Won't you let me take you on a sea cruise?

We have a couple of choices for transportation from the hotel to the port.

Option 1 - We can walk several blocks to the Piazzale Roma, cross two bridges with stairs all the while dragging our luggage behind us, on our backs, or perched upon our pretty little heads. At the Piazzale we then hail 2 taxis to take us to the port, or we lug all our crap onto a city bus and, gasping for fresh air, ride to the port where we will have to unload 85 pounds of luggage per person off the bus and into the terminal.

Option 2 - We walk to the Vaporetto stop at the Piazzale Roma, cross two bridges with stairs, all the while dragging our luggage behind us, on our backs, or perched upon our pretty little heads. We lug all our crap onto the water bus, and ride with all the other sweaty passengers to the port where we have to unload 85 pounds of luggage per person off the boat and into the terminal.

Option 3 - We hire a private water taxi to pick us up in front of the hotel, load our bags onto the boat, help us aboard, and we ride to the port with the breeze in our faces. Upon our arrival we, and our luggage, will be assisted off the boat. We then go into the terminal.

Your choice.

In any case, it's a good thing we will have time for some great shopping in Venice. I'd hate to board the ship looking like a tourist.

We will be issued luggage tags with our cruise documents. Be sure to have them attached to your "checked luggage" at this time. You might consider having a carry-on bag with a swimsuit, medications, and other things you might need for the next few hours since your tagged luggage will be taken from you at check-in. It may take a few hours for it to be delivered to your stateroom. Once we are through the check-in process, have gotten our Sea Pass Cards (the ID card, room key and charge card for all ship purchases) we will be allowed to board our ship for the first time. We can have our "Welcome Aboard" photos taken, too.

I am guessing here, but we should enter the ship for this first boarding into Deck 4, the Centrum. Ta - dah!


Deck 4 is also where we will find the Lobby Bar, the Centrum itself which has an atrium reaching from deck 4 to deck 12, the Tour/Excursion Desk, the Purser's Desk, the Guest Relations Desk, and the main level of the Minstrel Restaurant.


This deck is also where we will find Helga and Uschi's stateroom. It will look something like this.


Short and sweet - Deck 4
- Home of Uschi & Helga
- Main restaurant
- Lobby Bar

Onward, Ladies...