NCL Rome.... Sistine Chapel and a Good Meal Only

[ajtraveler66]

We'll hit Rome around the middle of our cruise.....After a full day in Monte Carlo (Nice, Cannes) and a full day in Florence (Cinque Terre) we will probably be ready for a more relaxed day.

Our party has agreed that all we really MUST SEE in Rome is the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. We'd also like to take in a nice lunch and maybe (for a change) get back to the cruise ship a little early to rest up for a full day in Naples (Sorrento, Pompeii).

So for Rome, we are going to be daring and try to do it on our own without an NCL Shore Excursion.

What we are looking for here is time efficiency. We assume we will have to take a train into Rome....but making arrangements to see the Ceiling of the Sistine Chapel is another matter. I'm open to suggestions on saving some time especially avoiding waiting in the line to see the ceiling.

Also, while we are at it.....Any lunch suggestions?

[TA5]

Arrange a tour guide for the Sistine Chapel, and buy tickets in advance from the vatican website.

[hamrag]

Originally Posted by ajtraveler66

We'll hit Rome around the middle of our cruise.....After a full day in Monte Carlo (Nice, Cannes) and a full day in Florence (Cinque Terre) we will probably be ready for a more relaxed day.

Our party has agreed that all we really MUST SEE in Rome is the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. We'd also like to take in a nice lunch and maybe (for a change) get back to the cruise ship a little early to rest up for a full day in Naples (Sorrento, Pompeii).

So for Rome, we are going to be daring and try to do it on our own without an NCL Shore Excursion.

What we are looking for here is time efficiency. We assume we will have to take a train into Rome....but making arrangements to see the Ceiling of the Sistine Chapel is another matter. I'm open to suggestions on saving some time especially avoiding waiting in the line to see the ceiling.

Also, while we are at it.....Any lunch suggestions?

Train cost is only 9 euro return. Get off at San Pietro station and you will be in St Peter's square 10 minutes later. Google tren italia and you will get the official train website and put in civitavecchia and Rome, which will give you the train times. We normally get the first one after 9.00am and last time we were in the square by 10.00am, beating almost all crowds. Just ask someone there where to go for Sistine and do it. Then reverse process, back to ship. Cannot comment on lunch, we prefer to use time touring, but you could have a late lunch on board the ship!

[Victress2007]

On the north side (I think) of Vatican City there is a street that has shop after shop catering to the clothing and accouterments of priests. It's not really called priest street, that is what I nicknamed it (I never really thought about where they get all the items that are not widely available until I went to Rome). Anyway, on that street there are also plenty of restaurants. I don't think I ate at any trattorias the whole 2 weeks we were in Italy that weren't wonderful.

Enjoy!
Vic

[dobiemom]

This might sound funny but we had the best Chinese food by the Sistine Chapel. We were on a land vacation and by the time we saw the Sistine Chapel my GF was saying, "no more paninis!"

[janvino]

Originally Posted by ajtraveler66

We'll hit Rome around the middle of our cruise.....After a full day in Monte Carlo (Nice, Cannes) and a full day in Florence (Cinque Terre) we will probably be ready for a more relaxed day.

Our party has agreed that all we really MUST SEE in Rome is the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. We'd also like to take in a nice lunch and maybe (for a change) get back to the cruise ship a little early to rest up for a full day in Naples (Sorrento, Pompeii).

So for Rome, we are going to be daring and try to do it on our own without an NCL Shore Excursion.

What we are looking for here is time efficiency. We assume we will have to take a train into Rome....but making arrangements to see the Ceiling of the Sistine Chapel is another matter. I'm open to suggestions on saving some time especially avoiding waiting in the line to see the ceiling.

Also, while we are at it.....Any lunch suggestions?

Just be sure that you are not there on an RC religous holyday (holiday) as the Sistine Chapel is always closed to tourists. I have been to Rome twice now during cruises and have yet to see the very thing I wanted most to see, because both times it was a holiday. Oh well guess I'll just have to suffer yet another cruise to Europe.

[HarpHarp]

You have great advice above for your question.
Two (THREE) more comments:
Make sure you are appropriately attired, They are very strict about dress code to get into St. Peter's

Check this web site to make sure there is not a train strike scheduled when you are in port. You don't want to miss the ship.
http://www.summerinitaly.com/planning/strike.asp

Have some Gelato for me!

[Whippets]

Be prepared as the Sistene Chapel will bring tears to your eyes it is so beautiful.

We hired RomeInLimo as our transportation to and from the port and they made all of our arrangements. Certainly worth every penny! They know all of the best stops and restaurants too!

[lynneamycruise]

We toured the vatican museum and the sistine chapel with Angel Tours...we had a young gal from the UK that was knowlegable and very interesting. We went a couple of years ago and it was actually free, but they accepted tips (we tipped her $20 a piece)...attached is the link for the tours. We met her in St. Peter's square, she was carrying an Angel umbrella. There was a huge line to get into the Vatican...I heard there usually is...they can usually skip the line which will save you time.
We really enjoyed her tour...it was highlights which I think you will have to do as you just have a day.
http://www.angeltoursrome.com

Eating in Trastevere area is very fun...it is one of my favorite parts of Rome...old and a little funky. Also, to go to one the the big Plazas like Plaza Narvona or Campo di Florie is fun to eat as well...Rick Steves has great books on Rome.

[sjbdtz]

Originally Posted by Whippets

Be prepared as the Sistene Chapel will bring tears to your eyes it is so beautiful.

!

Really? Been there. Between the guards telling everyone to Shhh, and no photo (and trying to focus the camera surreptiiously), it wasn't all that impressive.


OP.....I understand you've determined what's important to see in Rome...but have you been before? There are don't-miss things in Rome like the Pantheon, or the Colisseum which are fairly easy to see (the Pantheon is free, and no line-ups)...the colisseum has line-ups, but there are ways around it.

Rome is a very walkable city...on our first trip there we went with Stefano from RomeInLimo, and the 2nd time took the train and then walked around.

If you're going, for S & G's, read Dan Brown's Angels & Demons which uses Rome as its backdrop.

There's so much impressive architecture, statuary, etc. that to miss it in favor of having energy for Capri & Naples....seems unfortunate.

In your stead, I'd do the opposite. Cram a lot into Rome, and relax on the hydrofoil to Capri, the bus ride to Pompeii, and back.