Vatican excursion on a Sunday?

[YogiShe]

We're on the Mediterranean Odyssey cruise this summer and will visit Rome (Civitavecchia) on a Sunday. Since it's our first time in Rome, we'd planned to book a private day-long tour to maximize time visiting the Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel, and St Peter's Basilica with skip-the-line tickets. However, several companies told us they don't book private tours on Sundays because the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel (located inside the Museums) are closed, except for the last Sunday of the month when they're open, which doesn't coincide with the dates of our trip. This means we would not be able to visit the Vatican Museums or Sistine Chapel on our port day in Rome.

 

Viking is running a ship-based excursion, Roman Catacombs & Vatican City, that claims guests can visit the Sistine Chapel and Vatican Museums in the 3-hour block of free time included in the tour. I don't understand how that's possible given it's a Sunday, unless Viking has special guest privileges to visit these sites. I just called Viking to ask if they have such privileges, and the representative didn't have additional details regarding this excursion. 

 

Has anyone taken the Roman Catacombs & Vatican City tour on a Sunday and what was your experience? As an alternative, we're looking to book one of these ship-based excursions and would appreciate feedback (good and bad) from anyone who's taken them: 
 

• Highlights of Rome & the Colosseum
• Ancient Rome

Thanks in advance for the information!

[Peregrina651]

Contact Viking at tellus@vikingcruises.com. it is further up the food chain.  Ask them your questions about the tour.  Include your booking number and your phone number.  

Edited May 16, 2023 by Peregrina651