marazul

Cruise ships tender in Pirtofino. It is a tiny port. You will be hard pressed to find a reasonably priced restaurant in Portofino. Just walk up the street and check out the menus which are always posted outside. Stop at one that fits your budget. The farther away from the water, the less expensive they may be.

I would go for the first one. You have several outstanding ports there. And both have Messina and Naples. On the second one, Dubrovnik is the only top level port. Croatia is lovely. Put it in your bucket list after you do the first itinerary.

OK. You will check out Portofino from Santa Margherita after going to Cinque Terre. 😉

No customs coming out of the cruise ship. You just walk out.

That works. Some time between docking time and the latest time you are allowed to disembark. If going to a hotel, we always allow for time for breakfast and a leisurely exit. It also depends on other plans for the day. Allow 30 minutes for the ride to the hotel.

We usually walk around and look at the menus which are always posted outside. Look at the outside tables to see what the people are eating and the ambiance, and then pick a place. The best deal (quality and price) at any restaurant, especially in tourist areas, is to order the daily special or "plat du jour." It will be posted on a blackboard outside. Order a carafe of the house wine. Rosés are the specialty of the area. Also, order a carafe of water, otherwise they will bring you an overpriced bottle of mineral water. And enjoy. It is difficult to get a bad meal in France.

Depends. If going on a tour, around 8 or 9. If going to the airport, at whichever time they said. Just tell them the docking time and the flight time. If picking up at the airport, tell them flight number and they'll be there When we went to the Peloponnese, they picked us up at the airport and, after 5 days, they got us to the ship around three hours ahead of sailing time.

In Europe there are no tour operators offering tours quayside like in the Caribbean. You do need to book your excursions ahead of time. Do look at your cruise line offerings for ideas on what's available. Look through this board for many suggestions on excursions and tour operators. Look at your cruise's roll call in Cruise Critic to join others in private excursions. You are better off booking directly with a tour operator rather than through a consolidator like Viator. Get a guide book on the areas you are visiting or simply google "[name of place] tourism" like "Santorini tourism." And come back to this forum with more specific questions to help you narrow down your choices.

El Corte Inglés is a department store with a good food hall. There is a good and very reasonable tapas restaurant across Casa Batllo on the Passeig de Gracia called TapaTapa. But as the OP says, there are hundreds of options, prices and quality.

There are many others, like Rome in Limo.

https://www.romecabs.com/transferservice/civitavecchia/

There are only a few piers in SML. All close to each other. You can walk from your tender pier to the ferry pier in less than 5 minutes. Here is the ferry schedule: https://traghettiportofino.it/en/lines-trips/line-1/#ad-image-0 Use it both ways or, as edinburgher suggested, taxi one way and ferry back. But I'm still puzzled by your Nice/Eze excursion out of SML! 😁

We have used George's many times over the year from simple airport transfers to a 5-day tour of the Peloponnese ending at the cruise port. We have always had excellent service.

Italian hotels normally provide breakfast. It ranges from simple Continental to full European/American buffet. Check out your hotel's website for info.

Last year they had installed some scaffolding staircase next to the marble steps that made it easier to get up and down.

romecabs.com

The bus tour is interesting. It is a drive around the gardens. It starts an ends at the Vatican museum. It does not give you admission to the museums unless you purchase a combination tour. It has nothing to do with the lines for the Basilica. If you have any guided tour of the Museums, follow the instructions with your ticket for timing your arrival. There are no shortcuts for the security line at the Basilica. The museum tickets may already be available for the whole summer. Check your dates on their website. museivaticani.va

About 10-12 euros. Taxi drivers generally know enough English to get you where you are going. Just in case, write down the name and address of the hotel on a piece of paper.

Taxi.

Why don't you check a private transfer to your hotel with or without the added tour? It could be break even cost with ship's transfer. Check Stefano's Rome Cabs for their options. romecabs.com BTW- the ship's transfer might be only a drive-by without inerior visits.

The Cupola (dome) may close on Wednesdays if there is a Papal audience. Even if it is open, don't think of going Wednesday morning if you have to leave Rome by 9 am. Your best bet is to book the Vatican Museum for Monday afternoon. Look for the "Extra Time - Sistine Chapel" guided tour in https://tickets.museivaticani.va/home. When you find the tour, click on "more info." It says: "Surround yourself with beauty with an Official Vatican Guided Tour of the Vatican Museums and live the unique experience of an exclusive entrance to the Sistine Chapel, after closure to the public. The visit ends with a delicious Happy Hour - served at the table - in the evocative atmosphere of the Vatican Museums." The "Extra Time" tour starts around 3 pm. Going Monday afternoon leaves you plenty of time before to go visit other places such as Castel Sant'Angelo which should be near where you are staying. Go to the Basilica first thing Tuesday morning (it opens at 7 am, dome at 7:30) and take the time to visit it after you climb the dome. This will give you plenty of time to visit other places in Rome on Tuesday.

Read the small print of the 3rd party tours. Many of them will tell you that the connection to the Basilica is not currently available. They would have to drive you there or take the long walk around the Vatican walls. You are probably better off getting to the Basilica as early as possible, but I would hesitate getting a 9:30 tour. Are you in Rome for a couple of days before a cruise or are you trying to do all this on a port stop? If you have a couple of days, split them up. One day for the basilica and one for the Museums - both early. If you only have one day, go for a later entrance at the VM to make sure you have time to get there.

The shortcut between the Vatican Museums and St Peter's is currently closed. You have to stand on a very long security line to enter the Basilica.

Yes, SF first and then the rest. That's a lot of walking, but you can always catch a taxi if you get tired. They are very reasonable.

With a reputable company, such as George's Taxi, you can go straight on to your tour. Your bags will be safe in their van. No need need to go to the hotel first.