Celebrity Tour Rome Airport Drop Off (CV92)

[ali-ali-oh]

Hi

 

I am wondering if anyone can give me some more information about Celebrity’s tour of Rome with airport drop off (CV92) and would appreciate it if anyone who has done this could help? I did originally post this on the Italy ports thread but as it is specific to X they suggested the question might get more response here, so here goes....

• How long (approx.) do you get at the Basilica and Coliseum and are your tickets/guides included in the price?
  

• I note it mentions that guide with be with you outside and you then enter on your own, but having never been before I wondered if this was sufficient.
  

• It says you visit the Coliseum, but doesn’t give any more details about whether entrance tickets are included and how long you are likely to get – can anyone shed a little more light?
  

• Finally, what time (approx.) do you get dropped off at the airport.
  

I know you can’t be specific but any helps you can give, even as a guideline would be much appreciated.

 

 

We are in Rome the day before our cruise so are planning on trying to fit in as many of the other sites before we cruise, so wondered if by doing a ship’s tour to include these would be enough time at the end of our cruise to give us more time to see other things before it.

 

I know there are options on private tours, but they are probably out of our budget and my DH always gets twitchy about airport times and luggage etc (by doing a ship’s tour he is happier this is less of an issue).

 

Anyway, I have included the blurb from X’s exc summary below, and any help you can give would be REALLY appreciated.

 

Many thanks in advance - Ali :):)

 

Make the most of your last day in Italy by exploring the historic city of Rome before heading to the Leonardo da Vinci Airport. Depart from Civitavecchia and drive via autostrada through the Etruscan Countryside with wonderful views on the Tyrrenian Sea. After a 1.5-hour drive, you will arrive in Rome and meet your local guide to begin your introduction to Rome.

 

Pause and view the exterior of St. Peter's Basilica and listen to your guide's explanation.

 

Visit the historic Colosseum, acknowledged as one of the world's most celebrated buildings... At the tour's conclusion, the coach will proceed to the Leonardo da Vinci (FCO) Airport. Please note that you may arrive before the appointed check-in time. This tour is for guests booked on flights departing after 5:00pm from the Leonardo da Vinci Airport.

 

Note: Tour duration will vary and depends on where you depart the tour (Rome or Leonardo da Vinci Airport). Guests must be able to walk approximately 2 miles (3.5 hours) over uneven and cobblestone surfaces with approximately 45 steps and endure extended periods of standing.

 

At St. Peter's Basilica, the guide(s) will give an explanation or description while outside the venue and guests will enter the Basilica individually for a designated amount of time. A strict dress code is enforced in St. Peter's Basilica where short pants, tank tops and revealing clothing are not acceptable. In the event of Religious Cermonies held in St. Peter's Square, or crowds inside the Basilica, it may be closed for security reasons. These safety precautions are beyond the control of the local tour operator or Celebrity Cruise

[ali-ali-oh]

Even if you haven't done this exact trip or something similar if you could give me some kind of guideline it would be really appreciated. Pleeeasse:):)

[Ex-Airbalancer]

Did you find any info?

[ali-ali-oh]

No. Sorry. Didn't get any response.

 

Alison

[DivasDare]

I used this excursion off the Equinox in '10, and from my best recollections, we had one guide that met us at the ship, who then escorted us to the guide at the Vatican who was with us throughout the rest of the day. He was excellent, and I'm sorry that I did not remember his name. His descriptions made everything so visual that we felt that we were back in the moment of time.

 

He guided us through the lines at each of the locations, Coliseum, Basilica, Trevi Fountain and then on to the Airport. We arrived there around 5p if I remember correctly.

 

It was well worth the money for the tour and transfer in my opinion. Hope this helps.

[ali-ali-oh]

I used this excursion off the Equinox in '10, and from my best recollections, we had one guide that met us at the ship, who then escorted us to the guide at the Vatican who was with us throughout the rest of the day. He was excellent, and I'm sorry that I did not remember his name. His descriptions made everything so visual that we felt that we were back in the moment of time.

 

He guided us through the lines at each of the locations, Coliseum, Basilica, Trevi Fountain and then on to the Airport. We arrived there around 5p if I remember correctly.

 

It was well worth the money for the tour and transfer in my opinion. Hope this helps.

Hi DivasDare

Many thanks for the reply.

 

Just wondered now the season has started whether anyone else could help out with how long you have at each of these sites, whether entrance tickets are included and what time you can expect to be dropped back at the airport?

 

We would ideally like to see the Sistine Chapel, but are not sure whether we need to fit this in pre-cruise or leave it until the return journey. As we have very little time in Rome, I don't really want to miss something or end up doing other things twice. Can anyone else out there help?

 

Many thanks - Alison

[ariawoman]

Hi DivasDare

Many thanks for the reply.

 

Just wondered now the season has started whether anyone else could help out with how long you have at each of these sites, whether entrance tickets are included and what time you can expect to be dropped back at the airport?

 

We would ideally like to see the Sistine Chapel, but are not sure whether we need to fit this in pre-cruise or leave it until the return journey. As we have very little time in Rome, I don't really want to miss something or end up doing other things twice. Can anyone else out there help?

 

Many thanks - Alison

 

To properly see Rome, you'd need at least a week, if not more, so you are going to miss something, let yourself understand that now before going so that you don't get down about it when it happens.

 

I've not taken the ship ex so I can't comment on that, however personally I wouldn't do it. You spend more time waiting for others to get to point X and Point Y when you could be off exploring yourself. I don't really care about hearing descriptions and whatnot, I just like to be there and look at stuff, so maybe that's why DIY works for me.

 

To properly do the vatican you'd need half a day, or even a full day (or more). The place is huge. There are tour operators that hang out to recruit folks to go on their tours outside in the street. We used one our first year there. He took us in, got us past the line, and then gave us a guided tour. He was very good. You just need to know what the going rates are for those tours so you don't pay too much on the street.

 

Rome is full of things to see and experience. I've been there 3 times now, and still haven't seen it all. One of my favorite cities.

 

If you have any questions in general about Rome, feel free to ask. I just can't speak to the ship ex since I didn't take it. :-)

[ali-ali-oh]

To properly see Rome, you'd need at least a week, if not more, so you are going to miss something, let yourself understand that now before going so that you don't get down about it when it happens.

 

I've not taken the ship ex so I can't comment on that, however personally I wouldn't do it. You spend more time waiting for others to get to point X and Point Y when you could be off exploring yourself. I don't really care about hearing descriptions and whatnot, I just like to be there and look at stuff, so maybe that's why DIY works for me.

 

To properly do the vatican you'd need half a day, or even a full day (or more). The place is huge. There are tour operators that hang out to recruit folks to go on their tours outside in the street. We used one our first year there. He took us in, got us past the line, and then gave us a guided tour. He was very good. You just need to know what the going rates are for those tours so you don't pay too much on the street.

 

Rome is full of things to see and experience. I've been there 3 times now, and still haven't seen it all. One of my favorite cities.

 

If you have any questions in general about Rome, feel free to ask. I just can't speak to the ship ex since I didn't take it. :-)

Hi Ariawoman

Many thanks for taking the time to reply. I am afraid I am stuck with the ship's tour, so need to know what's included and what I need to do separately. We do have a day and half before we cruise, so I am just trying to pack in as much as I can, hence me requesting specifics on the ship's tour. DH will not do a DIY before the flight home, so I'm trying to make the best of it with the limited time we have and as we are only a week away now, I'm getting a bit twitchy.

 

Thanks again, but anyone out there who's done the ship's tour - please help :)

[Onelung]

see my response on this thread, plus other suggestions

 

http://cruiseforums.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1631023

[Ex-Airbalancer]

Hi Ariawoman

Many thanks for taking the time to reply. I am afraid I am stuck with the ship's tour, so need to know what's included and what I need to do separately. We do have a day and half before we cruise, so I am just trying to pack in as much as I can, hence me requesting specifics on the ship's tour. DH will not do a DIY before the flight home, so I'm trying to make the best of it with the limited time we have and as we are only a week away now, I'm getting a bit twitchy.

 

Thanks again, but anyone out there who's done the ship's tour - please help :)

 

t time is your flight, ours is at 6:15 pm

[ali-ali-oh]

t time is your flight, ours is at 6:15 pm

 

Hi Airbalancer - we meet again! Our flight is 4.45pm

[Ex-Airbalancer]

Hi Airbalancer - we meet again! Our flight is 4.45pm

 

I noticed you wayyyyyy back on the 6th

They would probably drop you off at the airport around 2

I think we may just take the train in Rome , leave our luggage at train station and walk around the grad a train to the airport at 3 pm

We plan on one year doing a week in Rome so we will do the vatican then

[techwatcher]

Hi Ariawoman

Many thanks for taking the time to reply. I am afraid I am stuck with the ship's tour, so need to know what's included and what I need to do separately. We do have a day and half before we cruise, so I am just trying to pack in as much as I can, hence me requesting specifics on the ship's tour. DH will not do a DIY before the flight home, so I'm trying to make the best of it with the limited time we have and as we are only a week away now, I'm getting a bit twitchy.

 

Thanks again, but anyone out there who's done the ship's tour - please help :)

 

Hi Alison,

 

We did this tour after our Silhouette cruise last September. What's included? You (and your luggage) get taken from the ship to Rome. Meeting time was about 7.45am and we departed around 8.00am. You get taken into Rome and the coach parks near St. Peter's Square. You get group entry into St. Peter's Basilica (so no queueing). You then get a guided tour of St Peter's and then some free time. The St Peters bit and free time is around 1.5 hours. You then get taken to the Colosseum for another guided tour of about one hour. Finally you get dropped off at the airport, in our case at about 2.45pm.

 

It's a fairly controlled excursion so no real opportunity to do your own thing. We did manage to escape the Colosseum section (already been more than once) but the guide wasn't happy to leave us sitting on the wall outside; perhaps she was scared of losing us :)

 

Hope this helps.

[Ex-Airbalancer]

Hi Alison,

 

We did this tour after our Silhouette cruise last September. What's included? You (and your luggage) get taken from the ship to Rome. Meeting time was about 7.45am and we departed around 8.00am. You get taken into Rome and the coach parks near St. Peter's Square. You get group entry into St. Peter's Basilica (so no queueing). You then get a guided tour of St Peter's and then some free time. The St Peters bit and free time is around 1.5 hours. You then get taken to the Colosseum for another guided tour of about one hour. Finally you get dropped off at the airport, in our case at about 2.45pm.

 

It's a fairly controlled excursion so no real opportunity to do your own thing. We did manage to escape the Colosseum section (already been more than once) but the guide wasn't happy to leave us sitting on the wall outside; perhaps she was scared of losing us :)

 

Hope this helps.

What was the cost?

[ali-ali-oh]

Thanks pward123 that gives me at least something to go on. The trip says for flights after 5 but we are not flying transatlantic and only have to be at check-in 30 mins before so if X drops us at 3 ish that will be fine. Did your St Peter's visit include Sistine Chapel or will I need to organise that separately?

 

Thanks again - Alison

[ariawoman]

Thanks pward123 that gives me at least something to go on. The trip says for flights after 5 but we are not flying transatlantic and only have to be at check-in 30 mins before so if X drops us at 3 ish that will be fine. Did your St Peter's visit include Sistine Chapel or will I need to organise that separately?

 

Thanks again - Alison

 

Sistine Chapel is part of the admission for the Vatican as far as I remember (that's the only time I've had access). St Peters you will see the awesome Pieta -- don't miss it! When you walk into St Peters, go directly to the room on the right. It's gorgeous. I actually missed it on my first visit to st peters! lol

 

Last year we went up the dome of St Peters to see the view of the city, tremendous view but WOW the stairs going up are BRUTAL! Worth it though. Not sure if you'd have time for that, but if you have a few hours, i'd recommend it.

[ali-ali-oh]

Sistine Chapel is part of the admission for the Vatican as far as I remember (that's the only time I've had access). St Peters you will see the awesome Pieta -- don't miss it! When you walk into St Peters, go directly to the room on the right. It's gorgeous. I actually missed it on my first visit to st peters! lol

 

Last year we went up the dome of St Peters to see the view of the city, tremendous view but WOW the stairs going up are BRUTAL! Worth it though. Not sure if you'd have time for that, but if you have a few hours, i'd recommend it.

 

Thanks for the reply and I really do appreciate your help, but I thought you said in your earlier post that you hadn't done the ship's exc (or did I read it wrong - wouldn't be the first time)? The blurb from the ship says

 

...At St. Peter's Basilica, the guide(s) will give an explanation or description while outside the venue and guests will enter the Basilica individually for a designated amount of time."

 

I thought that the Sistene Chapel was part of the Vatican Museums which I'm not sure is part of this St Peter's Basilica exc - hence my query? I am quite happy to arrange this before our cruise if it's not included, but obviously don't want to do so if it will be included. With such a short visit to Rome I am trying to pack as much in as possible.

 

I must admit to being a bit confused as I've been trying to research and read so much that it's all merging into a mush in my head at the moment as I've looked at so many options. I am also trying to put together a route to do and see as much as we can and in the most time efficient way possible - as you said earlier, I really need at least a week - so if I've got the wrong end of the stick, please accept my apologies.

 

Alison

[techwatcher]

I thought that the Sistene Chapel was part of the Vatican Museums which I'm not sure is part of this St Peter's Basilica exc - hence my query? I

Alison

 

Hi Alison,

 

You are correct; the Sistine Chapel IS part of the Vatican Museums. The Vatican Museums are separate from St. Peter's Basilica and are NOT part of this excursion, so you would need to organise visiting the Vatican Museums and hence the Sistine Chapel, separately.

[ali-ali-oh]

Hi Alison,

 

You are correct; the Sistine Chapel IS part of the Vatican Museums. The Vatican Museums are separate from St. Peter's Basilica and are NOT part of this excursion, so you would need to organise visiting the Vatican Museums and hence the Sistine Chapel, separately.

 

Thanks so much for confirming - that's one question answered and now booked for before our cruise.