? re: reputable tour companies for shore excursions

[getAWAY_9]

Can you recommend a reputable tour company? I am arriving in Rome one day early.  NCL doesn't offer any excursions prior to embarkation day.  I am looking for a standard escorted bus tour that visits some of the major sites of the city.  I am not interested in private tours.  Thanking you in advance for your help!

[ColeThornton]

12 minutes ago, getAWAY_9 said:

Can you recommend a reputable tour company? I am arriving in Rome one day early.  NCL doesn't offer any excursions prior to embarkation day.  I am looking for a standard escorted bus tour that visits some of the major sites of the city.  I am not interested in private tours.  Thanking you in advance for your help!

 

 

Welcome to Cruise Critic.   Recommend you ask/research on the Italy ports of call forum.  Lots of great info available that you'll find useful.  Link:

 

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/forum/464-italy-ports/

[pete_coach]

1 hour ago, getAWAY_9 said:

Can you recommend a reputable tour company? I am arriving in Rome one day early.  NCL doesn't offer any excursions prior to embarkation day.  I am looking for a standard escorted bus tour that visits some of the major sites of the city.  I am not interested in private tours.  Thanking you in advance for your help!

I would not discount private tours.

I suggest you find your Roll call and see if anyone is looking for people to join a tour group.

I found bus tours spend a lot more time waiting than doing and when you do get going, you move at the pace of the slowest person and in Rome, lots of line ups to see the locations whereas private tours are often there first and get you past the lines.

[Middleager]

2 hours ago, getAWAY_9 said:

Can you recommend a reputable tour company? I am arriving in Rome one day early.  NCL doesn't offer any excursions prior to embarkation day.  I am looking for a standard escorted bus tour that visits some of the major sites of the city.  I am not interested in private tours.  Thanking you in advance for your help!

We stayed near Piazza Navona.  We walked to Tiber river, saw the Vatican at a distance, Justice Dept., then walked to the Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain (and more), and the Pantheon.  A big bus won't be able to go to those places easily.

 

Next morning we walked by Castel Sant'Angelo, St. Peters Sq, then the Vatican Museum.  We bought the tickets for small group tour before it opens to the public.  It was a very nice tour, without other tourists/crowd, and we got to spend 25 minutes inside the Sistine Chapel (just in awe).  We then had breakfast inside the Vatican Museum.  After that, saw a bit more of the Vatican Museum, before taking uber to the Colosseum.  There we took a tour that included going to see the underground.  Then went to the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill, bought the English audio self-guide for that.

[CruiserBruce]

Rome is very walkable...perhaps a tour isn't needed?

 

I agree with others, a private tour isn't a bad thing. Check out Rome in Limo.

 

Lastly, although not highly (in Rome)recommended here, but a hop on hop off bus is a possibility.

[fredflint]

Hop on Hop off is a good option too

[Wishing on a star]

I found this site, which has information on the different hop on hop off bus companies and tours.

https://www.rome.info/tours/hop-on-hop-off/

 

There are several transport and tour-driver companies that I see mentioned on these travel forums.

Rome Cabs, as well as Rome in Limo.

 

When you say 'major sites', do you mean 'drive by',  or to be able to go inside?

 

If you want to go inside, then taking some kind of transportation or walking to the site would be necessary.

In Italy, there is a difference and separation between 'drivers' and 'licensed tour guides'.

That means that the driver does not handle the necessary tickets or accompany you.