We Love this Hotel. Its family owned and it shows. If you are planning a Cruise, I STRONGLY Recommend this facility
Prior my arrival, I received an email from the Hotel Staff letting me know about transportation to and from the Hotel. Since we landed in Rome, we were unaware the truly hot to get to the Cruise Ship Port.
The message included the following:
We would also like to inform you that a private transfer service is available for all our guests at the following costs:
- 120,00 euro for 1 to 2 people (from/to FCO Airport)
- 140,00 euro for 3 to 4 people (from/to FCO Airport)
- 160,00 euro for 5 to 6 people (from/to FCO Airport)
- 180,00 euro for 7 to 8 people (from/to FCO Airport)
The rate is perfect. We had 4 of us split for ways and it made a difference. We could have taken the train, but then had to carry luggage through train stations which is a pain. Especially since there is no direct route from the Airport to the Civitavecchia (Cruise Ship Port).
To get a good experience, we rented a car from the Airport and drove to the Hotel. The hotel has a private parking area on the property grounds which made me feel good since I had a rental and space is limited in Italy for parking. I worked with the Hotel Staff to drop of my rental car (Hertz) and get picked up. The rental car was slightly more since we needed space for Luggage. If you are traveling from the train station, arrangements can be made for pick up as long as you keep the Hotel informed.
The rooms were just right for the one night that we stayed. It hotel was really a traditional Italian Hotel. Although small compared to hotel rooms in the USA, it was clean, and just right for our needs. We booked through Expedia.
They have an onsite restaurant where we could have had dinner, but we wanted to venture out and explore Civitavecchia so we passed.
The room had a small fridge to store drinks but not what you find in the US. It was more like a half the size of a small fridge you find in US hotels. Again, we only had a few drinks and bottled water which was perfect.
In the morning, I worked with the front desk to print out our final cruise docs. Since there is no public printer, you just need to email the docs to the front desk and they will print them for you.
Breakfast, a very nice spread. They had fresh scrambled eggs and bacon and an assortment of pastries and breads. The staff member makes an awesome Cappuccino. (all included in the price).
Beds were soft and provide a nice and relaxing evening. The only downside is that the walls are thin so I would not recommend doing something that you would not want others to hear. With all the great things this hotel has, that did not really bother me knowing that up front.
Shower was hot with great pressure and the TV has plenty of channels. (If you are confused, there is a way to get American stations). Just ask the front desk for assistance.
They have surge protectors that have US outlets. The one we had was equipped with 4 US outlets. There are other outlets, but they are European. As long as you have an adapter, you are OK.
The best selling point about this hotel is they have ship port access. They not only take to you to the port but to the actual cruise ship docking location. It made a difference because most hotels just drop you off at the gate of the port and they individuals must ride the shuttle bus to the ship embarkation area. Just an extra step that can be a pain if you have luggage.
Just remember that you need to coordinate a time with the hotel before you board the ship. When you return, although the ship tell you that you need to depart at a certain time, there is no rush and you can take your time, have breakfast, leave the ship and meet the driver. We chose a pick up time of 9am. The cruise had us leaving at 7am. When we got off at 845, our luggage was there in a secure area where an armed guard was present to protect the luggage. Our driver was on time and we had no issues during the transition from the ship to the courtesy shuttle. The more people you have the better if you have to travel back to Rome in order to catch a flight.
On our return, the hotel has a complimentary shuttle that can pick you up and do the reverse. If you want to get back to Rome, you can arrange for the shuttle to you directly from the Port to Rome Airport or Rome Hilton at the prices mentioned above. If you need to go to the train station or rental car location, they will take you there as well. The driver also has your name on a board so that when you pick up your luggage at the ship port, it is easy to find him. He will assist you with your luggage at the port so no need to hire anyone at the port.
The Staff were great to work with us and welcomed us with open arms. It made our start and finish of our first time Rome Cruise experience pain free.
Thanks Again!!!