Trains

Not sure I totally understand the question but here goes, You can catch the train at the termini station or at the Ostiense or trastevere stations. The most convenient depends on where you're staying, but for you it's the termini station. It will take you out to the cruise port. From there you can either walk (about 15 minutes) or take a cab to the docks. Not all cabs have permissions to take you directly to the ship but there are shuttles that will. Depending on where your ship is docked you can walk or take the shuttle. Donna

You will be taking the train to CIVITAVECCHIA. You will recognize this name if you have ever seen Puccini's Tosca (Tosca and Cavaradossi plan to flee Rome by taking a boat out of Civitavecchia).

Thank you for your help. Linda.

Thank you for your help. Linda.

While all of the above postings are correct, maybe I can make it a little clearer for you. First, there is no cruise terminal as is common in many ports. Cruise ships for Rome dock at Civitavecchia which is about 50/60 miles SW of Rome. Train service to Civitavecchia is basically a commuter run 3 to 4 trains an hour (depending on time of day and day of week) taking between 45 mins and 1 hr 15, price range 8 to 12E depending on the train. Trains depart from the far right hand side (facing the tracks) of Termini. It is a long walk from the front of the station to the departing tracks 10 to 15 minutes. Buy the tickets at the machine in front of the station. If returning to Rome after the cruise, buy a RT ticket. When you arrive at Civitavecchia, exit the station and look right, west, and you probably can see your ship. Mostly will be more than one ship in port. There is a 1.1E shuttle bus that will take you to the port entrance but generally the line is long and the bus is small. Taxi are available but will charge substantial for what is about a half mile trip. We walk. Cross the busy street in front of the station, turn right, and walk along the beach to the port entrance. It is a flat, easy walk. There will be a steady flow of people headed in that direction. Just inside the port entrance through a stone archway will be a shuttle bus stop. The shuttle buses are ship specific so look for a bus with your ship's name. It will take you to the checkin point. To be continued .....

Part TWO ,,,,, If returning to Civitavecchia and Rome, the reverse is true except that it will be impossible to get a taxi to the station so you will have to walk this time. And buying a ticket will be zoo so that is why you buy a RT ticket earlier. Also, when you buy your Leonard Express into Rome at the airport buy the Civitavecchia ticket. Get a second class open ticket so you can get on just about any train headed to Civitavecchia BUT REMEMBER TO VALIDATE BEFORE GETTING ON !!

Two more points: Civitavecchia is northwest of Rome. If you buy an "open return" Trenitalia ticket, be careful NOT to board an Intercity or Eurostar-City train (between Civitavecchia and Rome), or you'll be FINED. Board only a "regionale" commuter train (without assigned seats). Tickets with assigned seats on the faster trains (IC, ES-City), cost more, and are not "open" tickets. The "open" tickets are valid ONLY on the regionale trains. You must always "punch" (validate) tickets in the little yellow machines at the train station for regionale trains before boarding, or risk a hefty FINE. You are not required to validate tickets for any of the faster trains (which have assigned seats), but may do so anyway with no consequences.

GAC is correct, must have been think of the airport when I typed that. The majority of the trains on that run are regional and gives the flexibility, especially if returning, of getting the next train instead of being locked into a specific time. Civit.. station is small with one ticket window and the lines to purchase can be long especially if more than one cruise ship is in port which is generally the situation. You can also buy tickets at the Tobacco shop in the east end of the building. Again the yellow box and validation cannot be over stressed.