Ave Maria

  Ave Maria Mantova to Venice or Venice to Mantova
Italy

I really enjoyed the people and exploring a small part of Italy. Our crew was amazing.

  Ave Maria Bolzano to Venice
Italy

The trip was great. All of the itinerary was wonderful places to visit. The hotels and baggage management on the first three days was four-star.
The boat was very nice and we enjoyed it even more than the larger boat on The Danube trip. The food was amazing and Albert & Danny deserve a shout-out. Our guides Micaela and Ricardo were great guides, though Micaela could’ve slowed the pace some for us “push-bike” riders.
We loved the trip and will definitely be back. Thinking Spain/Portugal will be our next one.

  Ave Maria Mantova to Venice or Venice to Mantova
Italy

I loved being able to experience things I would have never found on my own. Meeting Franco the gondola builder, the cheese factory and the beauty of the river area were fantastic. The crew and food were outstanding. They were all very helpful and friendly and fostered a positive community among the guests. One tip is to bring a twin sheet as there is only a comforter on the bed.

  Ave Maria Mantova to Venice or Venice to Mantova
Italy

The Bike and Barge on the Ave Maria exceeded my expectations. The boat was very comfortable (twin beds, bathroom for each room). The room had more storage than expected which is good because I overpacked. The food was fantastic from the mushroom risotto to the homemade lasagna and tiramasu. The chef, boat captain and bike guides are extraordinary hard workers and such a pleasure to be around. We can't wait to go on another trip with them. Although I initially thought this was a self-guided tour, it is not. However, I am glad it was guided by Silvia and Caterina...two amazing people that made the trips a lot of fun.

  Ave Maria Mantova to Venice or Venice to Mantova
Italy

Wonderful tour. Experienced 3 day self guided portion. Barge crew was great. Georgio was very knowledgeable anout local area. He was an exceptional guide. Felt very comfortable asking questions.

  Ave Maria Mantova to Venice or Venice to Mantova
Italy

The boat was very nice, the scenery was lovely, food great, and the group interesting with people from a variety of countries. Guides, especially Stefania, were very good.

  Ave Maria Mantova to Venice or Venice to Mantova
Italy

This is the second time we’ve done this trip, so it was all very familiar. Our guide this time, Giorgio, was amazing! He made our various stops so interesting with his stories and all the history he has at his fingertips. The food was excellent on board the Ave Maria. Venice is the highlight, as you might expect. Suggestions for improvement - get a better guide for the walking tour in Mantova. The one we had seemed to think we were art history students. We didn’t get a very good overview of that wonderful city. Also, the Ave Maria should have a simple sheet to hand out when we arrive in Venice giving people explicit instructions about the various ways to get from the boat’s docking location to the airport. I’ve been to Venice 4 times, so I know how to navigate the transportation system, but many on the boat were confused and a bit anxious. All in all, though, this is a great trip and one I would recommend in a heartbeat.

  Ave Maria Mantova to Venice or Venice to Mantova
Italy

Great crew, very welcoming and helpful. The food was amazing and plenty of it.

  Ave Maria Mantova to Venice or Venice to Mantova
Italy

Cycling with Sylvia and Francesco! The places they decided to stop and tour-cheese factory, glass blowing in Marano, grandpa distillery… All great experiences. The food on board was fabulous! Chefs did a great job. Boat was orderly, clean comfortable. Would travel with them again in a heartbeat!

  Ave Maria Mantova to Venice or Venice to Mantova
Italy

Swimming in the Adriatic - twice - was a treat enjoyed by most. The first time we were on a public beach and rented an umbrella for shade during the two-hour break. The second time was on a more remote, private beach. People indulged both before and after dinner. It was a welcome relief from the record heat. TIP TO OTHERS: bring beach shoes - that sand can be quite hot on bare feet
THE MOST MEMORABLE - Standing on the top deck as we floated past the Medieval buildings and beautiful people of a city with no cars – Venice. We drank our apertifs and toasted to a splendid trip. TIP TO OTHERS - for women, wearing a casual dress in Venice is really a thing.

  Ave Maria Mantova to Venice or Venice to Mantova
Italy

The crew and tour guides were fantastic The food was great
The bike ride itself was not for all levels of bikers...lots of city biking that made many riders nervous. A large guided group made it difficult to keep everyone together, causing large gaps
The sites were sometimes great and other days just riding along a dyke with not much to see
The tour guides Hein and Marjoleine were very knowledgeable and interesting to listen to
The unfortunate plumbing issue on the boat upon embarkation wasn't ideal but they moved us upstairs to another room and others were put up in a hotel for 2 nights...they were dedicated to resolving the problem which was done on day 3.

  Ave Maria Mantova to Venice or Venice to Mantova
Italy

I loved the small family-like atmosphere of the boat. I also loved the built in guided tours.

  Ave Maria Mantova to Venice or Venice to Mantova
Italy

food, the crew, the bike leaders, both. the boat was very nice. Perfect again!!

  Ave Maria Mantova to Venice or Venice to Mantova
Italy

Great staff, incredible food, comfortable boat, and a great tour with fun and memorable stops such as glass factory, cheese factory, grappa wine tasting, and a carousel tour - so much fun with a great group of people!

  Ave Maria Mantova to Venice or Venice to Mantova
Italy

The trip was made more enjoyable by having a great tour guide, Hein. His local knowledge of history, culture and traffic patterns proved to be invaluable. The boat staff overall were also very accommodating and the food preparation superb. Even when we had a slight water leak in our cabin during overnight heavy rain, the crew expressed concern and responded quickly to the issue. Some suggestions for future tours include: 1) Providing name tags for the guests on the first day 2) Look into ways to improve the air flow within the cabins.

Overall we could recommend this tour and look forward to our next adventure.

  Ave Maria Mantova to Venice or Venice to Mantova
Italy

Great Trip!!
Amazing leaders on the barge.
Would suggest everyone to take
this trip. Venice to Mantova.

  Ave Maria Mantova to Venice or Venice to Mantova
Italy

The boat and crew were fantastic. The bikes were the best we have experienced so far doing these kinds of trips. Some wonderful excursions and side trips while biking . A few things could be improved upon I think. We all arrived (group of 10) in Mantova and ended up dragging our luggage through town (on sometimes very cobblestone bumpy streets) to get to the boat. Have heard this happens a lot. Taxi/uber service is kind of non-existent. For any older travelers the option of dragging luggage would not be realistic. Something need to be set up for customer pickups. Also, I know from talking to the tour guides that the amount of time we get to spend in Ferrara is an issue. It's a wonderful city and we were in and out much too quickly. Not sure there is an answer to this. Overall an amazing trip with a crew that seemed to be having as much fun as we were.

  Ave Maria Mantova to Venice or Venice to Mantova
Italy

We loved our bike and barge trip from Venice to Mantova. The guides were helpful and friendly, the barge was extremely comfortable, the chefs were masterful and the scenery was gorgeous! It was one of the best bike and barge experiences we've had.

  Ave Maria Mantova to Venice or Venice to Mantova
Italy

We had the best of many worlds on our trip. Patient, helpful and friendly guides; outstanding chefs; competent and patient captain and crew. The scenery was gorgeous and we especially loved the areas around Venice and Murano. Our cabin was super clean and comfortable. And our fellow travelers were so easy to be with. We noticed the shower was actually the biggest shower we used during our three weeks in Italy! A little rain towards the end of the trip, but nothing anyone can do about that.

  Ave Maria Mantova to Venice or Venice to Mantova
Italy

Venice back canals. Swimming in adriatic sea. Feedback bikes should have mirrors or tell people to bring them.

  Ave Maria Mantova to Venice or Venice to Mantova
Italy

The fun interaction with all the other people on the barge. Also, the fantastic guides and crew - all were great. Food terrific as evidenced by the 5 lbs. I gained!
While the terrain was flat, there was a couple of days when we had gravel and tree roots which made the going a little tougher and hard on the butt and lower back. An additional cushioned seat cover would have helped. Many people had Emile’s which were helpful over the rougher terrain. I never thought I would need one but I am almost 85 and have a broken down lower back. I really struggled on the second day when we did 50 km and some lengthy rough patches. People with e-bikes felt they were very good bikes, heavier than a regular bike but expected. The regular bikes were excellent other than a little more cushioning would help. The scenery along the way is not very interesting.
but earlier reviews mentioned that. It’s more about the fun of the group. This is likely my last bike trip but it was a great one. All of the bike & barge trips are terrific.

  Ave Maria Mantova to Venice or Venice to Mantova
Italy

This was the seventh bike/barge tour, in Europe, which I have taken. It was a wonderful tour. The boat, the crew and the guides were among if not the best. In particular the quality and the presentation of the food was outstanding,. I have three suggestions that in my opinion would have made the trip more comfortable. The first is quite minor but most North Americans use a facecloth in the bathrooms, I would prefer this to the two handtowels which were provided for each guest, Secondly, on each of my earlier trips better accommodations were made for guests to dry out light laundry or wet clothing. A clothesline set up on upper patio could work well for this, Finally, my experience is that cycling in a group of 31 is awkward and potentially dangerous. Our two guides worked together very well to control the traffic and allow the whole group to cross major roads safely but two smaller groups would mean shorter traffic delays.
Overall a great trip which I will gladly recommend yo others

  Ave Maria Mantova to Venice or Venice to Mantova
Italy

Hard to pick any single thing - the staff was likely the best part, with great tour leaders, followed by how good the food was!

  Ave Maria Mantova to Venice or Venice to Mantova
Italy

Food was good, but I would of liked more vegetables at dinners.
It would of been nice to have some organized group activities ( especially the first night) so people could get to know each other better . Just standing up and saying your name and where you were from was definitely not enough. After dinner, so many people just went to their rooms . If there was an organized fun event to do, then people would of stayed in the main room and participated.

  Ave Maria Mantova to Venice or Venice to Mantova
Italy

Fabulous trip! Tripsite personnel were great and the Ave Maria and staff were outstanding!

  Ave Maria Mantova to Venice or Venice to Mantova
Italy

The six “ crew members” , especially Sylvia who’s English was great and energy outstanding! Next the food! Amazing. Finally the biking and scenery and tours along the way.
I would definitely recommend others to plan an extended stay in Venice before the cruise begins as it is such a wonderful place and more time is needed to see it all.

  Ave Maria Mantova to Venice or Venice to Mantova
Italy

There were countless unforgettable moments on our trip! Every day was filled with excitement, from leisurely bike rides along the River Po through picturesque cornfields and poplar tree groves to tasting grappa and exploring the captivating carnival museum. Arriving in Venice by boat was an absolute blast, and witnessing the mesmerizing glass-blowing demonstration on Murano Island was genuinely fascinating. The food on board surpassed all expectations, and the crew's warm hospitality, wealth of knowledge, and lively spirit made the journey even more enjoyable. The delightful surprise of receiving a cookbook on our final night was the perfect ending to an already incredible experience. My advice to anyone considering this tour is simple: book it for an unforgettable adventure!

  Ave Maria Mantova to Venice or Venice to Mantova
Italy

Great crew and food. I thought stops and rides were well planned for a vacation in Europe .

  Ave Maria Mantova to Venice or Venice to Mantova
Italy

The meals were delicious, staff professional and knowledgeable!

  Ave Maria Mantova to Venice or Venice to Mantova
Italy

It’s hard to pick one thing. The ride leaders & rides were awesome. They took the time to make sure there was a great bike fit. Food was spectacular everyday. Fresh and delicious. The crew were funny and knew their boat. Rooms were clean and ready for us when we arrived. And Venice to Mantova—perfect. I highly recommend this trip and this boat.

  Ave Maria Mantova to Venice or Venice to Mantova
Italy

  Ave Maria Mantova to Venice or Venice to Mantova
Italy

The Mantova to Venice trip cannot be broken into more or less memorable. It is just one great memorable experience. From the skipper who manoeuvres that large ship in tight spaces, to the chef and sous chef with their delicious meals, the skippers mate who cuts breakfast fruits with such delicacy and the guides who have such a knowledge and love of their country. All are top knotch. The itinerary varies with stops on the way to visit local places of interest so that one gets both exercise and to learn about the area.

  Ave Maria Mantova to Venice or Venice to Mantova
Italy

I the whole experience was memorable, but the most exceptional was the food. Danny was truly a chef who was interested in preparing the meals with a purpose. He also kept good eating habits in mind, offering a great variety of vegetables in each meal.

  Ave Maria Mantova to Venice or Venice to Mantova
Italy

The excellent Tour Guides! I felt totally safe on every outing! They were so attentive to everyone's needs and requests.
Informed us about the areas we visited.
They were very respectful at all times.

  Ave Maria Mantova to Venice or Venice to Mantova
Italy

I loved everything about this adventure.
My ebike was easy to understand and to ride. The whole crew were so amazing, welcoming and attentive. Our meals were delicious. We rode through the countryside and along the river. At times we were on main roads..but not for long.
I had a memorable time on the Ava Maria, a very positive experience.I would definitely do it again.

  Ave Maria Mantova to Venice or Venice to Mantova
Italy

Our tour guides, Hein and Irene made the tour so special! The chefs, Alberto and Francesco were amazing. Captain "Van Gogh" was great. The tour was a blast from start to finish!

  Ave Maria Mantova to Venice or Venice to Mantova
Italy

Fabulous trip!! We did this same trip 8 years ago
and returned again this summer with friends as it was our favorite trip… it did not disappoint!
Highly recommend….from the great scenery to the fabulous meals and amazing tour guides!

  Ave Maria Mantova to Venice or Venice to Mantova
Italy

It’s awfully hard to pick out “the most memorable” part of the trip. The whole experience was great: the biking, the connections made with fellow riders, the crew, the food, the boat. It was all top rate. I guess I’d have to pick out the biking as the most memorable. The points of interest along the way were great. I loved the cheese factory, the glass blowing place, the carnival museum and the distillery. I probably wouldn’t have chosen to visit those places if on my own, but in the end I truly enjoyed them. The Ave Maria is a beautiful boat. The bikes were almost new and in excellent condition. The crew (and guides) made everything go smoothly. The chefs took my food intolerances seriously and made it easy for me to enjoy the food on board.

  Ave Maria Mantova to Venice or Venice to Mantova
Italy

The general organization of the trip, and the great staff aboard!
Disappointed with the scenery along the routes - often quite monotonous

  Ave Maria Mantova to Venice or Venice to Mantova
Italy

It was our first trip on a smaller boat and we enjoyed getting to know all the other bikers and also the crew. It was also our first trip with a guide(s) and it was nice to not be concerned with navigating. The guides were excellent and the mini tours we interesting. My only suggestion is it would be nice to know more about the lunch stop ahead of time so we could decide whether we wanted to bring a lunch or eat at the restaurant.

  Ave Maria Mantova to Venice or Venice to Mantova
Italy

Biking by river Po, the visits to the distillery and cheese factory

  Ave Maria Mantova to Venice or Venice to Mantova
Italy

The guides and staff were fantastic.

The trip was a wonderful way to see Italy minus the crowds.

  Ave Maria Mantova to Venice or Venice to Mantova
Italy

The excellent crew, good food and beautiful bike rides and scenery.

  Ave Maria Mantova to Venice or Venice to Mantova
Italy

The trip was well organized, our boat was comfortable and the food was incredible! The tour took us through quaint little villages and the arranged stops were all informative and enjoyable. My favourite was Grana Parma. We chose self-guided, and enjoyed the flexibility that gave. Sylvie took time each day to explain any potential areas of concern. Overall, a great experience!

  Ave Maria Mantova to Venice or Venice to Mantova
Italy

Beautiful bike trails and amazing food! The boat staff were amazing and very friendly. The tour guide Sylvia was so very helpful to our group who did our own tour.

  Ave Maria Mantova to Venice or Venice to Mantova
Italy

The staff was amazing, so friendly and very helpful. It was nice to see how they all worked so closely. The food was amazing. Great job.

  Ave Maria Mantova to Venice or Venice to Mantova
Italy

The crew worked very well together, supporting each other.
Also, the fact that the number of guests was not large, contributed to a sense of community.
For suggestions: I couldn't get wifi in my lower deck room - as was true for others I spoke with, and had to go to the dinning room for service.

  Ave Maria Mantova to Venice or Venice to Mantova
Italy

The most memorable moment of my trip was the guided tours through special viewings of Venice and surrounding islands to capture the true essence of the Italian culture is our expert tour leaders, Silvia and Marco. My favorite part was stopping through one of the smallest villages and see an elderly man raising the flag at noon, as he has done daily for many decades.