GSPLover

The cable car is above the old part of town. I just can't explain how to find as it's a bit complicated. You can stop at the tourist bureau at the Pile entrance as have them give you a map of town and show you how to find the entrance.

Know right where you are talking about. Will go there. Thanks.

Where does one catch the cable car to Mt Srd? In port Oct 11th on Azamara Quest.

Thank you Hank - Is a few Euro per bag appropriate for tip? We don't want to insult, but at the same time don't want to overdo it :o

BTW we will hopefully be taking the people mover from P.le Roma

Hopefully it will be running when you are there. A word of caution on public transport in Italy when you have luggage. When a transport (bus, train, ferry, etc is going from point A to Point B, with intermediate stops in between (as the port on the people mover would be), the stops are timed (generally 2 min, maybe 3). They don't wait for you to get off, they just start to leave. I don't know what they will do on the people mover but my best guess (after 3++ years of public transport travel in Italy) is that it will be a 2-3 minute stop at the port.

When you get on, try to stay very close to the exit. You'll be in someones way to get off and they'll most likely help you get your luggage off. I would not worry about someone trying to run off with the luggage as they'll be on a raised platform in a fenced/semi-secure port area. Their motive is probably to get themselves off.

If you have luggage (and there is more than one of you), have the 1st person get off with one bag and have the other person hand/toss the other bags down and quickly get off.

Second point. Tickets must be validated (time stamped in a machine). Trains do this on the paltform (yellow machines). Buses do it onboard. A non-validated ticket is the same as no ticket at all and is subject to heavy fines on the spot. Being a tourist or non-Italian speaker is not an excuse.

If we have only carryons, is it possible to pull them right into the terminal?

Most certainly. Do it every cruise.

Thanks for the info. I will check into trying to get a train to the port.

Please check my train link in the sig line below.

level..you can roll your wheeled luggage all the way to the train..have to lift them up stairs into the train though

Depending upon the train, the lift may not be more than 6-9 inches. In all probability you will encounter the sotopassagio (underground passage) in Civitavecchia (steps up and steps down). Not that bad if you figure out how to make your wheeled luggage do the work for you.

I wonder if the buses will disappear altogether once the people mover is up and running?

 

If you go to YouTube and search "Venice People Mover" you can see several different videos of the system and stations. It looks pretty cool.

Knowing Italy, I would say that the buses won't disappear for a while. They are going to wait a long while for the 'new thing' to prove itself.

I checked the port schedule on the www.cruisett.com website and it's only showing Costa ships on the Venice port schedule for all of Octiber (i.e. no other ships are mentioned so I'm guessing it's not fully updated yet this far in advance) and there's no Costa ship in port on 10/08.

 

Is the walk from the port area to the train station fairly flat or will we be going up and down the staircase bridges?

 

Thanks,

I did some research on the tram (officially called a people mover). It did an official trial run on Dec 28, 2009. Best that I can determine is that it will be fully operational in March 2010. The port stop will be at Stazione Maritima (closer to port entrance, maybe 5-8 minute walk from cruise terminal).

Walk to P. Roma from the port is moderate uphill to start, then downhill, then across one bridge (low stairs and wide treads). Finally, up stairs into train station.

We won't be going to the Train Station until October 8th so hopefully it will be in service. I assume you are saying there is going to be a tram directly from the cruise terminal to the train station. Am I correct?

 

Thanks,

The tram will be 'near' the cruise terminal area. Not certain of the exact location.

If the above mentioned tram is not an option, this sounds like the best option.

 

One other question, who provides the free bus service from the port to Piazzale Roma? Is it the cruise ship company (we're on Princess) or the port?

 

Thanks,

Not certain who operates the free shuttle as is only operates when a Costa or MSC ship is in port. It is a 15-20 minute walk from the port area to the train station. Doable with luggage as long as the bags are not really large.

When are you going to be there. There is a new tram that will be in operation this summer (maybe, it's Italy, of course).

hey

does anyone know of a more economical way from the airport in rome to the docks? (no train please)

Thanks

-KM

As another poster said, "Why no train?". Are you better than a large percentage of Italians who ride the train daily? If you have a mobility problem, then take a limo (and find some new friends on CC to go with you.)

Trains in Italy are everyday transportation for a vast majority of the Italians. They are inexpensive and reliable; most are very clean and comfortable. I'm probably at 175+ trains in Italy and I will never stop.

I think Azamara has an Italy-only trip, not sure if it includes Palermo.

I'd go Azamara Quest or Royal Caribbean (Legend of the Seas) for this; unless you want to move up a notch or two in prices. My sig line has a link to the 12 NT Italy/Croatia RCI cruise review. Loved it and would do it again.

Thank you GSPLover, I was afraid of that. I am hoping we will be one of the first ones off the ship, but one can never tell, as ship's tour participants will disembark first, and my guess is that most will take ship's tours in order to maximize both what can be seen/done with the small amount of time. Thanks for your help anyway, I never thought of taking the express train and doubling back.

 

Jacquie

It has been our experience that if you get to the disembarkation point 15-30 minutes ahead of time that you can beat the tour groups. Doesn't always work but worth a shot.

I should probably post this as a separate thread, but I thought the community of independent thinkers could help me in more creative ways. :)

 

Due to certain circumstances, our cruise line switched our port day in La Spezia from a Monday to a Sunday, but the switch means that we will only have 6 hours ( 1pm to 6pm) in the Cinque Terre. While 6 hours may seem like a decent amount of time, considering the fact that it is a tender port, that we must allow for 20 minutes from the port to the train station, waiting for the train to Vernazza (2:06 pm), 20 minute train ride, etc, our actual time in Vernazza dwindles down to about 2.25 hours before we have to start the trek back (train schedule being what it is). Less than ideal, in fact a total bummer. No time really to see anything but one town, and probably no time to walk the Via del Amore.

From what I've read the ferry isn't any better than the train, so the question is this: is there another means of transport between LaSpezia and Vernazza that may get us there faster? We are mainly interested in Vernazza and were thinking we would, after lunch, take the train from Vernazza to Manarola for the Via Del Amore walk to Riomaggore, but this has become negotiable. Are taxi's from the pier to Vernazza an option? Of course, lots of things are options if money is no object, so let's just say money is an object to a certain degree, (less than the ship's tour of $109 pp). :) What say you, of the independent, experienced minds?

I would have to say that the day switch in your itinerary did not really do you any favors, time wise. A taxi is not a viable option for Vernazza. Traffic to/from there is highly restricted (and difficult too).

If we were in your shoes we would (a) have lunch onboard the ship (saves a good 45-60 minutes on land) and (b) be the very first ones off the ship and immediately grab a taxi to the station. You should be able to catch the 13:27 train (Vernazza 13:47). If not, take the 14:00 direct to Monterosso and the 14:20 back to Vernazza.

You could also take the 14:00 to Riomaggiore, and switch your direction of travel to Northbound. The schedules on my train site are current. Those in the CT writeup have not been updated as of yet.

 

As for the train between the Airport and Termini, I'm not sure that it's included with any of the passes ... hopefully GSPLover can confirm that.

Correct! None of the passes (Roma Pass, BIRG, BTR) include any of the rail transport from Rome to FCO.

Hank took a good shot at the previous post. Just to elaborate, there is a 3-day equivilant to the BIRG called the BTR. It too is a zone transportation ticket. Check my train site under the BIRG section.

I can't get enough of you talkin about trains in Italy. How about this...it is so much cheaper to take the train then a cab from Roma to port so could we buy an extra seat to put our luggage on??? what do you think?? Total of 3 weeks with the cruise and add on time I don't think we can pare down our luggage.

We had 2 med bags, 2 smaller bags, and 2 backpacks for our 3 week trip in Oct. If you leave Roma around 10:30 or so you will probably find the train not overcrowded. At least that is what we found on our last trip. There were a total of 6 adults in the entire train car. Plenty of extra seats for baggage. Even if you bought an extra ticket (not necessary), I'm not certain that the locals would understand the concept.

GSPLover: Thanks for all the great train information. Our bags are actually probably medium bags, so it sounds like we chould not have a problem.

 

Another question - we'll want to take the ES from Termini to Florence. Seems like I read somewhere (maybe on your site) that the ES trains can run full during the day, especially during tourist season.

 

If we purchase tickets at the airport station for travel on the ES our of Termini the same day, would we be assured of getting a seat?

 

Thanks, Dave

If you can purchase a ticket, you are assured of a seat. On ES trains ALL seats are reserved. By all means, buy your ticket at FCO. You can essentially say the same for IC trains however in 2cl they may sell tickets even though all seats are sold (don't try to understand - its Italy.) On regional 2cl your ticket gives you the 'right of passage' or a 'place' on the train. It does not mean that you will get a seat.

Prior to our Solstice Cruise in September, we'll be taking the train from the airport to Florence for five days.

 

Question is - how to best handle our luggage? We'll have one big suitcase and one small one each. Yeah, I know - we need to pack light, but it ain't gonna happen! We can handle getting the luggage on and off the train and thru the stations - but what do you do with a big suitcase once you get it on the train? is there a place to store them on the train car? This would be for the regional train as well as the ES.

 

We've learned about the Left Luggage at Termini - but are thinking we might be best just takingthem on to Florence. Then we can take the train from Florence to the Port without having to retrieve the bags at Termini. Is this a wise plan?

One of the problems with a very large suitaces on trains is that it will not roll down the aisles in 2cl - too wide. I would seriously consider taking two medium sized bags instead of one large one.

2cl cars have baggage storage at the end of the cars. This would be my last choice (and only then if they were locked and cabled together, and then to the train.) Seats in many cars are facing each other (like the Eurostar), thus there is space between the seats where they are back to back (don't think a large will fit, but a medium sized bag will.) Regional and IC trains may have compartments - three seats on each side facing each other. There are racks above that will hold medium sized bags without a problem.. For a large bag, just place it in the aisle outside the door and parallel to the wall - and keep an eye on it.

If I were doing what you propose, I would go to Firenze and then on to the port via Pisa. A train change in Pisa is much easier than a change in Roma. The trip is about 30-40 minutes longer that way but you will generally find the trains less crowded (particularily between Pisa and Civitavecchia.) We did the reverse of what you are planning our last two trips, and will do so again the next time.

What's the best way to get from the airport in Rome to Florence by train?

The best way, and the only way, are one in the same. Take the Leonardo Express to Roma Termini (about 30m.) From there, take a Eurostar to Firenze ( about 1h 30m.) Add wait time between trains in Termini. You can buy tickets for both trains at the station in FCO. Easy to do.

Thanks so much for your quick response!

 

We're not going to FCO. We're in PORT at Rome for the day (7 am-8 pm) on a sailing from BCN to VEN -- so no luggage, but we were debating about the ship's bus just for transportation or the train. Is the timeframe into central Rome about the same?

 

BTW: LOVE your website -- and as a train buff you'll be happy to know that after living in Phoenix for 26 years, I finally got to the gorgeous Grand Canyon via the delightful Grand Canyon Railway (in a vintage dome car) as an early birthday surprise from DH Dave a few weeks ago. :D

 

Again, thanks for your kind advice.

Mary-Lou (& Dave)

Train time from Civitavecchia to Roma Termini is from 45 min (IC trains) to 1h 20m (regionale.) In my mind, no debate, take the train.

Was at the Grand Canyon a couple summers ago but did not get to do the train. Got out voted.

I agree with OP that these threads are the best and the posters are very gracious in sharing their advice.

 

My question:

Is it just as easy to take the train from the port TO Rome for a port day and back? (We've been to Rome several times, but never via cruise ship, so we just need the transportation, as we'll wander on our own.) The ship wants $99 pp. for just their bus in and out. How long is the train ride compared with a bus ride?

 

Many thanks,

Mary-Lou

Is it just as easy from the port to Rome? Yes it is. The ships transporation will probably just take you to FCO (is that where you want to go?) Take the train and you'll be enroute even before the bus leaves the ship (in all probability.) Train travel time vs bus travel time is probably about the same. Cost difference (big $$$.)

If you have no mobility problems and aren't dragging one or more of those huge suitcases, take the train!

Hello fellow cruisers !

 

Am trying to get to the cruise terminal in Civitavecchia without buying a transfer from the cruise line. It's not the money , it's that I hate those buses and waiting for the bus to fill. I'd love to go by train and will be close to the train station in Rome. My question: How do I do it? I know you get take a train from the port to Rome that takes a little over an hour but does a train run from Rome to the port in that same time frame? Do you know the name or number of the train I should take. The ship leaves at 6:00 so I'd like to get there by 4:00.Any other suggestions on how to get there other than the cruise line bus out of the airport? Thanks for any help you can give.

Take the train by all means. Easy and economical. truckerj1 gave my train site a plug but I'll mention it again - www.ftroute.com/ItalianTrains.htm .

Read the basics and read from FCO-Rome-Civitavecchia.

If your ship leaves at 18:00 you best plan on being onboard before 16:00 as you are pushing the envelope. Shoot for 14:00 at the latest so as to give yourself some time to get acquainted with your new 'home.' Have a bite to eat and relax. Before you know it, it will be time for the 'muster drill' and then sail-away.

Anyone know where to find the train schudules between Messina and Taormina?

Check www.ftroute.com/IT_Schedules.cfm It's an alphabetical list.

Fore a discussion of Messina on your own, go to www.ftroute.com/itcr/messina.cfm (what we did last October.)

If we are able to do a half day ship's tour to Taormina in the am, are there any little restaurants & shops at the port for spending some time in the afternoon?

More than enough to choose from.