Early booking offer : save up to £745 pp – ends 31 Jan

Highlights

  • Sail in style among the treasures of Northern Italy
  • Visit the likes of Chioggia, Burano and Mazzorbo
  • Enjoy a five-star stay in Verona
  • Join a private guide to explore the city's famous Arena
  • Travel home in luxury aboard the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express

Making the most of a favourable timetable, this is the reverse version of one of our most popular luxury rail and cruise combinations. It all begins with a flight out to Venice, where you'll board the S.S. La Venezia for an ever-so-stylish river cruise between the gems of Northern Italy. Taking in the likes of artists' favourite Chioggia and the colourful Venetian islands. Then, it's on to Verona – Shakespeare's city – where an expert-led tour will introduce you to the wonder's of it's world-famous amphitheatre. Finally, as if all that wasn't enough, you'll board the blue-and-gold carriages of the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express for an unforgettable journey home, enjoying the very best in fine-dining and five-star service.


Day 1

Fly to Venice

Start your holiday in style as you enjoy included airport lounge access before your flight to Venice. On arrival, a private transfer will see you to your ship – the S.S. La Venezia. Fully refurbished, and with decks named after the islands of the Venetian Lagoon, it’s an opulent home to three restaurants, a spa, a lounge and bar – the perfect home-from-home for your cruise through northern Italy.

Breakfast & Dinner included

S.S. La Venezia, Uniworld

S.S. La Venezia, Uniworld

S.S. La Venezia

S.S. La Venezia


Day 2

Venice: Italy’s floating city

Before departing Venice, you’ll have a day to explore the myriad wonders of Italy’s floating city, as an expert guide helps you to untangle the secrets and myths of its iconic waterways. There’s also time for a scenic cruise around the Venetian Lagoon and a very special after-hours private tour of St Mark’s Basilica. End the day in style with a Captain’s Welcome Reception and delicious celebratory dinner.

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner included

View of a busy Grand Canal in Venice, Italy

Grand Canal, Venice

A traditional gondola in the canals of Venice

The canals of Venice


Day 3

Vicenza or Padua

Choose from morning explorations of the Veneto region’s UNESCO World Heritage cities, Padua or Vicenza. In the afternoon, you'll join a guided walk in Venice to meet a local gondola artisan before a scenic sailing across the lagoon, heading for Mazzorbo and Burano.

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner included

Vicenza, Italy

Vicenza, Italy

Padua, Italy

Padua, Italy


Day 4

Mazzorbo, Burano, Chioggia

The day is dedicated to exploring the northern lagoon of Venice and its varied islands. Visit Torcello's famous basilica with an art historian, then take a stroll through the agricultural island of Mazzorbo and the multi-coloured houses of Burano. Alternatively, you can take time in the afternoon to see the renowned glassblowing artist of Murano.

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner included

Burano at sunset, Italy

Burano at sunset

Mazzorbo vineyards, Italy

Mazzorbo vineyards


Day 5

Chioggia

Today, you'll visit the Chioggia, quintessential Venetian Lagoon fishing village. A choice of excursions is on offer, including a visit to one of Europe’s most majestic castles - Castello del Catajo - or you could join a sommelier to learn about the long history of winemaking in the Veneto region, with private tastings at Dominio di Bagnoli, one of the oldest wine producing estates in Europe.

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner included

Chioggia, Italy

Chioggia

View over channel with boats, houses and reflections in Chioggia

Chioggia, Italy


Day 6

Chioggia, Venice

This morning, you'll join a sailing excursion to explore the Po Delta where the Po River and the Adriatic Sea meet. During a leisurely lunch and a relaxing afternoon you'll cruise back to Venice.

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner included

Po Delta, Italy

Po Delta, Italy


Day 7

A return to Venice

Back in Venice a choice of superb excursions is on offer, the first of which is a ‘do as the locals do’ appreciation of the city’s markets and culinary hotspots in the company of a guide, often the ship’s head chef. Alternatively, take a walking tour to Rialto Bridge and visit the sites made famous by renowned intellectual and part-time playboy – Casanova. In the evening, a Captain’s farewell reception and dinner will see you end your cruise in style.

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner included

Venice, Italy

Venice, Italy

Doge's Palace, Venice

Doge's Palace


Days 8 – 9

Discover Verona: Shakespeare’s city

After a delicious breakfast on board, you'll disembark for a private transfer to Verona and your five-star hotel. Take the time to relax and freshen up as you prepare for an exploration of ‘Shakespeare’s city’. Indeed, be sure to take in the likes of Juliet’s balcony before enjoying skip-the-line access and a private tour of one of Italy’s most prestigious music venues – the Arena di Verona. 

Breakfast included

View of Ponte Pietra over the Adige River, Verona

Ponte Pietra, Verona

Arena di Verona

Arena di Verona


Day 10

Venice Simplon-Orient-Express

Spend a final relaxing morning in Verona before taking your private transfer to the station where the blue-and-gold carriages of the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express will be waiting to welcome you. Settle into your wood-panelled cabin as you race across rural northern Italy, enjoying a delicious three-course lunch set against a backdrop of the Dolomites' granite spires. Then, following a relaxing afternoon, dress for dinner, mingle in the Bar car and order a signature cocktail while you listen to period pieces performed on the baby grand piano. Finally, settle down to a four-course, wine-paired feast, dining on dishes inspired by the train's route as you head across alpine Switzerland.

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner included

Two cabin stewards standing by the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express

Cabin stewards of the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express

Venice Simplon-Orient-Express

Venice Simplon-Orient-Express

Lobster and champagne on the Cote D'Azur Dining Car on board Venice Simplon-Orient-Express

The Cote D'Azur Dining Car on the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express


Day 11

Arrive in Paris and return to London

Wake to a Continental breakfast served in your cabin as you sweep across northern France towards Paris. On arrival, you'll say goodbye to the fineries of your Art Deco accommodation and a short transfer will whisk you to Gare du Nord for your Eurostar journey to London St Pancras. Alternatively, if you would like to end your experience in style with a luxury stay in Paris, please speak to one of our specialists. 

Breakfast included


About the itinerary

"For me, this is the quintessential rail and sail holiday, pairing the luxuries of a fully refurbished river ship with the world's most iconic rail experience. And, you'll really get to explore in-depth, enjoying a host of included tours and experiences, as well as a five-star stay in one of my favourite Italian cities – Verona."

David Warne

Destination Specialist

Pricing information

Early booking offer : save up to £745 pp
Offer ends 31 January

Guide price from £8,370 pp incl. flights

Low Season 2025 from: £8,370 pp incl. flights — save up to £355 pp
High Season 2025 from: £9,720 pp incl. flights — save up to £745 pp

Includes

    • Complimentary UK departure lounge access
    • Scheduled flight from UK to Venice
    • 7-night cruise aboard SS La Venezia
    • 2-nights accommodation 5-star hotel in Verona with daily breakfast
    • Private tour of Arena di Verona
    • Venice Simplon-Orient-Express overnight train from Verona to Paris in a Historic Cabin (please ask for upgrade options to Suites and Grande Suites)
    • Eurostar from Paris to London St Pancras station in Business Premier (or flight from Paris to your local UK airport).
    • Private transfers overseas throughout apart from in Paris

    SS La Venezia cruise includes:

    • Choice of daily excursions
    • Delicious farm-to-table cuisine
    • Unlimited beverages, including many premium spirits and wines
    • Outstanding service with one of the highest staff-to-guest ratios of any cruise line
    • Elegant and well-appointed riverview staterooms, with the finest linens, towels and Savoir® beds
    • Onboard fitness centre, plus exercise and wellness classes
    • Internet and Wi-Fi access
    • Onboard entertainment and enrichment programme

    The price varies by departure date and stateroom availability.


    Early booking offer : save up to £955 pp
    Offer ends 31 January

    Guide price from £8,370 pp incl. flights

    Low Season 2026 from: £8,370 pp incl. flights — save up to £955 pp
    High Season 2025 from: £9,720 pp incl. flights — save up to £835 pp

    Includes

      • Complimentary UK departure lounge access
      • Scheduled flight from UK to Venice
      • 7-night cruise aboard SS La Venezia
      • 2-nights accommodation 5-star hotel in Verona with daily breakfast
      • Private tour of Arena di Verona
      • Venice Simplon-Orient-Express overnight train from Verona to Paris in a Historic Cabin (please ask for upgrade options to Suites and Grande Suites)
      • Eurostar from Paris to London St Pancras station in Business Premier (or flight from Paris to your local UK airport).
      • Private transfers overseas throughout apart from in Paris

      SS La Venezia cruise includes:

      • Choice of daily excursions
      • Delicious farm-to-table cuisine
      • Unlimited beverages, including many premium spirits and wines
      • Outstanding service with one of the highest staff-to-guest ratios of any cruise line
      • Elegant and well-appointed riverview staterooms, with the finest linens, towels and Savoir® beds
      • Onboard fitness centre, plus exercise and wellness classes
      • Internet and Wi-Fi access
      • Onboard entertainment and enrichment programme

      The price varies by departure date and stateroom availability.


      Enquire