Rome

Athens to Rome Cruise 2026 

Rome

February 10, 2026

This morning when we awoke we found that the ship had already docked in Rome.  This was the last full day of the cruise as tomorrow we are on our way home.  The tour was going to be a long one as it was scheduled for a full eight hours.  This meant up early for a good breakfast and onto the tour bus by 8:00 am.  It was a 2.5 hour drive into Rome from the Rome cruise ship terminal in Civitavecchia.  

The tour started with a driving tour of Rome to take us past some of the highlights of Rome.  The guide was saying that to see Rome a person needs a stay of around two months.  But we had only one day so a quick drive tour was in order.  After the drive tour we were dropped off in the center of Rome with a map and told that we had 3.5 hours on your own to go and see the one sight which interested you most.  Agnes and I picked the "Wedding Cake" which is the massive white marble Altare della Patria (Alter of the Fatherland) or Vittoriano, located in the Piazza Venezia. It was built from 1885 to 1935 to honor the king of Italy Victor Emmanuel II, the first king of a unified Italy.  It was about a 20 minute walk though the maze which is Rome streets.  

Agnes and I climbed all of the steps to the very top as the view of Rome is absolutely incredible.  You can see the colosseum and the surrounding ruins of the Roman Forum .  Even though we climbed all the stairs we did not see any of the museums which are enclosed in it.  It is an amazing structure.  

After the big climb we still had a 20 minute hike back to the bus and then a 2.5 hour ride back to the ship.  We didn't get in until 5:30.  

A last supper up stairs in the ship's buffet and back to the room to get packed.  Our luggage had to be outside the room in the hall by 10:00 pm and as we had an early flight out to Rome the next morning we had to be down stairs to await transfer to the airport at 3:00 am. 

What an exciting day.  What and exciting trip.

Terry