Rome Port Stop - Colosseum Questions

[sebhas]

Hi everyone!
We're doing a Mediterranean cruise this summer and I'm unsure about visiting the Colosseum. Would you recommend the ship's excursion or is it easily doable on our own?

I've seen lots online about "Colosseum skip the line tickets" and "Colosseum fast track tickets" - has anyone tried these? Are they worth it or just a waste of money?

Any tips greatly appreciated!

Thanks!

[Stephen]

Firstly, welcome to the forum sebhas

Having never visited I don’t know anything about tickets for the Colosseum. However, personally I would be inclined to do the ship excursion purely on the assumption that if you are late back the ship will wait for you whereas DIY and your late back it’s as the ship leaves without you.

[david63]

Following on from Stephen.

The ship will dock at Civitavecchia which, on a good day, is a one and half hour drive from Rome although if you DIY you could use the train which is around an hour, but the problem is getting from/to the train station and the ship. Getting from the ship requires the use of the shuttle bus to get you to the port gates and earlier this year it took us around half an hour for the bus to arrive. It is then about a 20 minute walk to the station.

So to answer your question

is it easily doable on our own

Doable - yes. Easily - not really unless you are overnighting in Civitavecchia.

Having been to Rome/Civitavecchia several times I would opt for a cruise ship excursion.

[oldbluefox]

We did a ship's excursion to the Colosseum and when we arrived we walked straight through thus avoiding very, very long queues of those not on excursions.
Personally we enjoyed the excursion as the guide gave a comprehensive description of the site and pointed out details which we would otherwise have missed.
Personally we have never been brave enough to take the train into Rome despite the fact it is so very much cheaper. If it was an overnight stay in Civitavecchia I would give it a try but missing the ship would be simply horrendous and doesn't bear thinking about.

[Onelife]

Whilst it’s been a long time since we last visited Rome, we did so by way of a ship excursion and what I do remember ‘prompted by Foxy’s post’ is that there were long queues to get into the colosseum which we avoided by booking the ships excursion.

Unless you are rolling in it, I would take your own refreshments as eating/drinking in the vicinity of the colosseum is/was very expensive....my wife had to go without but I can recommend the Carbonara

[Ray B]

One thing to remember is that the Pope is having a jolly in Rome 2025, and the place is expecting Millions of extra tourists. Rome will be lot more busy than what is an already very busy place.

[Meg 50]

the trains tend to be erratic ( I Hear).

My family did the Gladiator excursion which did the colosseum and then a bit of free time. It was excellent

[Onelife]

the trains tend to be erratic ( I Hear).

My family did the Gladiator excursion which did the colosseum and then a bit of free time. It was excellent

Excuse me interrupting Meg but the mere mention of ‘Gladiator’ conjures up the most powerful words spoken in any film I have ever watched…

“My name is Maximus Decimus Meridius, Commander of the Armies of the North, General of the Felix Legions, loyal servant to the true emperor, Marcus Aurelius. Father to a murdered son, husband to a murdered wife. And I will have my vengeance, in this life or the next”.

[Stephen]

More like:

My name is Keefy, commander of the chicken shed, ghost chocolatier distributor, servant to the true empress, Meghan, traitor to the crown of England who's subjects will have they're vengeance in this life or the next.

[Onelife]

More like:

My name is Keefy, commander of the chicken shed, ghost chocolatier distributor, servant to the true empress, Meghan, traitor to the crown of England who's subjects will have they're vengeance in this life or the next.

Have you ever thought about taking up the sport of Solo, free fall rock Climbing?

[Ray B]

Very good Stephen.

[barney]

We did the P&O tour, I think it was called something like Essence of Rome.
We did the Forum, Colosseum, Trevi, break for a sit down lunch then The Vatican in the afternoon including the Sistine Chapel, all with a guide.
It was pretty hardcore but excellent.
Slept all the way back to the ship, refreshed for the evening.
Can’t remember the exact price but it was expensive, but worth it for bypassing all the queues.

[Ray B]

Barney, sounds to me more like a Benny Hill tour. How much time did you get in the Coliseum. Did you think you needed more time there .
It took the missus and myself all day to take in the Forum, Trevi Fountain , Emmanuel 11 Monument and a quick look at the Coliseum. Then we had to get back to the coach, the rendezvous point down the hill from the Emmanuel Monument.
We did stop for lunch, but there is so much to take in along the road from the Monument to the Coliseum we lost a lot of time there.
We didn't have time to actually enter any buildings.
Rome is such a fantastic place with history almost around every corner, and you do need time to take in all that is around you.

[barney]

We left pretty early and got back at around half six if I remember correctly.
It was pretty hardcore and not for the faint hearted or anyone with mobility issues
We definitely entered all the buildings.
We thought it was a great day out.
The guide was excellent.

[Portsmouth]

Rome is such a fantastic place with history almost around every corner, and you do need time to take in all that is around you.

Great comment Ray B, a rushed tour makes you irritable that you've run out of time but then again a tour that gives you priority over the queues is a big advantage. If there is a cruise tour that gives you a plenty of time at the Colosseum then that's probably a good choice.

[Ray B]

Portsmouth, decisions decisions. If you don't think that you will visit Rome again, then Barney's tour looks good (if you can keep up) and will give you an insight of Rome. There again, if a future visit looks likely, then split your time into manageable segments and take in the splendour at a more leisurely pace.
I've been to Rome twice now, and there is so much more I would like to see.
A long weekend maybe the better option.

[Onelife]

I do recall on our visit to Rome we managed to take in both the Colosseum and Trevi fountain in a leisurely manner, we even spent an hour in a rooftop café (very Expensive) but it was worth every penny as my wife needed the loo. I don’t know if things have changed but toilets weren’t around every corner, with most being overseen by cafes so you were obliged/expected to make a purchase to pee…. this is worth bearing in mind if you have a weak bladder. If my memory serves me well you were dropped off near to the Colosseum but the pick-up point was about 30 minutes fast walking from where we were dropped off?

Please bear in mind we are talking many years ago and things may well have changed.

[Stephen]

Please bear in mind we are talking many years ago and things may well have changed.

You mean they don’t feed slaves to the lions any more. I’m shocked

[Onelife]

I was thinking more along the lines of when you last washed your hair

[Ray B]

I was thinking more along the lines of when you last washed your hair

[Stephen]

I was thinking more along the lines of when you last washed your hair

I don’t do such menial tasks. I send it out.

[oldbluefox]

I don’t do such menial tasks. I send it out.

Reminds me of Dolly Parton when asked how long it takes to do her hair. She said she wouldn't know as she was never there when they did it.