We're taking a cruise RT from Civitavecchia.
We plan to get to Rome a day or two before, but must depart for the cruiseport on a Sunday.
So we hope to take a regional train from Roma Termini to Civitavecchia.
Our cruise ends a week later, and we prefer the cheaper train fare (total E56) rather than the expensive cruise transfer ($170) to FCO.
Is it difficult to travel on Sunday on the regional, and also on the Leonardo Express from Roma Termini?
Are reservations necessary?
Jill, a couple of things. First, you don't say how long you have from getting off the boat to when you must be at FCO. If you have 3hrs, you can easily do this trip by train. It should take less time but 3hrs would be worse case. Second, trains from Civitavecchia to Rome run about once an hour on Sunday. Just over half the runs are on regionale trains. No reservations are permitted. The remainder of the trains are ICPlus trains. You could pay 3Euro for a seat reservation when you buy your ticket or you could just take your chance on a seat. You might want the seat reservation as your boat will be unloading. Worse case - you can stand for the 1.0hr. journey. Fare is about 8.50Euro. Once at Rome Termini, make your way to the Leonardo express. This journey will take 31 minutes and cost 11Euro. The Leonardo Express leaves twice an hour. Your overall fare shouldn't exceed 20Euro per person.
The train station is a bit of a walk from where you disembark the boat. If you want the train, I suggest that you don't try for a taxi. They want the fares to Rome and not to the train station. There should be buses available to get you to the port entrance. From there, it's another 5 blocks or so.
A couple of other suggestion. Your ship will provide a shuttle bus to the port entrance. From there it is a good mile to the station but it is an easy walk along the beach. You will have to walk but you will have lots of company. When in Rome, buy a second class, rt ticket so you don't have to buy a ticket in Civ. Buying a ticket in Civ after your cruise ship and maybe another has dock could add a couple hours getting back. Better yet, when you hit the ticket office for the L Express at the airport on the way in, buy all your tickets including the return L Express. That way you just go from one train to the next. Basically it is a commuter run from Civ to Rome. See http://www.civitavecchia.com/uk/servizi/trenicv.shtm
Thanks for the advice.
Glad to hear that it's an easy walk near the beach.
We were there 8 yrs ago. The train ride from RT to Civ was very easy, but it was on a weekday.
I recall that the area from the station to the dock wasn't exactly pedestrian friendly. But there were cabs available.
We ended in Lisbon that time,& that's why I need help figuring alternatives to expensive cruiseline transfers.
Maybe it wasn't friendly eight years ago but it has been for the past five years that we have been doing it. You come out of the train station on an raised plaza/parking area, have to take some steps down to the street level, and you do have to cross a multi lane street in typical Italian fashion but -- once across it is a wide sidewalk boarding on the beach area. One time we pass through there were a bunch of stalls and stuff for sale. I am guessing that some type of festival was underway. It was gone when we returned. It is very easy transition if you are not hauling a lot luggage. This a bus -- 1 E last summer -- but the line is always long and we think we can walk faster than wait for the bus.
It sounds like it's been somewhat improved over the years.
