Any advise on which excursion to take? Ultimate Rome or Exclusive Rome with NCL

[Donna6369]

Trying to decided between two excusions Ultimate Rome or Exclusive rome...

 

Exclusive Rome

You'll be transferred in smaller groups by minibus with exclusive escorts and guides. Although a quick pace and substantial amount of walking is required, your day will be extremely rewarding. In the morning, enjoy an orientation drive through the Eternal City; you'll pass the Roman Forum, the Arch of Constantine and the famed Colosseum. If time permits, you may explore on your own. Being a smaller exclusive group, you'll visit the Sistine Museum in the afternoon to avoid any long lines. Lunch will be held in a first-class restaurant after which you'll continue to the Vatican Museum and the Sistine Chapel, boasting Michelangelo's magnificent ceiling. You'll gaze in awe at Piazza San Pietro, one of the world's most beautiful squares that faces the largest church in the world, St. Peter's. Some of its fabulous treasures will be shown to you by your guide during a brief visit. Note: Guests who are planning to visit religious sites during free time or on tour, please dress appropriately. No bare shoulders or shorts are allowed. For the Norwegian Jade sailings from April 18th, 2010 through November 14th, 2010, the Vatican will be visited in the afternoon due to the Papal Audience on Wednesday mornings. Your guide will join you in Rome, however you will have an escort with you throughout the day.

[Donna6369]

Ultimate Rome:

 

 

In order to visit the two main highlights of Rome - The Vatican and the Colosseum, this fast-paced tour involves a significant amount of walking. You'll depart from the port of Civitavecchia in a minibus with your escort to Rome where you'll meet your guide. Being an exclusive tour, you'll be transferred in smaller groups and will visit the Sistine Museum in the afternoon to avoid any queues. After passing through Piazza Venezia by the Vittorio Emmanuele Monument and the Roman Forum, your first stop will be the Colosseum. You'll begin your exploration of the Eternal City with an inside guided visit of this Imperial Roman symbol of power. Continue to the Trevi Fountain, one of Rome's most spectacular fountains. The high-baroque Fontana di Trevi was designed by Nicola Salvi in 1732. Legend has it that you can ensure your return to Rome by tossing a coin in the fountain. After securing your next visit to Rome, you'll walk to the Pantheon where you can enter on your own and have free time for lunch before heading to the Vatican Museum. One of the highlights here will be your visit to the remarkable Sistine Chapel with its magnificent ceiling which took Michelangelo over four years to decorate. You'll gaze in awe at Piazza San Pietro, one of the world's most beautiful squares. Facing the Square is the largest church in the world, St. Peter's Basilica. Some of its fabulous treasures will be shown to you by your guide during a brief visit before returning by minibus to Civitavecchia. Note: Guests who are planning to visit religious sites during free time or on tour, please dress appropriately; no bare shoulders or shorts are allowed. Your guide will join you in Rome, however you will have an escort with you throughout the day.

[cruisemom42]

Seems that you actually visit more places in the Ultimate Rome, probably due to the "first class restaurant" lunch described in the Exclusive Rome tour.

 

I'd vote for the second one. Fine restaurants are anywhere, but there's only one Rome. :)

 

 

P.S. If you take a private tour, you can probably see more than with any of the ship tours.

[Donna6369]

We were leaning to the Ultimate tour as it has more things to see. We did talk about maybe doing a private tour, but not sure who or what would be best so I guess I was taking the lazy way with booking through the ship.

 

Thanks again for your input. This is our first visit to Italy and hope to make the best choice for us who knows if we will ever be lucky enough to get there again.

[janellmartin]

Have you considered doing it on your own? The train from Civitavecchia is under 10 euros pp and then you don't have to deal with traffic, restroom stops, another restroom stop on the return, long group lunch, etc. You could then hire some from Through Eternity or Context Travel or Angel Tours and have a lot more time in the city.

[CathyCruises]

I have to say that I think your 'best choice' is going private vs. using the ship excursion. The suggestion to take the train and then a private tour in Rome is a good one. You could also use one of the companies recommended highly here such as Rome In Limo, who would pick you up right at the dock and make the most of your day. The ship tours I have been on (never again!) always seem to move at the pace of the slowest person in the group, and I always feel like a ninny walking around with my name tag, earphones and transmitter following the lady waving the flag, the newspaper or the umbrella! I bet you could do it for much less money and have a WAY better experience on your own. If it is going to be your only time there, you should have the best day possible.

[hubofhockey]

I have to say that I think your 'best choice' is going private vs. using the ship excursion. The suggestion to take the train and then a private tour in Rome is a good one. You could also use one of the companies recommended highly here such as Rome In Limo, who would pick you up right at the dock and make the most of your day. The ship tours I have been on (never again!) always seem to move at the pace of the slowest person in the group, and I always feel like a ninny walking around with my name tag, earphones and transmitter following the lady waving the flag, the newspaper or the umbrella! I bet you could do it for much less money and have a WAY better experience on your own. If it is going to be your only time there, you should have the best day possible.

 

The best private tour I had anywhere on our cruise was in Rome and it was with Miles & Miles (www.toursofrome.it) and Francesco was our guide. He actually gets out and walks with you and takes you places and, because he spends so much time in the US (the whole Miglio family does), his english is great. Too many driver guides sit in the car and explain things and let you out. These guys do more. But I would even do the limo thing before a ship excursion, wearing those stickers and listening to a guide on a headset.

[CathyCruises]

Excellent first-hand suggestion!!