Ship's Shore Excursion in Rome

[Stelladoro]

We'll be arriving in Civitavecchia on the Millennium on Thurs., Sept. 7/06. This is our first visit to Rome and we're considering the ship's tour Imperial Rome. However, there's a notation on the Celebrity site which which reads...Should guide determine that queue at St. Peter's Basilica security check point is longer than a 45 min. wait, they will forego the interior visit of the Basilica and provide you with a full explanation and descr. while outside...

Given the cost of this tour, this has me concerned, as our main reason on this visit to Rome is to see the Vatican (just the 2 of us). I was under the impression that anyone on a ship's tour can bypass the long wait lines. Would appreciate clarification on this point.

Thanks very much!

Happy Canada Day and Happy upcoming Fourth of July to our American friends and family!:)

[Mike073]

Instead if doing the ship tour hire a driver on your own. This site has several threads about this. Then you can stay as long as you like at the Vatican. The lines can be deceiving. We looked at the line and it extended several hundred feet outside the security scanners but we were in the Bascillica within 15 minutes.

[transplant320]

if they have an excursion called [rome on your own] take that one and it will provide transportation from the ship to and from rome, they usually drop you off at the coloeusem, then take a taxi to the the vatican, which is about 8 euros each way. just to let you know if you take this route to go down to the road-way next to the coloeusem, to hail your cab, that's what we did and had no problems, depending on traffic it is 10 to 20 minute ride each way. reason for the bus transportation is that if it is late the ship waits. we left on the bus at 6;00p.m. and got back to the ship at 7:45p.m. beacause of traffic and this was on a thursday. the ship was to leave at 8:00 p.m.

martin

[longislandfamily]

You have two options: Hire a private guide to get you into the Vatican museums and Sistene chapel, 100 euros or more, or fax in advance to the Vatican museums (they have a web site that give info) at about 12 euros each. There is currently a thread going on this forum about faxing to the Vatican. If the Vatican Museums and Sistene Chapel are the most important site for you to see in Rome, don't leave it to the ship's tour to get you in. Both these solutions will skip the line.

[Stelladoro]

:) Thanks everyone for your advice!