Livorno port to Florence

[lisamlip]

Our NCL cruise will be in port of Livorno on 5/25/2023 from 9am to 8:30pm.  We are a family of 4 and would like suggestions on how to get to Florence.  Private transfers are very expensive.  My son just spent 2 weeks in Florence on a study abroad from his university so we have our own private tour guide 😀.  Any help with train or taxi suggestions would be appreciated.  

 

[mapleleaves]

We took the train to Pisa and Florence when we stopped in Livorno.  The train was very reasonable, maybe 10e, and about 1 1/2hrs.

In the past, NCL offered a transfer from the ship to the train station, for $25pp.  Pricey for what it is, but more efficient than taking a shuttle from the pier to town center then a city bus to the train station.  Taxis weren't interested in providing such a short ride.

 

TuscanyBus was another option I looked at to reach Florence. Not sure if they're still in operation.  Their schedule didn't work for us.

[lisamlip]

1 hour ago, mapleleaves said:

We took the train to Pisa and Florence when we stopped in Livorno.  The train was very reasonable, maybe 10e, and about 1 1/2hrs.

In the past, NCL offered a transfer from the ship to the train station, for $25pp.  Pricey for what it is, but more efficient than taking a shuttle from the pier to town center then a city bus to the train station.  Taxis weren't interested in providing such a short ride.

 

TuscanyBus was another option I looked at to reach Florence. Not sure if they're still in operation.  Their schedule didn't work for us.

Is it far from the city center where the shuttle drops you off to the train station?  Is it walkable?

[marazul]

1 hour ago, lisamlip said:

 

Ooops. Didn't mean to post. Sorry. 

Edited January 9, 2023 by marazul

[mapleleaves]

google maps shows that it's a 30 minute from Piazza Grande to Livorno Centrale station. 

My old notes from that cruise indicate that you could take a city bus from P Grande to the station for 1e, and under 10 minutes.

 

Since we were including a quick stop to see the Leaning Tower, we didn't want to take our chances with the timing of shuttles and buses. Plus as a party of 4 we weren't exactly timely! so we decided that $100 for the RT NCL shuttle was worthwhile. 

 

You might be lucky and find a taxi that is willing to take you from the pier to the train station, but I was reading trip reports leading up to our cruise, and everyone said cabbies only wanted to do full day tours. So at the last minute we did the NCL shuttle. But that was pre-covid when the cabbies had plenty of business. 

 

 

[euro cruiser]

The cruise ship shuttle drop off is at Piazza Municipio, a one and a half mile walk from the train station.  

 

NCL also charges for the shuttle to the drop off point, it was $10 round trip several years ago.

[marazul]

51 minutes ago, euro cruiser said:

The cruise ship shuttle drop off is at Piazza Municipio, a one and a half mile walk from the train station.  

 

NCL also charges for the shuttle to the drop off point, it was $10 round trip several years ago.

This is neither cost nor time effective. That is $10 for the shuttle + $10 for the train, plus about one hour taking the shuttle, walking to the station and waiting for the train. 

Compare the cost to a direct shuttle to Florence or the price for Tuscany Bus.

https://www.tuscanybus.com/en/

Edited January 9, 2023 by marazul

[mapleleaves]

Everyone needs to examine the options closely and decide what works best for their time and budget. That's where CruiseCritic comes in handy; a great resource for learning about all the options.

 

For us, the NCL shuttle direct to the train station was the best; no fussing with a 2nd bus and we had more control over our time at the destination. 

 

At the time of our cruise, the trips offered by Tuscany Bus were too short.  Their current link indicates 7 1/2 hrs for the Florence trip, so 3 hrs of driving and 4 hrs in Florence. 

 

 

 

 

[ollienbertsmum]

When we went to Livorno we have

1. Been on RCL ship and gone on the cruise ship ‘Florence on your own’.  We are big DIY fans, but getting to the train station put me off.  I was happy with the outcome.  

 

2. Taken the ship tour to Cinque Terre

 

3. Taken a private car to a wine tasting that included a quite trip up the leaning Tower.   That was the best option but I cannot justify the expense when it is just DH and I.  

 

4. We have taken the shuttle (twice) to the train station to visit Pisa and Lucca.   That was with NCL and works well.  

 

5.  We have taken the shuttle into Livorno and walked around (and it was a nice day  out). 

 

I have never taken a taxi from Livorno to the train station.  Just seems too much effort when NCL offers the shuttle.  

 

If we go again I am not sure what I would do.