One of the stops on your Disney Mediterranean Cruise is Rome. This ancient Italian city is one of the most popular destinations in the world and since you only have one day to see it, you will want to make the most of your time. We hope these Mediterranean Cruise to Rome tips will help you!
Disney Mediterranean Cruise Tips for Rome
Book Your Way into the City in Advance
When you travel to Rome on a Disney Cruise, you actually dock in Civitavecchia. You will need to find a way to get into the Rome city center.
Disney offers several cruise excursion options, and there are also buses and taxis that will take you into Rome.
We decided that we wanted someone to actually take us from places to place instead of relying on buses and walking so we did a semi private tour.
This was nice for us because we were able to go in with another family (so total of 8 people) for a MUCH CHEAPER rate than any of the bigger tours (through Disney or elsewhere) was charging (I’m talking 50% less).
We had a van with driver (who spoke good English ~ not great, but good enough to tell us what we needed to know) and were able to pretty much plan our day according to what we wanted to see.
I would not have done it any other way!
Go to the Port City Information Sessions
Disney provides information sessions on each port of call and destinations near the port cities. Typically, these are the night before you arrive.
I found these very informative because they gave background information about things you might have wondered about but did not already know.
For instance, the lady leading the information session for the Disney Mediterranean Cruise to Rome was able to fully explain the meaning and significance of the Latin terms written on the Pantheon.
Get Rick Steves Rome Book
Something else I found helpful was having a copy of Rick Steve’s Book on Rome. I think we have 4-5 of Rick Steve’s guide books and they are truly an essential piece to bring for each stop.
He gives great advice on everything from getting here to there to best places to grab a bite to eat.
You also can download his walking tour of sites for absolutely free (be sure to download before you leave to avoid having to pay roaming charges to download).
Be Prepared for Scaffolding & Refurbishments
Because you are visiting an ancient city, be ready for scaffolding and refurbishments. When we were at Rome in 2014, there was no water in the Trevi Fountain.
In 2016, there was scaffolding along the Spanish Steps.
Take it all in stride.
This is an ancient city and they have to do these improvements and restoration to keep it beautiful for all future generations to see.
Buy Tickets for Sites in Advance
There are many popular sites to see in Rome and when all you have is one day in Rome, you are going to want to make sure that you aren’t stuck standing in lines all day.
Buy whatever attraction tickets you can in advance. This can save you not only time, but money!
Skip Audio Tours & Download Rick Steves Instead!
Most of the places you visit in Rome will have an audio tour option. Typically, they are also in a separate line.
Opt out of the audio tour and use the FREE Rick Steve downloads instead. One of the best ones is for the Roman Forum.
See the Disney Characters Dressed up in Rome
One of the great parts about taking a Disney Mediterranean Cruise is getting to see the characters dressed up in costumes based on the country you are visiting.
You will find that Mickey, Minnie, Donald and Goofy dressed up in their Italian Costumes while visiting Italy!
Want a full Itinerary of how to see the most famous sites in Rome in a day? Our sister site, Day Trip Tips has a great Guide to spending one day in Rome.
If you are thinking about visiting both Rome & the Vatican, take a look at our Vatican itinerary.
Have you taken a Disney Mediterranean Cruise to Rome? What was your favorite part?
Jayn
Monday 28th of January 2019
Hi! Really enjoy reading your blog! Do the characters wear special European outfits on the mediterranean cruise? Do you have an album online that I could look at? Thanks!
Lee Bavin
Monday 5th of March 2018
what company did you use, & how did you come across the information for private tours for Rome? We will be on the cruise in June 2018 - & would really like to do private tours.
Kristi
Tuesday 6th of March 2018
We used Civitivecchia cab service. They do tours or drop offs depending on what you would like. http://www.anrdoezrs.net/links/5737477/type/dlg/https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g194743-d4049590-Reviews-Civitavecchia_Cab_Service_Tour-Civitavecchia_Province_of_Rome_Lazio.html
Angela
Sunday 11th of February 2018
What company did you use to take you to Rome. I will be going on the cruise this May.
Kristi
Saturday 2nd of June 2018
There is a link in the post to the company we used.
Beks
Tuesday 16th of September 2014
I'd absolutely LOVE to take a Disney Cruise through Europe, and stop in Rome. So much. I know it'll happen one day, I just can't wait!