I am arriving by cruise ship at Civitavecchia in September and have only 11 hours once we arrive. How does one get into Rome and how expensive is it (in dollars?) And how long does it take? I don't want to go to the Vatican Museum again but we do love art and architecture rather than shopping and love to walk. Any suggestions for a day in Rome?
By my lights Amy, sorry, it's a terrible idea: a mad rush over nearly 100 miles of (unattractive) highway, costing a great deal of money, and no clear memory of anything later. If, after all, you really want to see Rome that bad, may I suggest an actual trip there in the future?
Much closer to Civitavecchia, there are some marvelous things to see: the Etruscan painted tombs of Cerveteri, which are (with Tarquinia) the best Etruscan remains to be seen anywhere in the world.
If you're really daring, you could do far worse than just stay in Civitavecchia, where there are lots of things to see: churches, an archaeological museum, fortifications, the town itself with a nice lunch, etc.
Have done it several times from the cruise ship using their own bus service that is about $65-70/person roundtrip for "Rome on your own." They drop you off right near the Vatican and give you a good walking map of the downtown area so you can really see quite a bit over your about 6 hour stay in town.
Posts: 43 | Location: Indian Shores, FL, USA | Registered: 22 March 2003
You can get a train from Civittavecchia to Rome for about $10 each, I believe.We were there when the dollar was higher, so I'm just guessing at this point.It takes about 2 hours. We did it without luggage as our hotel was in Civittavecchia-we were flying out the next day. We spent the day in Rome and then came back for an evening meal in Civittavecchia. We managed to turn it into a very nice day, despite the incredible heat and our exhaustion and bewilderment.
You could make a reservation (required) at the Borghese Gallery, perhaps, and just spend your time there.
Just remember if you take alternate transport to Rome other than the cruise ship buses and you're late returning for any reason, the ship is gone. With their buses, you're guaranteed they'll wait if you're delayed for any traffic reasons.
Posts: 43 | Location: Indian Shores, FL, USA | Registered: 22 March 2003
A close friend recently asked me the same question about his cruise also stopping in Civitavecchia. The question raised was: Should he and his wife take the day trip into Rome from there? I recommended to him in no uncertain terms that he should not.
Instead, I suggested that he team up with a couple with whom they have made a relationship on the long cruise and take a taxi to Tarquinia. Tarquinia is loaded with Etruscan wonders, which would make for a very memorable, interesting day. Just google Tarquinia to find all the marvelous things that are there to see. Finding a nice place for a longish lunch should be no trouble. Keep in mind that Tarquinia is 12 miles from Civitavecchia and Rome is 45 miles.
If push became shove, I would stay right in Civitavecchia as virtually all places in Italy have interesting things to see and experience. I bet one could find a very nice place to have a leisurely lunch. Save Rome when time permits.
Peter
Posts: 1364 | Location: Essex Fells, NJ and Longboat Key, Florida | Registered: 21 July 2002
I'm not sure that I should be starting another thread with this, but as this is a one day question on a slow travel site, I will ask.
My family and I (two fairly intellectually curious teenagers plus husband)will be on cruise that stops one day in Livorno. My husband will be working on the ship and may or may not be able to get off. So, it is best that we stay close to the ship, but Livorno from the little I've been able to find is not a see the sites sort of place. But, I am sure there is something fun or interesting to do. It does not take much to make us happy. We normally live in a small town on an island, so, are fairly easy to please. Does anyone have any suggestions for a good activity?
Consider taking the train from Livorno to Pisa. No doubt you could take a taxi from where the boat docks to the train station in Livorno. It is less than 15 miles to Pisa. Check with www.trenitalia.it for train schedule.
Peter
Posts: 1364 | Location: Essex Fells, NJ and Longboat Key, Florida | Registered: 21 July 2002
Been thru Leghorn on a train a few times, but never stopped, so this isn't gonna be first-hand. But given the town's blah sort of reputation — for a good reason, it was bombed to hell and back during WWII — this seemed like a fun challenge.
The most interesting thing I've found so far in a first quick pass, is a Museum of Mediterranean Natural History with whales and botanical garden and other stuff.
My TCI guide to Tuscany goes on at its usual length, in this case 19 pages of fine print; if most of it is 19c, there's a 16c fortress in town, open to the public in the summer, that the guide gives a star to.
Oh my word. I may not be a the most expereienced world traveller but...go to Rome!!! We did a cruise 2 years ago this September that stopped in Civitavecchia. We took the train right from the dock and it was around 7 Euro. The price included the use of the complete metro (subway) in Rome as well. We did verify the return trains and were back in plenty of time. There were at least 20 other people that did the same thing. The other poster is correct, the ship will leave without you but I wouldn't let that stop you. You just shouldn't miss Rome!!
I agree with Bill that the smartest thing, if you have already been to Rome and want a leisurely day in our magnificent, still "virgin" part of Italy, is to see the area just around Civitavecchia. Tarquinia, the town, the necropolis, the Etruscan museum are not to be missed. Great fish restaurants for lunch and Tarquinia white wine can be tasted and bought from the Cantina sociale for approx. 2 euro per litre. Cousins whom we picked up for their day's visit with us say the medieval towers of Tarquinia (like San Gimignano) are visible as the ship pulled into the port, but of course on board they were "pushing" the expensive Rome excursions.
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