Introduction
The Cruise Port of Civitavecchia is a seaside city and the port serving the city of Rome. The city is served by frequent train service from and to Rome along with regular service to other Italian destinations. The Cruise port is only a short five or six block walk from the train station along the waterfront on Via Aurelia. Once at the port there are usually free shuttles to the cruise ships. From where and how the shuttles run seems to change often.
The main gate to the port is next to Forte Michelangelo and the nearest to the train station and across the street from the McDonalds. Recently the cruise shuttles are being organized nearer the Roman Dock entrance about 5 blocks farther up Via Dalmazia from the main gate.
Rome Cruise Port Civitavecchia is both a cruise ship embarkation port as well as a popular port of call and for that reason it can have a large number of ships in port at times. On one day we counted seven large cruise ships tied up along the sea wall and piers. Because it is a working port and its size the port normally requires a shuttle to get out of the port or to your ship.
Where Your Ship Docks
The seaport stretches along the waterfront in downtown Civitavecchia and there are no cruise terminals or public facilities. Walking out is usually not permitted because it is a large working port but usually there are free shuttle buses to one of two gates. The city near the the port has a nice stretch along the sea toward the train station featuring a number of outdoor cafes. There are a number of nice shops in the colonnade strip behind the port and a walking mall just two blocks up from the McDonalds at the seaport.
Transportation
When you are cruising out of Rome, Italy the distance to the port requires you to do some planning. If you are arriving at Fiumicino, Leonardo da Vinci airport specifically to get to your cruise ship you can save a lot of money by taking a train. The airport train station is inside the airport and a ticket to Civitavecchia is around €5 (* see note below). It does require taking a local train and switching trains at Trastevere station. Taking a taxi to the port can be an expensive trip with fares running from €150 to €300. If your not inclined to go the train option most cruise lines will offer transfer services to and from Rome airport at an additional fee. When booking your cruise usually transfers are provided as an option.
While most cruises offer tours into Rome with some being nothing more than round trip bus service the fare can run $80 or more per person. If your cruise is ending in Civitavecchia or if it is a stop on your cruise itinerary the best way to get into Rome is to take a train. It’s only a short six to ten block walk up Via Aurelia to the station. Trains run as frequently as ever 20 to 30 minutes. From Civitavecchia a typical trip to S. Pietro (Vatican City) takes 40 minutes, Trastevere 50 minutes, Ostiense 55 minutes and finally Termini (the central train station) 70 minutes. Fare starts at €5 one way on the commuter trains but can cost up to €25 round trip if using regional trains depending on ticket class. There is a manned ticket booth at the station along with vending machines. We would strongly recommend getting a metro train map ahead of time and plan your route before getting to Italy. Our experience is that buying tickets ahead of time online doesn’t save anything and can actually cost you much more.
In Civitavecchia taxis are available but are famous for overcharging with the short ride from the port to the train station (6 to 10 blocks) quoted as high as €10 or €15. Taking a taxi into Rome or to the airport can be an expensive trip with fares running from €150 to €300.There are also shuttle services to the airport with an average price starting at €25 per person. It is recommended that reservations be made ahead of time as schedules can vary a lot.
Currency
The local currency is the Euro and the U.S. Dollar is generally not accepted. Most most major credit cards are accepted and an easy way to exchange money is to use an ATM machine if you have a debit card.
Around Civitavecchia
We have stayed overnight in Civitavecchia a number of times. It is a pleasant city with a number of nice hotels and restaurants within walking distance of the port. One happens to be our favorite pizza parlor (HERE). The main business district is next to the port and there are a number of nice shops in the area as well as a pedestrian mall. Via Aurelia runs along the waterfront from the train station to the ports main entrance and has a number of restaurants, most with outdoor seating available. There is also a nice park area along the water which is a popular place for locals to stroll in the evening.
Forte Michelangelo is a historic monument erected as a fortress in the 16th century that runs along the waterfront behind the port. In the day time there is a central courtyard open to the public and on the street side it features a colonnade and also offers panoramic port and ocean views.
Terme Taurine, also known as the Taurine Baths, is an archaeological site of a Roman bathhouse complex outside of Civitavecchia. The site features ruins dating to the Republican and Imperial eras with the oldest structures dating to the first century BC.
The National Archaeological Museum Of Civitavecchia, also known as City Museum, is located inside the eighteenth-century building commissioned by Pope Clement XIII in the eighteenth century, a block away from Fort Michelangelo. It features exhibits from the dawn of civilization, during the whole Roman times, up to the Middle Ages.
*Please Note: If you are taking a train during morning or evening rush hour many of the local trains are commuter trains and if you are traveling with suitcases the Italians may get upset with taking up extra seats. Put your bags overhead or at a car entrance.
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