Train from Civitaveccia to Rome (Vatican)
 

I'm trying to figure out how best to get to Rome and return from the port in Civitavecchi. It appears the cheapest r/t with a shuttle service would be 200euro for my wife and I. I guess that's the going rate for the ride, but wonder how difficult it is to ride the train into the city and return, as it costs a whole lot less than that. It's it's not too much trouble, why not? I've read that the train station is about a 10 minute walk from the port entrance - does that sound about right? Can train tickets be purchased online? I'm worried about a mass of people from the cruise ship all with the same idea of taking the train and long lines at the ticket counters/machines. Does this occur? Which train to I get on at the station and is it a straight shot to Rome - The Vatican?
Tks Bruce

Yes, the walk to the train station is about 10-15 minutes from the port entrance. Your ship may be docked much further on so be aware of that. Unless things have changed the regional which runs from Civitavecchia to Rome Termini makes an intermediate stop at San Pietro which is basically within sight of St. Peters dome.

I kinda doubt a mass of people are going to be taking the train; most of them will have arranged transport through their cruise line or privately (are you certain a car transfer will cost that much?) and those cabs that will be at the ship are all going to want to take you all the way to Rome but you might persuade one to take you to the train station instead.

Those are regional trains that are best bought at the station and not online - for various reasons to hard to explain. As most ship will probably be taking shuttles the line at train station windows may not be much and there are easy use machines. Validate your own ticket before getting on train or it will not be valid - stick it in some date cancelling machine before boarding. Lots on Italian trains check www.seat61.com; www.budgeteuropetravel.com; www.ricksteves.com. Walk from where your ship docks is variable depending how close to docks' entrance it docks at but not far.

Yes trains from the port will go direct to Rome Termini though you could also take some that go to near the Vatican too. Now there is an occasional faster train that goes from Civitavecchia to Rome Termini non-stop in 47 minutes and for those trains buying tickets online is fine - Acquista il biglietto con le nostre offerte - Trenitalia - for easy to reference timetables I use the German Railways all-European schedule site www.bahn.de/en - shows all different trains and where they stop. Again regional trains just buy at station - bahn.de/en tells what are faster trains and which are regional trains.

There are free shuttle buses form the port to and from the train station in Civitavecchia.

Checking www.bahn.de/en shows very frequent direct trains from Civitavecchia to Rome S. Peitro station - direct and taking about 50 minutes so look for those (regional mainly) trains when buying tickets at Civitavecchia. That station is kind of behind the Vatican so it's a short walk around the walls if I recall correctly.

Be careful. A lot depends on when you are allowed to disembark the ship and what time you need to return. And, yes, there will be lines for port shuttles and taxis. You should be able to share a pre-arranged shuttle to Rome with other passengers (you can easily find them on the cruise critic message board, selecting the board for your particular cruise). Also, many shuttle services will take care of the sharing for you, but you should be able to go rt with a shared shuttle for $100-$120 for a couple. Having said that, the trains are somewhat easy, plentiful and cheap. It may be difficult to discern ahead of time the schedule of the complimentary port shuttles. Last fall, we returned to US on a transatlantic cruise. The train from Termini was smooth and cheap (5 euros each). We walked 15 minutes or so to the first port gate. It was a little confusing. but we eventually figured out where to get a shuttle. That bus took us to a central bus area where we had to wait for a second shuttle, and our ship was located at the far end. I estimate it took us 45 minutes to an hour just dealing with port shuttles. If we had to do it over, we would take a taxi to the rail station and back on the return. Maybe 6 euro each person each way. If you decide on a train and can reasonably select a rail time, purchase it online to save any hassles at the station. The added bonus of an online purchase is that the ticket can be on your phone and you do not need to validate it. You can purchase online at http://www.trenitalia.com/tcom-en

Well some Italian rail experts - not me - say NOT to buy regional train tickets online because they may have a narrow validity time and best to buy at station or from machines there at same price as online. IC and faster trains can be cheaper online.

From the Trenitalia website: "Your online ticket is already validated and allows you to travel on your pre-chosen train or on others - along the same route - in the four hours after the time originally selected at the time of purchase". I doubt that someone on a 8 hour or less cruise stop would have any problem meeting this window. Last fall, we took a a half dozen regional trains and were thankful a couple times that we didn't have to wait in ticket lines which was necessary in some of the smaller stations. And, all the conductors were fine with seeing the ticket on our phone. We like flexibility, and generally booked the night before online, not way in advance. In the case of the cruise, the OP knows exactly which date they will need the train.

Well all good then - saves having to validate your own tickets too - just no refunds if don't do it? And right someone on cruise can do that. Book online.

Pal, please don't make this thing more complicated than it is, OK?

Well Dukey - with a 4-hour time limit sometimes cruise ships do not know exactly when they will dock so important to know restrictions of buying regional tickets online and then deciding rather than blankly buying as has been so often reported here and learning about something they can't comport with.

>>Well all good then - saves having to validate your own tickets too - just no refunds if don't do it? And right someone on cruise can do that. Book online.<<

>>Well Dukey . . . rather than blankly buying as has been so often reported here and learning about something they can't comport with.<<

>>Well some Italian rail experts - not me - <<

Is most of what you've posted third hand? . . .

Yup right here on Fodors by Italian rail tarrifaction experts who give such advice so was trying to be helpful - and you?

<<We walked 15 minutes or so to the first port gate. It was a little confusing. but we eventually figured out where to get a shuttle. That bus took us to a central bus area where we had to wait for a second shuttle, and our ship was located at the far end. I estimate it took us 45 minutes to an hour just dealing with port shuttles>>.
Starting about a month ago, there is a two shuttle system. One bus takes you to/from your ship to/form the central bus area inside the port. This is now called the gathering point. Then you get another shuttle from that point to the train station (and reverse), Most taxis can take you between the station and the gathering point. There are only certain taxis that are allowed to go all the way out to the ships. Walking from the gathering point to the station would take about 15-20 minutes. It's an easy walk without luggage and without rain.

Thank you Jane 1144 for above details; we too will be taking the train into Termini from the port. From there it's perhaps 2 miles to the Vatican. Welcome Pickups (which we used recently in Greece) quoted me 140E for 2-4 persons one-way from port to Piazza Navonna (which destination I requested). Way too much for a ride and so far, no response from other cruisers on our board. We are experienced land travellers, and when considering Rome and Florence, they are surely more land-friendly than sea!

There are direct trains from Civitavecchia to S Pietro station right by Vatican - why go to Termini?

Because Termini is closer to where we are going, Bruce can decide where to get off I believe.

Oops got aliced mixed up with OP going to Vatican most direct way. Trains to Termini are much faster.

It's a good ten-minute walk from San Pietro station to St. Peter's Square, and a lot further, over a mile, from the station to the Vatican Museums.

If you're going to the Basilica or St. Peter's Square, you can take the number 64 bus, which leaves from just outside the station. It's the end of the line, so there is usually at least one waiting. If buy a regional day pass at the station in Civitavecchia. you can use that for both the train in both directions and for any public transportation in the city of Rome that day. I think it's €12. It only covers the regional trains, not the fast trains, but that is most of the trains on the line.

If you're going to the Vatican Museums, I'd suggest getting a taxi from San Pietro station. You'll have lots of walking inside the museums and another two and a half miles (going and coming) might just be too much. If there's no taxi, take the 64 bus to the Vatican and then walk from there (about 15 minutes from the bus stop). Or you could take the train all the way to Termini station, and then get the metro to the Vatican. That would take longer. You would take Metro A in direction Battistini , and get off at Ottaviano/San Pietro. Again, the regional day pass would cover it.