What is the best and cheapest way to get from Rome Airport to the cruise ship terminals? We have read through the Mediterranean Cruise Ports book but still have some questions. Thank you!
Posted by
Wyckoff, NJ, USA
7967 posts
https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/italy/rome-airport-to-port-outside-of-rome
This not-so-old discussion will be very informative to you, even if your exact plans don't match those of the poster back then. As you know, going to Termini and then to Civitavecchia is backtracking, but that's not the major issue.
Posted by
Italy
3812 posts
I don't know what best means for you and if you are flying into FCO or into CIA airport.
One of the cheapest way from FCO is the FL1 train from the Airport railway station to Roma Trastevere station (€ 8 pp), then a Regional train from Roma Trastevere to Civitavecchia. Finally, if you can't walk, you can take a city bus from outside Civitavecchia station to the Port.
Posted by
Tresana, Highlands Ranch, CO, USA
23650 posts
The best and cheapest is not always the same. The best way is a hired car from the airport. I am not sure I would call it back tracking to use the train. Granted both are on the south side -- more or less -- of Rome. But Civit.... is much further west. The easiest is the Leonardo Express (train) from the airport to Termini and then a local train to Civit.... It is about an hour from Termini depending on train. It is basically a commuter run with trains from 3 to 4 an hour. The train station in Civit... is the near the port and you probably can see your cruise ship when you exit the train station. On the day of the cruises you will have lots of company on the train especially if more than one ship in port.
Posted by
Vancouver, BC, Canada
1331 posts
It has been 7 years since we did the same thing. We arranged for a private transfer, a large van for 6 of us, from hotel door to the ship and later from ship to the airport. If I recall, the average price per person was very affordable. If there are only 2 of you, you can google "private transfer or shuttle FCO Civitavecchia" and you can find a company which can group you in with 4 to 6 people to share the cost of the shuttle; you can email them and discuss arrangements. You can also go to cruisecritic.com and look up the specific forum for your cruise and find other people in the same situation as you to share costs. You can also do the same to share shore excursions; it is cheaper and more fun to be in a small private tour group than to be on a huge cruise tour bus. There will literally be 1000s of people in the same boat as you.
Posted by
Wyckoff, NJ, USA
7967 posts
Be careful before assuming a transfer has security clearance to drive onto the pier. Private excursions may not be for first time cruisers, because the ship can leave without you if Vinnie's Tour is late returning.
Posted by
Vancouver, BC, Canada
1331 posts
We were first time cruisers with no shore excursion experience. If you google and read reviews, you can find very reputable and experienced tour guides for shore excursions. I think for Italy, they're were called Joe Banana Limo. There were some very long drives to/from Pisa/Cinque Terre and in Napoli and risk of missing boat was always on the back of your mind. I emailed them and they alleviated any concerns. They will get you back in time and gave assurances that if there is a breakdown, they have a backup driver/vehicle. For a group of six we usually saved about €50 per person over booking the cruise line big bus. This is just an FYI, choose whatever makes you happy. I am not a cruise person, but an old backpacker at heart. The better forum for this type of travelling is cruisecritic.com