What can we do before embarking Celebrity Solstice on 20/11

[dec09]

We will arrive Rome Flumicino airport at 0800 am and the scheduled check-in time is 2-3 pm on 20/11. As learnt from those forums that the time taken for transfer from FCO to Civitavecchia port by car/taxi is about 1 hour. Being new cruisers, can someone render us with the following advice:
a) What will the be suitable time for booking the car?
b) Any places in/around the FCO airport are worth for sightseeing or shopping as we will be accompanied with 2 elderly.
c) If we arrive earlier than the check-in time, any places in/around the dock are worth for wandering.
d) Your suggestions are earnestly requested as we really don't know how to plan the time slot before boarding the ship.

 

[CRUZINQUEEN]

If it were me, I see that time evaporating rapidly. I travel with my Mother, and it just takes longer for everything. I love her dearly and we have been on 3 cruises is the last 2 years together. An 8 am arrival in Rome can easily turn into 8:30 or later depending the flight. If I were to arrive at 8am, I would leisurely make my way to the restroom, and have breakfast. I know it expensive at an airport, but I assume you have lots of luggage to collect. After breakfast I would go to the luggage area, by this time all the "hurry, hurry, I will run you over to get to my luggage folks" are gone, and your luggage will probably be off loaded to a small area. Set the old folks down in area where they can see you and get a porter to handle the luggage. Having tips handy to take care of wheelchair pushers and baggage handlers makes travelling so much easier with older folks. I try and take all the hurry out of things for Mother, she worries enough for both of us. It can easily be 10 am by now and I would arrange transportation at that time and head to the ship. Boarding is often available early, sometimes 11 am...depending on how long the ship took to clear customs. Transportation to the ship and relax time for me. If you are going on a Mediterranean Cruise the ports are marvelous and are going to take alot of energy. Windows of time seem large at first, but fill it with great conversation, a good game plan and roll with problems, you are going on a cruise !

 

[Conniemc]

I know this cruiser has already departed, but for future cruiser's reference the FCO airport is a city in and of itself, with some of the most exclusive shopping you will find outside of Worth Avenue or Rodeo Drive. It's simply massive and can take quite some time to negotiate. It has tons of great restaurants, smoking lounges and very little security compared to the US airports. It's almost its own destination.

And off season, the drive was 40 minutes from ship terminal to FCO airport. And no, you will not see Rome. It's highway all the way.