Venice Carnival (port-to-port cruise)

VENICE - MAZZORBO - VENICE

Passengers are welcome to board our ship at 6 p.m. After comfortably settling into your cabins, we’ll introduce our crew at a welcome cocktail. Enjoy dinner on board and take advantage of a free evening in Venice.

The morning excursion is: Venice following the footsteps of Casanova. Discover the city's romantic, libertine side by following the footsteps of its famous philanderer—Giacomo Casanova. Learn about his fascinating life as you tour La Serenissima's small streets and covered passageways. Along the way, you'll meet up with costumed guides playing Casanova's contemporaries, such as the poet Giorgio Baffo.In the afternoon, join us for a cruise through the Venetian Lagoon to Mazzorbo. An idyllic voyage between meandering canals and the open waters of the lagoon brings you through the timeless worlds of majestic Venice and peaceful Mazzorbo.

Explore the island of Burano—known for its traditional lacemaking and picture-perfect homes that border the canals—on your own. We'll then set out on an excursion to visit the Island of Murano. A private boat will bring you to the island famous for its glass. We’ll visit a studio to watch a glassblowing demonstration—a well-established skill whose elegance mimics an enchanting dance. Glassblowers heat their rods before gracefully puffing and turning the molten material into a recognizable shape before our eyes. Delicate designs emerge and capture the light in an eternal tango of colors and patterns.

The morning will be spent cruising through the Venetian Lagoon to Venice. Enjoy a tasting of frittole on board. Frittole is a traditional carnival-time pastry, much like a doughnut. But it is so much more! An authentic frittole must have the proper ingredients: Yeast-raised dough and high-quality oil heated to the right temperature. Raisins, citrus zest, or apples are optional. Each year in February, Venetians set out on a hunt for the best ones in the city.

In the afternoon, join us for an excursion to La Fenice Opera House. From the outside, the opera house seems less fussy than other historical buildings in Venice, but don't judge a book by its cover! As soon as you walk through the theater doors, you enter another world. A grandiose scene awaits you—from the authentic seats to the gigantic chandeliers, all surrounded by colorful walls, decorations, and angels painted on the ceiling above. The prism of colors—orange, red, sky blue, green, and gold—makes the theater a true feast for the eyes. Visiting La Fenice Opera House during the festivities gives you a good glimpse of the unique mix between its musical theater heritage and the magic of carnival.

Tonight is our festive gala evening.

Excursion: Visit a Venetian mask-making workshop and make your own! We'll set out for a unique experience at a Venetian mask-making workshop. Once comfortably in place, we'll learn about the secrets and significance of the Venetian Carnival designs. The bases of the beautifully refined masks are made of paper-mâché, straw, fabric, or leather. They are then decorated with paint, beads, gemstones, and metal embellishments. You'll create your own mask you can bring home with you when you're done.

Spend some time on your own this afternoon to enjoy the excitement of carnival. Take part in the festivities where exuberance and excitement are at the forefront. Watch the parade of splendid, colorful costumes in the city center. Each day brings a new display and a new winner for the best one!

This evening, we'll revel in a private soirée at the Ca’Sagredo Hotel, a magnificent 15th-century palace on the Grand Canal.(1) This magical venue, with its opulent ballroom and fresco-covered halls, oozes the romance found in European novels. Just walking up the grand staircase decorated with cherub statues makes you feel like royalty. Traditional Commedia dell'arte characters will greet you before your evening cocktail. We'll then sit down to a delicious dinner accompanied by baroque music.If you'd like to extend the fun after our feast has finished, take a stroll through the narrow streets and along the romantic canals at night. The cobblestone roads bathed in the soft lights create a fairytale-like atmosphere found only in La Serenissima. Sumptuous masques and elaborate costumes pop out of the dark at each turn, like ghosts from the past. Nighttime adds a mysterious aura to the lavish disguises, transforming each mask into fleeting artwork glimpsed under the soft city lights.

Enjoy breakfast on board this morning before disembarking at 9:00 a.m.