are vehicle-free zones making them very walkable.
Guided Tour of Padua
The ship sailed to Chioggia where the excursion included a coach ride, one hour away, to Padua. On arrival, we strolled through the impressive square of Prato della Valle. It is one of the largest in Europe and extends for almost 90,000 square metres. This large space with a green island at its centre, l’Isola Memmia, is surrounded by a small canal and guarded by two rings of statues, 78 in total. With a well-preserved medieval city centre, Padua accommodates Italy’s second-oldest university and the Basilica of Saint Anthony which is spirituality dedicated to the city’s patron saint and the Scrovegni Chapel, filled with Giotto’s era-defining frescoes, carefully preserved.
Palaces, bridges, gondolas and the Venetian waltz entwined in a rich history and vibrant culture. It is no surprise that Venice attracts around 28 million tourists each year, all aiming for the same memories resulting in passing space only across the bridges. A river-cruise offered comfort and convenience; the cosiness and peaceful atmosphere of your cabin after sightseeing, a drink with a smile to welcome you back and the pleasure of meals cooked and brought to your table. No bustling bars or queues for restaurants. And even a lounger on the sundeck for a moment of calm reflection to soak up the spectacular panorama with new friends while waltzing around the Venetian Lagoon.
Sailing with CroisiEurope includes:
All meals from dinner on the first evening to breakfast on the final day, onboard beverages, (not including additional choices detailed on the drinks list), gala evening, welcome cocktail and accommodation in a double-occupancy, climate-controlled cabin with a private bathroom.
2025 prices start from £830 per person based on the 17th March departure. Price includes return flights from London Gatwick and the cruise with all meals and drinks, port fees, Wi-Fi and repatriation insurance. Child discounts are available depending on age and departure date. Call CroisiEurope on 01756 691269 or visit www.croisieurope.co.uk
About CroisiEurope:
CroisiEurope is a European river cruise company, owner and operator of its fleet of 55 vessels comprising two coastal ships, six 22-guest hotel barges and 42 river cruise ships. The company navigates on canals, rivers and seas of the world with 170 itineraries in 37 countries.
