For Venice, I’d pick the 126 passenger S.S. La Venezia, which began life as Uniworld’s River Countess but was completely refitted in 2020 for sailing in the Venetian Lagoon. My first impression was the striking interior design, decorated with Murano glass and patterned fabrics giving it a notably ornate and ‘Venetian’ feel. There are three dining venues on board, all serving Italian-inspired dishes, and a mix of public areas for relaxing between excursions.

For me, though, the real appeal is the range of shore excursions and the sense of getting away from the worst of the tourist bustle. We took an evening visit to St Mark's Basilica once the crowds had cleared, with the doors opened just for us. Experiencing this glorious space in the soft evening light, entirely unhurried and peaceful, was truly magical.

While the mega cruises dock at the industrial port on the mainland at Marghera, on the La Venezia you get to experience the Venetian Lagoon in its full glory, visiting lesser-visited islands and docking right in historic Venice.