Flying into Bologna and need to sort out your embarkation transfers from Bologna to Ravenna Cruise Port? Ravenna Cruise Port has become as a substitute for Venice for Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises since 2022. The closest airport to Ravenna Cruise Port is at Bologna – the Bologna Guglielmo Marconi International Airport (BLQ). Bologna will be an easier and closer airport to use than Venice Marco Polo (VCE) Airport, especially if you’re flying within Europe.
So in this guide, I’ll give you all the cruise transfer options from Bologna Airport or Bologna city centre to Ravenna cruise port, so you can pick the one that works best with your flights and pre-cruise itinerary.
This is Part 2 of my 3-part Bologna to Ravenna cruise embarkation series. Here’s the others:
- Part 1: Bologna Pre-Cruise Adventures: Porticoes & Foodies’ Dream – if you’re staying in Bologna before your cruise, then this is for you!
- Part 3: Ravenna Cruise Port Guide: UNESCO Heritage Byzantine Mosaics – this highlights what to see in Ravenna, even if you’ve only got an hour to spare on your embarkation day!
And if you’re flying into Venice Marco Polo Airport (VCE), read my VCE –> Ravenna Cruise Port DIY Transfers Guide here.
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Bologna to Ravenna Cruise Port: Is a DIY Transfer Easy? 😎😎😎😎 (Straightforward)
Got a cruise departing from Ravenna cruise port? If you’re flying into Bologna airport (BLQ) or staying in Bologna overnight before your embarkation date, then trying to Ravenna cruise port is 😎😎😎😎 straightforward using trains and the (paid) port shuttle. Here’s why:
- BLQ to Bologna City Centre in minutes: Literally! The Marconi Express gets you from Bologna Airport to Bologna Central Station in seven minutes flat! From there, it’s an easy transfer to a direct regional train to Bologna train station.
- Good Bologna Bus Network: Getting to Bologna station is straightforward with the good bus network, provided you’re staying relatively close to the city centre. Pay by contactless cards on buses mean no searching for a tobacco shop to buy bus tickets!
- Ravenna Port Shuttle: As soon as you exit Ravenna station, you’ll be met by uniformed crew for the (paid) port shuttle.
My Experience: I’ve done this transfer from Bologna Airport, using the Marconi Express to get to Bologna Central Station and then a regional train to Ravenna station, which takes an hour. The transfer was smooth and I caught the Royal Caribbean shuttle to port, right outside Ravenna train station.
Tip to Avoid Crowds on Train: If you are embarking on weekends, I would recommend picking as early a train as you can make. The trains will get progressively busier and busier, as the locals use the same train to go to the beaches in Ravenna.
If you then arrive too early in Ravenna for your embarkation time, you can store your luggage near Ravenna train station, then spend time in Ravenna itself and return to Ravenna station later to catch the port shuttle to Ravenna Cruise Port. Read my Ravenna Cruise Port guide for details on what to see in Ravenna.
Ravenna Cruise Port Essentials: What You Need To Know
1. Where is Ravenna Cruise Port?
Ravenna Cruise Port, located in Porto Corsini, is 55 miles (92 km) east of Bologna Marconi International Airport (BLQ). If you have a choice of airports, then BLQ will be easier than flying into Venice Marco Polo Airport (VCE).
Ravenna Cruise Port Address: Porto Corsini, 48123 Ravenna, Italy – see this marked in my Ravenna Cruise Port Map below
2. Ravenna Cruise Port Map
- On Desktop | Laptop? Use buttons on bottom left to zoom in/out. Click on the upper right hand corner to see a bigger version.
- On Tablet | Mobile? Pinch your screen to zoom in/out and use two fingers to move map around. If you have Google Maps installed on your tablet/mobile, my map will open in your Google Maps app if you click on the upper right hand corner.
- 👇 If the map is not loading correctly, click here to see directly on Google Maps
3. Ravenna Cruise Port: Useful Tibits
- Ravenna Cruise Port Schedule: Check here for the latest port schedule
- Currency: Euros
- 💶 Cash or 💳 Card in Italy?
- Card: I had no issues paying with card 95% of the time, from train tickets, local metro/bus tickets to restaurants, convenience stores and museums
- Cash: Smaller businesses, such as bakeries and street vendors will be cash only, so I would advise to carry some euros in cash
- Tip: “Bancomat” is the Italian word for ATMs
- Language: Italian
- Recommended Transport App:
- Pre-cruise sightseeing: I would recommend Citymapper for Bologna if you’re doing some pre-cruise sightseeing
- DIY Transfer: Use RailEurope to check live train times & book tickets; I used Google Maps to navigate around Ravenna
- eSIM for roaming in Italy: For a great data connection without the huge roaming fees, use an eSim data pack from Airalo. I always recommend having a smartphone with a valid plan when you’re at port touring independently. Get US$3 off your first eSIM data pack from Airalo when you use ROXANN1666 when you sign up or apply it at checkout
Bologna Airport (BLQ) to Ravenna Cruise Port: Transfer Options
You have three options to get from Bologna Marconi Airport to Ravenna Cruise Port. (If you’re staying overnight in Bologna before your cruise, jump to my section on how to travel from Bologna City Centre to Ravenna Cruise Port below).
(a) Cruise Line Transfers
Both Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises offer transfers from Bologna Marconi Airport (BLQ) to Ravenna Cruise Port on embarkation day only. I was quote US$40 per person. You’ll need to pre-book the shuttle service online (similar to booking an excursion.)
If your cruise ends in Ravenna as well, both RC & Celebrity offer transfers back to either Bologna Airport (US$40), Bologna train station (US$30) or Ravenna train station (US$12.50).
I would advise pre-booking your return trip if you’re heading back to Bologna Airport or Bologna. If you’re heading to Ravenna train station, then you can also book onboard, when the “disembarkation transfers” form get dropped into your cabin.
(b) Private Car Transfers
- Approximate travel time: 1 hour 30 minutes by car.
- Approximate private transfer cost: I was quoted around €200 one-way
(c) Train + Port Shuttle Transfers (DIY)
First, read my step-by-step guide on how to get from Bologna Airport to Ravenna station. Then read the section on the Ravenna Port Shuttle, which runs from Ravenna train station to Ravenna Cruise Port.
Bologna Airport to Ravenna Cruise Port by Train
Step 1: Marconi Express to Bologna Centrale
- Train Station: From Airport Arrivals Hall, follow signs to “Marconi Express“. You’ll walk a few minutes on a pedestrian only bridge to the station. This high-speed monorail-like train connects the airport to Bologna Central station.
- Frequency: Trains depart every 7 minutes during peak times, and every 15 minutes otherwise. Train runs from 5:40 am to midnight. The journey takes only 7 minutes.
- Tickets:
- Contactless Card (Easiest): Pay by contactless Visa/MC, Apple Pay, or Android Pay on your phone or smartwatch. Single tickets cost €12.80. Just tap and get through the ticket gates.
- Return within 30 days: The system automatically discounts your return ticket to €10.50 (total roundtrip €23.30 – same as from the ticket machine)
- Family ticket: For 2 adults and up to 3 children, purchase a family ticket from the machine (€25.60 one-way, €48.90 return). You can’t get the family discount using contactless cards.
- Luggage: There are no dedicated luggage racks on the Marconi Express, but the ride is short.
- My Experience: There were long queues to buy a ticket, so I skipped the queue by paying with a contactless card and jumped onto the next available train in a few minutes’ time. The “train” is more like a monorail and doesn’t have a lot of seats. It goes quite fast, so find a spot where you’ve got a pole to hang onto! I left my check-in bag in front of me and my hand luggage on top of my check-in bag. It was quite a cool ride!
Step 2: Regional Train to Ravenna
- Transfer at Bologna Centrale: The Marconi Express arrives in a separate platform to the regional trains at Bologna Centrale. Follow signs to the main departure hall at Bologna Centrale. You can then check the departure boards for next train to Ravenna.
- Train Frequency: Regional trains between Bologna and Ravenna run hourly, with even more frequent service during peak travel times. Tickets don’t sell out, so there’s no need to pre-book. The journey takes approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes.
- Stations:
- Depart from Bologna’s main station, “Bologna Centrale.”
- Arrive at “Ravenna” station – not “Marina di Ravenna.” While Marina di Ravenna station is closer to the cruise terminal, there’s no way to cross the canal, so avoid going to the wrong station!
- Timetables: Check the latest schedules on RailEurope’s website
- Tickets: Purchase tickets online or from machines at Bologna Centrale (cards accepted). One-way tickets cost €8. All seats are second class.
- Luggage: While there’s no dedicated luggage racks on this regional service, I had no issues keeping my larger bags with me. Smaller bags can go underneath your seat. The trains are usually double-deckers.
Step 3: Ravenna Train Station to Ravenna Cruise Port
There are three options to travel from Ravenna Train station to Ravenna Cruise Port:
- Cruise Line Shuttles (Easiest): Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises offer their own shuttles directly from Ravenna train station. Look for a crew member outside Ravenna train station. They will offer luggage assistance at both the station and cruise terminal. I did not book ahead and the charge was billed to my shipboard account. For summer 2025, you can pre-book the shuttle at US$12.50 one way or US$25 return per person, just like you would pre-book other transfers & excursions.
- Official Ravenna Tourism Board Shuttle: This shuttle requires pre-booking and makes stops at Ravenna hotels and the train station. While convenient, it is pricier (€20 one-way)
- Local Bus: (Not recommended) Bus 90 from Bologna will stop at “Port Corsini Via Sirotti” stop, approximately 10 minutes walk to the cruise terminal. Catch it outside Ravenna train station called “Maroncelli Fs Box 1” stop. This service is largely catered to locals visiting the beaches close to Marina di Ravenna. Single tickets from the driver are €2. There is a luggage storage compartment underneath the bus. (The “bus” is a motorcoach!)
Ravenna is one of the rare ports where a cruise line will run a port shuttle on embarkation day and you may be suspicious whether it’s true. Ravenna lacks the tourist infrastructure to cope with so many cruisers arriving and departing to/fro the port. As the port doesn’t run a shuttle and there are insufficient number of taxis in Ravenna town to get cruisers to port, I think RC & Celebrity didn’t have any other option than to offer their own shuttles to/fro Ravenna train station.
I don’t recommend relying solely on local taxis for reaching Ravenna cruise port. During my first visit in 2022 (when Celebrity & RC first started using Ravenna), I learned there were fewer than 10 licensed taxis in the entire town! The situation has improved since then but the sheer number of arriving cruisers makes securing a taxi challenging.
Bologna City Centre to Ravenna Cruise Port by Train
If you’re arriving the day before embarkation day and staying overnight in Bologna City Centre, the easiest way is to take the regional train from Bologna Centrale to Ravenna station and then hop onto the cruise line run shuttle from Ravenna station to Ravenna Cruise Port.
For my cruise, Royal Caribbean did not offer an option for a coach transfer directly from Bologna city centre to Ravenna Cruise Port, so the train + shuttle combo was my only option!
- Train Frequency: Regional trains between Bologna and Ravenna run hourly, with even more frequent service during peak travel times. Tickets don’t sell out, so there’s no need to pre-book. The journey takes approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes.
- Stations:
- Depart from Bologna’s main station, “Bologna Centrale.”
- Arrive at “Ravenna” station – not “Marina di Ravenna.” While Marina di Ravenna station is closer to the cruise terminal, there’s no way to cross the canal, so avoid going to the wrong station!
- Timetables: Check the latest schedules on RailEurope’s website
- Tickets: Purchase tickets online or from machines at Bologna Centrale (cards accepted). One-way tickets cost €8. All seats are second class.
- Luggage: While there’s no dedicated luggage racks on this regional service, I had no issues keeping my larger bags with me. Smaller bags can go underneath your seat. The trains are usually double-deckers.
- Transfer to Cruise Terminal: Shuttle services as above
Featured Image courtesy of Ravenna Tourismo
When I first visited Ravenna back in 2022, there wasn’t much online information about how to get to Ravenna Cruise Port. Not even Royal Caribbean could give me more details other than a shuttle was running!
So I hope that this guide has provided with sufficient information to plan for a seamless embarkation day at Ravenna Cruise Port, if you’re flying into Bologna. Please do drop me a comment below if you have any questions! Happy cruising!
Hi, and thank you so much for the helpful info!!
Have you heard anything if NCL offers shuttle service at the port. Planning to take the train from bologna to Ravenna for our NCL cruise in August, and hoping we can get the shuttle!
Hi Alex, I think so but the easiest way to know for sure is to log into your myNCL account as if you were trying to book a shore excursion. NCL usually charges US$20-25 return but given current events when fuel prices are going up, it may be more! Have a great cruise.
Boa noite! Adorei as informações. Gostaria de uma sugestão. Vou fazer um cruzeiro com a Royal Caribbean e vou chegar no aeroporto em Bolonha no dia anterior. Vc acha melhor dormir em Bolonha e ir de manhã a Ravena ou já ir no dia anterior a Ravena e dormir lá? Tem sempre o ônibus da cia do cruzeiro na estação de trem de Ravena? Precisa reservar? Pq se tem sempre o ônibus do cruzeiro, seria vantagem ir a Ravena no dia do cruzeiro, chegar na estação e já pegar o ônibus p porto. Me ajuda.
Olá! Como não falo português, este texto foi escrito com o auxílio do Google Tradutor. Você pode reservar o ônibus de traslado da estação de trem de Ravenna para o porto de cruzeiros de Ravenna pelo site da Royal Caribbean, após fazer login, da mesma forma que reserva qualquer outra excursão.
A escolha entre pernoitar em Ravenna ou Bolonha depende de (1) se você deseja visitar os mosaicos de Ravenna e (2) se encontrará acomodação em Ravenna dentro do seu orçamento. Nem todos apreciam mosaicos medievais! Ravenna é uma cidade pequena e terá menos opções de hospedagem do que Bolonha. Se o seu voo chegar ao Aeroporto de Bolonha (presumivelmente) no final do dia anterior ao embarque, então não creio que faça diferença.
Hi Zana. I love your port guides and the detailed information you provide. My husband and I are boarding a Celebrity ship in Ravenna later this month. We are spending a few days in Bologna and plan to take the train to Ravenna on the morning of the cruise. We have booked the bus transfer from the Ravenna station to the cruise port through Celebrity. We have heard from looking at other posts that we may need to navigate stairs at the Ravenna station with large bags to access the shuttle. Do you know if this is true? Does the Ravenna station have elevators that we can use? Thank you, Carmen
Hi Carmen,
Ravenna is a small station. From experience, there’s only one small lift that leads to the main station concourse at ground level for the main exit to the road outside, where the Celebrity shuttles will be. There’s another small lift that leads to the back street (Via Darsena – click for link to StreetView) to the station parking area behind the station but that’s not helpful to cruisers with luggage, because you’ll see from the map that you need to walk a big loop back to the front of the station.
While that one single lift to main station concourse is there, I found the queue to be SO LONG that I chose to carry up my bags up the stairs instead. If you’re unable to carry your own bags up stairs, my best tip is to check the “Lift and Ramp Status” page. Follow the link and then type in “Ravenna” – you’ll see whether there’s any issues with lifts and ramps. Note that the page is meant for wheelchair users with info on accessibility, so “not accessible” may just mean a ramp is not working. But I find that it’s the best source of info as to whether the lift is working or not. Unfortunately, it looks like there’s issues for most of October 2025. Hope you’ll have a good cruise nonetheless!
Very useful information! Thank you 🙏
Thanks very much Kelly! The lift situation is probably the single most asked question about Ravenna train station – I get quite a few emails. Will be updating the post with this info soon! Have a great cruise!
Just a heads up. We are on celebrity at the moment and their shuttle one way from Ravenna to Bologna airport is $49.95 US dollars one way.
Hi Deb, thanks for the updated pricing! I was quoted US$40 back in April 2025 so I guess the price has gone up! Hope you’re having a great time on your cruise!
This is incredibly helpful information and has reassured me that taking the train is the best option for our family. Thank you
Hi Richard, thanks for dropping me a note! I’m glad that the guide was helpful. Have a great cruise!
Hi Zana
Great information well laid out so clear to follow.
I’ve been reading all the questions and your answers have also been illuminating!!
I hadn’t thought about steps and transfer
My daughter is in a wheelchair too
And we have 2 large suitcases 2 cabin ones and then she has a medical bag too.
And of course we r women so handbags 🤣
We travel a lot on trains so I was thinking of using this way to get to our cruise with RC following our stay in Bologna but not sure it will work out now
Only one lift ? If it’s broken we can’t get to the correct station as she is in her wheelchair never mind the cases
It’s a shame as I like to use the local transport.
Thanks for the information though
Hi Sarah, thanks for your comment. For what it’s worth, I think the hardest part of the transfer for someone in a wheelchair is in fact from Ravenna train station to Ravenna cruise port, because of very limited options within Ravenna itself (being the small town that it is). So if RC can do an accessible transfer for your daughter from Ravenna train station, then it’s worthwhile to email the Sala Blu assistance service to see how they can help. After all, both Bologna and Ravenna train stations are officially listed as stations providing assistance for those with disability. (Click here and then “Emilia Romagna” region). There may well be facilities at both stations for those traveling in wheelchairs that I don’t know of and that’s why I’ve said I’m not qualified to give accessible travel advice when others have asked in the past. Hope you’ll have a great cruise nonetheless!