Here's a preview of the ship, destinations and culinary experiences -- all from clips taken onsite, aboard and in the places you'll be visiting.
There's no better time to get married in Venice than springtime, and with it being Easter weekend, the stunning Venetian setting will be even more magical.
The icing on the cake is that the happy couple, their families, and friends will not just celebrate the special event, but travel together for 7 days. 6 nights on a shared river cruise ship.
IMPORTANT UPDATE: As of 9/27/26, Raine & Jack's family and friends' group are the only travelers aboard the MS Michelangelo, but that may change. While we managed to secure the same rates for 40-50 travelers as for the original full charter (based on 100 sharing the cost), this means that others could soon also book this same trip. However, the good news is that if the interest continues, and additional family & friends travelers join, the exclusive charter remains a possibility.
This Italian river cruise journey puts everyone in the very heart of Venice for 4 days/3 nights, gives you early access to colorful Burano, hosts early-riser coffee and croissants, delicious, relaxed breakfasts, XXL served lunches, and fine-dining dinners, followed by relaxed (no-wave) cruising to another stunning place that rivals Florence in history and beauty, but without the crowds.
8h 25m
1h
1h 5m
9h 40m
Accommodation is in a cabin of your choice on the main or upper deck, either shared by 2 people with 1 double bed or two twin beds (each traveler pays for their stay) or in single occupancy (supplement applies). There are only two single cabins available.
Tasty, freshly prepared breakfast, lunch, and dinners (multi-course), including a special welcome cocktail, gala dinner, plus fresh fruit throughout the day and additional treats by the Inside Europe Team
All beverages are included, starting with coffe/tea, juices, and milk (also cow-alternative) for breakfast, followed by full bar service from late morning until 11 pm/midnight, with daily-changing local wines (white, red, rosé) and draft beer served at lunch and dinner, all other drinks can be ordered at the bar throughout the day (also espresso drinks), plus daily cocktail specialties (also non-alcoholic options), as well as most liquors such as Aperol, Campari, vodka, rum, etc. Sparkling wine is also included for mimosas, kir, etc. Only top-top shelf liquors are an additional charge.
Group flights in economy class from CLT with Lufthansa/Air Dolomiti on 3/26 to Venice via Munich and back on 4/2/27 with same-day arrival (see flight section for details) - Group flights are confirmed at $1306 for 40 travelers with fuel surcharges and taxes as of 8/31/26. Group flights cannot be changed or upgraded, if you prefer a specific seat, please book your own flight as LH will assign seats in a group block in January at time of ticketing. A minimum of 10 travelers is needed to offer Air-Cruise.
We've got Raine + Jack's wedding celebration: from the rehearsal and celebration dinners on board to the special ceremony in a stunning location.
Sandra and Ted, the owners of Inside Europe did get marrried in Venice in 2007 because it's one of their alltime favorite places. They've been back many times and know where to go and what to do during free time. You'll travel with insider tips and their personal guidance as to where to go, what to do, which souvenirs to buy, etc.
While there won't be any shows like on big ships and the stars of the journey are (y)our bride + groom anyway, there'll be daily activities such as destination overview/lectures, specialty drinks, some trivia, and nightly music. A special live music duo will also come aboard for the wedding celebration reception and everyone to dance the night away with Raine + Jack.
The CroisiEurope team is exceptional: multi-lingual, highly professional and very experienced. What sets this European cruiseline apart is that they treat their staff really well and the majority of the team members has been with the company for many years if not a decade or more.
In the unlikely event of an emergency, whether medical or otherwise, the CroisiEurope team, together with Inside Europe, is at your disposal day/night to help you navigate the situation. Please obtain travel insurance (cost excluded).
Arrive in Venice by 5 pm on Saturday, March 27, for embarkation. For your return flight, we recommend a departure time after 10 am on Friday, April 2, 2027, as you need to transfer from Mantua to VCE. The ship can call you a taxi, or our team can assist with transfers, too.
We suggest $80 per traveler
To keep the overall cost affordable and focus on the wedding celebrations, no entrances or sightseeing is included other than the events mentioned in the itinerary. Our team in the US as well as the team on the ship are happy to assist with individual arrangements and offer guidance throughout the planning as well as on the cruise.
For example, special vintage wines from the extra wine menu, champagne, and also Jack Daniel's. You may bring your own favorite brand on board as well and all available mixers are provided free of charge.
Personal services like souvenirs, off-ship food and drinks, and transportation such as water taxis or gondola hire are not included. Again, we're happy to help and make suggestions, but these expenses are extra.
Raine + Jack as well as their families ask all travelers to obtain travel insurance with trip cancellation to protect their investment in this journey and ensure that in the unlikely event of an illness or an earlier return, you are covered. Inside Europe recommends ArchRoam and you can select the group policy or an individual plan. We're happy to assist in making the choice that is best for you. If you're paying by credit card, your card may offer travel insurance.
If you pay by credit card, fees apply and vary by your card provider and the booking platform. Inside Europe does not collect these fees, and just like payments by CC, these fees are non-refundable.
Embarkation is at 5 p.m. followed by a welcome cocktail and dinner once everyone's settled..
Early arrivals can drop off their luggage and start exploring the stunning location, Venice's main island, right away. Say 'Cin Cin' with an Aperol Spritz, draft beer, or Italian juice/ American soda at the welcome cocktail where you meet the captain and crew. Then the diet officially ends: a four-course dinner is followed by a free evening to walk it off across now quiet St. Mark's Square and the Rialto Bridge (as the day-trippers have long left), or head over to quieter Sant'Elena, where Venice starts to feel like a neighborhood again.
Six nights aboard the MS Michelangelo, beginning with embarkation in Venice. The ship's docked in the heart of the main island, and then again in easy walking distance to Mantua (as pictured below).
1h
Buongiorno a tutti: Goooood morning with THE VIEW.
As you'll sip your first (or third) cappuccino, add a little or a lot of juice to your mimosa (no extra charge, and zero judgment), the ship glides through the Venetian lagoon to Mazzorbo. From there, it's a short, highly scenic walk into Burano — lace-making alleys and candy-colored houses that photograph better than any filter could improve. Soak up the colorful fishermen's-town atmosphere before the crowds arrive. If you enjoy people-watching, linger longer; otherwise, we'll show you areas that you'll have all to yourself. Option to attend Catholic Mass, too
If you're into Murano glass, we'll help you hop on a boat to the neighboring island and take a look behind the scenes of the big glass-blowing factories, meet artisan makers, or stroll the art museums.
The evening is at leisure in Venice.
Monday, March 29, 2027, which is an Italian holiday known as Pasquetta, is the date reserved for RAINE + JACK'S WEDDING — the centerpiece of this Italian cruise. For now, the venue remains a secret, but rest assured, it's a stunning historical backdrop for the equally stunning bride, groom Jack and the wedding party. While the locals won't be invited to the private celebrations, today they'll be all dressed up, too. Being in Venice for a wedding is pure magic and while you have to believe us for now, you'll experience it soon yourself.
From Venice, you'll cross from the lagoon briefly into the sea, but then the mainland pulls the ship in. Chioggia — the "mini Venice" — makes an appealing stop for a glimpse at what Venice was once upon a time: a busy, very much lived-in city. In Chioggia, the locals aren't outnumbered by tourists, but, and you better watch out, they don't just use boats, but also scooters and cars here - as only part of their 'island' is built on stilts with canals and bridges.
After Chioggia, it's on to the Canale Bianco itself, the stretch where Venetian marble gives way to open countryside and the sound of serene nature takes over.
Continuing on via small towns, the ship makes its way to and docks in Mantua for the final nights. You'll be in very short walking distance to the historic city center.
Mantua earns the "mini-Florence" tag on pedigree, not hype — the Gonzaga ruled it longer than the Medici ruled Florence, and they bought the same tier of talent (Mantegna, Alberti, Giulio Romano). What it skipped was the century of tourism branding that turned Florence into a hotspot for overtourism. Mantua's got it's own iconic silhouette, and stunning vista, but it stayed a real town of ~50,000 living around its own Renaissance instead of servicing day-trippers.
The geography does the rest: Mantua sits ringed by three 12th-century artificial lakes, so you get a Venice-adjacent reflected skyline with zero vaporetto chaos. The art is A-list (Mantegna's Camera degli Sposi, Giulio Romano's deliberately vertiginous Sala dei Giganti at Palazzo Te), the trade-off is fewer English menus at the many charming cafes and a much slower pace.
You'll have a full second day to explore magical Mantua — wander the porticoed centro storico, browse the Piazza delle Erbe market, shop for locally made souvenirs, try the famous gelato, and bring a bottle of good Lambrusco back for aperitivo hour. On board, a final festive dinner closes out the trip in style.