The day-trippers come for Trieste

A steady stream of tourists clad in shorts and sneakers marched from a hulking cruise ship into the stunning piazza of a northern Italian city, many making a beeline for an alluring cafe with rows of outdoor tables.

- Shannon Sims

Those that do will be carrying more passengers. Now, when cruise lines advertise a stop in Venice, many of them mean Trieste. Norwegian Cruise Line, for example, advertises 'Venice (Trieste)' itineraries. Other companies like MSC Cruises and Costa Cruises have also shifted toward Trieste, where passengers typically take a quick walk around town before boarding buses. The piazza ebbs and flows between crowds and calm as ships come and go.