Venice Cruise Terminal Hotels

If your cruise ship is mooring at the Marittima basin, a hotel near the Piazza San Marco may be worth considering. Rates tend to be higher in San Marco than in other districts of Venice, but the major sights and shops are close by, and the Alilaguna airport boat's Blue Line offers service from Arsenale, San Zaccaria, and San Marco to the Terminal Crociere (cruise terminal) at Marittima. Along the way, it stops at Zattere, which is handy if you prefer a hotel in Eastern Dorsoduro.

• Note: Small and mid-size cruise ships often arrive and depart at San Basilio, which is not served by Alilaguna. (The No. 2 ACTV public waterbus runs from San Zaccaria, above the Piazza San Marco, to the San Basilio vaporetto stop. However, it may be inconvenient if you're traveling with large quantities of luggage.)

Several upmarket hotels are quite close to the San Marco Giardinetti vaporetto and airport-boat station, although anyone staying at these four- and five-star hotels can easily afford a private water taxi:

• Baglioni Hotel Luna (5 stars) is friendlier and more intimate than many luxury hotels, with a very helpful concierge. (See our illustrated review.) The Luna Baglioni is Venice's oldest hotel (the Knights of Templar slept on the site in 1118), and its ballroom-like breakfast room is a sight to behold. Check guaranteed lowest rates, reviews, and availability:

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• The St. Regis Venice (5 stars), formerly the Westin Europa & Regina, occupies five buildings along the Grand Canal. The more expensive double rooms have partial canal views. Check guaranteed lowest rates, reviews, and availability :

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• Bauer Palazzo (5 stars) consists of two sections: the Hotel Bauer, a 20th Century luxury wing, and Il Palazzo, an historic palace facing the Brand Canal. Accommodations range from well-equipped double and twin rooms to exclusive (and expensive) suites. The Bauer Palazzo has a highly-rated restaurant, the De Pisis, and a café with a terrace where breakfast is served in good weather. Check guaranteed lowest rates, reviews, and availability:

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• Monaco and Grand Canal (4 stars) is just a short walk from the Alilaguna airport boat's pier. The hotel occupies a 17th Century building on a splendid site where the Grand Canal feeds into St. Mark's Basin. It has six rooms for disabled guests and a wheelchair-friendly land entrance. Check guaranteed lowest rates, reviews, and availability:

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More good hotels in the neighborhood:

Moving down in price, we come to the Anastasia (3 stars), which has single and double rooms for prices that are quite reasonable for this part of town. The Firenze and the Torino (both 3 stars) are also convenient to the airport boat and the Piazza San Marco.

One of our personal favorites is slightly inland and within easy walking distance:

The San Moisè (3 stars, photo at right) is about five minutes from the boat platform, on a quiet street near the Kette (4 stars). We're fond of both hotels, but the San Moisè might be a better choice during the warmer months because it has a courtyard with tables. It's also less expensive than the Kette. (See our Hotel San Moisè review

Other three-star hotels close by include the Violino d'Oro, the Bel Sito & Berlino, the highly-regarded Flora with its pretty garden, and--for opera lovers--La Fenice et des Artistes. The Saturnia & International (4 stars, photo at left), the very popular Ala (3 stars), and the inexpensive but highly-rated Locanda Fiorita (1 star, and one of the best values in town) are also in good locations.