Civitavecchia Port: Sun Princess

Diesel in the water system: the Sun Princess does not leave for Civitavecchia

Technical problems for the Sun Princess, cruise ship with liquefied natural gas built in Monfalcone. The ship from cruise would have had to leave in the night from the monfalconese plant to the time of the Port of Civitavecchia with almost thousand workers on board.

Due to a problem still being verified, they will all be disembarked by evening. Consequently the first cruise previewed will be postponed also.

This is not the first problem for Sun Princess.

The first delivery to the owner was scheduled for the end of January, but had been postponed to complete finishing work. The technical drawback concerns the drinking water system, where traces of diesel fuel were allegedly found.
Princess Cruises announced that it will fully refund the price of the cruise to those who had booked it and will have to skip it, offering a 50 percent discount on a subsequent cruise.

When’s the inaugural cruise?

Princess Cruises has made to know that the inaugural cruise of 18 February is cancelled also, while for the Sun Princess the first voyage with the passengers on board will sail from the port of Civitavecchia 28 February 2024.

The Sun Princess is a special ship

With approximately 178.000 tons of tonnage Sun Princess is the ship from cruise greatest up to now constructed in Italy, let alone the first with feeding (also) to Natural Gas liquefied (Gnl) never constructed from Fincantieri let alone the first ship dual-fuel to enter the fleet of Princess (brand of the group carnival Corporation).

“Liquefied natural gas is the most advanced, mature, scalable and commercially sustainable fuel technology for the maritime industry. It is also considered one of the cleanest fossil fuels as it reduces greenhouse gas emissions and almost completely eliminates other emissions in the air and particulates”, recalls a note Fincantieri.

Private Transfer

Private transfer services are a great option for travelers who want to arrive in Rome in style and comfort. We have selected some authorized companies (Fully Licensed Drivers and Vehicles with the permits to access Civitavecchia Port. The car will arrive under the ship) that offer private transfer services from the port of Civitavecchia to Rome, with prices typically ranging from 30 to 75 EUR per person (depending on the number of people and the type of car chosen). The journey takes 1h30, depending on traffic.

No matter which option you choose, getting from the port of Civitavecchia to Rome is easy and affordable. All of the options have their advantages, so you can pick the one that works best for you. Whether you take the bus, train, taxi, car rental, or private transfer, you’ll be able to enjoy the beauty of Rome in no time.

Reaching Rome from the Port of Civitavecchia

The port of Civitavecchia, also known as the “Port of Rome”, is the main port for travelers visiting Italy’s capital city. As one of the major international ports in the Mediterranean Sea, it’s popular with cruise ships, ferries and cargo ships alike. Whether you’re in the area for business or pleasure, getting from the port of Civitavecchia to Rome is easy and affordable.

There are several options available to make the journey from the Civitavecchia port to Rome. Each one is designed to accommodate different types of travelers and their individual needs.

Public Transportation

Public transportation is the most economical way to get to Rome from Civitavecchia. There are several ways to reach the city by bus or train, depending on your time, budget and desired level of comfort.

Bus: The cheapest and quickest way to reach Rome from the port of Civitavecchia is by bus. There are several bus companies that offer direct service to Rome’s Termini Station, with ticket prices ranging from 13 to 15 EUR. The buses run once an hour and the journey takes between one and two hours, depending on traffic.

Train: The port of Civitavecchia is also served by direct trains to Rome’s Termini Station. Trains leave the port four times an hour, as well as express trains that make fewer stops. Ticket prices range from 9 to 11 EUR, depending on the type of train. The journey takes between one and two hours, depending on traffic.

Taxi

If you’re looking for a more comfortable and direct way to get to Rome from the port of Civitavecchia, a white local taxi is a good but expensive option. You can find some taxi companies under the cruise ship waiting for cruisers,  that offer service to Rome, and the fare typically costs between 60 and 80 EUR per person. The journey, by Civitavecchia taxis, takes 1h30, depending on traffic.

Car Rental

For travelers who prefer the flexibility of a car, car rental is a great option. There are several car rental companies at the port of Civitavecchia that offer a range of vehicles, from compact cars to luxury vehicles. The cost will depend on the type of car you choose, as well as the length of the rental. The journey from the port to Rome typically takes between one and two hours, depending on traffic.

Private Transfer

Private transfer services are a great option for travelers who want to arrive in Rome in style and comfort. We have selected some authorized companies (Fully Licensed Drivers and Vehicles with the permits to access Civitavecchia Port. The car will arrive under the ship) that offer private transfer services from the port of Civitavecchia to Rome, with prices typically ranging from 30 to 75 EUR per person (depending on the number of people and the type of car chosen). The journey takes 1h30, depending on traffic.

No matter which option you choose, getting from the port of Civitavecchia to Rome is easy and affordable. All of the options have their advantages, so you can pick the one that works best for you. Whether you take the bus, train, taxi, car rental, or private transfer, you’ll be able to enjoy the beauty of Rome in no time.

Civitavecchia Port Covid rules

COVID-19. Here are the new rules for entering Italy

The new rules from March 2022: basic green pass and no quarantine to enter Italy

The new rules for entering Italy

The anti-Covid 19 vaccine is no longer needed to enter Italy. On March 1, 2022, the new ordinance signed on February 22, 2022 by the Minister of Health Roberto Speranza came into force, softening the existing rules until February 28. Any traveler or tourist who comes, for example, from Australia, Japan, the US or Canada must observe the same rules that apply to European citizens.

The state of emergency expires on March 31 and the Italian government has already said that it will not be renewed.

The ordinance of the Ministry of Health

The new rules for entering Italy were established by the Ministry of Health with an ordinance of 22 February. “Starting from March 1, 2022, for arrivals from all non-European countries, the same rules already in force for European countries apply.

One of the conditions of the green pass will be sufficient for entry into the national territory:

  1. vaccination certificate,
  2. recovery certificate, or
  3. negative test “.

This means that the vaccine is no longer mandatory.

Stop quarantine (but not always)

The order of the Ministry of Health also provides for a stop to quarantine for those arriving in Italy from non-EU countries. The measure remains for those who do not present one of the three required certificates (vaccination, recovery or negative test).

Should it be necessary, the quarantine must be observed for 5 days at the address indicated in the Passenger Locator Form (Plf). At the end of the quarantine, a molecular or antigenic swab must be done, which means that the vaccine is no longer mandatory.

Caravaggio in Rome. Where to see it for free

Caravaggio in Rome. Where to see it for free

An alternative Shore excursion from the port of Civitavecchia to Rome

If you’ve already been in Rome, and you have already seen and reviewed the Vatican, the Colosseum and all the most famous places in Rome, you might be looking for something different, but also unique. Getting to the port of Civitavecchia and have the oportunity to see some of the most amazing works of a revolutionary painter, is a wonderful opportunity. Our goal is always the same: offer the best at the best price. That’s why we propose you a day in Rome to discover Caravaggio without admission fee.

Michelangelo Merisi; known as Caravaggio, the greatest of all! An adventurous life, a tragic end, an unmistakable, that marked a leap, a discontinuity in the world of painting; there was a painting before Caravaggio, and there was another after Caravaggio. For this reason too, to admire his work, it is worth coming to Rome.

In fact some of the most famous paintings by Caravaggio are located in Rome. They are of some of the most famous paintings of the Baroque period. And you can freely admire them because they are there to adorn the Roman churches.

San Luigi dei Francesi

The best place to “meet” Caravaggio in Rome is the small church of San Luigi dei Francesi next to Piazza Navona. Inside the ‘Chapel Contarelli’ is the cycle of works dedicated to St. Matthew: “The Calling of St. Matthew”, “Inspiration of St. Matthew” and “The Martyrdom of Saint Matthew.”
The entrance to the church of San Luigi dei Francesi is free. 1 euro can be used to turn on the lights, the better to see the paintings of Caravaggio.
It is open from 10:00 to 12:30 except Thursday and from 16.00 to 19.00; (During the harvest it is not possible to visit the church).

Caravaggio: Martirio di San Matteo
Caravaggio: Vocazione di San Matteo

Basilica di Sant’Agostino

Basilica of St. Augustine; Via della Scrofa, so close to Piazza Navona, it is this church where you can admire the Madonna of the Pilgrims. The church is open every day from 7.30 to 12.30 and from 16 to 18.30 (during the harvest is not possible to visit the church).

Chiesa Santa Maria del Popolo

Finally, to admire another free Caravaggio in Rome you have to go in the Church of Santa Maria del Popolo is located in the north side of the central Piazza del Popolo. Within the Cerasi Chapel there are two extraordinary works by Caravaggio: “The Crucifixion of St. Peter” and the famous “Conversion of St. Paul on the road to Damascus.”
Entry into the church is every day at 7:30 to 12:30 / 16:00 to 19:00
Friday and Saturday: 7:30 to 19:00 hours

Once you exit the church, nothing better than a walk in the center of Rome, to complete a fantastic day!

Caravaggio: crocifissione di San Pietro
Caravaggio: conversione di San Paolo
5 mistakes not to be done on board the cruise ship

5 mistakes not to be done on board the cruise ship

Here are the 5 mistakes to avoid on a cruise.

1) Wear white clothes.
The sailor look is always very fashionable on board, but pay attention to the stern (the back of the ship), where it is advisable not to wear white clothing. Particles of black powder often come out of the ship’s smokestack together with the smoke, which releases stains that are very difficult to remove on the fabrics.

2) Store all your clothes in your suitcase.
During the last night on the cruise you will be asked to pack your suitcase and store it in front of your cabin door, so as to allow the crew to collect them before disembarking. Before packing, think about which clothes you want to wear for your departure.

3) Always sleep for a long time
One of the most beautiful moments of a cruise is the entry into port at dawn. It’s a show to experience at least once during your vacation on board! Losing this emotion because you prefer to sleep late is a real shame!
Usually you will have up to 10 hours for your shore excursions, so there is no hurry, but starting early the day you will have plenty of time to explore the cities included in the itinerary and discover their peculiarities. The early bird catches the worm!

4) Give the personal badge on board.
Your personal badge is equivalent to a credit card in your hands. During the cruise be careful in lending it to your teenagers for not having surprises at the end of your holiday! During your stay on board, you can go to reception at any time and ask for a statement of your expenses.

5) Visit the areas reserved for the crew.
The crew lives on board for 3 to 6 months. Do you have a request to make to one of the stewards and you can not find it anywhere? Do not invade privacy and crew spaces, the crew does not like to see guests in their area. Also for security reasons, it is better to stay in the public areas of the ship.

Civitavecchia Port: ATM

ATM’s at the Civitavecchia Port?

A frequent question by cruise passengers stopping at our port: ATMs?

Can you confirm if there are ATM’s at the Port itself? We will disembark from a cruise ship and need to know if we need to bring cash with us or if there are an ATM to obtain euros so we can pay for our transfers into Rome.

Lyn (New Zealand)

Unfortunately, there are currently no ATMs inside the port. The nearest ATM is in Piazzale degli Eroi, 2; at 100 meters from Forte Michelangelo: to reach it, exit the port at Varco Fortezza and take Via Giuseppe Garibaldi.

Or you can find it near the train station of Civitavecchia, if you go to Rome by train. Or if you go to Rome with a private transfer service, you can ask your driver to make a stop at the nearest ATM

new rules for embarking cruise

COVID-19. Here are the new rules for going on a cruise

Many people ask us at Civitavecchia Port: are there still cruises of the past (before Covid 19)? The cruises in which you went around the seas of the world and got off at every port. Where on board you jumped between buffets and pools, slides and karaoke, pecked between theaters and endless long drinks. Cruises where you posed with the captain, and at the gala you were ready to show off your best suit.

We at the Port of Civitavecchia answer: yes and no. Because unfortunately there are many limitations compared to pre-Covid cruises, but the cruise passenger is aware that he is in a sort of bubble, where the coronavirus is kept very far away. Going on a cruise today is the safest holiday!

Let’s see how the major cruise lines are adapting embarking protocols.

Covid rules for embarking MSC Cruises

On MSC Cruises you can only travel if you have a complete vaccination cycle certification. MSC Cruises has extended, starting from 4 December, the measures already adopted for winter travel in other regions to itineraries in the Mediterranean – therefore including the Port of Civitavecchia.

Guests on all ships in the fleet must be vaccinated against Covid-19 and carry out a Covid-19 test within 72 hours prior to the scheduled embarkation date. The new rule applies to all guests aged 12 and over, and adds to the existing health and safety measures introduced by MSC Cruises in summer 2020, which today form the basis of a protocol that has become a model worldwide.

Any booked guest who will not be fully vaccinated in time for their departure date can choose to postpone their MSC cruise to a later date or request a refund. It seems to us a very flexible and correct decision.

We at Civitavecchia Port believe that the Covid-19 test before boarding, in particular, constitutes an additional safety element that offers all guests and crew the highest level of protection.

Covid rules for embarking Celebrity Cruises

From February 1st, Celebrity Cruises will introduce additional security measures, even more stringent than MSC. In fact, the company will require coverage with a complete vaccination cycle even for children aged 5 and over to board their ships. For children under the age of 2 to 4 years, a negative response from the Covid-19 test performed before boarding will be required.

Celebrity Cruises is the second company, in chronological order, to adopt such a stringent protocol, after Disney Cruise Line, which established the vaccination requirement for children aged 5 and over for cruises from January 13, 2022 onwards. A choice made after the approval on November 2, 2021, by the CDC, of ​​the use of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines for children aged 5 to 11.

Covid rules for embarking Royal Caribbean

The provisions panel is constantly evolving. Consider, for example, Royal Caribbean, which belongs to the same Group as Celebrity, currently allows unvaccinated children to sail, as MSC Cruises is regulating: for ages up to 11 you can get on board by presenting a Covid test negative.

Covid rules for embarking Norwegian Cruise Line and Princess Cruises

On the other hand, brands such as Norwegian Cruise Line and Princess Cruises allow children between 5 and 11 years old on board only if vaccinated, as a consequence of the choice of having only passengers with the complete vaccination cycle, without exception. The consequence is that, for these two companies, children under the age of 5 will not be able to board the ship. A decision that leaves us definitely surprised

Civitavecchia Port: Forte Michelangelo

What are the procedures for Covid-19 at the Port of Civitavecchia?

All international transport has been affected by the Coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19), and obviously the arrivals and departures of cruise ships and ferries at the port of Civitavecchia have also been affected.

On this page we try to clarify the procedures implemented at the Port of Civitavecchia, both for ferry connections with Sardinia, Sicily, Spain and Tunisia and for the main cruise companies, which are gradually starting their navigation again.

We will update this page as we get news.

Drive-In Covid Test Centre at Civitavecchia Port of Rome

The Drive-in in Largo della Pace has been moved to via Tarquinia 30 – Fiumaretta.

The Drive-in is active:

  • Mon-Sat from 0800 AM to 0600 PM
  • Sun from 0800 AM to 0100 PM

 

To request the molecular test on a voluntary basis, you need the doctor’s prescription, your fiscal code and you must reserve the PCR Test.

For more info, please visit Ministero Salute Official Website

Test Results

To know the test result, please contact (from Tuesday to Saturday):

  • 06 96669302/470/471/477
  • richiestareferticovid@aslroma4.it

Those who have a positive test result will be promptly advised.

Covid-19 provisions for ferries with Sardinia

All connections to and from Sardinia are operational again:

  • Civitavecchia-Olbia,
  • Civitavecchia-Cagliari,
  • Civitavecchia-Porto Torres
  • Civitavecchia-Arbatax.

Provisions for those arriving in Sardinia.

All those wishing to embark on direct shipping lines from the Port of Civitavecchia in Sardinia are required to register before boarding using the following online form:

Covid-19 Registration for ferries from the Port of Civitavecchia to Sardinia

and present in addition to an identity document, a copy of the registration receipt, together with the boarding pass.

You will also need to meet one of the following conditions:

  • give proof of having carried out the vaccine;
  • give proof of having carried out the swab with negative results (including the rapid swab) no later than 48 hours before departure;
  • swab on arrival (including the quick swab) or at the dedicated areas in the port of Civitavecchia, or within 48 hours of arrival;
  • submit to the obligation of fiduciary isolation for 10 days, with the burden of communicating this to their general practitioner, to the pediatrician of free choice or, for non-residents, to the territorially competing health authority through the toll-free number.

However, for all passengers returning from Sardinia it is highly recommended to swab them within 48 hours of their return.

To book a swab test you can go to the official page of Salute Lazio:

Swab test reservation booking form

Disembarkation at the port of Civitavecchia? New Health Protocols to enter Italy

The priority of the Port of Civitavecchia is the health and safety of cruise passengers and crew. The following measures apply for arrivals in Italy in the coming months, including departures and arrivals in Mediterranean ports such as the Port of Civitavecchia and in Northern Europe in the summer of 2021.

Authorities are continuously evaluating developments in response to COVID-19 and will adapt health and safety measures to give the best possible guarantees.

Are you entering the Italian territory? You must fill in the appropriate digital form (dPLF)

The first thing to know is that before entering Italy, from any country of origin and for any travel reason (tourism, work, etc.), it is necessary to fill in all its parts the European digital Passenger Locator Form (dPLF).

If you are a traveler from EU countries, or from the Schengen Area, and from the following countries: Israel, Canada, Japan, the United States, you can enter Italy without quarantine, if you meet the following conditions:

1. You must complete the Passenger Locator Form before entering Italy

2. You must present a COVID-19 green certification upon arrival, which must be issued by the Health Authority of your country of origin, which certifies:

  • to have received full COVID-19 vaccination for at least 14 days
  • or, recovery from COVID-19 and the cessation of medical isolation
  • or, negativity to a rapid molecular or antigenic test performed in the 48 hours prior to entering Italy

Green certifications must be written in Italian, English, French or Spanish, and can be submitted in digital or paper format.

3. You must communicate your arrival to the Prevention Department of the Local Health Authority (Lazio Region toll-free number: 800 118 800).

COVID-19 Green Certificate – EU digital COVID certificate

For technical assistance call the Call Center on (+39) 800 91 24 91 (open every day from 8am to 8pm)

Travelers from the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

As of today, if you have stayed in the United Kingdom, in the 14 days prior to entering Italy, you will need to present a certification of negativity to a molecular, or antigenic test, carried out within 48 hours before entering Italy and undergo isolation trustee and health surveillance for 5 days.

At the end of the isolation period, you will need to undergo a new molecular or antigen test (there are some exceptions that you can find here).

Travelers who are prohibited from entering and passing through Italy

As of today, if you have stayed or transited in Brazil in the previous fourteen days or if you have stayed in the previous fourteen days in India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.

MSC Magnifica returns to sail safely, with Covid-19 tests to be done before boarding the ship

MSC Magnifica sailed on October 19 from the Port of Genoa, making it the second MSC Cruises ship to resume operations since the Company returned to sail safely in mid-August. MSC Cruises has introduced a rigorous health protocol, which was done together with international experts, and with the collaboration of the Italian authorities.

MSC Magnifica will embark in the four Italian ports of Genoa, Livorno (for excursions to Florence and Pisa), Messina and Civitavecchia (Rome). Thanks to boarding from the Port of Civitavecchia, this 10-night cruise (a stopover in Piraeus for the visit to Athens, Katakolon for Olympia, Valletta in Malta) is easily accessible for guests residing in Schengen countries, only ones who can currently take part in the cruise in this first phase of resumption of operations.

MSC Cruises’ health and safety protocol includes universal health screening of all guests and crew, with Covid-19 tests to be carried out before boarding the ship; high hygiene, sanitation and cleaning measures throughout the boat; social distancing; mandatory wearing of masks in public areas and on-board contact tracing technology. In this initial phase, the ship’s capacity was also reduced to 70% to ensure social distancing on board.

By the end of the year, the ship is planning a total of six Mediterranean cruises, including a special 8-night Christmas trip that will depart Genoa on 18 December.