Rome

[horseshoes]

We're going on a cruise soon and one of thge ports of call is Citavecchia for Rome. We have a full day there but don't particularly want to do an official excursion, although we will do that if we are strongly advised to by any ABer with good knowledge! IF we go it alone,how best can we use our time to full advantage. Would ideally like to see colusseum. TIA

[chrissa1]

My daughter who used to and still does from time to time, worked for P & O, as a member of the Youth Crew. She's been to Rome many times.

She says you can either do a "Rome On Your Own" where the ship provides a bus to take you to Rome and then brings you back. Or you can get a train from Citavecchia to Rome by yourself. This is quicker but something might happen that would make you miss the departure time of the ship.
The bus would drop you on the outskirts and there are plenty of taxis about. The bus will take you back to the ship too.

She says to go to the Basillica and from there just get a taxi to the Trevi Fountain, The Colosseum. The taxis are quite reasonable in price. The Vatican is across the other side of the city.

I hope this helps and you enjoy your cruise.

[craft1948]

We went to Citavecchia with P&O but after listening to the horror stories of being stuck on coaches in the sweltering heat for hours we decided against the organised tour. In fact I don't think we even went into Rome as something was happening at the time and most of the tourist attractions were closed.

[Wharton]

At the foot of The Spanish Steps, near The Trevi Fountain, there is a bar with a sign in the window which reads "Forget The Trevi, huv a bevvy", I think there's a Scottish connection somewhere :-)

[horseshoes]

Thanks all. I don't like being herded about so I think after what you say, we'll get the local bus or taxi. Can't wait although we're boarding at Barcelona, so I'm flying for the first time since 1974 when I vowed I'd NEVER fly again; I was so scared! Once that's out of the way, I'll be fine:-)

[chrissa1]

Just to clarify horseshoes. My daughter says, don't rely on the local bus or train to get to Rome, use the bus from your cruise line. Get to Rome then you can do your own thing, then you catch the bus back at the end of the day, in time to get back on your ship.

Don't get a taxi from the ship into Rome, it'll cost a fortune.

[DTCwordfan]

Hope that you have a great time, horseshoes; just watch the bum-pinching it la bellisima Roma....

[horseshoes]

Lol DT. What's ooh la la in Italian?

Chrissa, so sorry, I completely misread your post the first time! I've re-read it now (and just as well)!!!

[chrissa1]

Phew, horseshoes!!!!

[tonyav]

The catacombs are pretty good as well, horseshoes.

[jno]

Civitavecchia's about 50 milles from Rome. We just took a train into Rome and back, about 10 euros (I think the ship's coach was more like £50), got off at St Peter's (because after that the gtrain meanders round the city a bit before getting to the main station), went round that, had a pizza for lunch, strolled round the Colosseum and returned (in good time for sailing). Schedules and fares are available online and the station's about a 10 minute walk from the port

http://www.bahn.com/i/view/GBR/en/index.shtml

(Yes, it's German, but it covers everywhere)

[zabado]

To ease your mind in the flying department, I've just watched a program on the safety of flying and the closing remarks were. "If you boarded a plane EVERY day for the next 26 THOUSAND years there's a slight chance you would be involved in an air crash, and the statistics say there's a 98.9% chance you would walk away from it". Have a great holiday.