Rome Port Town (Civit)-How to Walk to Ship?

[ionsys]

We will be arriving in Civit 1 day early and staying overnight in a central location. Next day we will be getting on the Solstice

 

I gather that there is a free shuttle that goes back and forth from the actual pier to the port itself and that it is roughly a 1 mile walk to the pier otherwise-and taxis are not allowed in that area?

 

Are these free shuttles used by everyone no matter which ship or cruise line they are getting on?---how many are there order of magnitude--and do you simply wait with your suitcases like at a bus stop waiting for the next shuttle to arrive back?

 

once on a shuttle, i assume that it drops everyone on that shuttle off a set point on the pier--implying that we might have fair walk along the pier to find where the Solstice is berthed?

 

trying to conceptualize all this

[eandj]

If you go to the Ports of Call boards and find "Europe", ask you questions there and you'll get tons of info re your itinerary.

[tom_uk]

The Port Authority prohibit non-authorised people from walking along the quay-sides at the port of Civitavecchia. Since people do need to move about the port, the Port Authority run shuttle buses from the Port gate to the individual berths; basically there are buses that do a continuous loop around all the active berths and drop off / pick up at each one. They may also allow taxis into the port, because they certainly allow other buses (e.g. chartered buses for the cruise lines) into it.

 

So you may well be able to get a taxi all the way to the embarkation area for Galaxy (?). Alternatively you could get a taxi to the Port gate & switch to a shuttle bus there; or you could perhaps walk as far as the Port gate.

 

There's a useful webpage here:

http://www.europeportreviews.com/Rome2.htm

It's mainly about doing the opposite - getting off the ship and into Civitavecchia - but ithe first picture is of the port gate from the outside. I think the actual entrance is on the left-hand side of the picture.

[pris993]

Last year we took a taxi from the Airport in Rome to the Royal Princess berth, with no problem. I would recommend a taxi as the way to go, much easier with luggage. Hope you have a great trip.

[Napi's Mom]

When we we on our Cruise leaving from Civitavecchia (thanks for spelling it as I could never remember!! Let alone pronounce it "remember the cc is a "K"...etc") We took a taxi from Rome, but as the OP seems to be staying in the Civit. itself...that advice is useless. BUT that said...I talked to someone who took the train down from Rome, couldn't find the shuttle area, and started to walk to the Quay, pulling all their luggage, as the shuttle bus passed them & refused to stop as it wasn't where they were supposed to be. The crux of this story is that it was a dirty, rutted road and at least a couple of miles, not pleasant pulling luggage!:eek:

[pmymmw]

Hi pris993,

We are hoping to do the same thing next year when we are on Equinox, can you remember how much the taxi was form the Airport to the port at Civitavecchia?

 

Thanks,

Mark

[Moeve]

Rome City or the Airport are at least an hours drive from the port of Civitavecchia. If you are stay at a hotel in Civitavecchia have the hotel call you a cab in the morning to take you to the ship. Taxis with guests holding documents for the ship will be allowed into the port. Just have them ready to show them and your passports should you be stopped.

 

Those of you coming from the airport or Rome City do yourselves a favour and book a transfer - maybe even hook up with others from your roll call and travel together to save money. Do however count on it being around 100 Euros person for a cab - do make sure the price is set before you get in to avoid any problems on route.

 

You can take the train to Civitavecchia but get on an early one - like one leaving at 8 - 9 am from Rome - ´the last time we even saw taxis at the station to take people from the trains to the ship - how ever there is no garantee for that. When you walk out the station you need to turn right and head toward the port. It is about a 800 - 900 meter walk to the port entrance and the bus should be at the port entrance. From there it is a good 2,5 - 3 km walk to the ship so before you walk ask where the bus is most people at the port will know. Even better in your booklet you will often find the tel. number of the port agent - you could always call them to ask where the bus is once you get to the port entrance.

[minke]

Just make shure you know where you ship docks in Civ. Some mainly smaller ones use the long pier & the port run a shuttle down that......However when we got off the Grand Pricess at Civ 3 years ago (cruised from Venice) it was across in the container area with a tented check out area. No taxis were allowed in container area without a specific booking & they had to show the persons name to get past the gate. A guy with a phone was in the baggage area & booking the taxis but you had to negotiate your own rate with the driver when he got there.

A previous cruise on the Millie was only a stop & that used the main pier with the shuttle down it, we then walked to train station for a Rome visit

[Fblack]

I was there 6 months ago. Taxis and shuttle vans can go right up to each ship. The shuttle is free and is located right in front of the Fort. About 50 yards from McDonalds.

 

The ships often dock at different parts of the port so there may be several shuttle buses. Ask as you get on the bus. The signs in the front window say Shuttle, but not always the ship.

 

The free shuttle is used by passengers and crew and a few locals.

[pris993]

Hi pris993,

We are hoping to do the same thing next year when we are on Equinox, can you remember how much the taxi was form the Airport to the port at Civitavecchia?

 

Thanks,

Mark

 

 

Believe we paid around $200-$250 for our taxi, one way to the ship. The dollar has fallen in value since October, so may be a bit more. We actually stayed at the Hilton at the Airport for one night. We checked out taxis at the Hilton and negotiated a price with one of the drivers.

 

My DH is 75 years old, I am in my 60s, so we feel the cost is worth the wear and tear on our bodies.

 

Did buy a ship transfer on a return trip because getting a taxi is impossible at the port in Rome.

 

The next time we go to Rome, we will take a taxi to the ship, and try to arrange to have the same taxi come and pick us on our return. We did that when we went in and out of Dover many years ago, worked well. Here it maybe a bit challenging given it is a closed port, will have to check on that further.

[hcat]

We have been watching the Europe Bd for best way to approach this but will ask here for divergent views

 

We will be staying ovenight near the airport & not going into Rome..thought we might taxi back to the the airport day of the cruise & get a ship's transfer(joining those on arriving flights) but not sure how the times would work or if this is best-- has anyone done this?

 

we are also considering a pre-booked limo with ship access to pick us up at the hotel & maybe tour something before heading to the ship (if there is anything to see on the way??)--seems getting there too early will not be a good idea..what time is suggested for arrival & boarding?

 

on the way back we'll probabaly take a ship's transfer--will we have to shuttle to the bus or will the ship's bus have access to where we disembarK

 

Never wanted to cruise from this port but that was the choice for the ship & itin we wanted. one way or another we'll get there & back---

[tom_uk]

We have been watching the Europe Bd for best way to approach this but will ask here for divergent views

 

We will be staying ovenight near the airport & not going into Rome..thought we might taxi back to the the airport day of the cruise & get a ship's transfer(joining those on arriving flights) but not sure how the times would work or if this is best-- has anyone done this?

 

we are also considering a pre-booked limo with ship access to pick us up at the hotel & maybe tour something before heading to the ship (if there is anything to see on the way??)--seems getting there too early will not be a good idea..what time is suggested for arrival & boarding?

 

on the way back we'll probabaly take a ship's transfer--will we have to shuttle to the bus or will the ship's bus have access to where we disembarK

 

Never wanted to cruise from this port but that was the choice for the ship & itin we wanted. one way or another we'll get there & back---

 

So basically you'll be booking cruise-line transfers, and just flying in a day early? That's not a bad plan. I think there are transfers all morning and into the afternoon. I think our transfer left the airport between 11:30 and midday, IIRC.

 

The coach journey along the coast from Fiumicino to Civitavecchia takes barely an hour - it's motorway (Interstate-equivalent) all the way, with just short distances at each end not on the motorway. The cruise-line coaches can go onto the dock and you'll disembark from it right at the ship. They'll also take your luggage off you at the airport when you pick up the transfer; the bags arrive in bulk later and are delivered to the outside of your cabin. We just kept our hand-luggage, plus tickets, passports, etc, when we got onto the coach last year. You'll therefore need to put your cruise-line luggage tags on your bags before you hand them in at the airport.

 

On return all the bags are disembarked separately into a large marquee beside the ship. When you disembark the ship you first have to recover your luggage from this marquee, then locate your transfer coach, hand the luggage over to the driver who will stow it in the luggage store, then board the bus. When the coach arrives at the airport you'll be dropped outside Departures: just get of the bus, get your bags which will be being unloaded, and check in for your flight.

[swh&cv]

we are arriving the day for our cruise as well and we are staying at Hotel San Giorgio. it is directly across the street from the port and came highly recommended.

wade

[Michelle M]

I would like to add, when we traveled with 8 of us from Rome to the port for our cruise, the trip there by taxi was about $125.00 one way for the 8 of us. We left Rome around 10am and arrived by 11 am. We were left at the port directly in front of the Carnival check in. The entire embarkation was a breeze.....we were on the ship by 11:30am. :D

:( Going to the airport was not! We were dropped off where Alitalia told us our gate would be (that morning.) We arrived early and were told the gate had changed to a totally different building and since our driver had left, we were lugging too much luggage, with kids etc for over 25 minutes to get to the "new gate." The same happened to my parents as they were flying into another city. Just remember rules are not the rules in Italy (we found this at the hotels we stayed in Rome as well) and you have to plan as much as possible but allow for time delays and issues to come up that you may not expect in the US....we came back after an enjoyable cruise and time in Rome saying Thank God we are Americans!:)

[hcat]

Thanks for all the helpful info--sounds like the transfers could work for us- both ways...even better if they could have a group from our airport hotel.. just want to get there & rest up & then get to the ship easiest way possible without huge costs. It;s just the two of us.

 

Tips about the airport also good--we are hoping to get a flight late enough to give a wide time comfort zone--otherwise we'll stay over an extra night--Did that from Barcelona & it was a wise decision..Are there any places to get food or snacks at the airport?

 

We enjoyed Rome on our last cruise but since it seems to be in the opp direction from the airport & the port we are not going to venture out this time around....

[pris993]

Yes there are places to eat at the airport in Rome, nothing fancy but adequate.

[Napi's Mom]

Yes there are places to eat at the airport in Rome, nothing fancy but adequate.

From what We saw of the Rome airport, it was most unimpressive, and when we got to customs to get our passports checked...the guy looked up as we approched, and just waved us thru. Didn't even get a passport stamp for Italy! Here we were so worried about shoes off...bags checked etc, realize it was getting OFF the plane, but expected a little more attention for who is entering their country! :confused:

[IMNiles]

We have been watching the Europe Bd for best way to approach this but will ask here for divergent views

 

We will be staying ovenight near the airport & not going into Rome..thought we might taxi back to the the airport day of the cruise & get a ship's transfer(joining those on arriving flights) but not sure how the times would work or if this is best-- has anyone done this?

 

we are also considering a pre-booked limo with ship access to pick us up at the hotel & maybe tour something before heading to the ship (if there is anything to see on the way??)--seems getting there too early will not be a good idea..what time is suggested for arrival & boarding?

 

on the way back we'll probabaly take a ship's transfer--will we have to shuttle to the bus or will the ship's bus have access to where we disembarK

 

If you're not going into Rome, have you considered booking a hotel in Civitavecchia instead? When we sailed out last year, we stayed at the Hotel Traiano (http://www.hoteltraiano.com/), and they arranged a shuttle from the airport for a good price, and took us to the port in the morning for free.

[blyle]

Just be sure to check that you can come in early. One year they said that unless we were flying in the day of the cruise we could only get transfers if we gave them a flight number of a flight to Rome on the day of transfer. Our TA looked up flts arriving that same morning and we were ok. It may not be true on every line and in every port but do check to be sure you can use them. Otherwise just give them the number of a flight that arrives the day you want to use the cruise line transfers.