Those photos are pretty horrific. In all my trips to Venice, I've never seen anything like that. But I've always been there off-season: January, February or March. Other than the one time I attempted Venice during Carnivale (something I was excited to do once and don't need to do ever again), I haven't seen those kinds of crowds and have been lucky to never experience the effect of a large ship in port. January was a wonderful time to be there - very cold but so quiet, even the San Marco sestiere. I recall walking through near-empty streets with some light snow flurries falling and it was magical, almost like I had this lovely city to myself.

But I'd never travel to Venice during cruise ship season. I understand the need for the revenue visitors brings in - I work in tourism - but there has to be a happy medium between tourists contributing to the local economy vs overrunning an astonishing beautiful and unique city that has to be preserved long after the day-trippers have returned to their ships.