travel from port of Civitavecchia to Rome

Don't be frighten. There are plenty of trains between Rome and Civit about three or four an hour. It is a commuter run. Depending on the train the time is 45 mins to 1 hr 15. Your ship should provide a bus from the dock to the port entrance. It will be 15 min walk along the beach to the train station directly in front of you on the left. You can see it from the entrance. Just follow the crowd flow as there will be lots of people head that way especially if more than one cruise ship in port. The ticket line will be out the door so go to the Tobacco shop on the east end of the station and ask for a daily ticket - 9E last year, probably 10E this year. Walk to the platform, VALIDATE THE TICKET IN THE LITTLE YELLOW BOX ON THE STATION WALL, look at the train schedule overhead and see the bin/track for the next train to Rome. You can skip that part by just seeing where the biggest is crowd is waiting for the next train. Join them. There is a high probability that you may have to ride standing up if the crowd is huge. There is a high speed train about once an hour that requires a seat reservation. The daily ticket is not good for that train but the ticket is good all transportation in Rome and your return. The train will stop at St. Marks and Trastevere prior to Termini. Get off either place and walk across Rome to Termini and home again. At Termini the train back to Civit.. uses tracks 24 and 25 (I think) which is in the VERY FAR right hand corner of the station as your face the tracks. And I mean far. You will think you are walking to Venice. Also go to RoninRome.com for even more detailed directions.

You can take the train to and from Rome for 4.50 each, each way. This will be the fastest and cheapest.
You can also hire a company like romecabs.com but this will cost a few hundred euros. Donna

Obviously, though, if you go by train, be absolutely sure that you know your return schedule BEFORE you ever start your sightseeing. If you don't make it back to Civitavecchia at the specified time your ship requires, they WILL indeed depart without you.

Thanks for the replies. I have more questions! Loretta, should we worry abut the train being filled, and our not getting on it for the return trip? On the excursion by bus to Rome, offered by the cruise line, the information states there is a 15 minute walk to where the bus will pick up passengers so I assume there is no bus offered. Where do you get the ticket for the high speed train that requires a seat reservation? Once in Rome, what is the best way to visit the attractions? – walk, taxi, or what?
Thanking you in advance!

I have made that trip five times. You can always get on the train but you are not guaranteed a seat. One time in five going into Rome we had to stand about half way until some locals got off at in between stops. There is less pressure on the returning train because the crowd has spread out with some returning early and later. You can buy the ticket for the reserved train at the ticket window. Since there is only one ticket window I have seen that line outside the building with dozens of people waiting in line. And then you have to take that train which is about one an hour or so when there is a regional train every 15 to 20 minutes. The same thing on return or buy a round trip ticket but you have to set your return time. Once in Rome it is easy to get around by walking. If you want a quick overview the hop on/off buses are great. The all start at the plaza in front of Termini. Just exit the station, cross the road in front and hang to the left where you will see several booths selling tickets for these buses.