We’ll be in Rome in May 2025 for 4 nights & staying near Campo di Fiori. Coming in on Royal Caribbean’s last port of a 14 nt cruise.
1. To get from the port to Rome, I’m thinking of booking a tour of the city along w transportation from the ship. Since we can’t check in until 3p. Is this a good idea? Something to give us an overall view of the city before we begin our stay. We don’t want to go by train or private car.
2. Scavi: How do I get tickets & far in advance can I get two tickets? Is it a guided tour w a person telling us what we’re seeing & explaining?
3. Catacombs: Which is the best catacomb experience? Should we book a bus tour or is the golf cart tour more interesting since it visits the Appian Way? We’ve already been to the Priscilla Catacombs.
4. Coliseum by Night: How can I get tickets now for next spring? Is there a tour company that you recommend?
5. How can I be sure that we get an English speaking guide who’s easily understood. I’ve had some where I couldn’t understand even though they were speaking English. It’s such a waste of time & money.
Posted by
Minnesota 🎒
16563 posts
Hi again, Berry -
I know you've been to Rome before so I'm unsure what sort of tour you're envisioning that can take you and your luggage from the port, around the city, and to your accommodation if not by private driver? Help us to help you here? I'll also reference the good reply you got over on TA...which recommended a driver with the caveat that they're not tour guides, can't drive into all areas of Rome and would be quite expensive if picking you up in Civitavecchia.
Scavi (Vatican Necropolis): Here's the information for booking. It's too early to do so for May 2025 and yes, it's always an escorted tour with narration as no one is allowed to wander around down there independently.
https://www.basilicasanpietro.va/en/experience-the-basilica/visits/guided-tours.html
Catacombs: no idea about bus or golf cart tours specifically for the catacombs but based on your TA reports, I thought you'd found golf cart tours not to your liking? If that's the case, you might want to consider a bus or small-group van tour.
I answered the Colosseum question on your other post:
https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/italy/night-tour-of-coliseum
Aside from that there's no "best" 'cause we'll all have different viewpoints. All of the catacombs have their own guide services in a choice of languages, included with your ticket, as people are not allowed to wander them on their own. You may have to wait a bit after signing up for the next tour in English to be ready to roll. We did San Sebastiano and thought was plenty interesting although a wee bit too heavy on Catholicism. Others have preferred San Callisto. I see that "Walks of Italy" offers a tour that includes the Orazione e Morte bone crypt + one of the catacombs out of the Appia - very likely one of the two I've mentioned - with minivan transport between them.
The only way I know of to land a guide that might speak English to your exacting specifications is to hire a private guide service. The language of Italy is Italian, and we've been impressed at how well so many in the hospitality industry speak (what is to them) a foreign language! :O)