Hi There,
I'll be spending the day in Rome while on a Mediterranean cruise. Does anyone know how long it typically takes to disembark the ship and make it on the train from Civitavecchia? Our ship arrives in port at 7am. If I purchased a train ticket from Civitavecchia to Rome at 8:42am would that give me enough time to shuttle to the the Largo Della Pace service center, take the bus to the train station and board my train to Rome?
I appreciate any insight!
Probably, distances are short. The train station is at the port and can be walked from the port entrance. The train itself can take from 45 minutes to an hour fifteen depending on class of train. It is basically a commuter run to Rome with three to four trains any hour. If purchasing ticket in advance only buy a Regionale train ticket. All other trains require a seat reservation. If you miss the train with a seat reservation then you will need a new ticket. With a Regionale ticket, just get on the next R train. No seat available you stand till something opens. For your situation the R train will be the slowest but have the most flexibility. And cheapest. The train station can be a real zoo especially if more than one ship is in port. So it is very good idea to purchase your ticket in advance.
Most of the trains are Regionale, and there’s one every 20 minutes or thereabouts. I wouldn’t even bother with a reservation - you could just get to the station as soon as you can, get your ticket, and go.
Several of Rick's books have a multi-page answer to your question, with specific attractions to fit the very limited time. Maybe you can find one in your public library, the info doesn't go out of date. It's really worth reading, as a sort of "reality check."
It's not really necessary to buy this local service train ticket in advance. I'm not even sure the ticket is specific to the train. But it's really cheap as a walk-up fare. You may wish to consider the overpriced cruise company shuttle bus, especially if they promise that it will pick you up beside the ship. The point is they guarantee that the ship will wait if you are on the bus at the appointed RETURN time, in Rome.
Some of the things you want to see, like the Coliseum, may have required advance, timed ticketing.
I'm handicapped in part of the answer because our small, 300-passenger ships did not use the modern cruise "terminal" at Civitavecchia, and we had to wait beside the ship (on the pier) for the proprietary, required, free shuttle bus to the bus-circle at the exit from the Port. I have heard of shuttles to the train station, but I don't know if they leave from this circle, or from a pier, or the terminal. Note that you have to think about the number of "seats" you might need to get all the way back to the ship when you return. It only counts if you are ON the boat at departure time!
Thanks! I appreciate the help and tips!
@Tim, I have purchased and read Rick's book for our trip. According to the information he provided it seemed like we'd make the train in time, I just wanted to see if anyone with experience could verify that for me. Better safe than sorry!
We have made that run five or six times. We have not made it since they moved the entrance to the port for the cruise ships. It used to be an easy walk from the train station. It is my understanding now that is much further -- maybe a good mile or more.
It's not really necessary to buy this local service train ticket in advance. It is absolutely critical to buy your ticket in advance either via the internet or at any other train station in Italy. As I mentioned earlier, it is very small station and becomes a zoo when the cruise ships are in port -- especially more than one. It could easily take longer to buy the ticket than the train ride to Rome.
Second, don't know your cruise ship departure protocol. Often a cruise ship will off load it's tour groups first and prevent the independent passengers from departing earlier. You may be able walk off the minute they open the doors or not.
You ID the 8.42 train. That is a Regionale Veloe with a required seat reservation. If you miss that train you would need a new ticket. (Now a long line at the station) That is why I recommended staying with R trains. The RV is only 10 minutes or so faster. Not worth the risk.
I would encourage you to take a R train to Roma S. Pietro station near the Vatican and beginning your sightseeing there and work you way across Rome to Termini and return from Termini to Civit. If you took the R train all the way to Termini you would have be back track. S. Pietro is two stops (may be one) before Termini.
@Frank - Thanks! I appreciate that advice. I would much rather spend 10 more minutes on the train than risk, and stress over, missing it. We had planned on spending our day by the Colosseum, Roman Forum and Pantheon. From what I read in "Mediterranean Cruise Ports: Fifth Edition" it sounded like it's best to pick the Colosseum/Roman Forum or the Vatican/St Peters. That attempting both would be too much for one day.
A lot depends on when you have to be back on ship. We had a couple of cruises that didn't depart until 10 pm and one that left at 5pm. Big difference as to what you can do with the time.
