Civitavecchia

Hi All,

Starting a Thomson"Italian Flavours" cruise next week, which includes a stop at Civitavacchia, for a visit to Rome. We tend not to use onboard excursions, whenever possible, and do trips ourselves or with other similar minded passengers.

Can anyone provide good advice regarding the most economic way of getting from this port to Rome and back, maximising our time in Rome. I gather that the coach transfer is long and tedious, that there is a train service, but that current building work at the south side of the port has created problems in getting to the station. Also best ways of seeing as much of Rome in the time available. We arrive in port at 7am and leave at 7pm.

All tips/guidance/help welcome

regards, M

Look on the Ports of Call Board

Europe-Italy.

Welcome to Cruise Critic.

This link will take you to the Italy Ports Of Call Board which is the perfect board to ask your question.

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?s=&daysprune=-1&f=595

Keith

Hi All,

 

Starting a Thomson"Italian Flavours" cruise next week, which includes a stop at Civitavacchia, for a visit to Rome. We tend not to use onboard excursions, whenever possible, and do trips ourselves or with other similar minded passengers.

 

Can anyone provide good advice regarding the most economic way of getting from this port to Rome and back, maximising our time in Rome. I gather that the coach transfer is long and tedious, that there is a train service, but that current building work at the south side of the port has created problems in getting to the station. Also best ways of seeing as much of Rome in the time available. We arrive in port at 7am and leave at 7pm.

 

All tips/guidance/help welcome

 

regards, M

Welcome to Cruise,Critic!

You may also want to check the Roll Call for your cruise. Someone there may be planning a private tour and have room for you.

As far as I know the trainis the only economical way to get from Civitevechia to Rome.

Train is the most economic, and likely the quickest way, to get to Rome. You might want to consider putting together a group of six or eight from your roll call to share a van for the day - which would combine getting to Rome with a tour of the city.

Even with the current construction at Civitavecchia, the train is the best option for an economical, "on your own" day in Rome.

As long as you understand the set-up, it's not bad:

1. Port shuttle (free) takes you from your ship to the drop-off point.

2. Walk (about 20-25 minutes) to the train station or take the bus that shuttles back and forth between the station and the drop-off for 80 euro cents.

3. Buy BIRG ticket and take regional train to Rome.

The earlier you start out, the more time you'll have but be aware that the regional trains can be crowded with commuters and other cruisers in the morning and in late afternoon.

I agree with what CruiseMom42 posted above. We followed these exact same steps last year.... very easy, very cheap (be sure to buy the BIRG ticket she mentioned.... you can use it all day on the trains and metro (just be sure to validate it)).

One thing I will add.... if you want to maximize your time, be sure to buy tickets to places you want to see online ahead of time. If you want to do the Coliseum, but don't want to buy a ticket ahead of time, walk across the street to the Forum and buy your ticket there (the line is considerably shorter). If you want to visit the Vatican Museum, do a tour (you can purchase this online ahead of time as well). Being with a tour will allow you to bypass the massive line. The tour will also end in the Basilica where you can spend as much time as you want.

Have fun!

Melissa

Hi All,

 

Starting a Thomson"Italian Flavours" cruise next week, which includes a stop at Civitavacchia, for a visit to Rome. We tend not to use onboard excursions, whenever possible, and do trips ourselves or with other similar minded passengers.

 

Can anyone provide good advice regarding the most economic way of getting from this port to Rome and back, maximising our time in Rome. I gather that the coach transfer is long and tedious, that there is a train service, but that current building work at the south side of the port has created problems in getting to the station. Also best ways of seeing as much of Rome in the time available. We arrive in port at 7am and leave at 7pm.

 

All tips/guidance/help welcome

 

regards, M

This Spring we hadn't made firm arrangements and so started walking to the train station (disembarkation day) and OUTSIDE THE DOCK GATE on the traffic circles were taxi drivers offering far better deals than anything we could have pre arranged!

In our case we needed to go to CIAMPINO airport and we did it in a Mercedes Taxi...

Buying a BIRG ticket is good, but you must be comfortable with the Metro and bus system in Rome, which is very easy to navigate.

Another idea is to take one of the Hop On Hop Off tour buses available just outside the train station. See Rome and stop off at the sites you are most interested in.

Lastly, I would avoid anything with lines to wait in. By the time you get to Rome, you are probably only actually there from about 9:30 to 4:30, possibly less. The inside of the Colosseum and the Vatican tour, will eat up your whole day. More can be seen with stops at the Spanish steps, Trevi Fountain, Pantheon, and Piazza Navona. These are all short walks from each other. An outside visit to the Colosseum and the Forum ruins is a lot of fun.

You also need to make time for lunch, and Roman service is generally on the slow side. Keep in mind that a lot of businesses (restaurants) close up in August. Favourite vacation time for italians

BTW, in August, it is very hot in the Med. :eek:

Hi, & welcome.

Keith has kindly linked the Italy ports-of-call forum.

Lots of info on there, & anything else you need to know, that's the place to ask.

No "difficulty" with the temporary port gate, it just means that a ten minute walk from the usual gate is now a 20-25 minute walk.

Step-by-step details if you google Ron in Rome & click on cruising to Rome.

And more Rome info on other pages of that website.

Kirian mentioned long ticket queues at the Colosseum.

You can now buy tickets on-line, a single ticket covers three venues - Colosseum, Forum & Palatine Hill.

If you're a UK/EU citizen & over 60 (take Govt issued proof such as passport) tickets are free (big discounts for kids, students etc too, check the website) but can't be acquired free on-line. In which case, yes the line at the Forum is shorter. Or usually no line at all at Palatine Hill - so if you travel by train, get off at Ostiense, well-signed walk to the adjacent metro station (Piramide) & take the metro blue line in the direction of Rebibbia. Travel on the metro (and Rome's regular buses) is included in your train ticket. Second stop on the metro is Colosseo, but get off at Circo Massimo.

http://www.rome.info/metro/

From there it's an easy downhill walk to the Colosseum- on the way you pass the entrance of Palatine Hill, where you buy your tickets, & carry on down the hill to Colosseum, where you can by-pass the ticket booth queues & go direct to the entrance.

Similar queues at Vatican / Sistene Chapel.

You really need to pre-book if you want to go in.

But if you book a tour, because of time constraints something else will have to give.

Paul has mentioned RollCalls, a way of "meeting" your fellow-cruisers on-line & fixing up tour-share. Sadly we Brits aren't heavily into RollCalls & those of Brit ships are generally very poorly-subscribed.

I'll respectfully disagree with t-car about the hop-on buses. A great way to get an overview in many cities, but will waste precious time in Rome. They pass very very few sights (most are inaccessible to buses) and are some distance from others. They also sit for a long time at the rail station & at the Vatican.

Used them on a long weekend break, OK but not special. But IMHO definitely no good for a port-of-call visit.

Shops between port gate & Civi station selling train tickets (legit & same-price) usually provide a leaflet with train times. Check return times from Termini, from Ostiense, and from San Pietro (near Vatican) and aim to catch the second-to-last suitable train back.

Trains will be crowded, sometimes very crowded, but everyone gets on.

JB :)