Architectural masterpieces shimmer on the horizon as the morning sun rises to reveal the Venetian skyline. Domed temples, palaces, bridges and monuments come into the frame while their reflections dance on the Grand Canal. I’m on a river cruise with CroisiEurope travelling aboard The Michelangelo on a five-day, four-night Venetian Treasures cruise, which sails to Venice, Mazzorbo and Chioggia.
Her exterior coat is smart and white, bestowing a sophisticated air, while the interior’s shades of earthy browns, creams and yellow ochre invite ease and relaxation. With 78 cabins over two floors, and only 154 guests, it was an intimate-sized cruise. My cabin was elegant and functional with adequate storage space and an extremely comfortable bed.
The Dining Experience
Located at the back of the upper deck, the ship’s restaurant serves a breakfast buffet that includes a selection of fruit, cheeses and cooked items. The fresh croissants and French bread are tempting in baskets on each table.
Tuck into a lunch of insalata giardiniera, pan-fried fillet of seabream, lentils with chorizo sauce with mixed vegetables followed by a delicious raspberry cake.
Dinners include 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. And of course, a cheese course and dessert.
For the gala dinner, we dressed to the nines and nibbled canapes and sipped bubbly in the bar lounge before sitting down in the dimmed light of the restaurant. A four-course dinner followed: foie gras with caramel spice, quail fillet in a port wine sauce, brie filled with mascarpone and pignolat, and a sparkly baked Alaska flamed in Grand Marnier yellow fruit sauce as dessert.
Service was delivered with a smile and dietary requests were catered (requested in advance).
The lounge and bar are at the front of the ship and form the ship’s social heart. Here, we listened to evening talks about the next day’s schedule and to music that lured us to the dancefloor. It’s also where friendships were forged, especially when sipping the day’s cocktail. Aperol or Pina Colada, anyone?
I met two Spanish childhood pals 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—an international clientele to be sure!
The Venetian Treasures
We were here to submerge ourselves in the culture and culinary delights of Venice while admiring her palaces and bridges, the romanticism of the gondolas, and the rich history of this Italian floating city, lagoon, and islands.
The Lagoon is an enclosed bay of the Adriatic Sea, stretching 34 miles (56 kilometres) in length and seven miles (11 kilometres) wide, forming a crescent shape along part of the northeast 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 haven and certainly a bucket list destination for many travellers.
Our ship is moored at San Basilio Quay for easy passenger arrival and departure. For the remainder of the trip, it is usually docked closer to the centre of Venice, making it accessible for strolling around the city after dinner or during free time.
Venice is an archipelago of 118 islands, separated by around 177 canals 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 (Ponte de Rialto). Linking Doge’s Palace (Palazzo Ducale) with a former prison, the other iconic bridge is the Bridge of Sighs that crosses the Rio di Palazzo canal. Prisoners walked across it, 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 and enjoyable to get lost. If that’s not comfortable, guided tours are a good investment. CroisiEurope offers a number of optional excursions.
Gourmet Walk Through Venice
For those who like to travel with a knife and fork at the ready, this edible tour offered insight into the daily life of Venetians, and let us rub shoulders with many other enthusiastic travellers. As a small guided group, we strolled through the San Polo area that 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 huge fresh local fish such as monkfish and shellfish sprayed out on ice.
After two hours, 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, we also enjoyed a glass of the local Prosecco to toast the city.
Guided Tour of Doge’s Palace
Imposing, ornate and richly decorated, the Doge’s Palace, was built in the 11th century as the residence and seat of government. In this Gothic-style palace, it’s easy to feel like royalty while climbing the Scala d’Oro, the Golden Staircase, which showcases the magnificence of Classical and Romanesque decoration with gold and white stucco.
The palace’s rooms appear more like art galleries, with paintings of Tintoretto and Veronese. Take a peep out of the windows to view canal life from a different perspective. Beware, it is said there are ghosts in the Doge’s Palace!
Spend your free time wandering Venice’s tiny streets or sit and relax with a beverage in St. Mark’s Square next to St Mark’s Basilica, the most famous of the city’s churches at the eastern end of the piazza. It is a little expensive (18 euros for a glass of wine with olives at Café Lavena) but worth it for the orchestral entertainment of watching people as they marvel at the splendour around them. If you feel energetic, climb to the top of the Campanile, a tall bell tower for great views.
The Venetian Isles
A short cruise through the Venetian Lagoon took us to Mazzorbo one of various 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 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 dangling from windows and flower boxes adding splashes of shades. Shops are decorated with lacey textiles, some with ladies showing this intricate and delicate skill in process and of course, a lace museum.
A private boat transported us to the island of Murano, the largest in 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. It not only keeps this artisan tradition alive but also protects the city of Venice from fires.
After a glass-blowing demonstration, there was time to browse the quaint shops showcasing glass figurines, plates and jewellery.
FYI: The islands are vehicle-free zones making them a pleasure to explore.
Guided Tour of Padua
The ship sails to Chioggia, a seaside town about 50 kilometres south of Venice that’s often referred to as “Little Venice” for its colourful buildings and myriad canals crossed by historic bridges that echo the beauty of its famous neighbour.
Here, we hopped on a coach and took the hour-long ride to Padua.
On arrival, we stand in 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 all.
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, all carefully preserved.
Why Venice by River Cruise?
Palaces, bridges and gondolas, the mysteriousness of masked balls and the Venetian waltz are all entwined in a tapestry rich with history and vibrant culture. It’s no wonder that Venice attracts around 28 million tourists each year, all aiming for the same Instagram memories. To experience Venice from the comfort and convenience of a river cruise is a huge benefit.
The cosiness and peaceful atmosphere of my cabin after a day of sightseeing was a relief. A drink to welcome me back, with a smile, was just what I needed after a day of crowds, and the pleasure of meals cooked and brought to your table was a nice way to end each day without the hassle of queuing for restaurants and haggling for reservations. This is a hotel on water, which you can take at your own pace with new friends.
As I relax on a sun deck lounger, it’s the perfect open-air setting to be in the moment and revel in the spectacular sunset panorama as the Venetian skyline glows and then melts into the rippling water.
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.
Check the website for prices and departure dates. So prices include 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.
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.
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BeSeeingYou In: On the Venetian Treasures Cruise with CroisiEurope
Good To Know: The menu for lunch and dinner offers one choice at each course
WOW Factor: The panoramic view of Venice as the sun rises and sets
Tip: If purchasing from the shop or buying a last-minute excursion, payment is by cash only.
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Author Bio: Jane Wilson, The Wellness Traveller
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