Shore Excursions

[Snappy001]

We are traveling on the Navigator of the seas in August and have pre booked shore excursions with RCI as this is our very first cruise, I just wanted to know, the tour around Rome and especially the colosseum, most of the advertised excursions with RCI says it's an outside view only. Can you purchase tickets at the site to visit inside the colosseum too. Any help is much appreciated, thank you in advance.

[CruiserBruce]

It sounds like you will be on a schedule, and thus have no time to go in. I could be wrong, but that sounds like the situation.

[Snappy001]

The excursion states that we have 2 hours free time to explore the surroundings so just wondering if and how this is possible

[OCruisers]

Unfortunately, you won't have time to go in.

[John Bull]

The excursion states that we have 2 hours free time to explore the surroundings so just wondering if and how this is possible

 

Does it say where you have two hours free time?

 

If it's by the Colosseum (the Forum, Palatine Hill, & Gladiator School are there too ) then yes - but you need to know in advance in order to buy your tickets on-line or you could spend half that time in the ticket line.

If the free time is elsewhere you could also lose a fat chunk of that two hours.

 

Any clues in the excursion details?

 

JB :)

[Snappy001]

OVERVIEW

 

Discover Rome’s most treasured landmarks alongside an informative guide before spending 2.5 hours exploring the Eternal City at your own pace. Embark on a half-day guided tour, as you listen along to commentary via headset. See the enormous exterior of the ancient Colosseum amphitheater, toss a coin into the famous Trevi Fountain, and follow your Guide for an exterior visit of the Roman Forum. Then roam around independently at St. Peter’s Square, time permitting visit the Vatican museums or St. Peter’s Basilica, shop for souvenirs, or savor authentic Roman fare. CV13

[John Bull]

OVERVIEW

 

Discover Rome’s most treasured landmarks alongside an informative guide before spending 2.5 hours exploring the Eternal City at your own pace. Embark on a half-day guided tour, as you listen along to commentary via headset. See the enormous exterior of the ancient Colosseum amphitheater, toss a coin into the famous Trevi Fountain, and follow your Guide for an exterior visit of the Roman Forum. Then roam around independently at St. Peter’s Square, time permitting visit the Vatican museums or St. Peter’s Basilica, shop for souvenirs, or savor authentic Roman fare. CV13

 

Sorry, but IMHO that makes an inside visit at the Colosseum a no-no, even with tickets in your hands.

That excursion's free time is at the Vatican - a 15 - 20 minute taxi ride (or 15 minute walk plus metro train) from the Colosseum.

Add some wiggle time for the return to the pick-up point, and time to go thro security at the Colosseum, and you'll lose at least one of those two hours.

And the free time on an excursion is at the last stop because they can make up for delays during the day by trimming that free time to suit the planned departure time, so invariably a quoted 2 free hours is actually less on the day.

 

Consider cancelling the ship's Rome excursion (normally can be cancelled penalty-free if cancelled at least a few days ahead) and instead :

- check if the ship is offering a "Rome on your Own" transfer, which provides only transport to & from the city & all your time in Rome is your free time. It'll be over-priced, but if you feel more comfortable using ship's transport....

- or travel from Civi to Rome by train. Hundreds of you fellow-passengers will be doing that & there's plenty of info on this forum http://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?s=&daysprune=&f=595 and elsewhere on the internet eg "Ron In Rome".

- or fix up an independent tour.

- or check on your cruise RollCall to see if anyone is looking for folk to share an independent tour. For Italy in August I'm guessing this is a sailing on 7th August. Join in on that thread anyway, to say hi to some of your ship-mates and to join the meet-and-mingle party on the ship (free booze, nibbles, raffle, etc)

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2235568

 

 

JB :)

Edited May 8, 2016 by John Bull

[Snappy001]

Thanks for your reply John, really helpful

[fvariava]

Hi, we are on the Norwegian Epic 29th May cruise. We are a group of around 8 adults and 2 children. We wanted to either join someone for shore excursions or get some advice on how to see the various places efficiently and cheaply.

 

Your advice and offers are welcome..

[wheezedr]

OVERVIEW

 

Discover Rome’s most treasured landmarks alongside an informative guide before spending 2.5 hours exploring the Eternal City at your own pace. Embark on a half-day guided tour, as you listen along to commentary via headset. See the enormous exterior of the ancient Colosseum amphitheater, toss a coin into the famous Trevi Fountain, and follow your Guide for an exterior visit of the Roman Forum. Then roam around independently at St. Peter’s Square, time permitting visit the Vatican museums or St. Peter’s Basilica, shop for souvenirs, or savor authentic Roman fare. CV13

 

This is why I usually advise cruisers to pick either the Vatican or Ancient Rome as their site to see and commit to more time at the one spot and then add some shorter other stops if time permits. The See-it-all tours basically only have time for drive bys. This year I am committing the AM to Ancient Rome and then as time permits walking to the pantheon, Trevi and the steps. If time runs short on that kind of route you can drop a later activity. Unlike many European cities Rome is huge and a lot of time can be spent just getting between attractions.

[skf]

We have been looking at the various Rome guidebooks...they all say the same thing; do not try to see it all at once because it cannot be done and you will burn out from trying too much.

You might be better just seeing your top of the list must-sees. This is what we will be doing in October: (1) St.Peter's at the Vatican two days before the cruise.

(2) the Colosseum the next day and one other site as yet undecided with a little strolling to Trevi Fountain neighborhood.

Steve

[gklingel52]

We are booked on the Regal Princess New England Cruise later this Oct. For those of that may have taken this cruise before or have heard from those who have, any suggestions as to which of the excursions fill up quickly? We are interested in the Express 2.5 hour and Harbor tours for Acadia Park. Would like to take advantage of our SB credits but don't want to miss out on this or other popular excursions.

By the way, if there is a better place to find out about excursions, please direct me as I am new to this site. Thanks

[wheezedr]

We are booked on the Regal Princess New England Cruise later this Oct. For those of that may have taken this cruise before or have heard from those who have, any suggestions as to which of the excursions fill up quickly? We are interested in the Express 2.5 hour and Harbor tours for Acadia Park. Would like to take advantage of our SB credits but don't want to miss out on this or other popular excursions.

By the way, if there is a better place to find out about excursions, please direct me as I am new to this site. Thanks

 

You ought to look at the New England area on ports of call as well as the roll call for your cruise. We booked the Acadia via a local private agency that works right at the port so no need to do ships tour. Here's the humor , did not see much as the pea soup fog rolled right in. Can't blame the tour operator for that