Purchasing Vatican Museum Tickets - Question RE: Timing

[sufan44]

Hi,

 

First time trip to Italy on a honeymoon and we are heading to Rome on a Saturday. Scheduled to arrive at port at 8:00 a.m. and we have heard it's best to go to Vatican Museum first if you want to do both that and the Colosseum.

 

We have purchased tickets to Colosseum already in advance, as they are good for two days. But we are struggling to select a time for the Vatican Museum, as they are pretty specific (every half hour).

 

For those that have been to Rome recently, how long will it take us to get from Norwegian Cruise ship to Vatican in time for our ticket slot? We are planning on purchasing a BIRG ticket so we can take multiple trips on mass transit.

 

Thanks in advance!

[euro cruiser]

If this is the end of your cruise a BIRG ticket probably isn't what you need, you'd really want a one-way regional fare (5 Euro) and an all-day BIG (6 Euro). However, as it's only a one Euro difference you may not care.

[sufan44]

If this is the end of your cruise a BIRG ticket probably isn't what you need, you'd really want a one-way regional fare (5 Euro) and an all-day BIG (6 Euro). However, as it's only a one Euro difference you may not care.

 

Sorry forgot to add that we are scheduled to depart to our next stop at 7:00 p.m.! So it is unfortunately not out last stop - although the more and more I read, the more I wish it was as there's so much to do.

[euro cruiser]

Okay, you confused me with the mention of the two day Colosseum/Forum/Palatine Hill ticket.

 

You've got an unusually short port day, unfortunately. I would go for a 10 AM Vatican entry time, assuming that you will make either the 8:44 or the 8:53 train. If you wind up on the second one, which is a slower train, you'll need to haul it to the museums's entrance as you'll be late, but they'll let you in.

[euro cruiser]

In order to be safely back on board by 6:30 PM, the very last train you could get from Rome leaves Ostiense (the station you'd use from the Colosseum area) at 4:53 PM (arrives Civitavecchia 6:04). HOWEVER, it's not smart to take the very last option; the wiser choice is the train before this so you have a fall back, if you need it. The train before is at 4:23 PM (arrives Civitavecchia 5:13).

[sufan44]

In order to be safely back on board by 6:30 PM, the very last train you could get from Rome leaves Ostiense (the station you'd use from the Colosseum area) at 4:53 PM (arrives Civitavecchia 6:04). HOWEVER, it's not smart to take the very last option; the wiser choice is the train before this so you have a fall back, if you need it. The train before is at 4:23 PM (arrives Civitavecchia 5:13).

 

Thank you for your help! Very much appreciated.

[seajp]

Like Eurocruiser said, best to catch the special express train( goes direct to the Roma S. Pietro station) that leave Civitavecchia station around 8:45am and arrives at Roma S. Pietro station ( closest station to Vatican) around 9:30am. R/T ticket cost about 20 Euros for adult and we did the return train at 4:25pm and arrived at Civitaecchia station around 5:15pm. Recommend you walk to the shuttle drop off location. Shuttle bus back was very crowded and long lines. Last shuttle back to ship is 6pm.

 

Loved the reserved express train, especially after long day in Rome. You will get a nice comfortable seat!!!

[CathyCruises]

LOL! I'm pretty positive that Eurocruiser was not advocating the 'express' train!!

[Surreyman]

In order to be safely back on board by 6:30 PM, the very last train you could get from Rome leaves Ostiense (the station you'd use from the Colosseum area) at 4:53 PM (arrives Civitavecchia 6:04). HOWEVER, it's not smart to take the very last option; the wiser choice is the train before this so you have a fall back, if you need it. The train before is at 4:23 PM (arrives Civitavecchia 5:13).

 

I would second that, when we did the trip we caught that train back and only just made it back to the ship as it broke down, the ship left later than scheduled but at least two people on a later train missed the ship.