My friend and I will be arriving at Civitavecchia at about 6AM on April 10th, and have a flight on British Airways to London leaving at 3:15PM. The cruise line (Princess) offers bus transportation from the cruise terminal to the airport for $96. per person, which I think is outrageous, since it's only 42 miles the train fare is less than $14. But I am concerned about getting from the ship to the train station.
I am hoping that someone here can provide me with information regarding this transfer and how much time it takes.
Thanks in advance!
Posted by
Lake District, England
11209 posts
Every cruise line charges high fares for airport transfer at any port. My eyes water when I look at what they charge in Seattle, for instance. You are paying for convenience.
It isn't clear whether the flight has been booked with Princess, or independently. If booked through the cruise line you will get priority disembarkation to be on their bus to make their flight.
Any private transfer or taxi company will charge the same kind of price, so I don't think it's out of kilter too far.
The thing is you have a one or two stage transfer from ship to rail station (depending on how it is arranged) and then have to change trains in Rome to reach the airport. You can't afford the time to wait for a long distance train to Rome so will be on one of the commuter trains with luggage, and the train may well be busy. It is at least 2 hours from Civitavecchia to the airport, and add an hour from stepping off the ship to stepping onto a train.
Unless you self disembark (take your own luggage off the ship) you will disembark over a 2 to 3 hour period from around 7am to around 10am in an order determined by the ship (either by deck or loyalty status). You don't get to decide when if just catching a train.
Whether it's Rome or Miami (basically any cruise port) I would not have wanted what is a fairly tight connection in my experience. At least it is London, not transatlantic so more choice of later flights, and a lower cost.
All in all in those circumstances I see $96 as a prudent investment. No luggage handling at change points, no possibility of missed connections.
Posted by
OP
Loudoun County, Va., USA
226 posts
Thanks for your help. The schedule I saw however, showed that the rail trip from Civitaveccio to Fiumicino Airport is a direct train ride, taking about 51 minutes, for a fare cost of $13.75. Had I seen a train schedule that showed a trip into Rome and a transfer to a train from Rome to the airport, I would not have considered it. I am concerned with the time/distance from dockside to the train station at Civitavecchio.