Optional Add-On
7
7
Four days in the Italian Alps before the cruise begins — a relaxed, scenic warm-up at altitude.
Full details and pricing are being finalized with our partners on the ground in South Tyrol. Select this option to register your interest — no payment is required until the extension is formally released.
---
Day 1 · July 5 — Arrive Venice, Transfer to Ortisei
Your Dolomites adventure begins the moment you land. After clearing customs at Marco Polo Airport, your private group coach whisks you away from the Venetian lagoon and up into a completely different Italy — one of alpine meadows, limestone towers, and villages that feel frozen in a gentler century. The drive itself is part of the experience, as the flatlands of the Veneto give way to the mountain passes of South Tyrol. Plan to settle in, breathe the mountain air, and let the jet lag melt away over dinner. The cruise can wait. The Alps are calling first.
---
Day 2 · July 6 — Recovery Day & Alpe di Siusi
There's no alarm clock today. Sleep in, take a long breakfast, and let the hotel do what a great mountain property does best. The spa, the pool, a slow walk through Ortisei's pedestrian lanes — all of it is yours at whatever pace you like.
By early afternoon, when you've found your legs, the group heads up to Alpe di Siusi — the largest high-altitude alpine meadow in Europe, with views of the Sassolungo and Sciliar massifs that stop most people cold the first time they see them. We'll find a spot for aperitivo as the light goes golden, then dinner somewhere with a view that earns it.
---
Day 3 · July 7 — Seceda & the Heart of the Dolomites
This is the day you'll keep talking about on the ship. The gondola lift from Ortisei rises to the Seceda plateau, where the famous ridgeline of jagged peaks unfolds in a panorama that doesn't look quite real. We'll spend the morning up top — walking the ridge, taking it in, taking too many photos. A leisurely mountain lunch follows, the kind that stretches past two hours without anyone noticing. The afternoon is yours to wander or simply sit and stare.
---
Day 4 · July 8 — Val di Funes & the Dolomite Lakes
The last full day in the mountains is a scenic drive through some of the region's most iconic landscapes. Santa Maddalena and the Geisler Spires are required — it's the postcard view of the Dolomites, and it earns that title. From there, we'll visit one or two of the alpine lakes depending on the group's energy: Lago di Braies, Lago di Misurina, or Lago di Dobbiaco each offer something a little different. The pace stays relaxed. We're not trying to check every box — just the right ones.
Tonight, a proper farewell dinner in Ortisei before an early-ish night. The ship boards tomorrow.
---
Day 5 · July 9 — Scenic Transfer to Venice & SS La Venezia
The drive back to Venice doesn't have to feel like a transfer. Depending on routing and timing, we're exploring a midday stop along the way — perhaps the shores of Lake Garda for a long lunch with a view before continuing south to the Veneto. By late afternoon, the group arrives at the San Basilio Terminal in Venice, where the SS La Venezia is waiting. Hand off your bags, step aboard, and let Uniworld take it from here.
Start Time
Jul 5
Ortisei, Autonomous Province of Bolzano – South Tyrol, Italy
Carmine Ussano-Private Luxury Tours in Italy