PelicanLvr

On departure day there is a true deadline to be onboard.  If you miss it....you do not sail.  Don't be late.

I believe the currency on all X ships worldwide at all times is US$.   

If you do decide on 1 (bath)room:  Make use of the spa showers.  I have always used the free sauna, showers and changing area every evening so my DW has unrestricted use of the stateroom bath.  Works for me because I have much more room at the spa than the tiny shower in the room.  Use of the spa would lighten the demand on the room bath at changing time.

Great suggestion above to try to get an FV (Family veranda) room.  The corner FVs have the great balconies.  They are allegedly designed for 4 or 5 people.....still quite small when at capacity, but probably much better than a standard veranda.

There are lots of rooms with positive and negative points that are way too numerous to list.  (ie Sweet 16 on deck 6).  Tell us the sailing date and we can have a look.

I would think your options are, unfortunately, pretty limited.  You don't have enough time to see much.  Say you are off the ship and in a car service at 8am.  At most, you have a total of 5 hours until 1pm check in.  It's an hour to the city from the pier....and the airport is 45 minutes from downtown (that's all without traffic) .....that's almost 2 hours of driving.

At best, you have 3 hours in Rome, even with a car at your disposal.  The sites you mentioned are not that close to each other and are all very crowded.  Many streets around them are closed to traffic. 

You cannot do what you are planing, especially using only public transportation...and with luggage, 2 teens and a 5 year old.  Be realistic.  

If you really want to go into Rome on that short a time schedule, pay to go with a highly respected reputable transfer company like Romeinlimo (and others recommended on these boards) and see what you can.  It will be expensive, but don't risk running out of time.  

PS:  I was in Rome just this month and even in March it is full of tourists.  In July it will be packed!

Just landed at FCO earlier this month.  Scheduled to land at 7am.....landed early at 6:30.  Lots of planes landing from all around the world and pretty long line for passport control.

If you have a USA passport, keep it visible in your hand.  Officers were pulling USA persons off the big line and putting us in some express shorter line.  Got out much quicker.  Maybe that's a regular practice or maybe not.....but it sure helped us out.  Just hold your passport in your hand so it can be seen.

Was out of the airport an hour after landing, and in downtown Rome just after 8am.

3 hours ago, avrey97 said:

We ate at Qsine last night. It hasn’t seemed to have made the switch to Le Petit Chef. Still had the same menu and sign as the previous version 

(and it was fabulous!)

We were on the Jan 5 pre-drydock Summit cruise.  By the end of our sailing we were told by the Qaine staff that it was not going to change over to LPC.  Not surprised you found it remained Qsine.  Time will tell.....

3 hours ago, TeaBag said:

Those on deck 11 are great too. 

Those Aqua aft cabins on Deck 11 are one level above the bar and one deck below the outdoor movie on the Terrace.  TeaBag obviously likes them, as do many, but I would be hesitant.  

11 minutes ago, jkgourmet said:

Book a short 3 day cruise?  Book a super cheap last minute cruise?  

How about the April 6 Infinity 2 night Bahama cruise.  Make sure you get all 3 points.

Do tours.  They do not wait on the public lines which in May will be crazy-long.  You do not have the time to waste standing in line.

Have used "Walks of Italy" for some really good small group tours.  They (and other authorized companies) have reserved time-slots to get into key sights.  You really need that!

Also, someone above mentioned an early morning entry into the Vatican (that's where the Sistine Chapel is).  We just did a 7am meeting time Vatican Tour and were inside the Sistine Chapel by 8:15 long before the museum opened to the public.  Still about 50 people in the chapel but much less crowded than public hours.  That early access is via these authorized tour companies like Walks of Italy.

Take advantage of what these tour companies can offer.  It may cost a bit more, but you don't have much time... so you need it.

Deck 9 cabins are probably the least desirable.  They are located directly below the aft bar and noise (from patrons and chair-moving) can be an issue.

Otherwise they are all great staterooms with very large balconies!  Select a cabin on decks 7 or 8......deck 6 too if you can afford it!!

St. Mark's, Venice:  If anyone is in Venice overnight (as some cruises are) I highly recommend the 7pm (St. Marks is closed to the public & empty) Walks of Italy tour of St. Mark's afterhours.  Unforgettable experience.  Link below:

https://www.walksofitaly.com/venice-tours/alone-in-st-marks-basilica-tour/

Another vote for Romeinlimo.  Had a great day with them awhile back.

At the major sites - make sure you arrange a "skip the line" priority-type entrance.  If you only have one day on a cruise stop (with an hour back and forth to the ship) you do not want to waste time waiting on long lines.  St. Peters (for security), Vatican, Coliseum, Roman Forum all have very long lines especially in high season like June.  You will see very little without this planning.

Keep your expectations manageable and prioritize what you want to see.  You can not do it all in a day. Even with the best connected companies, you will wait a bit everywhere.  Enjoy Rome!

Hope you get a more reliable reply than mine....but here is our experience:

In 2008 on HAL we did a Rome transfer only.  Bus ride each way is about an hour.  Our drop off place was above the Spanish Steps.  Meet back at the bus time was about 4:30 -5:00pm.  But, no matter where you are left, you will be close to somethings and far from others....

We actually just returned last week from a week in Rome in an apartment.  What are you looking to book?  Maybe we can help further?

PL

OP-  You can't do it all in one trip. 

By spending only 1 night in Venice (after your long flight) you will "shortchange" Venice and leave with the wrong impression.  Way too rushed. 

Just know you'll be back.  After all....you have to see Paris too! 

Bought tickets in English from Ticketone to Borghese Galleries here:

https://www.tosc.it/tickets.htm?affiliate=T2C&sort_by=event_datum&sort_direction=asc&fun=erdetail&doc=erdetaila&erid=912678&language=en

Be sure to buy well in advance.  Just returned from Rome in March (not high season) and the Borghese was sold out when we went in with our tickets for several days.  The Borghese collection is spectacular!  Don't miss it!!

Just returned from Rome last week (in early March).  Rome was quite busy and lines for the Vatican and Colosseum were quite long.  I can't imagine how busy it will be in June....and on a free day!  Prepare for the worst.   

Our Walks of Italy tour met at 9 am.  It was already a zoo at the public entrance...in March...on a pay to get in day.

Infinity is an M class ship and the balcony dividers do not open on all M class ships.  As someone above said...."Don't poke your head around" 

When you say "adjoining" do you mean:

a. Next to each other or

b. connecting - with a door inside the room between the two rooms?

if you do have connecting rooms, ask that the door between the 2 be kept locked.  ...But noise can travel more easily because of that door, even when locked.

Something "crew-related" is going on in that white space.  Are there no cabins with cabins on both sides available?   I would move if you could.

Was there this January (2019).  Also, we have been there pre-storm.  Even before the storm, Dominica is what the Caribbean used to be.....No Diamonds International, no fancy shopping....just a lovely island.

Considering what they went through....they are recovering well.  By next January (2020) it will be even further along.

We were quite impressed with how far they have come back.  GO and enjoy it.  Spend a few dollars there.....That is how we can all help.  

It's a wonderful island with warm lovely people.  Best whale watching we have had in the Caribbean is in Dominica.  Also the river rafting is also lots of fun there.  Great local guides with you on the river!  

IMHO, I would look for an itinerary that includes Dominica!

As the sayings go:

"Past results do not guarantee future performance"

--or--

"Your results may vary"

They can assign the stateroom at any time.  Don't know how the Move-Up program effects GTY assignments either.

Keep checking your reservation on the X website.

BTW, myself and several others here seem to notice good assignments for 1st time X cruisers.  Are you one?  That may help.

Back in 2003 on our first X cruise we took a GTY and were quite pleased with the assignment.  It worked for X too...we have been quite loyal and are now almost elite plus.

I know how you feel.....can't wait to find out.  

Good luck and enjoy your cruise.  A balcony makes a big difference!!

Was in Venice in late October in 2016.  Out of 5 days we had one rainy day....and it really rained that day.  Water was starting to come up in St. Marks Square, but they were ready for it.  They put up raised walkways to keep you above it in the square.  That was the only area we say flooded....just St. Mark's Square.  

The flooding (as said above) is not from the rains, but is from the lagoon.  And it can be crazy high....over your head high...not common but does happen.  Look for the markings on some walls showing the record flood heights.  Pretty tough place to live!

Downsmead replied while I was writing.  Sounds like we may have been at the same sailaway.

On Summit in January.  Was invited for a sailaway and closed toe shoes were required.  People without them turned away.  The shoe-requirement is clearly stated on the invite.

Was announced that elite and first-time cruisers were invited together.  Interesting idea.

Suggest you arrive at the meeting point (ours was the upper level of the theater) a few minutes before time stated on invite.  Our sailaway was at 6pm and the invite was for 5:45.  We arrived at 5:45 and by time invites were checked and you were walked out to the helipad.....we just made it before the ship began moving.  

Refreshments were very limited.  It's a nice once-and-done event.  After about 30 minutes you are politely  told to.....leave.  

We have always docked at A, B, and C.

Also...doesn't Guest Services give out free sea sick pills?  Ask there.