doug

4 of us are doing RCCL cruise in June and we would like to avoid the RCCL day trips where practical.<BR>Nice/Monaco: found another thread.<BR>Livorno: Any tricks on taking train or Cab. Pisa vs. Florence. (been to Florence but could definitely go back)<BR>Civitavecchia: I assume trains to Rome are straightforward, if not why.<BR>Naples: How to get to Pompeii. Can we do Herculeanum (sp?) too in one 10 hr day.<BR>Specific advice on ports would also be helpful<BR>Thanks

John

Hi Doug,<BR><BR>Livorno - if you have done Florence do Pisa. Train to Pisa takes about 45 minutes and under normal conditions is reliable (contrary to shipboard rhetoric). Suggest a cab to the train station as it is quite a hike from the docks. Take a bus/walk in Pisa - it is simple to get around using either. If you chose Florence, take the train. Walk from train station to center city sites.<BR><BR>Civitavecchia - The train station is an easy walk. About an hour by train to Rome. Don't see any issues to consider other than how much time do you have?<BR><BR>Naples - You can bus or train to Pompeii if you chose to, cab/walk to station. Pompeii is very large and between travel and visiting you will eat your 10 hours. <BR><BR>You may want to consider splitting your day. Do Herculeaneum (a smaller, compact ruin with many parallels to Pompeii), and then go back to Naples and do the old town. The Museum has many of the artifacts from Pompeii and Herculaneum and makes the visit complete. (And you end up near the ship so you can adjust your time to the constraints).<BR><BR>By the way, at the risk of offending some folks, there is not much to see/do in either Livorno or Civitavecchia; but a bunch in Naples.<BR><BR>Have a great cruise.

doug

This is great. We know Rome and Florence and shipboard rhetoric. Once we get to Train stations I'm set. Need to convince the wives adventure is more fun than apparent security of cruise tours. This will help.<BR>Thanks

kris

Can't add much to John's post but to agree that Civitaveccia to Rome should pose no problems, about an hour, should be about $8 per person round trip, be sure to validate your tickets before boarding the train. The line stops in at least 2 places-San Pietro (St. Peter's)and Termini Station so figure out which direction you'd like to go and make sure the train you're getting on stops there. From Termini there are buses, cabs and the metro to get you to where you are going.<BR><BR>You might also check out the boards at www.cruisecritic.com for more specific info on ports and how to do them on your own.

Paula

Lucca is a lovely walled city that you should also consider. There will be many taxi drivers at the pier that will take you to Pisa and Lucca for the day. They have a set price - I think it was about $200.

snorkelman

here are some details regarding getting from the train station in pisa to the leaning tower cheaply:<BR><BR>In Pisa you can walk from the train station about 30 minutes and see the leaning tower (or else take bus # 1 which you can board just opposite the train station (across the street) – remember to buy your bus tickets (before boarding) from the station newspaper kiosk or bar for about 1500 LIRE). If you walk to the leaning tower, there are signs that have a picture of the tower and an arrow. Just follow the signs and you will end up at the tower (remember how to walk back to the station!). <BR><BR>

Doug

More good stuff. As there are 4 of us we could probably just jump in a cab? in Pisa @ the station unless the 30 min. walk is particularly interesting<BR>