ruthca

In September we are taking the Star Princess from Copenhagen to Rome/Civitavecchia and when we leave the ship we hope to go on to Venice.
Thinking of taking the train from Civitavecchia to Venice, but need to know how hard it is to get transportation from port to train station. I have read that taxi's are a few and not to count on one. Is there a bus that picks up at the port and takes you to station?
HELP PLEASE.
We also thought of hiring a car to take us to Rome and then get the train on to Venice but if we can go right from Civitavecchia that might be the best thing to do.

JoanneH

Here is a link to video showing you how to walk it. If you have a lot of cases you may want to spring for taxi at exit of dock but its not a hard walk. Once you get the train to the rome termini you would switch to train to Venice. Euro Star or AV are the fast trains and more costly. Locals take longer but are half the price.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KoGQc...e=channel_page

bratsandbeer

Hi ruthca, if you check on www.raileurope.com it will give you the train schedules for Civitavecchia to Venice. You should have no problem as the trains run so frequently.

ruthca

JoanneH
Thank you for the youtube link. We are going to travel light this time so the walk to the station should be easy.

fmpden

I really dislike that video because it is so sanitized that it is grossly misleading and it is old. But it was produced by a touring company and they did call it a simple video. As someone who has made that run five times let to tell how it really works. It is very doable but will not match the video.

First, it will be a zoo especially if more than one ship in port so be prepared for lots of people and long lines.

Second, the ship will provide a shuttle bus from your dock to the port entrance. Walking to the port entrance could be very long depending on where the ship is docked so take the bus.

The port entrance is very narrow, stone archway, and will be absolutely jammed with people, buses, taxis, hired cars, etc. Taxis are available but they will not take you because they want the bigger fare to Rome or the airport. A shuttle bus is available for 1.10 E but line will be long. Push through the crowd and kept to your right along the beach. It is an easy walk of less than half mile with the train station elevated on your left across a very busy road.

Third, the station is very small with generally only one window with a couple of machines, the lobby will be jammed and ticket line out the door. With luck it could take you an hour to buy tickets. BUT, a little secret that only a few know is that tickets are also sold at the tobacco shop on the right side of the station through a little door in the far right hand corner of the station. At most I have only found one or two people buying tickets there. And even better idea is to buy a ticket at any train station, ticket office, that can find anywhere else in Italy. Keep you eyes open if in any other Italian port. Buy an open second class ticket. MAKE ABSOLUTELY CERTAIN THAT PRIOR TO BOARDING THE TRAIN YOU STICK THAT TICKET IN ONE OF THE LITTLE YELLOW BOXES JUST OUTSIDE THE TRAIN STATION. It is called validation and the penalty is sever. Find the next train and platform to Rome. Be prepared to fight for a seat and get on quickly when the train arrives. On of our trips we have to stand for about half the distance before a seat became available. Ride can take as long as an 1 hr, 20 depending on train. There will be three to four trains an hour so don't worry about the schedule. And most of the people you will be fighting with are American tourists.

When you arrive at Termini the Civit..... platform is 24 and 25 located in the very, very, far right hand corner (as you face the tracks -- your back to the front). It is long walk and I think further than from the port entrance to the station -- probably not. There are moving sidewalks on the lower level but not sure it is worth the effort of going up and down a flight of stars for the sidewalks. Once at the front you can easily find the platform to Venice. Restrooms are on the lower level towards the front.

As I said it is doable, fairly easy to do, but not the gentle walk in the park that the video describes. Remember it is Rome and Italy. Good luck.

jacketwatch

When we got of there there were tons of cabbies. No problems at all.

summer_time

I took the train from Civitavecchia port to Rome in May of this year and it couldn't have been easier despite dire warnings on the Crown Princess. It was announced there were going to be 6 ships in port on that day and there would be limited shuttle buses available. I almost took the Princess shuttle to Rome but I decided to risk going on my own since I was in no hurry.
The free shuttles were quick and easy as there was no line up and as soon as one departed another came immediately. I noticed there were numerous taxis at the port entrance. Walking in the port area is forbidden in the port as it is a safety issue. It was a 7 minute walk with my suitcase to the train station. It took about 10 minutes to get my ticket. Do not board the train immediately in front of the station. It is a long train and if you walk about 2 cars away there are plenty of seats available.

olwagner

It is a reasonnable walk (20 minutes at the most) http://www.walktomycruiseship.com/civitavecchia.htm