A New Twist On Venice
October 2, 2006 By: Mike Jaccarino Travel AgentA luxury barge cruise through the Venetian Lagoon
You may initially question the logic of a luxury barge cruise around the Venice area that only spends about a half-day—gasp!—in the actual city itself. But that's exactly what Go Barging (www.gobarging.com) has done with its new "La Dolce Vita" program to the Venetian Lagoon. 
Go Barging's new seven-day, six-night aquatic jaunt around
the Venetian Lagoon (stopping at Murano, Lido, Burano, Torcello,
wonderful twist on a tried and true destination. Clients visit myriad islands
that are integral to the culture and history of this popular tourism
destination. If you view the trip with your selling cap on, it is a wonderful
retail opportunity—a way to repackage and sell an old destination clients love,
but have likely visited once, if not several times, before. The Go Barging
itinerary could also make for a wonderful pre- or post-trip for clients heading
to
The Wraysbury, England-based company's inaugural trip
departs October 8, a special three-day kick-off journey for which they offered
a 20 percent price reduction. It has scheduled 30 departure dates for the
coming year from April 1 to October 21, with a price tag varying from $2,550 to
$3,100 based on double occupancy, without air. Below is a rough itinerary of
the cruise.
On Day 1, cruisers begin with a round of prosecco at the
Villa Laguna Hotel in
before boarding the barge, called La Dolce Vita. Once aboard, they work
their way through the northern area of Venetian Lagoon, sailing past the fort
of Sant'Andrea, the ancient Venetian artillery base, and the island of
Sant'Erasmo, where Venetians traditionally go for a beach outing. Cruisers
arrive in Burano, a fisherman's island in the northern lagoon, where they moor
for a fish dinner. On Day 2, they tour Burano before heading on to the
Venetian Lagoon to be colonized, 2,000 years ago. Cruisers lunch there, then
sail to
where they visit a monastery. The barge then continues on to the
on board.
On Day 3, passengers visit the Murano Glass Works, then tour
the
they're back on board, cruisers sail to the southern part of the Venetian
Lagoon.
On Day 4, guests visit a fishing market in
a town just south of
where movie stars typically hang out during the Venice Film Festival. The barge
moors in front of the Villa Laguna Hotel, where guests can check out the beach
or take a water taxi to
at night to walk around the city itself.
On Day 5, cruisers visit
and the Doge's Palace. There is an optional gondola cruise through the city's
inner waterways, available for an extra fee.
Later, cruisers head to to Dolo, along the river Brenta.
Dinner is in Dolo, where passengers can have a glass of wine in its historic
water mill.
On Day 6, they cruise to Stra and tour the Villa Pisani.
(It's possible to follow the barge by bicycle along the river Brenta.) Guests
then take an afternoon cruise to Mira for the captain's farewell dinner, served
on board.
On Day 7, Go Barging arranges for a transfer to a hotel in
All cruises are seven days, six nights; three-night charters
are available upon request. The majority of the departures are on a Sunday,
with trips ending on a Saturday morning. There are a handful of departures
remaining for 2006: Oct. 22 and 29 retails for $2,450 and Nov. 5 and 12 for
$2,150. Check with the company for availability. A
map of the Venetian Lagoon (Laguna Veneto)
Don't be confused by the fact that Go Barging also is known
as European Waterways (www.europeanwaterways.com); that they have separate web
sites.
From Cargo to Luxury
It may come as a surprise that all of Go Barging's vessels
previously sailed as working cargo barges. The company's first, a barge called Anjodi,
actually hauled grain. The boats have been completely overhauled and
retrofitted to become what the company refers to as "floating country
hotels." Built by Dutch shipbuilders nearly a century ago, La Dolce
Vita houses six passengers in three cabins, along with a crew of three: the
captain, a chef and a housekeeper. The barge is air-conditioned and features a
sundeck. The captain, Massimiliano, is a tall Venetian who hails from a family
of sailors.
For more information and the complete 2007 Go Barging cruise
offerings throughout
|
|
|