So you’ve booked your ticket via cruise ship or ferry to or from Rome but you notice something odd. Your ticket says you arrive in or depart from Civitavecchia.  Now you’re faced with a couple problems. First how are you going to get from Civitavecchia to your destination and second how are you ever going to pronounce Civitavecchia to ask for directions.  As luck would have it both are pretty easy.
  Pronouncing your destination
       Taking the second problem first Civitavecchia is pronounced “chee vee ta vek ya”.  Or, more precisely Chē’vē-tä-vĕk’yä.  To hear it, check out this link.  All in all there’s not much to see in this small harbor town and you’re probably eager to head south to Rome or perhaps west to Spain so let’s get on with the trip.
 Getting to Rome from Civitavecchia.   
      In all likely hood there will be some walking to do but don’t fret it’s not all that far. There are cabs but when a large ship docks these are usually scooped up fairly quickly.  In any case, who has the money these days to waste on a cab when there’s a perfectly good bus waiting for you out front which won’t cost a thing?  When you get off the boat you are at the northern most end of the harbor.  Just follow the signs and head through or around the building in front of you where tickets for boats can be purchased and a small convenience store sells reasonably priced, if not re-heated, pizza.  On the other side you’ll see a bus that will take you to the front of the port.  Usually you’ll have to wait a bit until over-packed travelers lug all their suitcases on.  In any case sit back and enjoy the short ride.
     Word of caution; no matter how light your pack is and how proud you are of your determination to walk everywhere in Europe, catch the bus!  I had no idea the shuttle even existed my first time here and the walk is not pleasant.  It is far and there are very few sidewalks or crosswalks resulting in a lot of perfectly timing your run down narrow roads and across intersections.
      The shuttle will drop you off near Michelangelo’s Fort.  Completed in 1535 this huge stone fortress has walls that are over 20 feet thick and a portion of the main tower designed by Michelangelo; hence the name. Once you depart the bus you’ll have to head about four blocks south.  Keep the Mediterranean on your right and you’re doing well.  Not far up the road you’ll see the orange-ish train station on your left.  Head on inside and there will be several automated ticket machines.  Of course if the ticket window is open you can just walk on up and say “Roma”.   They’ll get the picture.
       Trains arrive and depart regularly.  Usually you’ll have a couple per hour to choose from so your wait won’t be long.  Follow the onscreen instructions, buy your ticket to Roma Termini (around 6 Euro) and make your way out to which ever platform your train will depart from. Unless its platform 1 you’ll have to head down, under and up to the other platforms via the underpass to your left as you face the tracks.
 The train will take you around an hour and will probably arrive at one of the more distant tracks in the Termini station 27-30.  So, once again throw your luggage on your back and hike on in to the Eternal City.
 Getting from Rome to Civitavecchia
      This one is pretty simple…do the above, in reverse.  Buy your ticket from Rome to Civitavecchia, hop on the train, hop off the train, walk 10 minutes with the Mediterranean on your left, board the shuttle near Forte Michelangelo and hop off at your ship.  The biggest thing to keep in mind here is giving yourself enough time to reach the ship before it sets sail. Two hours from Rome to port of call would be cutting it really close.
 One more option
      If you’re in the mood to spend your money on a private car ride into or from Rome you can always do that too.  Seriously though, it’s not too much quicker and we’re talking over 200 euros per person and that’s if you don’t have large bags.  Still, if that’s your thing this company is recommended by several travel guides.  Personally, as you can tell, I’ve never used them.

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