High value vacations cruising from Civitavecchia

   

One of the two Azamara ships: Royal Caribbean's luxury  brand

Royal Caribbean International cruise line announced important  news for Civitavecchia, the port of  Rome, at the  recent press conference held  this week.  The managers of Royal Caribbean International and  the Civitavecchia Port Authority gave out some interesting numbers.

Announcing the  novelties for Civitavecchia 

  
 The port of Civitavecchia hosted 959 cruise ships in 2013  with 2,538,258 passengers arriving or departing from the docks. These numbers  will soar even higher   in 2014-15 when  several new   Royal Caribbean  ships  will be using  Civitavecchia as their home port.

The Mosaic lounge on Azamara 

Dominic Paul, Vice President of  Royal Caribbean International  announced  that  the company is investing millions of dollars in the construction of new cruise ships and expansion to capture an even higher percent of Italian cruisers. 

Pool deck on Azamara , my favorite of the Royal Caribbean ships

The company’s newest ships Oasis and Allure  (and later Quantum, which will become the world’s biggest cruise ship), will be  based out of Civitavecchia.

Ana Karina Santini  and Lina Mazzucco of Royal Caribbean 

This  investment means  that the hinterland of Civitavecchia will enjoy  a beneficial ripple effect with more jobs at the enlarged cruise terminal, more tourists looking for  pre and post cruise stays and excursions. Repeat cruisers will be especially interested  in visiting new, scenic and historic sites in  Etruria –not just bus or train trips into Rome.

I was happy to present  Mr. Paul with a copy of my book “Etruria Travel, History and Itineraries in Central Italy“ as a thank you for having  had me as guest lecturer on many Royal Caribbean ships over the past eight years. Check  out the many cruise enrichment lectures and itineraries here. 

Mary Jane presents  Dominic Paul  with her book 

It is also an invitation to combine a  Mediterranean cruise out of Civitavecchia  with a pre or post cruise holiday in Etruria. Cruisers will find dozens of delightful villages and towns ready to  welcome them just  beyond the hills of Civitavecchia. 

By adding on a pre or post cruise stay in Etruria, they can enjoy full  immersion in local Italian  life style, the food, wine, olive oil and  local  traditions.

For more information about  the area around Civitavecchia see this recent article: The Scenic Route from Rome to Civitavecchia  and find others  by putting the word Civitavecchia in the search box.

Civitavecchia-Rome: the scenic inland route

aqueduct on the  scenic inland route 

Which  Italy would you rather  experience: the crowded highway  through Rome’s  outlying suburbs and factories or a leisurely  drive  through green hills, past aqueducts and Etruscan tombs, with stops in medieval hill towns to see how people live here in central Italy?

a local traffic jam

 This is the dilemma faced by some of the 2 million cruise passengers docking  annually at Civitavecchia who request information on travel  forums :

 “What is the best way to get  from Civitavecchia  port to  Rome?”  or, vice versa, from Rome to  the embarkation dock.

As a resident travel writer and consultant, I have treated the question before   and now that summer  is again fast approaching,  I want to remind  cruisers  of  an alternative route  between Rome and Civitavecchia, one that helps beat the summer heat.

Tarquinia's towers -just 10 minutes from the dock of Civitavecchia

S. Maria in Castello, Tarquinia

entrance to Duomo Museum, Viterbo

 

dolphin fountain,  Vetralla

  During the dozens of cruises and port excursions enjoyed as cruise lecturer in the past 6  12 years  I've noticed  that the highlight for most people is being  treated to a slice of real local living.

 You can only take so many organized tours, museums and archeological sites. 
To really understand a locale and a civilization, you must discover the markets, the homes, the local lore and food.

  Here in central Italy many cruises begin and end at my home port, Civitavecchia, one hour north of Rome.

The ships usually arrive in port very early  in the day and  departures are set for  afternoon, so  it makes sense to use the  arrival/departure day for leisurely exploring, gaining those important experiences of real  Italian life. This can be done by  taking  the inland route instead of the  highway to Rome.

Antonella, local Italian guide in Viterbo   

It only takes a  bit of planning to arrange for a private  driver or a rental  car   to take the scenic inland route passing  through the hill town of Tarquinia, a UNESCO world heritage site.

 From there, continue along Via Aurelia bis over the rolling green hills to Vetralla, a compact historical center which has been under the protection of the English crown since the days of Henry VIII.

Ruud and visitors at  Bomarzo's Sacro Bosco

Mercatello, before the bridge to Civita, the dying city

 Retirement-aged cruisers save money by renting a van with driver  to explore the inland scenic route from Civitavecchia to Rome. By avoiding  the highway, big cities and big city prices they also  get a chance to  see daily life. 
Bags safely stowed in the van, the passengers  can stroll through our  town on market day, visiting the shops, chatting with local people and  

at the market: local artichokes  

 ordering a slice of pizza  at the forno. 

Meet the locals:  Adriana cares for the flowers of her piazza, Vetralla

Ruud  shows visitors Tuscania 

Multi-lingual guide Ruud likes to show visitors  his hometown and how we live here. 
 Italy is not just about monuments, art and archeology....as those who take the scenic inland route discover.

enjoying gelato and espresso


What could be better than sharing food, conversation and visiting the homes, gardens and castles of the people who live here? 

leisurely lunch in a private garden .....

.......or on the terrace   

Drop me a line or leave a comment if you wish to join  the long list of  universities, tour operators,  travel agents and cruise lines who have benefitted from our  local, on site  expertise.   

More information about the area  can be found in my books "Etruria Travel, History and Itineraries in Central Italy"  and 
"Etruria Storie e Segreti". Order directly  from the website  and pay with paypal.