RomeInLimo questions

[CaliforniaFamily6]

I visited Rome and hired Rome in Limo for an all day tour. Lorenzo was our tour guide. I took 4 different tours while in Europe and this was by far the best experience due to Lorenzo's knowledge and ability to navigate the crowds. It is unfortunate that Lorenzo became ill for your tour, but that is life and you were refunded your money. Let it be! I'm not sure why you feel it is right to kick a person when they are down. My family's ex[erience with RIL and Lorenzo was vastly different than what you have described. First off, I was delayed 2 hours from getting off the ship due to a passenger death at sea. Lorenzo was still there waiting at 10a.m. This did not shorten the tour but it was extended the 2 hours that I was late due to another family's misfortune. We saw so much in the city of Rome it was unbelievable. The tour was only enhanced by Lorenzo's knowledge base. He is college educated with degrees in Philosophy and archaeology/anthropology as I recall he told me when I asked. Comparing him to the other 3 tour guides I had from different companies, he made them look stupid. He was very polite and accommodating our families needs. I had 5 children/teenagers and 2 elderly parents (77 and 83y/o). Our van dropped us off immediately outside each attraction. We went to Palatine hill to buy tickets for the coliseum. I had purchased 9 tickets but when I got to the coliseum I discovered I had only received 8. Thanks to Lorenzo he was able to go up to the ticket window at the Coliseum and get another ticket without the additional cost. The Vatican tour was certainly the highlight. Lorenzo spoke into a microphone that we could all hear on headsets we were wearing. The background information he gave was invaluable and enhanced the experience that much more. H was also great at taking Family photos for us. You state you missed the entire day, however you only booked a 4 hour tour for the vatican according to the post. What more did you expect to see in 4 hours without being rushed? I will just say that when I go back to Rome again I will be giving RIL a call and specifically requesting Lorenzo. It is unfortunate that he became ill otherwise your tour could have been enjoyable for the brief time you hired him. You were there during the peak season and I'm sure RIL was booked and did not have an additional tour guide sitting around that day to cover for Lorenzo. As far as being expensive, they were all around the same price for me when I was looking for tours for 9 people. Obviously the fewer people in your group will ultimately cost more per person. I researched tours in Italy and there was one thing that I found consistent and that was Rome in Limo was the best and not once did I find a negative feedback about it until your post. Sorry to disagree with your post but you simply had an unfortunate experience due to an unplanned illness and were given a full refund by a reputable company.

 

 

Ok, I know I am going to get a lot of fluff for this but......We just came back from Navigator of the Sea and 4 days, pre cruise Rome.

We used rome in limo for our vatican tour. We had Lorenzo, he was awful.

We paid for 4 hrs, he arrived 1/2 late, and cut the tour 1 1/2 hr early,He complained the entire time about the heat(hey its Rome in July for heaven sake) and rushed us thru everything, even my teens were complaining, and commenting " what's that? can we see that over there? " etc.

Anyway, Duman the owner did refund my money when I complained , saying that Lorenzo was ill with the flu, which is probably true, because 3 out of the 6 of us , got sick , about a day later.thanks Lorenzo!(JK) but we still missed the entire day and sites there. We basically stood on line, stopped a few feet looked at a statue,then stood on line for the sistine chapel, we stood there for 5 minutes , then stood on line again ,and left! We still tipped him!

Now I will say that for our pompeii , and ancient rome tour, we used

Your Tour in Italy,

with Aldo for these two seperate tours. They were wonderful. Our guide Julia was so fantastic, with little stories that totally interested and hooked my teens. Domenico drove us to Pompeii for a private tour, and went out of his way to make our trip so fantastic! Aldo , was so concerned when my son got sick at the colisseum, that he stopped as soon as he picked us up, to get my son a pastry and something to drink and us all waters, without even asking us then wouldnt take money for any of it.They were so fantastic! and on another note, they were so much less expensive than rome in limo!

ok you RIM fans, fire away!!!! but that is my experience!!!

[pathfinndr]

We booked three different tours in 8-person minivans, with RomeInLimo during July 2010: Rome, Pompeii & the Amalfi Coast, and the tour of Pisa and Pompeii from Livorno. Everything went very smoothly, beginning with great communication from Duman and Jany, to the drivers promplty meeting us at the ports of call on our cruise, and getting the smaller vans up closer to the attractions than would have been possible with larger buses, plus no waiting on lagging shoppers, like is often the case with busloads of tourists. They always gave us ample time to view the various sights, and got us back to the ship in plenty of time. This was definitely the best way to do side tours from a cruise, and I very much recommend this company to anyone considering them. All of the drivers were very friendly, spoke excellent English and were very knowledgeable. We had Gian in Livorno, Nicolas in Rome, and Carmine in Naples. RomeInLimo helped us pre-arrange guides in Athens (Myrto) and in Pompeii(Loretta) for the archaeological sites, and both guides were excellent and added a lot to these tours.

[flgirl543]

We have booked RIL for their Naples - Pompeii, Sorrento, Capri tour. Jany has recommended we don't need a driver in Capri, we can do it on our own. Has anyone done this and how much time did you have in Capri? What sites are must sees? Or do you recommend going with a driver in Capri?

[samavarcruiser]

We have booked RIL for their Naples - Pompeii, Sorrento, Capri tour. Jany has recommended we don't need a driver in Capri, we can do it on our own. Has anyone done this and how much time did you have in Capri? What sites are must sees? Or do you recommend going with a driver in Capri?

 

Capri Travel Guide :)

 

http://wikitravel.org/en/Capri

 

 

Get in

 

By boat

 

 

• Capri is reached in about 40 minutes by hydrofoil from the port of Ischia or Forio, docking at Marina Grande on the north side of the island. There are also daily ferries from Naples (20/day, €16, 40 minutes), Amalfi, Positano and from Sorrento (15/day, €14, 20 minutes). Boats are operated by Caremar and SNAV.
  

 

• For arriving in style, Capritime Boats specialises in water taxi direct transfers from Naples, Sorrento, the Amalfi Coast and Ischia to Capri. They also provide luxury full-day and half-day boat tours to the Amalfi Coast and Sorrento Coast from Capri, tailor itineraries for cruise ship passengers docked in Sorrento, Capri, Naples and Amalfi and also offer special Capri and Ischia island boat excursions.
  

 

• From Marina Grande, a funicular goes up to Capri Town, and boats leave for the Blue Grotto. The fourth store to the right of the funicular provides baggage storage for €2.50/day per bag, from 8:30-6:00. Tickets for buses, funicular, and return boats are for sale at kiosks, along with public toilets. The Tourist Information office offers €1 maps, open daily April to October 8:30-8:30PM, November to March Monday to Sunday 9:00-1:00 & 3:30-6:30. The Bar Augusto has internet access from 6:00AM - 8:00 PM
  

 

Get around

 

• By foot: from the main harbour to the town up the hill leads a range of stairs. Stairs and walkways, mostly signposted, crisscross the island.
  
• By funicolare: this mountain tram connects the harbour with the town up the hill. Read also about the unified public transport ticket Campania Unico.
  
• By bus: Island buses are readily available to take you to the various areas of the island. They run on a schedule and cost 1,30 € per ride, €2,80 for 60 minutes unlimited use, or €6,70 plus €1 deposit for unlimited day use (deposit is refunded to you at end of day). Buses run from:
  

 

• 
  
  • Marina Grande to Capri town (4/hour) and then take bus to Anacapri (4/hour) but the Capri to Anacapri bus gets crowded, so you could take a bus direct from Marina to Anacapri (2/hour)
    
  • Anacapri Buses go to Capri (at least 4/hour) and to the Blue Grotto
    

   

The roads are very narrow and quite dangerous. Bus travel is for the brave!

 

 

See

 

• The town of Anacapri and its surrounding villas and hikes
  

 

• Blue Grotto (Grotta Azzurra) - The Blue Grotto is a beautiful cave at the water's edge with a tiny opening to the sea that opens and closes with the tide, used as a bath since the Roman times. The entrance is small and depending on the tide there is just enough space for only a small rowboat to get through. Dark at the entrance, one has to enter 20-30 yards and then turn around to view the beautiful sight of the light from the entrance flowing through the water lit turquoise from below by the sun. Hence the sight of the "Blue Grotto". You'll be amazed at the turquoise hues glimmering in the water and against the rocks. The grotto often closes due to tides and waves, and it may take a while for your boat to get in, with many other boats trying to do the same. It may also be advisable to check the tides beforehand to avoid disappointment. The trip on the passenger boat from Marina Grande to outside the Blue Grotto cavern costs about €9, then €10.50 or higher for the rowboat to take you in through the tiny entrance which includes the entrance ticket to the cave a total of around €20, with a round trip of about 1 to 3 hours. There are also cruises that circumnavigate Capri and stop at the Blue Grotto allowing passengers to board a row boat and enter the grotto. The rowboat operator will also ask for a tip. Alternatively, one can take a bus to Anacapri, walking 100m (inquire locally), then taking another bus to the Grotta Azzurra, and then paying €9 for a rowman to take you in and out. This has the advantage of cutting on the cost from Marina Grande, as well as placing you near Anacapri where much else is to be seen. The grotto is open from 9:00 to one hour before sunset daily. If the grotto closes suddenly (hopefully while you are outside it), consider a €12 cruise around the magnificent Faraglioni Rocks instead.
  

 

• Villa Jovis - Villa Jovis, the splendid residence of the Emperor Tiberius, start from Piazzetta Umberto I and turn into Via delle Botteghe, continuing straight on through Via Fuorlovado, Via Croce and, finally, Via Tiberio. After visiting the villa, you could dedicate some time to other attractions in the vicinity, such as the Church of Santa Maria del Soccorso, the Cave of Tiberius and the Lighthouse Tower.
  

Sunrise - If you take the early ferry from Naples (the one at 6.45AM), then as you travel to Capri, the sun rises over the mountains. The sky turns from deep violet to pink to orange to gold. It is an amazingly beautiful sight, certainly worth waking up at the ungodly hour!

 

 

Do

 

Capri is a place to do as little or as much as you like. The four cafes in the main square are the place to be seen in the evenings after the deluge of day trippers have left. Celebrities can occasionally be found sipping drinks there. High end shops line the streets if you feel the need for retail therapy.

 

• Walk Take one of the public footpaths which let you reach, for instance, the "Arco Naturale" and other beautiful sights which the large majority of tourists will only see from their boat trips around the island. Some of these paths are very steep and you need to walk up and down long stairs sometimes. The map you can buy for a small fee at the main tourist office in the harbor shows most of the footpaths. However, it is difficult to get lost on such a small island.
  

 

• Hike Nearly the entire perimeter of the island is accessible for hiking. Few people, except local fishers and hunters, take advantage of these beautiful natural trails. Several abandoned forts are found along the path and there are trails and paved descents that can take you all the way to the water's edge. This is a great way to explore the natural beauty of the island when the day tripping tourists flood the more populous regions of the island. Bring plenty of water and comfortable shoes if you do hike, you may be a long distance from the nearest road or bus stop.
  

 

• Boat tour around the island You cannot come all the way to this magical island without viewing it from the sea. Capritime Boats specialises in luxury motor-yacht charters, private boat tours, water taxi and cruise excursions for the island of Capri, Amalfi Coast, Ischia, Sorrento and Naples in Italy. Next to the ferry ticket office you can also rent a boat that can fit 5 people for 2 hours at the cost of 80€. Weather permitting, you can dip the anchor and go swim around the various grottos.
  

 

• Rent a motor scooter to tour the island. Gets you around much quicker than on foot, but still allows you to easily maneuver the winding roads. Beware of crazy bus drivers especially around corners! Beware as they may only allow experienced drivers to rent scooters.
  

 

• Take the chairlift ride from Anacapri up Monte Salaro, the views from the summit are incredible, and there's some really pretty gardens and orchards underfoot on the way up the mountain. The ride takes 15 minutes each way, and you'll want at least 30 minutes at the top. €9 round trip, €7 one way. Open daily in summer 9:30 to 5PM, last run down at 5:30PM, November to March last run down at 3:30PM.
  

 

• Swim, many locals swim in the Blue Grotto after 6PM when the boats stop and in any of the other grottos around the island. Swimming is much safer however at the small beach to the left of the ticket kiosk for the furnicolare in Marina Grande or on the other side of the island at Marina Piccola (resort-like beach) or at any of the natural beaches reachable by boat. Swimming in grottos is only for experienced swimmers and is not for the faint-hearted, as tidal waves frequently close and open the openings to the grottos, and in the process, potentially injure a swimmer against the rocks when trying to enter or exit. Never do this alone, go with a local if you really feel the need to swim inside a grotto or the Blue Grotto which has a very low mouth opening.
  

 

• Marina Piccola is on the opposite end of the island from Marina Grande. You can walk, but the bus is probably easier. The Marina Piccola is a quieter area which has two beach areas where you can swim or layout on the smooth rock beach. But in July and August finding space on the pebbles is very difficult.
  

[flgirl543]

Capri Travel Guide :)

 

http://wikitravel.org/en/Capri

 

 

Get in

 

By boat

 

 

• Capri is reached in about 40 minutes by hydrofoil from the port of Ischia or Forio, docking at Marina Grande on the north side of the island. There are also daily ferries from Naples (20/day, €16, 40 minutes), Amalfi, Positano and from Sorrento (15/day, €14, 20 minutes). Boats are operated by Caremar and SNAV.
  

• For arriving in style, Capritime Boats specialises in water taxi direct transfers from Naples, Sorrento, the Amalfi Coast and Ischia to Capri. They also provide luxury full-day and half-day boat tours to the Amalfi Coast and Sorrento Coast from Capri, tailor itineraries for cruise ship passengers docked in Sorrento, Capri, Naples and Amalfi and also offer special Capri and Ischia island boat excursions.
  

• From Marina Grande, a funicular goes up to Capri Town, and boats leave for the Blue Grotto. The fourth store to the right of the funicular provides baggage storage for €2.50/day per bag, from 8:30-6:00. Tickets for buses, funicular, and return boats are for sale at kiosks, along with public toilets. The Tourist Information office offers €1 maps, open daily April to October 8:30-8:30PM, November to March Monday to Sunday 9:00-1:00 & 3:30-6:30. The Bar Augusto has internet access from 6:00AM - 8:00 PM
  

Get around

 

• By foot: from the main harbour to the town up the hill leads a range of stairs. Stairs and walkways, mostly signposted, crisscross the island.
  
• By funicolare: this mountain tram connects the harbour with the town up the hill. Read also about the unified public transport ticket Campania Unico.
  
• By bus: Island buses are readily available to take you to the various areas of the island. They run on a schedule and cost 1,30 € per ride, €2,80 for 60 minutes unlimited use, or €6,70 plus €1 deposit for unlimited day use (deposit is refunded to you at end of day). Buses run from:
  

• 
  
  • Marina Grande to Capri town (4/hour) and then take bus to Anacapri (4/hour) but the Capri to Anacapri bus gets crowded, so you could take a bus direct from Marina to Anacapri (2/hour)
    
  • Anacapri Buses go to Capri (at least 4/hour) and to the Blue Grotto
    

The roads are very narrow and quite dangerous. Bus travel is for the brave!

 

 

See

 

• The town of Anacapri and its surrounding villas and hikes
  

• Blue Grotto (Grotta Azzurra) - The Blue Grotto is a beautiful cave at the water's edge with a tiny opening to the sea that opens and closes with the tide, used as a bath since the Roman times. The entrance is small and depending on the tide there is just enough space for only a small rowboat to get through. Dark at the entrance, one has to enter 20-30 yards and then turn around to view the beautiful sight of the light from the entrance flowing through the water lit turquoise from below by the sun. Hence the sight of the "Blue Grotto". You'll be amazed at the turquoise hues glimmering in the water and against the rocks. The grotto often closes due to tides and waves, and it may take a while for your boat to get in, with many other boats trying to do the same. It may also be advisable to check the tides beforehand to avoid disappointment. The trip on the passenger boat from Marina Grande to outside the Blue Grotto cavern costs about €9, then €10.50 or higher for the rowboat to take you in through the tiny entrance which includes the entrance ticket to the cave a total of around €20, with a round trip of about 1 to 3 hours. There are also cruises that circumnavigate Capri and stop at the Blue Grotto allowing passengers to board a row boat and enter the grotto. The rowboat operator will also ask for a tip. Alternatively, one can take a bus to Anacapri, walking 100m (inquire locally), then taking another bus to the Grotta Azzurra, and then paying €9 for a rowman to take you in and out. This has the advantage of cutting on the cost from Marina Grande, as well as placing you near Anacapri where much else is to be seen. The grotto is open from 9:00 to one hour before sunset daily. If the grotto closes suddenly (hopefully while you are outside it), consider a €12 cruise around the magnificent Faraglioni Rocks instead.
  

• Villa Jovis - Villa Jovis, the splendid residence of the Emperor Tiberius, start from Piazzetta Umberto I and turn into Via delle Botteghe, continuing straight on through Via Fuorlovado, Via Croce and, finally, Via Tiberio. After visiting the villa, you could dedicate some time to other attractions in the vicinity, such as the Church of Santa Maria del Soccorso, the Cave of Tiberius and the Lighthouse Tower.
  

Sunrise - If you take the early ferry from Naples (the one at 6.45AM), then as you travel to Capri, the sun rises over the mountains. The sky turns from deep violet to pink to orange to gold. It is an amazingly beautiful sight, certainly worth waking up at the ungodly hour!

 

 

Do

 

Capri is a place to do as little or as much as you like. The four cafes in the main square are the place to be seen in the evenings after the deluge of day trippers have left. Celebrities can occasionally be found sipping drinks there. High end shops line the streets if you feel the need for retail therapy.

 

• Walk Take one of the public footpaths which let you reach, for instance, the "Arco Naturale" and other beautiful sights which the large majority of tourists will only see from their boat trips around the island. Some of these paths are very steep and you need to walk up and down long stairs sometimes. The map you can buy for a small fee at the main tourist office in the harbor shows most of the footpaths. However, it is difficult to get lost on such a small island.
  

• Hike Nearly the entire perimeter of the island is accessible for hiking. Few people, except local fishers and hunters, take advantage of these beautiful natural trails. Several abandoned forts are found along the path and there are trails and paved descents that can take you all the way to the water's edge. This is a great way to explore the natural beauty of the island when the day tripping tourists flood the more populous regions of the island. Bring plenty of water and comfortable shoes if you do hike, you may be a long distance from the nearest road or bus stop.
  

• Boat tour around the island You cannot come all the way to this magical island without viewing it from the sea. Capritime Boats specialises in luxury motor-yacht charters, private boat tours, water taxi and cruise excursions for the island of Capri, Amalfi Coast, Ischia, Sorrento and Naples in Italy. Next to the ferry ticket office you can also rent a boat that can fit 5 people for 2 hours at the cost of 80€. Weather permitting, you can dip the anchor and go swim around the various grottos.
  

• Rent a motor scooter to tour the island. Gets you around much quicker than on foot, but still allows you to easily maneuver the winding roads. Beware of crazy bus drivers especially around corners! Beware as they may only allow experienced drivers to rent scooters.
  

• Take the chairlift ride from Anacapri up Monte Salaro, the views from the summit are incredible, and there's some really pretty gardens and orchards underfoot on the way up the mountain. The ride takes 15 minutes each way, and you'll want at least 30 minutes at the top. €9 round trip, €7 one way. Open daily in summer 9:30 to 5PM, last run down at 5:30PM, November to March last run down at 3:30PM.
  

• Swim, many locals swim in the Blue Grotto after 6PM when the boats stop and in any of the other grottos around the island. Swimming is much safer however at the small beach to the left of the ticket kiosk for the furnicolare in Marina Grande or on the other side of the island at Marina Piccola (resort-like beach) or at any of the natural beaches reachable by boat. Swimming in grottos is only for experienced swimmers and is not for the faint-hearted, as tidal waves frequently close and open the openings to the grottos, and in the process, potentially injure a swimmer against the rocks when trying to enter or exit. Never do this alone, go with a local if you really feel the need to swim inside a grotto or the Blue Grotto which has a very low mouth opening.
  

• Marina Piccola is on the opposite end of the island from Marina Grande. You can walk, but the bus is probably easier. The Marina Piccola is a quieter area which has two beach areas where you can swim or layout on the smooth rock beach. But in July and August finding space on the pebbles is very difficult.
  

Thank you for the great information!!

[samavarcruiser]

Thank you for the great information!!

 

You are welcome, this link is also very helpful :)

 

http://www.capri.com/

[melissasimon]

We have just arrived home from our Mediterranean cruise and had a great experience with Rome in Limo! We would enthusiastically use them again and recommend them highly.

 

Naples: Our group of 6 was met at the port by Tony, our well-dressed, friendly and professional guide. He welcomed us to the immaculately clean Mercedes van and had cold bottles of water for us. We went straight to Pompeii in order to beat the heat and were among the first people there that morning. Our Pompeii guide Francisco was waiting for us and gave us an excellent tour, pointing out highlights that we would have never found on our own. Our day continued with Tony who stopped at beautiful scenic overlooks and tailored the day according to our requests. We had a great lunch at a place he suggested and spent time in Sorrento and Positano. He was an excellent guide and we loved spending our day with him.

 

Rome: Our guide for our group of 6 was Alex. He was professional, had lots of personality and our day with him was really fun. We had some special requests and he happily accommodated us, planning the day according to our particular interests. We saw all the major sites as well as some quirkier places, which we loved. Having a great lunch was at the top of our priority list, so he took us to an excellent neighborhood restaurant full of locals and no other tourists. He was able to fit in all our requests for special stops as well as hitting all the main sights, and provided truly personal service. Despite the crushing crowds of summer tourists, our day with him in Rome was pleasant and easy.

 

After having experienced these two tours, I'm totally spoiled and the ship's large group tours just won't measure up any more. It's amazing that we could get such wonderful personal service for a fraction of the cost of the ship excursions. These drivers were both very conscientious about getting us back to the ship on time. Their experience allowed them to know just how to time it. Many thanks to all the people on Cruise Critic who posted reviews in the past. That encouraged us to use Rome in Limo, an experience that greatly enhanced our enjoyment of our Mediterranean cruise. Thanks Tony, Alex and Duman!

[Litehouse9]

After having experienced these two tours, I'm totally spoiled and the ship's large group tours just won't measure up any more. It's amazing that we could get such wonderful personal service for a fraction of the cost of the ship excursions. These drivers were both very conscientious about getting us back to the ship on time. Their experience allowed them to know just how to time it. Many thanks to all the people on Cruise Critic who posted reviews in the past. That encouraged us to use Rome in Limo, an experience that greatly enhanced our enjoyment of our Mediterranean cruise. Thanks Tony, Alex and Duman!

 

I am with you! After having two Rome In Limo tours, which we also rate as Top Notch, Excellent-- I am spoiled now for life! No way can I ever settle for ship's tours again! Since there is no Rome in Limo outside Italy-- I guess I will have to just travel to Italy from now on.... seriously, they did such a fabulous job, we were so satisfied and happy with the tours, I really do feel spoiled. I highly recommend Rome In Limo to anyone, it is soooo worth it.

 

We had Fabrizio in Naples and Vicente in Rome-- both were just excellent. I highly recommend them to anyone, it is so much better than the boat tour-- you have better, more personal service, more personalized itenerary, flexibility, and comfort, plus guide/drivers who are so entertaining, knowledgeable and fun-- and all for a LOT less money than the ship charges. You cannot go wrong!

Edited August 12, 2010 by Litehouse9

[travelsumama]

Melissasimon,

I'd love to know your itinerary for Rome with Alex. We are a party of 4 adults and have been looking at Rome in Limo. We will be on the Star Princess in May 2011. You sound like you had a perfect tour. What were your special requests? Thank you for your post.

 

 

 

 

We have just arrived home from our Mediterranean cruise and had a great experience with Rome in Limo! We would enthusiastically use them again and recommend them highly.

 

 

Rome: Our guide for our group of 6 was Alex. He was professional, had lots of personality and our day with him was really fun. We had some special requests and he happily accommodated us, planning the day according to our particular interests. We saw all the major sites as well as some quirkier places, which we loved. Having a great lunch was at the top of our priority list, so he took us to an excellent neighborhood restaurant full of locals and no other tourists. He was able to fit in all our requests for special stops as well as hitting all the main sights, and provided truly personal service. Despite the crushing crowds of summer tourists, our day with him in Rome was pleasant and easy.

 

After having experienced these two tours, I'm totally spoiled and the ship's large group tours just won't measure up any more. It's amazing that we could get such wonderful personal service for a fraction of the cost of the ship excursions. These drivers were both very conscientious about getting us back to the ship on time. Their experience allowed them to know just how to time it. Many thanks to all the people on Cruise Critic who posted reviews in the past. That encouraged us to use Rome in Limo, an experience that greatly enhanced our enjoyment of our Mediterranean cruise. Thanks Tony, Alex and Duman!

[Highflyer1]

just wanted to post the "thank you" that I just sent to RIL regarding our 3 days of tours with them:

 

Thank you so much for three fantastic days in Italy! We were so happy with all three of our tours. Rafaelle (Naples), Angelo (Rome) and Giovanni (Florence) were fantastic. I can't believe how much we were able to accomplish in one day in each port.

 

Naples - Rafaelle was fantastic. Picked us up as planned and took us to Pompeii where we met Lucia. She was also amazing, and really helped in bringing Pompeii to life for us. She also made sure that our inquisitive 8 year old was engaged the whole time, which we loved. Then on to Sorrento, where we were amazed at the small streets and how well Rafaelle was able to navigate them - I felt safe the whole time, where normally I would have been a wreck! He gave us ample time to shop, then recommended a fantastic restaurant. After lunch, we went to Positano, where we had a short, but wonderful time to spend wandering the streets. Rafaelle always made sure that we saw everything we needed to, often stopping so my husband could get some photos along the way. What a fantastic start to our three days!

 

Rome - Angelo is a treasure! You are very lucky to have in working for you. Our pace was hectic, as there was so much to see in one day, but Angelo made sure that we saw it all. His knowledge of this amazing city was terrific, and we felt that we had more than just a driver - we had a personally guide throughout the day. He made sure that we got the most out of every site, either stopping to point out the finer points, or just driving by so that we can see as much as possible. We were able to see the Coloseum, Palatine Hill, Circus Maximus, Roman Forum, Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps, Victor Emmanuel Monument, the Panteon, Piazza Navona and so many other sites, I can't even remember them right now. After lunch (just off the Piazza Navona) we then went to the Vatican, where Sarah did a terrific job helping us navigate the museum, Sistene Chapel and then St. Peter's . She was a fabulous guide, and couldn't possibly have done it with out her. We were exhausted when we arrived to the ship, but certainly felt like we had seen everything.

 

Florence - another terrific day, this time with Giovanni. Since my daughter wasn't feeling well (Rome was a lot for her), we declined his offer to see the countryside and then the scenic overlook at the beginning of the day, in case we had to cut our day short. We went to Pisa first, and were able to get there before the crowds, and then on to Florence and the Duomo. Unfortunately, due to the crowds, we decided not to go inside, but loved the atmosphere outside. Then onto the Accademia, where Giovanni had our prearranged tickets (thank you!). After that, time for shopping, so off to the Ponte Vecchio. Giovanni dropped us off with instructions on where to meet us, and a minute later comes running after us to be sure that we knew to be careful in the crowds. Since my daughter was feeling better, we decided to continue with lunch. Giovanni insisted that we first go to Santa Croce. Not originally on our list of things to do, but we are so glad that he recommended it, as it was beautiful and we are so glad that we didn't miss such a wonderful site. A terrific lunch recommendation just across the street, and off we were back to the ship. This time we took him up on his offer to see the scenic overlook where we saw all of Florence, and then to take the 'long' way home to the ship to see some of the fabled Tuscan countryside. Again, we are so glad that we took him up on his offer, as it was truly specacular.

 

We had a fabulous three days, and would not hesitate to recommend them to all.

 

 

When we were in PIsa we were able to climb the Leaning Tower. I have heard they closed that down and no more climbing the tower.. is that true ??

[Single Cruiser]

Well just got home and took a RIL tour of Rome.

 

Was probably our best tour of the cruise. The Van was comfortable, cool and spacious for all six of us. Despite traffic problems our driver took the back roads to avoid the accident and get us back into the city whilst many of the ships tour buses could be seen stranded on the motorway!!

 

Our driver/guide was both informative and friendly, spoke perfect English and tailored the tour to our requirements given time constraints.

 

Definitely best private tour group I've used.

[melissasimon]

Travelsumama,

 

We were a group of three couples traveling together. One couple had been to Rome several times recently, one couple had been to Rome in the distant past, and the third couple were first time visitors. We wanted a day that would satisfy everyone, and our RIL driver was able to structure our day so that the first time visitors got to see all the major sights, while the rest of us returned to favorite spots and got to see new places.

 

Once we entered Rome we were soon off the major highway and onto small back roads, including a beautiful stretch of the Appian Way. We drove through the grounds at a monastery, then stopped and took a tour (in English) of the catacombs at the church of St. Sebastiano, a place none of us had visited before. We rode up and down the various hills of Rome, often on small winding streets that tour buses couldn't possibly navigate, stopping to admire the views. Then we entered an upscale residential neighborhood and he stopped near a gate and told us to get out and look through a small keyhole in the gate. I won't spoil the surprise by tellling you what we saw, but it's an amazing sight and is apparently featured in a scene from the old movie "Roman Holiday." Then we saw the Circus Maximus, then the Colosseum. He took us to a beautiful vantage point overlooking the Forum. Several times he let us out and gave us directions for short scenic walks, then would pick us up down the hill, at the bottom of some stairs, etc. a few blocks away. Our time was spent very efficiently this way. We also saw the Spanish steps, the Trevi fountain, and Piazza Navona.

 

Our special requests included a visit to a store that sold Murano glass jewelry. (Our trip didn't include a stop in Venice and I wanted a necklace similar to ones I had bought on Murano a couple of years ago-- but although I didn't know if there was such a shop in Rome, Alex dropped me off right in front of the perfect store and waited while I ran in.) We also requested a visit to a particular store near the Vatican that one of us had read about several years ago in the NYT and he found it for us. As I mentioned earlier, our primary request was for a wonderful authentic Italian lunch, even if it meant sacrificing sightseeing time, and he took us to a great neighborhood place and we had a long leisurely delicious lunch. Our friends wanted a particular dessert they remembered fondly, and this restaurant had it.

 

At around 2:30 we visited the Vatican Museum and St. Peter's Basilica. Alex dropped us off, gave us great instructions on exactly where to go, and was waiting for us when we exited. The crowds were crushing, but that's another story. Having him waiting for us when we exited was great. Then he said we had another half hour before we had to head back to the ship, and he gave us several choices on how we could spend it. All in all, a great day, planned efficiently and packed with more stops than we could have imagined.

[samavarcruiser]

When we were in Pisa we were able to climb the Leaning Tower. I have heard they closed that down and no more climbing the tower.. is that true ??

 

No, you can still climb the tower.

Ticket office on-line :)

http://boxoffice.opapisa.it/Torre/first.jsp

[Terpnut]

We'll be in Rome 9/29 and want to share a RomeinLimo tour to cut expenses. Any takers?

My suggestion is to hit up people on your roll call. It should be perking up with lots of activity right about now, i.e. 6 weeks to sailing! :)

[bobgail]

The roll call will consist only of people who are on your cruise and that's where we, and many other, found a group to share the expense!

[AF-1]

I used Romeinlimo last year; used them in both Rome and Pisa/Florence. We had a large group. Romeinlimo far exceeded our expectations; and far exceeded what the cruise line could come up with. They will make your time in each city count. What we liked about them was how they would stop for atm machines, bathroom breaks, lunch, etc. They were there to make sure u got your money's worth in the city. If u have any questions I would be glad to answer them.

[Highflyer1]

No, you can still climb the tower.

Ticket office on-line :)

http://boxoffice.opapisa.it/Torre/first.jsp

 

thanks.. on our next trip we will plan to do this again. We interesting climb when you are inside.

[KCL214]

Travelsumama,

 

We were a group of three couples traveling together. One couple had been to Rome several times recently, one couple had been to Rome in the distant past, and the third couple were first time visitors. We wanted a day that would satisfy everyone, and our RIL driver was able to structure our day so that the first time visitors got to see all the major sights, while the rest of us returned to favorite spots and got to see new places.

 

Once we entered Rome we were soon off the major highway and onto small back roads, including a beautiful stretch of the Appian Way. We drove through the grounds at a monastery, then stopped and took a tour (in English) of the catacombs at the church of St. Sebastiano, a place none of us had visited before. We rode up and down the various hills of Rome, often on small winding streets that tour buses couldn't possibly navigate, stopping to admire the views. Then we entered an upscale residential neighborhood and he stopped near a gate and told us to get out and look through a small keyhole in the gate. I won't spoil the surprise by tellling you what we saw, but it's an amazing sight and is apparently featured in a scene from the old movie "Roman Holiday." Then we saw the Circus Maximus, then the Colosseum. He took us to a beautiful vantage point overlooking the Forum. Several times he let us out and gave us directions for short scenic walks, then would pick us up down the hill, at the bottom of some stairs, etc. a few blocks away. Our time was spent very efficiently this way. We also saw the Spanish steps, the Trevi fountain, and Piazza Navona.

 

Our special requests included a visit to a store that sold Murano glass jewelry. (Our trip didn't include a stop in Venice and I wanted a necklace similar to ones I had bought on Murano a couple of years ago-- but although I didn't know if there was such a shop in Rome, Alex dropped me off right in front of the perfect store and waited while I ran in.) We also requested a visit to a particular store near the Vatican that one of us had read about several years ago in the NYT and he found it for us. As I mentioned earlier, our primary request was for a wonderful authentic Italian lunch, even if it meant sacrificing sightseeing time, and he took us to a great neighborhood place and we had a long leisurely delicious lunch. Our friends wanted a particular dessert they remembered fondly, and this restaurant had it.

 

At around 2:30 we visited the Vatican Museum and St. Peter's Basilica. Alex dropped us off, gave us great instructions on exactly where to go, and was waiting for us when we exited. The crowds were crushing, but that's another story. Having him waiting for us when we exited was great. Then he said we had another half hour before we had to head back to the ship, and he gave us several choices on how we could spend it. All in all, a great day, planned efficiently and packed with more stops than we could have imagined.

Thanks for your detailed report. Could you tell me if you had a guide at the Vatican. We are using Rome in Limo for our day in Rome and they recommend a guide. It is an extra expense and we are already spending a lot on this trip and trying to decide if we can go without a guide. Thanks, Karyn

[melissasimon]

We chose not to hire a guide for the Vatican. I don't know if that was the right choice or not -- I'm sure a guide would have given us lots of interesting information and enhanced our visit, at least if we'd been there at a time when it wasn't so very crowded. I hate to admit it because I know there's a world of fabulous art in the Vatican, but by that point in our trip we were primarily interested in seeing Sistine Chapel and getting out of there. Given the enormity of the crowds, and the fact that we were shuffling along with our pace determined by the movement of the crowd, it wasn't a very pleasant experience. Alex, our RIL driver, did make a big point of advising us to follow the tour groups as we exited the Sistine Chapel (and not go out the big door marked EXIT) so that we'd exit near the entrance to St. Peter's and our route would be more efficient.

 

PS If your cruise stops in Naples and you're going to Pompeii, I highly recommend hiring a guide there.

[Nebr.cruiser]

We didn't hire a guide in the Vatican either, though we did purchase tickets ahead of time in order to skip the lines to get in. It was pretty crowded in late April, but we were able to maneuver around easily until the Sistine Chapel, which was packed.

 

I'm sure we would have gotten more out of the tour with a guide, but, # 1, my DH is not fond of following a guide around and prefers to go at our own pace, and #2, like the above poster we were about toured-out by the time we got there. We were able to take a break for a much-needed late lunch and rest and then continue on refreshed.

 

I think we saw the highlights and we enjoyed our visit--it just depends on how in-depth you want to go. We, too, used the 'secret' door out of the Sistine Chapel to access the basilica area and skip the security lines. That worked out great.

 

We did do the Scavi Tour also, which I liked a lot but my husband found a little claustrophobic.

[KCL214]

Thank you Melissasimon and Nebr.cruiser for your advice. It seems like we should save the money on the guide here and go with one in Pompeii instead. I have done a lot of reading on the art collection at the Vatican so maybe I can be the "guide" for our group there. Hearing about your experiences has helped me alot. Karyn

[Travelin' Mom]

We just got back from a 10 day Mediterranean cruise last night. We used Rome in Limo for our ride from FCO to our hotel in Rome, Vatican guide, ride from hotel to Civitavecchia, and Pompeii/Amalfi coast tour from the Naples port. First, it was wonderful dealing with Jany over email. She was very prompt emailing me back with changes/adding different things. Our driver from the airport to hotel, Tony, was wonderful. He pointed out things on our way to the hotel. The highlight of our trip to Rome was our Vatican guide, Giulia (Julia). She was amazing! My two girls (ages 12 and 10) who had been complaining about having to "learn" on summer vacation, were mesmerized by everything Giulia said. We were 3 hours in the Vatican without any complaining. Giulia hit some highlights of the museum and did a great job of engaging the children. At the end of the tour, Giulia walked us to the metro and made sure we got on going the right way. At dinner that night, my girls were saying how they missed Giulia. She really spoiled us for any other tour!

 

Next we had Raffaele pick us up at the Naples port. There was some confusion that morning (no fault of RIL). Everyone was waiting for their private tours at the dock. I was starting to get nervous that I didn't see our driver at 8 AM because they have always been there waiting for us. At 8:10, a woman who had been waiting for her driver came over to us saying that many drivers were not allowed in the port and were waiting outside the terminal. We walked outside to find Raffaele. He drove us to Pompeii (and had cold bottles of water for us) where we met our tour guide. He was not as engaging as Giulia (she spoiled us) and because we were late getting there, he was rushing us and at sometimes speaking so quickly we did not understand him. I was impressed that he asked me if I wanted him to show the girls something else while the adults went into the brothel. After Pompeii we were off to Sorrento, where Raffaele has lived his entire life. Raffaele serenaded us on the ride there and had snacks for us. He dropped us off in the middle of town and made lunch reservations for us. He met us after our delicious lunch and drove us to Positano. Along the way, driving down the Amalfi Coast, he led us in song to "That's Amore." Raffaele stopped many times for us to get out and take pictures. He was wonderful! I highly recommend Rome In Limo. I wish they had been in Greece for us! We were truly spoiled by RIL!

[foxmarie]

Last October, we cruised on the Brilliance of the Seas and our group of 8 hired "Rome in Limo" for our Rome Shore Excursion. We received an experience of a lifetime with incredible expert personable service. My travel buddy, Kareen, and I are travelling again on October 10th on the Voyager of the Seas. Since we were very pleased with "Rome in Limo" and they also operate in Florence and Naples, we are making tour arrangements for 8. . . . it's better to have a proven experienced tour guide chauffer you around and not worry about routes and parking. Last year in Rome we were dropped off and picked up in in front of all the sites. Incidentally, there was a demonstration in Rome the day we were there, and the main routes were blocked. Busses were not able to access some of the sites, whereas our driver and guide knew the back roads and never skipped a beat.

[JazzArt]

My wife and I took a 7 day Royal Caribbean cruise on the Voyager and booked two tours with RIL for Rome and Florence. Our drivers were Vincenzo in Rome and Giovanni in Florence. They truly made our visits to Rome and Florence once in a lifetime. They were extremely friendly, knowledgeable, and safe drivers. They took the time to tell us about the history of every site before we got there, told us where to go and where they would meet us, and made sure we saw all the main sites during our tours.

 

Anyone debating whether to use Rome in Limo I can tell you not to worry. They speak perfect English, are extremely quick to respond via email, and are super dependable. From now on anytime we think of Italy, we will always think of Vincenzo and Giovanni for making our vacation so special. I cannot recommend their services enough.

 

Thank you Vincenzo, Giovanni, and Rome in Limo,

Chris and Jazmin from New York

[samavarcruiser]

Thank you Melissasimon and Nebr.cruiser for your advice. It seems like we should save the money on the guide here and go with one in Pompeii instead. I have done a lot of reading on the art collection at the Vatican so maybe I can be the "guide" for our group there. Hearing about your experiences has helped me alot. Karyn

 

Vatican guided tour

 

http://mv.vatican.va/3_EN/pages/z-Info/MV_Info_Servizi_Visite.html

 

This link might be helpful

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1252234&highlight=group+tours

Edited August 22, 2010 by samavarcruiser