[bonrich]

My wife and I are going to Italy in two weeks. Cruising on RC for 12 days but are doing two days in Rome on our own pre-cruise. One outfit that was recommended is DGS tour company for a private all day tour of Rome. Has anyone used them?
Need to book soon, it is expensive and policy is payment in euros after tour is over. If we use Paypal there would be a 10% fee added to the cost. Not happy about those terms. Don't like to wander on our own and not know what we are looking at or lose time looking for the site to visit.
Would appreciate any sharing of experiences. This is our first time to Europe and want to make it a memorable trip.

[Medtrans]

Doesn't the cruise line have pre or post cruise excursions? Also, your hotel could be of some assistance. We did Rome on our own pre-cruise. I'm sure you would get a lot more out of a guided tour but we enjoyed being on our own. We took a shuttle from our hotel in to the city center, we walked and used taxis. There are also the double-decker, open on the top, sightseeing tour busses that are narrated, and there are busses you can hop off and on at different points. Enjoy!

[Barefoot]

Originally Posted by bonrich

My wife and I are going to Italy in two weeks. Cruising on RC for 12 days but are doing two days in Rome on our own pre-cruise. One outfit that was recommended is DGS tour company for a private all day tour of Rome. Has anyone used them?
Need to book soon, it is expensive and policy is payment in euros after tour is over. If we use Paypal there would be a 10% fee added to the cost. Not happy about those terms. Don't like to wander on our own and not know what we are looking at or lose time looking for the site to visit.
Would appreciate any sharing of experiences. This is our first time to Europe and want to make it a memorable trip.

If you send a PM to Jackz, he'll give you some tips. He and his wife lived in that area prior to retiring to The Bubble.

[Madelaine Amee]

Originally Posted by Medtrans

Doesn't the cruise line have pre or post cruise excursions? Also, your hotel could be of some assistance. We did Rome on our own pre-cruise. I'm sure you would get a lot more out of a guided tour but we enjoyed being on our own. We took a shuttle from our hotel in to the city center, we walked and used taxis. There are also the double-decker, open on the top, sightseeing tour busses that are narrated, and there are busses you can hop off and on at different points. Enjoy!

We've spent time in Rome on our own and had a ball. It is a fun, noisy, exciting City and easy to get around, just watch out for traffic - crazy traffic. Very, very expensive. I am assuming you already have a Foders guide for Rome.

I just did a search on ask.com and came up with this which I think sounds great, hope it helps:

I recommend Nancy DeConcillis (http://italianjourneys.net/about...) for a private tour. Nancy is an American who went to study in Italy years ago, married an Italian and stayed. She is an expert on Rome where she lives. She does one day tours.

I should add a word of caution. Rome is extremely crowded and September is high season because the excessive heat of summer if coming to an end. Be very aware of pickpockets. Don't put passports or valuables in your back pocket, or even jacket pockets, wear a body bag and hold it to the front of your body. My other half has a thin fabric bag which he purchased from one of the travel sites, he wears it around his neck and under his shirt. I am not trying to frighten you, but to make you aware of your surroundings at all times. If you stop in a cafe on the street (which you must do to have cappuccino and something fattening) DO NOT put your bag on the ground, keep it on your body and in your lap.

[bonrich]

Thanks to all who have responded. I will look at and take some of your suggestions and forge ahead to try to book something. The cruise line does have a pre-cruise but that starts at the airport prior to boarding the ship. We will be in Rome 1 1/2 days prior to boarding arriving on a Monday afternoon and cruising on Wednesday. Have seen some photo's of the popular sites and it is amazing to see so many people!!
Also finding out that September is the high season in Rome and some of the tours I found are sold out. We could use the hop on and hop off buses as a last resort, not see as much, but at least it would be transportation around Rome and might be cheaper than taxis.
Thanks again!!

[Medtrans]

If you go to the Vatican, make sure you go across the street to get Gelato. If there's a line, it's worth the wait! Best ever.

[Bonny]

You can try Tripadvisor. Type in tours in Rome. Also, Cruise Critic would be helpful.

[Hancle704]

Just a word of caution based on our experience. After flying overnight into Rome from NJ, we were really too tired to do all day tour and the tour guide who also picked us up at airport did not seem to understand that. Some people can sleep well on plane and wake up ready to do things, that was not us. Since the company has spelled out payment terms to you in advance, I would suggest that you get complete itinerary and schedule with times in advance.

[bonrich]

Thanks to all that have responded with tips and contacts and suggestions, especially the gelato. We will check them out! Getting closer for departure. Soon starts the packing. Oh boy!!

[Lbmb24101]

Originally Posted by bonrich

My wife and I are going to Italy in two weeks. Cruising on RC for 12 days but are doing two days in Rome on our own pre-cruise. One outfit that was recommended is DGS tour company for a private all day tour of Rome. Has anyone used them?
Need to book soon, it is expensive and policy is payment in euros after tour is over. If we use Paypal there would be a 10% fee added to the cost. Not happy about those terms. Don't like to wander on our own and not know what we are looking at or lose time looking for the site to visit.
Would appreciate any sharing of experiences. This is our first time to Europe and want to make it a memorable trip.

In 2009 did the Vatican in a private tour thru AmericanExpress travel very expensive but worth every single dollar. We had a well educated tour guide just for us, we skipped all the lines and truly enjoyed the Vatican. She was amazing!'
Enjoy Rome!

[paulascorpio]

I've been to Rome 4 times. It is a beautiful city and you will love every minute. It is so easy to get around. The high light of our last trip was the Necropolis. It is beyond fascinating! This is a must do and the Vatican provides the tour guide.


Sites and Museums with Catacomb-Related Material

Vatican Necropolis below Saint Peter’s Basilica

Visits to the "scavi" require an advance booking by fax or e-mail addressed to the Ufficio degli Scavi, Fabbrica di San Pietro specifying the dates possible for the visit, languages spoken by those interested in participating and a contact number in Rome in order to confirm the date and time of the visit. It is best to book well in advance for visits during peak tourist seasons and holidays. The price per person is L. 15.000: guidebooks are available for 10.000 at the ticket office at the entrance to the excavations. Visits last for roughly an hour and fifteen minutes: the tour ends in the confessio of St. Peter’s. The restoration of the necropolis for the Jubilee 2000 has recently been concluded.

Excavations below the central nave of Saint Peter’s in the years 1940-1949 revealed part of a Roman necropolis which had spread over the Vatican hillside during the Imperial period. Debate over the interpretation of graffitti scratched onto a red-painted plaster wall in the area of the apostle’s shrine cannot detract from the important archaeological discovery of a well-preserved street lined with brick mausolea and surface tombs. Some of these family tombs close to the monument marking Peter’s grave were early adopted for Christian burial. The site and visit are visible testimonies to the the devotion to Peter, the apostle of Rome, through the centuries.



Contact Information


Reverenda Fabbrica di San Pietro
Basilica di San Pietro in Vatic

[paulascorpio]

This is another company we have used that is also, highly recommended by trip advisor. They were also very good! I'm so jealous…..I want to go back again!

Walks of Italy Rome Tours, Vatican Tours, Venice Tours, Florence Tour