Transport to the port

Before you start choosing a cruise, you need to decide where and how you want to go on the cruise, as well as your language skills. If your language skills are limited, we definitely recommend cruises with transportation and a Riviera Tour delegate. If your language skills are good, you also have the option to travel to the port by air or by your own car. In this case, our range of cruises is very wide and it really depends on which cruise you choose and what your preferred dates are. However, you must have at least a minimum of travel experience and good communication skills.

Transportation by bus

For cruises with transport and delegate, we arrange transport to the port in our own NEOPLAN Cityliner and VDL buses. This type of transport is comfortable thanks to the sufficient space, comfortable reclining seats (including the last row, which is the most spacious) and refreshments on offer. Riviera Tour buses are equipped with toilets, air conditioning, DVD, CD and MP3 players with three LCD TVs. The bus equipment includes blankets for night crossings.

On the way to the port, we offer free coffee, tea, cappuccino or chocolate with whipped cream. On departure you will receive a cold dinner and various snacks including a bottle of water for the night crossing. A hot breakfast is provided in the morning before you arrive at the port. During the trip to the port you can request chilled drinks (beer, Coke, Fanta, Sprite, mineral water) for a fee. On the way back from the port, a warm snack is again provided. The snack is uniform for all clients.

The journey to the port is always longer, because you have to allow time before boarding the ship. Arrivals at the port are scheduled for the morning. The boarding itself starts at approximately 11:00. Exact departure times will be given in the departure instructions, which are sent approximately 30 days prior to departure.

Main collection route

The main route for the departure of the cruise is free of charge, on the route Riviera Tour (Lidečko), Vsetín, Valašské Meziříčí, Rožnov p. Radhoštěm, Čeladná, Frýdek-Místek, Ostrava, Hranice na Moravě, Olomouc, Prostějov, Vyškov, Brno, Breclav and Bratislava.

Transfer from Prague

CK Riviera Tour offers its clients the possibility of a shuttle transfer on the route: Prague, Chocerady, Humpolec, Jihlava, Velké Meziříčí and Brno, where the transfer to the main bus to the port. The shuttle transfer is exclusively on request and its capacity is limited. The transfer price is 890 CZK per person for both two trips (Prague - Brno - Prague). The transfer cannot be booked one way.

Please note: On cruises with port of embarkation Hamburg , Kiel and Wardemunde the bus route may vary and is indicated in the cruise programme.

Průběh cesty do přístavu autobusem

The trip to the port is probably the most challenging point of the whole tour. We have to have, due to the traffic situation, a sufficient time reserve - to Venice you will travel a distance of about 760 km per night, to Genoa about 1400 km, to Kiel about 930 km.

At the beginning of the trip, the delegate will brief you on the itinerary, embarkation procedures and all important information. There are regular stops approximately every 90 minutes during the journey to the port. The length of the stops will be determined by the current traffic situation. In the morning there is a longer break to perform personal hygiene and prepare a warm breakfast, which will be prepared for you free of charge. During the journey to the port you will receive a cold dinner to go, snacks and a drink from us. During the voyage itself you have the option to request a complimentary coffee, tea, cappuccino or chocolate with whipped cream.

Exact seats on the bus can be reserved for a fee of 150 CZK/person. If for health reasons you need to secure a seat at the front of the bus, please inform us when signing the contract. We will try to accommodate you if possible. Priority is given to families with children and members of the RIVIERA BENEFIT CLUB. Before departure we will send you the seating arrangements on the bus, which cannot be changed. Our buses are spacious, all seats, including the last row, can be reclined and for night crossings the seats can be extended into the aisle for comfort. The bus is equipped with a lightweight blanket for each client to ensure better comfort during the ride. You can also purchase inflatable pads or additional chilled drinks from the drivers. Please note that passengers are required to fasten their seat belts while driving. You are not allowed to stand in the aisle or talk to the driver while driving.

Arrival at the port is scheduled for around 9 o'clock, due to early embarkation. You will have plenty of time in port for refreshments or a few photos of the ship before boarding. Your boarding passes will be handed to you by the delegate on the bus. Your luggage will be tagged when you board the bus. Please note that it is not possible to place weapons in your luggage, especially knives, large scissors, etc. All luggage is subject to strict security checks. Alcohol is also part of the security check. Each cruise participant can take one piece of luggage up to 25 kg and one carry-on bag.

The return from the port is already faster and more comfortable. Breaks during the return journey are about every two hours. We stop at the large Italian autogrillos where you can buy the latest souvenirs from Italy, pastas, olive oils, cheeses, etc.  Even on the way back a hot snack is prepared for you, which will certainly come in handy. Return to the Czech Republic according to the traffic situation at night, arrival in Brno at about 01.00 am. Our buses will be followed by a transfer to Prague and Trenčín. We take great care of safety during the transport of passengers. Our drivers have been working for us for several years. The responsibility of the drivers and our travel agency is really great and for these reasons we do not use the return transport of the so-called pendles - although this will increase the price of the transport to the port. However, safety is our first priority.

Departure from the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Vienna is provided by our own buses and minibuses. For better accessibility to the main bus we organize transfers. In the table below you will find the boarding points during the cruise departure for the bus and the shuttle transfers, including a quantification of the shuttle transfer surcharge. The times listed are only a guide for pre-planning your holiday. Approximately 30 days prior to your cruise departure, you will receive departure instructions from us with exact departure times for buses and transfers.

Doprava vlastní dopravou

By own car

You don't want to limit yourself to anyone or anything? Do you want to have a really wide choice of cruises and cruise circuits? Go on your cruise in your own car. If you decide to do so, we will be happy to advise you on the route to the port, where to park your vehicle and so on. This information can be found in the detailed departure instructions (not included in the Basic cruises), which will help you with practical information.

In the harbour, we can provide you with secure parking directly at the pier. Parking is negotiated with the travel contract at a price starting from approx. 100€/week. Secured parking must be booked in advance, so please inform us already when signing the contract of your parking requirements. Once the car park is full, it is quite difficult to find an alternative solution. Our departure instructions contain detailed information and maps for parking your vehicle at the marina. If you are travelling by your own car to the port, please request a reservation in the guarded car park directly at the port when signing the contract. To make a reservation, you will need to declare the registration number, type and colour of your vehicle.

Approximate prices for car parking in the port (7 nights cruise):
Venice from 2 890 CZK
Genoa from 2 500 CZK
Kiel from 3 725 CZK
Hamburg from 2 975 CZK
Warnemunde from 2 725 CZK
Civitavecchia from 1 900 CZK

If you have secured a parking space, please present your boat ticket upon arrival at the port. Then follow the instructions of the staff. When you arrive at the marina, you will hand over the vehicle keys and the vehicle to the parking service, who will transport the vehicle to the secure car park. Upon your return, your vehicle will be ready again on the pier by the ship. Riviera Tour CK only provides parking reservations. Parking is not part of Riviera Tour's services.

By air

At Riviera Tour CK we can also arrange flights to most European and international ports. In the case of air transport, the weight and dimensions of the luggage are prescribed by the airline. Therefore, please follow the airline's instructions. Attention! The weights of multiple pieces of luggage are never added together. We use only scheduled airlines for air transportation.

Our recommendation: Avoid buying cheap flights on low-cost airlines, or fly with plenty of time to spare. If you miss your boarding time, you are not entitled to compensation.

Transfers from airport to port or accommodation

For cruises with which you have purchased such tickets with us, we can also arrange airport transfers on request, with the possibility of transportation between the airport, hotel and port. Depending on the logistical layout of the destination, this can be bulk transfers (mainly Europe, some Asian and Caribbean cruises and other cruises), private transfers, or a combination of both. This is not a compulsory extra to the cruise. Clients can arrange transfers individually or use taxi services.

If you purchase your own tickets, we charge a transfer booking fee of 250,-CZK on top of the transfer price.

Hotels in ports

In all European and international ports, we can arrange single accommodation before and after your cruise. If you wish to extend your holiday, we can arrange accommodation for any number of nights.

In some destinations (mainly outside Europe) we can also arrange complete sightseeing packages with accommodation en route and car hire. You can contact us with confidence. Most of the hotels we offer around the ports have been vetted.

Important notice

We would like to inform all clients with their own transport to the port that there may be late disembarkation from the ship, either due to bad weather or for technical and organizational reasons. We therefore recommend that you make sure to allow sufficient time for departures/departures on your return journey. In the event of a late disembarkation, clients are not entitled to compensation. In the event that your air transportation to the port is provided directly by the cruise company including transfers, MSC Cruises will provide alternative transportation.

We would also like to inform our clients that if there is any damage to their luggage, they must report this fact to the cruise company staff directly in the check-in hall and request a claim report. Without a claim report, the claim for compensation will not be accepted. In the event of damage to the car, it is also necessary to request a proper confirmation of the claim and to take photo documentation of the incident to deal with the subsequent compensation.