Floating Hotel Ave Maria

The barge

About the barge

Ave Maria is a comfortable river cruise ship made in Italy, built with innovative solutions and where materials were chosen with aesthetics and comfort in mind. It is also a small barge capable of passing under low bridges and sailing on shallow water, typical of Italian waterways.
The barge was custom-built using the salvaged hull of a Po River dredge, all in strict compliance with new and stricter safety and eco-friendly standards. Ave Maria is an “environmentally sustainable” boat due to energy conservation on board, purification of dark water, and navigation that does not damage the shores.

• where: North-East Italy
• barge size: 41 m long and 7.5 m wide
• cabins: 17
• capacity: 31 guests in low beds plus additional guests in bunk beds (on request)
• air conditioning in the whole barge
• WiFi available in common areas
• comfort Gold

About the navigation

Ave Maria has been specifically designed to sail along uncrowded waterways parallel to the Po river, not on the Po itself.

Dry spells happen more and more often in large rivers (Po, Rhine, Danube…). However, since 2011 we have never had a day’s stop due to drought: the “Fissero-Tartaro-Canalbianco” canal that runs parallel to the Po River is regulated by a system of 6+3 locks, which guarantees a constant level of water, thus enabling navigation all year round, all the time.

Charter Request this barge exclusively for you group Get a quote

Cabins

Layout

Cabin and furniture design allows for maximum space and comfort.

17 cabins:

• 4 upper deck dbl/twin cabins 11 sq.m (D)
• 10 lower deck dbl/twin cabins 11 sq.m (B,C)
• 3 lower deck single cabins 7.5 sq.m (A)
• most cabins can be arranged with either a double bed or two separate beds
• possible additional bunk beds in some cabins

Features

• Comfortable low beds (2.00 m x 0.80 m)
• En-suite facilities
• Large windows
• Individually controlled air conditioning
• Safe deposit box
• Under the beds there is an empty space for luggage storage: H36cm x W112cm x D80cm
• Sheets and towels
• Hair dryer (to request on board)
• Courtesy kit with eco solid soaps (hand + body + shampoo) and shower cap
• Mid-week cabin cleaning service and towel change
• Schuko bipolar sockets (220V – 50Hz, Europlug and other plugs compatible)

Common areas

Restaurant and lounge

You can enjoy breakfasts and dinners in the cozy and bright restaurant hall with large panoramic windows.
A lounge area is available for relaxation with a wide selection of board games, books and travel guides, a 55” multimedia screen, and free WiFi.

Both restaurant and lounge are air-conditioned.

Sundeck

The sundeck with tables and chairs is the perfect spot to enjoy sailing, outdoor dining and chat with you new travel companions.

Bike storage

Bikes are stowed away on a compact, vertical rack with a secure locking mechanism and are available to passengers at all times. E-bikes can be recharged here.

Food and beverages

Onboard kitchen

Fresh and local ingredients and traditional recipes are prepared by the chefs with care and passion (very limited use of frozen and industrial food). Some of their dishes have made it into a cookbook by popular demand. Browse through a preview of the Ave Maria cookbook.
A selection of Italian wines accompanies the courses, and the wait staff will be able to advise you on the best pairing.
And as well as the wine, the coffee is also carefully selected: a professional machine, running h24, serves guests a blend of artisanal coffee (50% robusta, 50% arabica) sourced from Italian roasters. Produced according to the ancient Neapolitan tradition, the blend is packaged by Cooperativa Lazzarelle, a women-only cooperative established in 2010 inside the largest women’s prison in Pozzuoli (Naples).

 

Breakfast

rich buffet

sweet and salty

coffee and hot drinks

juices

fresh fruit

Lunch

packed lunch prepared by you

fresh ingredients

Afternoon snack

a yummy snack, like a slice of cake or fruit

coffee or tea

Dinner

3 course

typical dishes of the traditional Italian cuisine

fresh ingredients

selection of Italian wines

 

If you are vegetarian, gluten-intolerant or allergic to some specific ingredients/substances please indicate it at the moment of booking.

Non-contamination during the preparation of meals cannot be guaranteed.

Amenities

Included in the price

WiFi in common areas (limited quality depending on the 4G/5G connection. We suggest buying one of these popular international weekly e-sim: Airalo, Holafly, Maya Mobile…)

Air conditioning in the whole barge

Welcome drink

Free coffee and hot drinks h24

Water on board is drinkable and there is a still and sparkling water dispenser (room temperature or cold water)

Ice dispenser

Board games

Books and travel guides

A 47” multimedia screen

On request for groups or charters

Private transfers (by bus or water taxi)

Cooking classes

Wine tastings

Open bar

Events on board

Not included in the price

Drinks, such as wine, beer, and soft drinks are available for purchase on board (cash and credit card payments are accepted)

There is no laundry service on board, however in Mantua and Venice laundries are available at a short distance

To discover

Art cities

Mantua, Ferrara and Venice are the best known: your floating hotel is a perfect starting point for discovering their masterpieces of art and architecture. The itinerary also takes you to smaller towns, such as Adria, an ancient Roman port on the Adriatic, and Chioggia, a fishing town that is a fascinating web of alleys and canals.

Water landscapes

Rivers, lakes, the sea: water is the undisputed protagonist of the journey between Mantua and Venice, and the landscape is very varied. Dense, lush vegetation on the banks of the Mincio and Po rivers, as well as irrigation canals inland form a sort of watery mirror of the Venice Lagoon.

The hinterland

Ave Maria’s river itinerary crosses the Po Valley, with its wealth of production, culture and history. You’ll visit a dairy that produces the famous Grana Padano cheese, the unusual Museum of Amusement rides and Popular Entertainment in Bergantino with jousts and carousels from the 1800s, the tiny village of Zelo, and the fishing valleys of Chioggia.

Tours

Bike and barge

From March through October you can hop aboard for weeks by Bike and Boat from Mantua to Venice (or vice versa). Departures every Saturday with a tour leader and international group or with the option to cycle independently following our App that contains maps, roadbook, points of interest and GPS tracks. The itinerary combines easy cycling with overnight stays on the barge.

Bike and Barge

The waterways of Venice

from Mantua to Venice

Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct

from 1470 €

8 days / 1 person

Tailor-made programs

Reserve this barge exclusively for your group and plan a special vacation for your club, association or family members. You can select a date from the tour calendar or request a personalized departure for greater flexibility. Please be aware that chartering a ship is contingent on availability, and we highly recommend booking in advance.