Key Aspects:
- Guests aboard Norwegian Pearl have been warned of limited taxi availability when they disembark in Ravenna, Italy.
- In an effort to alleviate this, Norwegian Cruise Line has added a $23 transfer option to Ravenna’s train station.
- Ravenna’s distance from Venice and limited transportation options can complicate travel for cruise passengers.
Guests preparing to disembark Norwegian Pearl in Ravenna, Italy, are being warned that getting away from the cruise port may take some extra planning. The 93,530 gross-ton ship is currently sailing a 7-night, one-way cruise to Ravenna that departed from Piraeus, Greece, on August 16.
The sailing visits Santorini, Katakolon, Corfu, Kotor, Dubrovnik, and Koper before arriving in Ravenna on August 23. In a notice sent to guests on August 18, 2026, Norwegian Cruise Line addressed ongoing transportation issues at the Italian port.
The cruise line says that, on previous visits to the port, guests have had to wait up to two hours for a taxi due to limited availability. The issue has been particularly problematic for guests heading to Ravenna’s train station.
The train station provides onward connections for guests traveling to Venice and other destinations. In an effort to address these delays, Norwegian Cruise Line has opened a new transfer option to the Ravenna train station.
The new service will cost $23 per person, while Norwegian Cruise Line claims the average taxi fare to the Ravenna train station is about €50 (approximately $58 USD). While the transfer may be cheaper for solo travelers or couples, a taxi fare covers the entire vehicle, while NCL’s transfer is priced per person.
Larger parties may still consider the scheduled transfer worthwhile, particularly if it avoids a lengthy wait without seating or shelter. One Facebook user welcomed the new option.
“This is awesome. Ravenna cruise port is not for the leary traveler, it takes some work to get too, especially if you want to actually visit Venice before or after,” the user commented.
Existing airport transfers to the Venice airport will still be available. Guests can book transfers to the Ravenna train station and Venice airport aboard the ship until noon on August 21, when the ship will be docked in Dubrovnik, Croatia.
Norwegian Pearl continues offering 7-night cruises between Piraeus and Ravenna until November 1, 2026. She will then reposition to Philadelphia, USA for sailings to Bermuda, the Bahamas, the US Virgin Islands, the British Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, and the Dominican Republic.
Ravenna Can Be Challenging For Cruisers
While many cruisers associate Ravenna with Venice, the two cities are actually around 90 miles apart. Getting transportation to Venice or elsewhere can be challenging.
Cruise ships dock at Porto Corsini, roughly 8 miles away from the Ravenna train station and about 12 miles from the Ravenna airport. Reaching Venice by road can take up to three hours.
Ravenna’s distance from Venice has caused confusion for cruise passengers in the past. Royal Caribbean was sanctioned by the UK’s Advertising Standards Authority in 2023 for its interchangeable use of the city names. A UK agency ruled this practice constituted misleading advertising.
Additionally, recent construction delays have limited the number of ships able to dock at the port. Royal Caribbean’s Brilliance of the Seas‘ 7-night August 10, 2026 departure was originally supposed to homeport at Ravenna, but had to switch to Trieste due to these delays.
Norwegian Cruise Line’s Additional Ravenna Deployments
Norwegian Pearl isn’t the only NCL vessel using Ravenna this summer. Cruise Hive recently reported on itinerary changes affecting Norwegian Gem sailings from Civitavecchia to Ravenna.
The 142,500 gross-ton Norwegian Viva also regularly docks at Ravenna. She continues sailing 9- to 10-night itineraries visiting the port through October 14. With multiple NCL ships scheduled to continue calling on Ravenna, the new transfer could help ease challenges facing guests traveling through the Italian port.
