In short
For the Adriatic plus Greece and a short trip, choose Venice: about 1 hour 45 minutes in the air and 20–30 minutes from the airport to the berths, but large ships use Marghera or Fusina, not St Mark's. For more islands, Turkey and a March-to-November season, choose Athens: just over three hours' flight, then about an hour to Piraeus.
Sailings by month
- Busiest months
- May, Jun, Jul, Aug
- Where ships go
- Greece, Turkey and the Adriatic
- Usual length
- 6–9 / 10–14 nights
- Round trips
- most
Which port suits you
You want the Adriatic and a short trip
A direct flight of about 1 hour 45 minutes, an airport 20–30 minutes from the berths, and a week that takes in Croatia, Montenegro and the Greek islands. The season runs from April to October, busiest from May to August. Bear in mind that large ships berth at Marghera or Fusina on the mainland, not by St Mark's Square.
Venice port guide →The Greek islands and Turkey come first
A whole week in the Aegean: Mykonos, Santorini, Rhodes, Crete and Kuşadası, next to Ephesus. The season is longer, from March to November, and short 3- and 4-night cruises leave from nearby Lavrion. The flight takes just over three hours, and Piraeus is about an hour from the airport.
Athens port guide →Point by point
| What we compare | Venice | Athens (Piraeus) |
|---|---|---|
| Getting there from the Netherlands and Belgium | Direct flights from Amsterdam and Brussels to Marco Polo airport take about 1 hour 45 minutes. Low-cost airlines sometimes use Treviso, around an hour away by bus. | Direct flights from Amsterdam and Brussels take just over three hours. Greece is an hour ahead of the Netherlands and Belgium. |
| Where the ship berths | Large ships use Marghera (check-in usually at the Marittima terminal, then a bus to the ship) or Fusina. By the historic centre, at Marittima and San Basilio, only small ships under 25,000 tonnes. | Piraeus, terminals A, B and C in the southern part of the harbour. Short 3- and 4-night cruises and some smaller ships leave from Lavrion, about 60 km from Athens. |
| Airport to ship | A taxi to Marittima takes 20–25 minutes, to Fusina about half an hour. Cheaper: a bus to Piazzale Roma, then the People Mover to Marittima. | About an hour to Piraeus by taxi or on metro Line 3 (some trains run straight through). Lavrion is closer: 30–40 minutes by car. |
| Terminal to the centre | From Marittima, the People Mover reaches Piazzale Roma, the gateway to the historic centre, in three minutes. From Fusina, the line 16 boat goes to the Zattere in 25–30 minutes. | Piraeus is about 12 km from the centre: the Acropolis is around half an hour away by taxi or metro. |
| Season | April to October, busiest from May to August. A handful of longer voyages in November and December; practically no cruises in January and February. | March to November, busiest from May to October; October is one of the busiest months. Hardly any sailings from December to February. |
| Typical itineraries | 7 nights: Split, Dubrovnik, Kotor and the Greek islands — for example Corfu, Santorini, Mykonos, Olympia or Athens. In autumn, 10–14-night voyages, sometimes including Turkey. | 7 nights around the islands and to Turkey, usually back to Piraeus; 3–4 nights from Lavrion; some sailings one-way to Italy. |
| In summer | Hot and humid in the city, with daytime highs above 30°C on the islands. School holidays — book early. | Often above 33°C by day, with the strong meltemi wind on the islands. In heatwaves the Acropolis sometimes closes at midday. |
| The city before and after | The Grand Canal by vaporetto, St Mark's, the Rialto. Around 400 bridges with steps — awkward with a big case. On certain days, day visitors pay a fee to enter the centre. | The Acropolis and its museum, Plaka, the Ancient Agora. Acropolis tickets are for timed entry — book ahead and go at opening time. |
| Where to stay | Piazzale Roma and Santa Croce are closest to the port; Cannaregio by the station; Mestre on the mainland is usually cheaper and closer to Marghera and Fusina. | Piraeus (Mikrolimano, Kastella) — 10–15 minutes to the terminals; Plaka, Monastiraki or Koukaki — about half an hour by taxi. |
The Adriatic with Greece, or the Aegean all week
Both ports are gateways to the Eastern Mediterranean, and almost all sailings from either one last a week. But a week from Venice and a week from Piraeus are two different trips.
- From Venice — several countries. The ship sails down the Adriatic: Croatia, Montenegro, then Greece. Fewer islands, but more old coastal towns — Split, Dubrovnik, Kotor. Turkey mostly appears on the longer 10–14-night voyages in autumn.
- From Athens — islands and Turkey. You are in the Aegean from day one: in a week, Mykonos, Santorini, Rhodes, Crete and Kuşadası, next to ancient Ephesus. And the 3- and 4-night sailings from Lavrion are a good option for a first short cruise.
- Spring and autumn. The Athens season starts earlier, in March, and in October there are almost as many sailings as in summer. From Venice, sailings pick up in April; October has fewer, but longer itineraries appear. In winter there are hardly any cruises from either port — for winter sun, look at winter cruises instead.
- Where your cruise really starts. For Venice this is the big question: "Venice" on an itinerary does not mean the historic centre. Large ships berth at Marghera or Fusina, check-in and the ship may not be in the same place, and some cruise lines have moved departures to Trieste, Monfalcone or Ravenna. In Athens the mix-up is different — Piraeus or Lavrion, and which terminal. Either way, go by your boarding documents rather than the port name on the itinerary.
Want both Venice and Athens?
You can combine them. Some sailings from Piraeus are one-way to Italy, for example to Venice or Civitavecchia, and many cruises from Venice call at Piraeus. You then fly into one city and home from another: into Athens, out of Italy. Where you can board and leave the ship shows up when you book the specific sailing.
Common questions
Where do cruise ships "from Venice" actually berth?
Large ships berth at Marghera or Fusina on the mainland: since August 2021, ships over 25,000 tonnes or longer than 180 metres have been banned from the St Mark's Basin and the Giudecca Canal. For Marghera departures, check-in usually takes place at the Marittima terminal and a bus takes you to the ship. Only small ships berth by the historic centre, at Marittima and San Basilio.
Which port gives you more Greek islands?
Athens: in a week, a ship from Piraeus usually calls at Mykonos, Santorini, Rhodes or Crete and at Kuşadası in Turkey. From Venice, part of the week goes to Croatia and Montenegro, and in Greece you might see Corfu, Olympia, Santorini or Mykonos.
Can I start in one port and finish in the other?
Sometimes: some sailings from Piraeus are one-way to Italy, for example to Venice or Civitavecchia, and many cruises from Venice call at Piraeus. You then fly into one city and home from another. Where you can board and leave the ship shows up when you book the specific sailing.
Which port is better in spring or in October?
Usually Athens: the season starts there in March, October is one of the busiest months of the year, and the sea is still warm. From Venice, sailings pick up in April; October has fewer of them, but longer 10–14-night itineraries start to appear.
How the club fits in
Cruises from Venice and Athens that are available in the club work on the same terms as any other route. You choose one way to pay per booking: the member price (INsider Pricing), roughly 17% below the listed price, or your Reward Points, which can cover up to half of the cruise price. They do not add up. To pay up to 100% with points, you need to have accumulated enough points and book 270 days or more before departure.
Not every cruise line can be booked through the club: check the specific sailing in the club's search, or ask us and we will tell you which Venice and Athens dates are available in the month you have in mind.
How booking with points works →
Seasons and destinations are summarised from cruise line schedules for 2026–2027 and may change; check the current itinerary and terminal information before you travel. Percentages describe the club's rules and are indicative. Reislite is an independent information site run by partners, not a website of inCruises.