8-night A Celebration Of Art Featuring The 61st Venice Biennale Cruise

Optional Private Excursions

Avoid the crowds and hustle and bustle associated with a group activity. For a memorable trip ashore, we invite you to consider a private shore excursion. Enjoy the undivided attention of your own driver/guide and the flexibility of experiencing the aspects of the local culture that most interest you. Below are just some samples of the private shore excursions we can arrange for you. Let us personalize your experience!

Bari: Polignano a Mare & Monopoli - 5 hours

Today you will have the chance to visit Polignano a Mare, a shining gem on the coast of the Valle d’Itria, perched atop a 20 metre-high limestone cliff above the crystal clear waters of the Adriatic.

Continue to Monopoli, whose history has been thoroughly influenced by its east-facing position and its fortified sea-front walls and castle. Visit the colourful street market, the cathedral and the elegant bell tower that is over 60 metres high, completely dominating the town below.

Walk down the sea front promenade, where you will visit the church of Santa Maria della Zaffira and take a look at Monopoli’s harbour with it’s fishermen mending their nets or unloading the day's catch.

Highlights:

• Perched atop a 20 metre-high limestone cliff Polignano a Mare makes for a fascinating stop
• Walk along Monopoli’s sea-front promenade, with its colourful street market and fishermen unloading the day’s catch  

Tour Duration: 5 hours

Tour can Operate: Morning/Afternoon

Wheelchair Accessible: Please enquire for more information

Physical Activity Level: Low

Inclusions:

• Luxury car or minivan at your disposal during the tour
• An expert local guide (5 hours)
• Entrance fees
• All taxes

Exclusions:

• All cruise travel, personal items, meals and associated costs
• Gratuities

Bari: Locorotondo & Alberobello - 5 hours

You will visit Locorotondo where you will see the architecture typical of the region with white-washed, stone buildings with cool, shaded, cave-like interiors, narrow streets and churches. The town also features several community squares, each of which are built on the edge of the hill allowing for some spectacular views.

Afterwards you will visit Alberobello, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Alberobello represents the heart of the Itria Valley. The city was founded in the 15th-century by the Counts of Acquaviva. The image of the trullo in Alberobello has always been associated with Puglia, where the deep roots of Alberobello act as one of the most typical expressions of the area. The trullo is a construction with a central round or square base of dry stone and at its summit a cone-shaped roof.

Highlights:

• Visit Locorotondo, whose historical centre contains charming white-washed stone buildings
• Explore Alberobello the UNESCO World Heritage Site characterised by the Trullo cone-shaped roofs

Tour Duration: 5 hours

Tour can Operate: Morning/Afternoon

Wheelchair Accessible: Please enquire for more information

Physical Activity Level: Low

Inclusions:

• Private transport by luxury car or minivan
• An expert local guide throughout (5 hours)
• Entrance fees
• All taxes

Exclusions:

• All cruise travel, personal items, meals and associated costs
• Gratuities

Bari: Ancient Matera - 8 hours

Spend a full day soaking up the unique ambience of Matera. Venture down the steep streets that crisscross Barisano and Caveoso, the two districts of Matera's sassi (literally the "stones"). Visit a house furnished as it would have been when as many as ten people lived with their animals in one or two rooms. Explore the chiese rupestri, or rock churches, some of which still have their original fresco decorations. After lunch on your own, head out on an easy hike along the opposite ridge of the ravine on which Matera is built and discover some of the rock churches that dot the countryside.

Please note: Matera involves steep walking

Highlights:

• Soak up the unique ambience of Matera and its ancient centre 
• Hike to discover the nearby rock churches that dot the countryside

Tour Duration: 8 hours

Tour can Operate: Morning/Afternoon

Wheelchair Accessible: Please enquire for more information

Physical Activity Level: Moderate (Matera involves steep walking)

Inclusions:

• Private transport by luxury car or minivan
• An expert local guide throughout (8 hours)
• Entrance fees
• All taxes

Exclusions:

• All cruise travel, personal items, meals and associated costs
• Gratuities

Bari: Highlights of Puglia & Cheese Tasting - 8 hours

Today you will meet your English-speaking guide for a full day excursion of “Valle d’Itria”. You will visit Alberobello which has been named a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The city was founded in the 15th-century by the Counts of Acquaviva. The image of the trullo in Alberobello has always been associated with Puglia. The trullo is a construction with a central round or square base of dry stone and a con-shaped roof.

Afterwards you will visit Locorotondo where you will see the architecture typical of the region with white-washed, stone buildings with cool, shaded, cave-like interiors, narrow streets and churches. The town also features several community squares, each of which are built on the edge of the hill allowing for some spectacular views.

Next visit to a local cheese production where you will see the different phases of how different cheeses are made. After the visit you will enjoy an informal cheese tasting with a buffet where you will taste the local products.

Finally, visit Polignano a Mare, shining gem on the coast of the Valle d’Itria, perched atop a 20 metre-high limestone cliff above the crystal clear waters of the Adriatic, Polignano a Mare truly lives up to its name and literally could not be any more ‘at sea’!

Highlights:

• Tour the charming and architecturally impressive villages of Alberobello and Locorotondo
• Experience the authentic taste of Puglia with a cheese tasting that includes various local products

Tour Duration: 8 hours

Tour can Operate: Morning/Afternoon

Wheelchair Accessible: Please enquire for more information

Physical Activity Level: Light

Inclusions:

• Private transport by luxury car or minivan
• An expert local guide throughout (8 hours)
• Cheese tasting
• Entrance fees
• All taxes

Exclusions:

• All cruise travel, personal items, meals and associated costs
• Gratuities

Optional Private Excursions

Avoid the crowds and hustle and bustle associated with a group activity. For a memorable trip ashore, we invite you to consider a private shore excursion. Enjoy the undivided attention of your own driver/guide and the flexibility of experiencing the aspects of the local culture that most interest you. Below are just some samples of the private shore excursions we can arrange for you. Let us personalize your experience!

Ravenna: Byzantine Ravenna - 3.5 hours

You will bet met today at Ravenna port by your English-speaking driver and transferred the short distance into Ravenna, a UNESCO listed city where your guide will await you. Ravenna is famous for its remarkable Byzantine mosaics, considered the finest in Western Art. Visit the Cathedral of San Vitale with its elaborate mosaics dating from the 6th century AD and continue to the exquisite Basilica of Sant' Apollinare in the nearby village of Classe before returning to Ravenna port.

Highlights:

• Explore the UNESCO city of Ravenna
• Visit the Basilica of Sant' Apollinare

Tour Duration: 3.5 hours

Tour Can Operate: Morning/Afternoon

Wheelchair Accessible: Please enquire for more information

Physical Activity Level: Moderate

Inclusions:

• Luxury car or minivan at your disposal during the tour
• An expert English-speaking guide in Ravenna (3h30 min)
• Entrance fees to the San Vitale and Basilica Sant’Apollinare
• All taxes

Exclusions:

• All cruise travel, personal items, meals and associated costs
• Gratuities

Ravenna: Medieval & Gastronomic Bologna - 6 hours

Meet your English-speaking driver at Ravenna port today and head into the stunning city of Bologna where your expert local guide will be waiting for you. Often overlooked by other visitors, the superbly preserved medieval city center is a pleasant surprise. Home to Europe’s oldest university, the city has a proud heritage of churches, squares and palaces including the 14th-century Basilica of San Petronio. 
 

Bologna is also proud of its nickname “the fat one” because of all the superb food that comes from the area. Tour the ancient markets and food shops with your guide tasting local products such as fresh pasta, cheeses, hams, salami’s etc. Return to Ravenna port from here.

Highlights:

• Explore Bologna, home to Europe's oldest University
• Tour Bologna's wonderful markets and food shops

Tour Duration: 6 hours

Tour can Operate: Morning/Afternoon

Wheelchair Accessible: Please enquire for more information

Physical Activity Level: Light

Inclusions:

• Luxury car or minivan at disposal during the tour
• An expert English-speaking guide in Bologna (4 hours)
• Entrance fees to San Petronio Basilica
• Food tastings throughout the tour
• All taxes

Exclusions:

• All cruise travel, personal items, meals and associated costs
• Gratuities

Ravenna: Maranello - Drive a Ferrari on its Home Territory - 8 hours

Journey with your driver into the heart of Italy to the town of Maranello, home to the iconic Ferrari Company. Enjoy time to independently explore the Galleria Ferrari, a place where Ferrari’s past, present and future is preserved giving the visitor a fascinating insight into the history of the Prancing Horse.

In the afternoon enjoy a truly memorable experience as you get behind the wheel of a Ferrari and feel the exhilaration of driving a super-car out into the Italian countryside (please remember your driving license). A professional will also accompany you in the passenger seat.
 
Highlights:

• Explore the Galleria Ferrari
• Drive a Ferrari through the Italian countryside

Tour Duration: 8 hours

Tour can Operate: Morning

Wheelchair Accessible: Please enquire for more information

Physical Activity Level: Light

Inclusions:

• Luxury car or minivan at your disposal during the tour
• Entrance fees to the Galleria Ferrari
• 30 minute drive (per person) in a Ferrari
• All taxes

Exclusions:

• All cruise travel, personal items, meals and associated costs
• Gratuities

Ravenna: Parma Walking Tour - 7 hours

Today you will enjoy an excursion to explore the city of Parma. Upon arrival in Parma, meet your English-speaking guide for a sightseeing tour. Stroll around the piazza at the heart of the city, and see the stunning 12th century Duomo di Parma and its pink marble Baptistery, considered to be among the most important medieval monuments in the country.
You may also wish to visit the Pilotta Palace, a large complex that houses galleries, art collections and the amazing 17th century wooden Teatro Farnese. Spend time in the National Gallery, one of Italy’s most important, or in the Teatro Farnese; constructed as the largest theatre in the world in 1618, it was built entirely of wood and could seat 4500 people.

Highlights:

• See Parma's stunning 12th-century Duomo di Parma and its pink marble Baptistery

Tour Duration: 7 hours

Tour can Operate: Morning/Afternoon

Wheelchair Accessible: Please enquire for more information

Physical Activity Level: Low

Inclusions:
•    Luxury car or minivan at your disposal during the tour
•    An expert local guide in Parma (3 hours)
•    Entrance fees
•    All taxes

Exclusions:
•    All cruise travel, personal items, meals and associated costs
•    Gratuities

Optional Private Excursions

Avoid the crowds and hustle and bustle associated with a group activity. For a memorable trip ashore, we invite you to consider a private shore excursion. Enjoy the undivided attention of your own driver/guide and the flexibility of experiencing the aspects of the local culture that most interest you. Below are just some samples of the private shore excursions we can arrange for you. Let us personalize your experience!

Venice: Splendours of Venice Walking Tour - 4 hours

Today enjoy a walking tour of Venice with your local English-speaking guide including visits to several of the most famous landmarks of the city.

The Doges’ Palace was the seat of the main government departments, the residence of the Doge, from where the Venetian Republic was ruled. Lavish frescoes, graceful staircases and gilded stuccowork reveal the glory and opulence of this period.

One of the finest examples of Byzantine architecture in Venice, St. Mark’s Basilica was once the Doge’s chapel. It is also a mausoleum for St. Mark, the patron saint of Venice who was martyred by the Turks in Alexandria, Egypt. As you enter the Basilica, marvel at the golden mosaics depicting the life of St. Mark, the Old and New Testaments, the life of Jesus and his Resurrection. St. Mark’s Square is actually not a square at all, but a trapezoid whose extensive sides flare out giving it the appearance of being even more spacious.

Travel to and from the San Marco area with your guide by private Venetian-style motorboat.

Highlights:

• Admire the wonderful architecture of the Doge's Palace and St Mark's Basilica

Tour Duration: 4 hours

Tour can Operate: Morning/Afternoon

Wheelchair Accessible: Please enquire for more information

Physical Activity Level: Light

Inclusions:

• Return private motorboat transfers between the harbour and central Venice
• An expert English-speaking guide (4 hours)
• Entrance fees to all named sights and museums
• All taxes

Exclusions:

• All cruise travel, personal items, meals and associated costs.
• Gratuities

Venice: Venice for Art Lovers Walking Tour - 4 hours

Venice holds a wealth of treasures for anybody interested in the exquisite arts. With your expert guide, discover the Frari church, considered one of the most imposing Gothic monuments in Venice. In view of this, you’ll be surprised to discover that the church’s austere look hides a wonderfully lavish interior where, among the many treasures, you’ll find Titian’s early altarpieces and a true masterpiece by Giovanni Bellini. Also visit the Accademia Gallery; a dazzling collection of masterpieces spanning the full development of Venetian art from Byzantine to Renaissance, Baroque and Rococo. Travel to and from the San Marco area with your guide by private Venetian-style motorboat.

Highlights:

• Admire the many art treasures on display in the Frari Church
• See the masterpieces on display in the Accademia Gallery

Tour Duration: 4 hours

Tour Can Operate: Morning/Afternoon

Wheelchair Accessible: Please enquire for more information

Physical Activity Level: Light

Inclusions:

• Return private motorboat transfers between the harbour and central Venice
• An expert English-speaking guide (4 hours)
• Entrance fees to all stated sights and museums
• All taxes

Exclusions:

• All cruise travel, personal items, meals and associated costs
• Gratuities

Venice: The Roman City of Verona - 7 hours

Travel with your English-speaking driver across the causeway to Venice’s mainland and onwards to the beautiful and historic city of Verona where your expert local guide will meet with you. Verona is an elegant city with one of the world’s finest Roman amphitheatres at its heart. The Arena still plays host to thousands of performances today, as it did millennia ago.

Verona also featured heavily in Shakespeare’s ‘Romeo and Juliet’, so a visit to the house of Juliet and its famous balcony is a must. Enjoy time at leisure (about an hour) in the beautiful piazzas before returning with your driver to your cruise ship.

Highlights:

• Visit Verona's impressive Amphitheatre
• See Juliet's House and its famous balcony

Tour Duration: 7 hours

Tour Can Operate: Mornings

Wheelchair Accessible: Please enquire for more information

Physical Activity Level: Light

Inclusions:

• Luxury car or minivan transfers between Venice cruise terminal and Verona
• An expert English-speaking guide in Verona (3 hours)
• Entrance fees to the stated sightseeing
• All taxes

Exclusions:

• All cruise travel, personal items, meals and associated costs
• Gratuities

Venice - St. Marks, Grand Canal and Murano - 6 hours

Added Value:

• Introduction to the history of Venice
• Visit to private glass producer in Murano
• Tour of Grand Canal by private boat
• Reservations to St.Marks and Doge's Palace - no lines

Tour duration: 6 hours

Not wheelchair accessible

Physical activity: Moderate with a fair amount of walking

Included:

• Private English speaking guide for the day and private boat.
• Clients are picked up and dropped off at the Port

Excluded: 
Meals

Venice: Lagoon Islands - 7 hours

Today you will be met by your local English-speaking guide for a full day excursion by private motor-boat to explore the Lagoon Islands of Murano, Burano and Torcello.
Venice lies in the centre of a vast lagoon that stretches for about 30 miles from north to south, studded by numerous small islands, mostly deserted. This amazing environment is what drove the Venetians to establish their city here, a perfectly secure and inaccessible little world. Enjoy the beauty of a ride across the waters of the lagoon; visit the island of Murano, where glass has been made for over 700 years and where you can see the age-old techniques of glass blowing still in use today.
Continue to Torcello, to see the breathtaking mosaics in the Basilica di Santa Maria dell’Assunta, the oldest building on the lagoon. After a leisurely lunch (payable locally) you reach the island of Burano, a quaint and colourful fisherman island famous for its lace and charming architecture.

Highlights:

• Cruise across the lagoon to Murano, where glass has been made for over 700 years using the same techniques
• Explore Torcello and Burano, a colourful fishing village famous for its lace and charming architecture

Tour Duration: 7 hours

Tour can Operate: Morning

Wheelchair Accessible: Please enquire for more information

Physical Activity Level: Low

Inclusions:
•    Return private motorboat transfer between the harbour and the islands
•    An expert local guide (7 hours)
•    Entrance fees
•    All taxes

Exclusions:
•    All cruise travel, personal items, meals and associated costs
•    Gratuities

The story of Murano and Burano

Hop on a private boat and start sailing through the Venice lagoon! This unique tour will let you discover the authentic side of Venice by exploring two famous islands – Murano and Burano. First stop, Murano – an epicenter of the most sophisticated glass production in the world. “Il vetro di Murano”, the glass of Murano, is a special type of glass made for decades. You will visit one of the traditional factories and take part in a glass-blowing demonstration. Pretty exclusive, don’t you think?

Your next stop is Burano – a small, fishermen’s island, famous for its heritage of lace embroidery that it’s still today made by hand only. It is often mentioned as one of the prettiest towns in Italy and also one of the most unique thanks to two characteristics: its canals and its colorful houses that make the island a real rainbow of colors! This tour will surely let you remember the Venice Lagoon forever.

Highlights:

• Unique island experience 
• Personal guide

Tour Duration: Approx. 3-4h
Tour can operate: Morning or afternoon
Wheelchair Accessible: No
Physical Activity Level: Light

Inclusions: 

• Private guide
• Private boat

Not Included:

• Lunch
• Drinks
• Gratuities
• Items purchased for personal use

The Canal Grande cruise followed by a walking tour of Venice

Are you ready to start this tour with a private boat cruise down the most spectacular “boulevard” in the world? Yes, we are talking about The Canal Grande, Venice’s main artery. Just hop on your private boat and enjoy the scenic views of all the marvelous palaces and side alley’s canals. Sit back and relax while you absorb the breath-taking beauty and uniqueness of Venice. After the ride, the guide will take you through Calli, Callette, Ponti, Campi and Campielli. You will reach Rialto bridge, that was the only way to cross the great Canal on foot, for centuries. You can indulge in great experience of the famous local market filled with interesting products and learn more about the area that was once a significant place for trading goods.
 

Highlights:

• unique sightseeing experience 

• Personal guide

Tour Duration: up to 4h
Tour can operate: Morning / Afternoon
Wheelchair Accessible: No
Physical Activity Level: Easy

Inclusions: 

• Private guide

• No line entrance tickets for Doge’s Palace and St. Mark Basilic

Not Included:

• Lunch
• Tips
• Drinks
• Transfers