Venice Shore Excursions

Below is a small sample of the shore excursions available to you in Venice, Italy.
Contact Susan Bluhm for details or specialty tours.

Doges Palace & St Marks Basilica

At the heart of Venice is one of Europe's most lavish squares. On this introductory visit, discover why Venice is known simply as "La Serenissima," the ultimate serene one. From the pier, travel by private motor launch to the exquisite Piazza San Marco, where guides escort you to the grand Palazzo Ducale, a fortress-like building and masterpiece of Gothic architecture. Once the Doge's residence and seat of the Venetian government, it contained courtrooms and dungeons. Adjoining the palace is the famous Ponte dei Sospiri, or Bridge of Sighs. This legendary structure connects the palace to the former prison. Today, it is a favorite rendezvous of lovers who believe that if they kiss under the bridge, their love will last forever. Continuing on, see the piazza with its stately public buildings and elegant cafes, wonderfully animated by people, music and pigeons. See the two bronze Moors who hammer out the time at the top of the Clock Tower, and the 300-foot-tall Campanile standing watch over the city. Visit the Basilica di San Marco, named for St. Mark the patron saint of the city. This impressive cathedral has foundations dating back to the 9th century. Proceed to a local glass showroom, to observe a short demonstration of artisans at work and learn the ancient methods and fascinating secrets used in creating beautiful pieces of art. Following the demonstration, you may visit the glass showrooms and have an opportunity to purchase authentic Venetian glassware. At the end of the tour you may stay in town and return to the ship independently or join the transfer back to ship.

Murano & Burano with Airport Transfer

Upon disembarkation, after clearing customs you will leave your luggage at Seabourn’s pierside storage facility. Then, board a private boat to visit two of the Venetian Lagoon’s 40 islands—Murano and Burano. In 1291, when furnaces were banned from Venice as a fire precaution, the manufacturers of exquisite glassware were transferred to Murano. Glassware was one of the few Venetian exports, so the secrets of creating this beautiful craft were closely guarded. Glassmaking was considered a privileged occupation, and glass artisans were allowed to marry into the nobility. Today, the Murano products of blown-glass mirrors, chandeliers, goblets and intricate works of art are renowned worldwide. There’s time to visit one of the many workshops and to shop for a unique piece that will serve as a lovely memento of your visit. Burano is next. Brightly painted houses decorate this small and cheerful fishing village that is best known for its exquisite lace making. Admire the delicate and precise workmanship of Burano lace, and maybe even purchase a piece to take home if you like. After your tour, re-board the boat for a transfer back to the pier, where you will collect your luggage and board a coach the transfer to the airport.

Murano Glass & Burano Lace

Today you will visit two of the Venetian Lagoon’s 40 islands—Murano and Burano. In 1291, when furnaces were banned from Venice as a fire precaution, the manufacturers of exquisite glassware were transferred to Murano. Glassware was one of the few Venetian exports, so the secrets of creating this beautiful craft were closely guarded. Glassmaking was considered a privileged occupation, and glass artisans were allowed to marry into the nobility. Today, the Murano products of blown-glass mirrors, chandeliers, goblets and intricate works of art are renowned worldwide. There’s time to visit one of the many workshops and to shop for a unique piece that will serve as a lovely memento of your visit. Burano is next. Brightly painted houses decorate this small and cheerful fishing village that is best known for its exquisite lace making. Admire the delicate and precise workmanship of Burano lace, and maybe even purchase a piece to take home if you like.

Nighttime Gondola Serenade

Venice is best admired from the water, and the city provides especially lovely viewing at night, with moonlit reflections glistening on the water. An evening ride by gondola along the magical canals of Venice is an experience to treasure forever. You will transfer by launch from the ship to the gondola-landing pier near St Mark’s Square. There, board a gondola and gently glide through the canals, accompanied by the sounds of serenading musicians.

Private Boat (Full Day)

Private boats are ordered per boat (not per person), so only one person in the party need to order the boat.

This exclusive new tour is designed to allow you the chance to customize your time ashore and discover the most interesting sights of Venice in the comfort and privacy of your own motor launch. With your private motor launch, and the personalized attention of your boat captain and English-speaking guide, you will have the flexibility and independence to design your itinerary ashore according to your own interests, and take in the sights at your own pace. See the famous sights, or go beyond to create your own intimate connections and unique cultural encounters.

Private touring is recommended for the single/solo traveler, couples, family, friends, and special interest groups traveling together. It can also be an excellent choice for physically challenged guests.

Capacity: 8 guests

Your private party may be of any size up to the maximum capacity.

Private Boat (Half Day)

Private boats are ordered per boat (not per person), so only one person in the party need to order the boat.

Capacity: 8 guests

Your private party may be of any size up to the maximum capacity.

The Fair City of Verona

Follow the highway from Venice to Verona; then set out with your local guide on a walking tour. Admire the arena built in 30 BC, which once rivaled the Colosseum and is the third-largest amphitheatre in the Roman world. In Piazza delle Erbe, discover a square that has been the center of Veronese life since the days of the Romans. A Venetian lion stands atop a column to the north of the Piazza, signifying Verona’s absorption by the Venetian Republic in 1405. The Maffei Palace, built in 1668, today houses luxury apartments and elegant boutiques. Don’t miss Piazza dei Signori, where a 19th-century statue of the poet Dante graces the Square, gazing out upon the 14th-century Palazzo della Ragione—the Veronese law court. Behind Dante’s statue lies the Renaissance Loggia del Consiglio (1493), whose council chamber boasts a fresco that includes the figures of Catullus and Pliny. Continue to Juliet’s balcony where Romeo is said to have scaled the wall of Casa di Giulietta at 27 Via Cappello. Pose for a photo in the small courtyard and check out the names inscribed on the wall by visitors seeking eternal love. You will have free time to explore on your own before boarding the coach for the drive back to Venice and the port.

Venice Treasures

Transfer to Piazzale Roma. From here you will cross the small bridge over the Rio Novo for a walking tour of Venice. Narrow Venetian streets lead you on foot to the Scuola Grande di San Rocco, whose Tintoretto paintings and school make it one of Italy’s most prized buildings. Pass through Campo San Polo—an enormous square dating back to the 15th century. Watch for the Palazzo Mocenigo (designed around 1550 by San Michele) and the Church of San Silvestro, famous for another Tintoretto masterpiece, The Baptism of Christ. You will reach the 1588 Rialto Bridge—the first bridge to be built of solid stone after the decay and collapse of earlier wooden structures. Traditional trade stalls, crowded, colorful quayside food markets and shops still border the Grand Canal here. Finally, walk through the Calle Mercerie to St Mark’s Square to admire its beautiful basilica and bell tower. You will have 50 minutes of free time to explore on your own before meeting the motor launch for a transfer back to the port.

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