We have just arrived home from an incredible pre-cruise stay in Rome, and a cruise around Greece, Italy and Turkey on Royal Caribbean’s Odyssey of the Seas. If you’re planning a cruise from Rome, one of the best decisions you can make is to arrive a few days early and spend time exploring the city before you sail from Civitavecchia Cruise Port. It’s a great idea to get to the port at least a day before in case of any delays. However, some cities demand more time for exploring, and Rome is one such city.

We’ve cruised from Rome before and visited the city several times, but this trip felt completely different. For the first time, we were travelling without our boys and instead cruising with friends and their family. It gave us a slower pace, more time to enjoy long lunches, and the chance to really appreciate Rome without rushing between attractions.

Our itinerary included Mykonos, Santorini, Kusadasi and Naples, and I’ve linked all of our cruise port guides throughout this post so you can plan your own stops.

Before we boarded, we spent two nights in Rome, and honestly, I think this is the perfect pre-cruise amount of time. It gave us space to unwind after our flight, explore the city properly, and arrive at the port feeling relaxed rather than rushed.

I am not going to give you a long list of things to do; anyone can do that. I want to share what we did, little things we discovered along the way and tips for enjoying Rome

Where We Stayed Before Our Rome Cruise

For this trip, we stayed at The Social Hub Rome, and it turned out to be one of the best decisions we made. You can read our full review here:

What struck me about The Social Hub was that, despite being so reasonably priced, it has a really cool, modern vibe. The trade-off is that it is slightly outside the city centre in a residential area behind Rome’s main train station.

At around £370 for two nights in May, we decided it was worth it. Even with the cost of Ubers into the city, it still worked out cheaper than many central Rome hotels, and the extra travel time was minimal. We used Uber to get into central Rome in around 15 minutes, and you can also walk or take public transport if you prefer.

After flying into Ciampino Airport, and meeting our pre-booked transfer with Welcome Pickups. The journey to the hotel took around 40 minutes, and we were quickly checked in, and in no time at all, we were enjoying our first Italian lunch with wine.

Getting Around Rome

Rome is a city made for walking. Once we were in the centre, we explored entirely on foot. We walked miles each day, but it never felt like a chore because there was something beautiful or historic around every corner.

We planned loosely rather than tightly, which worked perfectly. Long lunches, coffee stops, and spontaneous detours made the experience feel relaxed rather than rushed.

If you’re planning a pre cruise stay, I would strongly recommend at least two nights in Rome. It gives you enough time to enjoy the city without feeling like you are ticking boxes.

Exploring Rome Before Your Cruise

One of the best things we did was split our day in Rome into experiences rather than rushing between landmarks. It made everything feel more immersive and enjoyable.

Trevi Fountain Underground Tour

We started with the Trevi Fountain Underground Tour near the Spanish Steps. Although the tour title suggests a fully underground experience, much of it actually follows the ancient Virgin Aqueduct route above ground before reaching the underground sections. It begins near the Spanish Steps and winds through the city towards Trevi Fountain.

Our guide was excellent and really brought Rome’s history to life. I always think a walking tour is one of the best ways to start any city break because you pick up context, stories and local tips that you would otherwise miss.

Don’t Miss The Sweet Shop And Keats, Shelley Museums at the Foot of the Spanish Steps

One of my favourite unexpected finds in Rome was a sweet shop right at the foot of the Spanish Steps. It is easy to miss if you’re not looking for it, but it is packed with every flavour of chocolate and sweets you can imagine, along with gift boxes and traditional treats. ( I know Rome has so many iconic places, but this is a great show for chocolate lovers)

It is a brilliant stop if you want to bring souvenirs home, and we could have easily spent far longer browsing than we did. And the Italian chilli chocolate was amazing!

And to the bottom right, as you face the steps, you will find the Keats-Shelley Museum. It was once the final home of English Romantic poet John Keats, who moved here in 1820 in an attempt to recover from tuberculosis, but sadly died in the building just a few months later at only 25 years old.

Today, the Keats home has been preserved as a museum dedicated to Keats, Percy Bysshe Shelley, and other Romantic poets. Inside you’ll find original manuscripts, letters, first editions, portraits and personal memorabilia linked to the Romantic literary movement. We didn’t spend long in there, but I found it very interesting and definitely worth the visit.

Catch A Photo With The Art Instalation “I’ll Be Your Mirror”

Standing in Piazza Mignanelli near the Spanish Steps, “I’ll Be Your Mirror” by Portuguese artist Joana Vasconcelos is a striking mirrored sculpture that reflects both the surrounding architecture and the people viewing it, creating a unique and ever-changing piece of public art in the heart of Rome. And as a theatre lover, this blew me away.

The Column of the Immaculate Conception

As you come down the Spanish Steps, walk to your left, and you’ll see the impressive Column of the Immaculate Conception standing proudly in Piazza Mignanelli. Topped by a bronze statue of the Virgin Mary. The monument was unveiled in 1857 and has become an important religious landmark in Rome.

The base is surrounded by statues of Moses, David, Isaiah and Ezekiel, while the column itself is much older, having been discovered during excavations in the city centuries earlier.

Each year on 8 December, Rome’s firefighters climb to the top of the column to place a wreath of flowers around the statue of Mary as part of the city’s celebrations of the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. A tradition that has been carried out for decades.

Lunch and Wandering Through Rome

After our tour, we stopped for a relaxed lunch of Italian meatballs and pasta, followed by a slow walk through the city. This is one of my biggest Rome tips. Don’t overplan it. The joy of Rome is in the in-between moments.

We wandered towards the river, enjoying the atmosphere, cafés and street life before heading towards Vatican City.

Walking To Vatican City via Castel Sant’Angelo

Rather than taking transport, we walked across the River Tiber via Castel Sant’Angelo.

This route is highly recommended because it gives you one of the most beautiful approaches to Vatican City. Check out Via dei Coronari, where you will find the prettiest street and breathtaking shrines lit on corners of buildings; we spotted the Virgin Mary and Jesus. Then walk on to Castel Sant’Angelo

Castel Sant’Angelo has a fascinating history. Originally built as the mausoleum of Emperor Hadrian, it later became a fortress and papal refuge. Today it sits dramatically on the river, offering incredible views back across Rome. From here, it is a short walk into Vatican City.

Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel Tour

Our final tour of the day was the Vatican Museums. We booked a skip-the-line guided tour with an official Vatican guide, and it was absolutely worth it. The queues outside can be extremely long, especially in peak season, so having priority access made a huge difference. The day we visited, the queue seemed to go on forever; thankfully, we were able to walk on past to the front. I can’t stress enough how thankful you will be that you booked skip-the-line.

Inside, the Vatican Museums are vast and full of incredible artwork and history. My personal highlight was the Hall of Maps, which was breathtaking in its detail.

The Sistine Chapel was, of course, unforgettable. One interesting fact we learned is that photography is not allowed inside. This is due to an agreement where Nippon Television holds exclusive rights to film and photograph the artwork following restoration work.

My top tip is simple. Book early, arrive early, and allow far more time than you think you will need. If I went again, I would spend a full day here at a slower pace, including time in the Vatican Gardens.

Don’t Miss The Spriral Staircase

One of the most photographed features of the Vatican Museums is the stunning spiral staircase, officially known as the Bramante Staircase. Designed in 1932 by architect Giuseppe Momo and inspired by an earlier design by Donato Bramante. This really blew me away, no matter the angle you view it, it’s stunning.

Getting To Civitavecchia Cruise Port

On embarkation day, we travelled from Rome to Civitavecchia Cruise Port. We booked a private transfer with Welcome Pickups for six people with luggage, which cost €274. For us, this was the most stress-free option. We were collected from our hotel and taken directly to the port with no train changes, no luggage dragging and no stress.

There is also a much cheaper public transport option. You can take a train from Rome Termini to Civitavecchia, then catch a shuttle bus into the cruise terminal. The journey takes around 1 hour 45 minutes in total. It is absolutely doable, but for me personally, embarkation day is not the day I want to be worrying about connections or delays. I prefer arriving calm, relaxed and ready to board.

Cruise Port Guides From Our Trip

If your itinerary is similar, these guides will help you plan each stop:

Mykonos Cruise Port Guide

Naples Cruise Port Guide

Is Rome Worth Visiting Before A Cruise?

Yes, absolutely. Cruising from Civitavecchia does require a bit more planning because the port is not located in central Rome. It adds extra travel time, cost and organisation compared with other cruise departures. But after spending a few days exploring Rome before our cruise, I can honestly say it is worth every bit of effort.

Rome is one of those cities where you could return again and again and still find something new. From historic landmarks to hidden streets, incredible food and unforgettable views, it is a city that deserves time.

Civitavecchia is a fantastic cruise departure port if you use it as an opportunity to spend extra days in Rome beforehand. We’ve visited several times now, and there is still so much more we want to see.
In fact, I already know we’ll be back again soon.