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When trying to decide what to do in Naples cruise port, the age old conundrum arises - DIY or shore excursion? We often DIY our time in cruise ports because we like to explore on foot, leisurely, and try to get a glimpse of "local life".
Of course I put local life in quotes because authenticity can be eroded in any port city with so many tourists. Still, you can always find it to some extent if you're interested in it and willing to put forth the effort to walk a little farther or take a peek down that grungy, unpolished alley. :)
And let's face it, shore excursions can be expensive. We live a very simple life and we are just happy and grateful to be able to be on the cruise, period, even if we can't do all the "bucket list" excursions in every port. Another day I will share some of the Naples Cruise Port Best Excursions for those who have the means (or patiently and intentionally saved up) to splash out! diy walking tour around naples
For now, let's take a stroll around Naples!
Heading to the right after crossing the street from the Naples Cruise Port, I really enjoyed this botanical display outside the Luxury Hotel Romeo Napoli. It felt like a free visit to Phipps' Botanical Garden Desert room. :) 
Hotel Romeo Napoli Cacti Landscaping
piazza giovani bovio King victor manuel II Monument
We worked our way inland toward Metro stop Università at Piazza Giovanni Bovio. At the center of this Piazza is a monument which I had no idea what it represented (which will be a running theme lol) but figured I should snap a picture and look into it later.
Monument to King Victor Manuel II in a Naples Piazza
As it turns out, this monument is of King Victor Manuel II.
"It is a sculptural ensemble formed by the equestrian statue of the king, of eighty tons, the work of Alfonso Balzico on a drawing by Emilio Franceschi, by the mermaid Parténope, mythological founder of the city of Naples, carved by Salvatore Cepparulo, and by an eagle spreading its wings." - Wikipedia Camera di commercio napoliThe building in the background also felt noteworthy ;p, the Camera di Commercio Napoli (Camera di Commercio Industria Artigianato e Agricoltura di Napoli in full). Please enjoy an obligatory photo of the lion statue with some sort of cherub (?) out front. Apologies I can provide no context. This is why people pay for tours lol 
Litter and graffiti at the foot of the cherub and lion statue - Camera di Commerce Building in Napoli
The stroll continued to our first Italian fountain - hooray! But we were sort of in a hurry once we found out the pizza place was about to close, so I snapped another obligatory pic as we rushed on for a few more blocks. fountain of neptune - number one fountain in naples
It turns out this is the Fountain of Neptune (Fontana del Nettuno) which Tripadvisor identifies as the number one fountain in Naples - good thing I got this low quality photo right?!
Remember the monument to the Italian king earlier in this post? Apparently it used to be located in this square and the fountain of Neptune used to be located in the Piazza Borsa (Piazza Giovanni Bovio) where the King statue is now. I had no idea they moved these things around.. 
Fountain of Neptune - Number One Fountain In Naples, Italy
What is interesting about the Naples Fountain of Neptune is that it was sculpted between 1600-1601! (source)
It also made me happy to see some kids kicking around a ball in the plaza as it feels like a glimpse of local life - a lazy Sunday for Neapolitans. Also because seeing kids playing outside has become somewhat of a rarity these days, unfortunately.. But let's not think about that, because we're on our way to get pizza, remember?! streets of naples
A Girl Walks Down A Street In Naples
The streets of Naples feel busy, whether there are many pedestrians or not. The wires, the balconies, the plants, the laundry, the signs, the scooters, the garbage bins, and the dark cobble stones which my Italian uncle told me are made from the lava of Vesuvius! It's a lot to take in.
A man drives a motorcycle down a narrow street in Naples with a cruise ship in view
Can you see a cruise ship peeking through this narrow street in Naples? And see that blue shadow in the background - that's Mount Vesuvius and it is considered an active volcano "overdue" to erupt according to volcanologists and geologists.
Also notice the motorcyclist in the black helmet driving down this narrow street full of pedestrians. You really need to keep your wits about you! All that walking and trying to avoid being hit by a vespa and we were ready forPizza in Naples! Pizza & passione di Lino Gas Naples
The doors are wide open at Pizza & Passione di Lino Gas in Naples
Jump to the --> Pizza & Passione Naples Pizzeria Review <-- for all the delicious food pics and cost of pizza in Italy details!
After eating a delicious Margherita Pizza and Pizza Fritta, it was time to walk it off.
Napoli Metro Station
We came to Napoli Metro Station and took a peek inside. It was later Sunday afternoon and there was someone in the office if you did need help. I always think it's interesting to take a look in a metro station. Sometimes there is interesting art to be found. Do you know of any subway stations with cool hidden details that are largely unknown?
Line 1 Route Maps for Naples Metro Napoli Station are shown below.
You can reach a metro station (not this one) in brief walk from the Naples Cruise Port which is very convenient. The closest metro station to Naples Cruise Port is Colombo-Porto.
How much do Metro Tickets cost in Naples, Italy? Tickets cost just over a euro so this would be a great and affordable way to get around Naples if you are an independent traveler who likes to explore on your own! authenticity in naples
Residents' laundry hangs outside to dry along the public street near Napoli Metro Station
Across the street from Napoli Metro Stations were signs of every day life - laundry in the street above and a stepladder in the picture below presumably reserving a parking space reminiscent of the way a chair set in the street can hold a parking space in some Pittsburgh neighborhoods. iykyk lol.
A stepladder reserves a parking space in Napoli
If you're wondering what shoes to wear in Naples and how women are dressing in Italy - this is something you will see a lot of. Whether a classic floral or a bright abstract patterned dress, nearly everyone is rocking comfortable tennis shoes. You're doing so much walking on varied surfaces that you want footwear that is comfortable, supportive, and stable.
fashion in naples
Italian women in dresses rock tennis shoes as their chosen footwear
We made some lovely new friends on the main street - Via Toledo. This street is full of shopping and a draw for Italian tourists, cruise ship passengers, and just about anyone visiting Naples city center.
Travel Tip: Be sure to have internet access and a translate app downloaded so you don't miss out on great conversations in foreign languages ;) 
Friendly faces greet hundreds if not thousands every day on Via Toledo in Naples, Italy
deeper than decorative
And to end our day walking around Naples, here's another random statue. This one set in front of a University, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, to be precise. Founded in 1224, UniNA is actually one of the oldest public universities in the world!
With its femininity, it seems that this statue may be a sphinx from greek mythology. During the Renaissance, European decorative art saw a revival of the sphinx. There is a lot of historical symbolism and even religious significance around sphinxes in various cultures. 
What appears to be a Greek Sphynx Statue at the steps of UniNA
But alas, we've come to the end of our walking tour around Naples.
Naples is a great port as you can take amazing all-day excursions to historical sights or do a DIY food tour, walking tour, or just observe Neapolitan architecture and try to decipher some of the history of the design elements and monuments all around. vesuvius in view
Sun Princess Cruise Ship Docked in Naples with Mount Vesuvius In View
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PIZZA IN NAPLES - DAY 2 SUN PRINCESS MEDITERRANEAN CRUISE WITH GREEK ISLES, ITALY & TURKEY7/15/2024
On the second day of our Sun Princess cruise, we woke up in Naples with a one word mission: Pizza! It's almost literally illegal to visit Naples and not have pizza, right? ;)
But first, let's take in the views from the balcony! 
Naples Cruise Port Balcony View From Stateroom 11221 on Sun Princess
It was a bit overcast when we visited Naples Cruise Port, but don't be deceived - it was still plenty hot even though it was early June.
Hazy mountain outlines in the distance - Naples Cruise Port
Would you like to see a view of Napoli from the docked cruise ship? 
First look at Napoli from Sun Princess Mediterranean Cruise Ship
Quick bites to eat on sun princess
With those glimpses of Naples taken in, we were excited to get out on foot to explore the city and, of course, eat pizza!
But first, we needed to fuel up with some quick bites on the ship. Here's what we snagged for a very late breakfast/early lunch on Sun Princess. International Cafe - Pastel de nata
On our way to the buffet, which is called The Eatery on Sun Princess, we were walking past the International Cafe and it seemed a requirement to try a Pastel de Nata.
Portuguese Custard Tart, Pastel de Nata, on Princess Cruises
A Pastel de Nata is a delicious and famous Portuguese pastry - a custard tart which we are well familiar with ;) 
Pastel de Nata Portuguese Pastry at the International Cafe on Sun Princess
How good could a pastel de nata be on a cruise ship? In our opinion, what makes a pastel de nata a success comes down to having a crisp and flakey crust and the custard being just the right texture, not too eggy. As you can see we take very seriously checking the crust - and this looks very promising ;) 
A crisp and flakey crust is key to a delicious pastel de nata Portuguese egg custard tart
We felt like this was a respectable representation of an iconic Portuguese pastry for the uninitiated! The only thing missing was a sprinkle of canela (the portuguese word for cinnamon) on top!
By the way, it's easy to make these Portuguese Pastries! See how here: Inspired By Travel: Making Pastéis de Nata Portuguese Custard Tarts INTERNATIONAL CAFE - Spinach Quiche
I find it difficult to pass up a quiche. I'm not sure why?
Maybe because they are delicious. Maybe because it reminds me of stopping for breaks at Panera on a Saturday morning with my family growing up and occasionally splashing out for one of their quiches? or maybe it was a soufflé? Honestly I can't remember, but those were so good - do they still have them? 
Spinach Quiche - International Cafe on Sun Princess
Check out the side view of this quiche though. I mean doesn't that look delicious?! What impressed me most about this quiche on a cruise ship is that it was warmed up!!! I was 100% not expecting this at all, but absolutely delighted when the girl pulled it from the case and put it in the warmer. Should you serve quiche warmed, room temperature, or cold? Honestly, I'll eat a quiche any way, but imo quiche served warm is next level and my only regret is that I didn't have any follow up quiches throughout the rest of this med cruise. :( 
Worth the wait for a warm quiche on Sun Princess International Cafe
The Eatery on Sun Princess Lunch - Tom Kha gai + poke bowl
A visit to the eatery usually consists of walking the entire buffet to survey the options, but since we were eager to explore Napoli in a day, I grabbed the first things that jumped out at me - Tom Kha Gai Thai Soup and a Poke Bowl.
If you know Thai food, specifically the soup Tom Kha Gai, you will probably be surprised at the look of this soup. What is Tom Kha Gai? ต้มข่าไก่ Tom Kha Gai is a chicken soup with a coconut milk based broth and loads of flavor. The color is very off on this bowl and I really can't say there was any coconut milk in this soup which is bizarre. While I don't feel it does the traditional Thai soup justice, I did find the soup overall to be quite flavorful and I did enjoy it. After all, when you have a bundle of enoki mushrooms in your bowl, it's hard not to enjoy, amiright? 
Tom Kha Gai Thai Soup on Sun Princess
The Poke Bowl on Sun Princess was an absolute star! these poke bowls were available every single day and I wish I had gotten more. What is in a poke bowl? At the minimum this poke bowl had fresh, raw salmon, cucumber, beets, radishes, seaweed, and red cabbage along with sticky rice and a sprinkling of mixed sesame seeds. This Poke Bowl is a beautiful dish - colorful, light, refreshing, and a satisfying mix of textures and flavors - making it one of the best things I ate in The Eatery Buffet on Sun Princess. 
A favorite food in The Eatery on Sun Princess - Light Refreshing Poke Bowl
If you're looking for fresh, healthy meal ideas for hot summer days - try a Poke Bowl! :) INTERNATIONAL CAFE - Chocolate Drizzled Merengue
Since we had to go past the international cafe again to get back to our room, it seemed like a good idea to grab this meringue cookie because it's basically just air right? :p
What are meringues made of? Why are meringues so delicious? Good question. Meringues are primarily made of egg whites and sugar and that's why they are so delicious. My favorite meringues have that light crunchy exterior texture and are a bit chewy in the center, how about you? 
Delicious Merengue, I mean Meringue, at the International Cafe on Sun Princess
Okay enough of the cruise ship food. Let's get to the main event - Pizza in Naples! Pizza & Passione Pizze - Italy Restaurant ReviewAfter getting off the ship we met some lovely friends at the carts who recommended we be sure to try fried pizza, aka pizza fritta which is classic Neapolitan street food so we determined to follow through. ;) We walked to a restaurant called Pizza & Passione which was probably about a 1 mile walk from the cruise ship. We took our time taking in the scenes as it was our first time in Naples (more pics below) and once we arrived we nearly were turned away as they were about to close. :-/ 
Pizza & Passione di Lino Gas - Pizza Fritter near Naples Cruise Port
Americans, take note: It is extremely common in Europe for restaurants to close for several hours between lunch and dinner. I know that some restaurants do this in the US, but overall I think Americans are used to being able to get food at any hour of the day easily whereas in other parts of the world you really do have to manage your time to ensure you get in by 3pm or else you'll be waiting until 7pm often times!
Also be aware that the information on a restaurant's google listing is not always accurate. It may imply a restaurant is open all day and night and not actually list the space of time between lunch and dinner where they close. If you are not flexible with where and when you eat, be sure to call ahead to confirm hours and avoid disappointments. Let's carry on and take a peak inside the kitchen: 
A red hot pizza oven in Naples, Italy
I can't imagine how hot it must have been inside given the temperature outside. 
The smallest spaces often make the most delicious food
Hard at work cranking out pizzas for the seated guests. Here's a peak at Pizza & Passione's seating: 
Al fresco dining at Pizza & Passione di Lino Gas in Napoli
When it comes to beverages on a hot day like this, a cold Peroni is the only way to go while you wait for your pizza. How much is Peroni Beer in Italy? At this restaurant, a larger glass bottle of Peroni Beer (66cl) was 3.50 euro and was a perfect size to share! 33cl bottles are currently 2 euros each. 
A cold Peroni Beer at Pizza & Passione in Naples Italy
Ripieni Fritti - o' battilocchio Fried Pizza at Pizza & Passione
What is Pizza Fritta?
Pizza Fritta, shown below, is a type of fried pizza originating in Naples, Italy. A round pizza dough is filled with sauce, cheese, etc, then folded in half and deep fried. It looks like a giant empanada! 
Ripieni Fritti - O' Battilocchio Fried Pizza at Pizza & Passione Naples Italy
What is in Pizza Frita?
We ordered O'Battilocchio (should we have been insulted?) and the ingredients were pomodoro, provola, and pepe which translates to tomato provolone, and pepper. I could really taste the more intense, slightly smoky flavor of the provolone in the fried pizza compared to the Margherita pizza we also tried. Here's a cross section, if you want to see what the inside of pizza fritta looks like and get an idea of the thickness and texture of the dough. 
Inside a Pizza Fritta (Fried Pizza) in Naples Italy
This reminded us of something you might get at the fair in Pennsylvania in the summer time. :) Pro Tip: Anything deep fried is always best eaten immediately before it has the chance to lose its crisp and get soggy. Don't waste a moment when your Pizza Fritta arrives! How much is Fried Pizza in Naples? At Pizza & Passione the pizza fritta we ordered was 7 euros in June 2024. margherita PIZZA AT PIZZA & PASSIONEWhenever we try a new pizza place we almost always get a Margherita because we want a baseline for the establishment. We want to see how good a simple and classic Margherita pizza is. 
Our first margherita pizza in Italy
What is on a Margherita Pizza? A margherita is a simple, fresh, delicious pizza consisting of olio, pomodoro, and mozzarella and basilico - that is to say tomato sauce, mozzarella, and finished with a drizzle of olive oil and fresh basil. 
A margherita Pizza in Naples - tomato, mozzarella, basil, and olive oil
How much is pizza in Italy?
This margherita pizza cost 6 euros in Naples, Italy in June 2024. 
A glimpse underneath the Margherita Pizza at Pizza & Passione
How good is Pizza in Italy? Listen. It's so so good, but you just need to go experience it first hand if it's within your ability. :) Why is Pizza in Italy so much better than the US? Italians are using high quality ingredients, often locally sourced, which will always yield the most delicious results. That being said, there are many incredible pizzerias in the US doing the same. Still, Naples is considered the birthplace of pizza. Eating pizza in the very place pizza was invented is a special experience for any foodie. ❤ Pizza & passione Naples Italy Menu 2024
Menu = Cost of Pizza, Fried Pizza, Coffee, Limoncello, Coca Cola and Water in Naples Italy June 2024
returning to the ship in Naples
As it was time to board the ship, we made our way back to the Naples Cruise Port Terminal Building
Naples Cruise Port
After entering the building you will go up stairs or the escalators and staff directs you from there.
Inside Naples Cruise Port Terminal Building
You will walk the length of a building filled with souvenir shops - so if you missed grabbing your massed produced magnets and aprons with lemons or a little bottle of limoncello or some "leather" goods that the sales man made himself........ not skeptical at all ..... this is your chance to snag a momento on your way out of Naples. At the end of the building you will go back down stairs and outside to your ship!
Sun Princess Docked in Naples Italy for a Mediterranean Cruise - Is that Mount Vesuvius?
Dinner on the pool deck
We waved farewell to the passengers on the Aida Stella cruise ship and then said arrivederci to Naples, contented by the day and eager to return - sooner than you may think ;)
As there were no dining reservations available for the main dining room (we could have waited in a walk-in line), we decided to have dinner on the pool deck where Movies Under the Stars are shown every night.
Unfortunately, no sooner did we sit down at a perfect spot than a group of people sat right behind us including a woman who proceeded to loudly recap the entire movie to her friends while we (and others) were obviously trying to watch said movie for ourselves.... *eyeroll* What can I say? That's the general public for you. haha :p
The shwarma was delicious and highly recommended. The salad station has several suggested salad configurations or you can DIY. I went for the Chicken Cobb Salad and it was good, but I found the bacon to be unusually dry/hard to chew so I left all those bits behind. It did have plenty of chicken and blue cheese. This salad can easily be its own meal, not just a side.
Dessert at the international cafe
One last stop at the international cafe yielded the following little desserts:
A lovely slice of tiramisu, as shown below. Perfectly portioned and generously topped with cocoa powder, I found the flavors to be mild yet tasty and better than expected tbh! 
Tiramisu at the International Cafe on Sun Princess
Historically I've not always been a big fan of cakes on cruises as they always seem to be a bit on the dry side. However, this nice chocolate cake held up to scrutiny pretty well thanks in part to the thin layers of cake and the fact that they were topped in fluffy mousse and smooth, shiny ganache. :) 
A Chocolate Layered Mousse Cake at the International Cafe on Sun Princess
On that sweet note we close the second day of this Mediterranean Cruise on Sun Princess' Inaugural Season!
Sun princess Inaugural Season Cruise Blogs:
Book a mediterranean cruise
Ready to book your Mediterranean cruise?! I'm ready to help!
❤ Let me know when you want to set sail! ❤
After checking out our room it was time to explore the ship a bit and start trying all the included food options!
International Cafe on Sun Princess
We made our way down to deck 9 and as we traversed the piazza, took a peek at what the international cafe had to offer. The international cafe is a great feature on Princess Cruises. This spot is open 24/7 and has sweet treats (even Pasteis de nata!) and small savory items like little sandwiches and the like to curb the rumble in your tummy. :)
Princess Pizzeria on Sun Princess
The Princess Pizzeria located outside on deck 9 of Sun Princess served a style of pizza that was quite thick. I had hopes that it was a thick and airy/fluffy style of pizza, but to the contrary, I personally found it a bit heavy and it felt like the pizza dough was not quite cooked all the way through. We'll give it another go later in the cruise!
Burgers & Fries
Not to worry, just beside the pizzeria on deck 9 you could order burgers and fries and the crew were more than eager to invite us over! We requested only a basket of fries and they insisted that we sit down and relax and they would bring it over after they had been freshly fried. To my surprise they brought us 2 baskets!
Shop: Adorable mini fry baskets
2 cats in the piazza
As it was nearing sail-away time and we wanted to be on the balcony for that, we made our way back inside grabbed a cup of coffee from the buffet (aka World Fresh Marketplace) and stopped to watch a performance in the Piazza. CATS Strings were a talented electric violin duo who played in various venues around the ship. They always wore headbands with little cat ears.
Rome SAIL-AWAY on Sun princess
We made it back to the balcony to enjoy sailing away from Rome (Civitavecchia) cruise port. It's always exciting when you see the ship start to move away from the shore line. You can enjoy the sail-away on any public deck of the ship if you'd like, but we usually prefer to dodge the crowds and watch from our balcony if we have one!
sail away dinner menu Sun Princess
I would love to know what you would order off this menu. Feel free to leave a comment with what sounds most tasty to you!
Sun Princess 2024 Sail-Away Dinner Menu
Greek Salad
Sun Princess Mediterranean Cruise Food - Greek Salad
Chicken, Ham, Parmesan Croquette
Sun Princess Mediterranean Cruise Food - Chicken, Ham, Parmesan Croquette
Pork Tenderloin with Huckleberry Jam
Sun Princess Mediterranean Cruise Food - Pork Tenderloin with Huckleberry Jam
Linguine Vongole
Sun Princess Mediterranean Cruise Food - Linguine Vongole Seafood Pasta
Dessert menu day 1
Sun Princess Mediterranean Cruise Dessert Menu
After much deliberation we ended up with Vanilla Mascarpone & Blueberry Crèmeux
French Vanilla Bean Crème Brulée
Sun Princess Mediterranean Cruise Food - Creme Brûlée with Madeleine Cookies
Seasonal Fresh Fruit Plate
Sun Princess Mediterranean Cruise Food - Seasonal Fruit Plate
With that our first day on the Sun Princess Mediterranean Cruise came to a close. After a long day, once we returned to our room, I was thrilled to find the stateroom attendant had dropped off the fluffiest robes imaginable.
Sun Princess Tips: On embarkation day request a fluffy robe! SUN PRINCESS INAUGURAL SEASON CRUISE BLOGS:
Want to book a MEDITERRANEAN Cruise?Read Next: How to get to Rome Cruise Port By Train & Save a lot of Money!Pin for later:
SUN PRINCESS MEDITERRANEAN CRUISE WITH GREEK ISLES, ITALY & TURKEY CRUISE REVIEW
How to get to the train station from FCO Airport
After disembarking our RyanAir Flight, we followed the exit signs "Uscita" as you can see below on the right.
Exiting Rome Airport
Once you round the bend, look for the bright yellow sign featuring various modes of ground transportation including the Train. 
Follow the yellow signs for the train in FCO Rome airport
In our case, we were directed to exit the airport and walk outside to the train station. Periodically you would see the yellow square sign with the train icon on it. 
Entrance to Stazione Fiumicino Aeroporto train station
The train station had lovely, large planters with tropical foliage which provided seating for passengers waiting, as well as a cafe and ticketing offices on either side. In the picture below, the train platform is behind us and in front of us is an entrance to Fiumicino Airport. It's really convenient that you can take the train directly to the airport in Rome for your flight or hop on a train to your destination, like the Civitavecchia Cruise Port for a Mediterranean Cruise right after your flight! 
Inside the train station at Rome Airport
Entering the rome airport train platformThe train platform at FCO stazione is not exceptionally big. Therefore you can only pass through when your train is one of the next to arrive. For mobile tickets, we had to see a live staff member to go through. Paper tickets could be scanned automatically. A bit counterintuitive, but whatever! :) 
Closed doors leading to the train platform in Roma Aeroporto
Upon entering the platform is a sign showing the next train and the stops it will make, as seen below. 
Upcoming train scheduled stops at Rome Airport Train Station
Rome Airport Train Station - Buying TicketsWhen it comes to buying train tickets you have a few options.
We bought our tickets in advance. Once you get to the train station you can validate your ticket on the app. Once validated, ticket times cannot be adjusted. For instance if you want to board an earlier train, but you have already validated your ticket, you will have to wait until the scheduled train time. This happened to us. We wanted to have tickets booked in advance so we wouldn't be stressed at the airport/train station, knowing we would be tired. We also weren't sure how timely our RyanAir Flight would be, so we added a little buffer time of around 1 hour after our flight was scheduled to land for our train ticket. In the end we could have taken an earlier train if we adjusted the ticket time once we arrived to the station and then validated the ticket. At least that's my understanding from what the attendant told me. :) Really it was not too long or a big deal to wait and it gave us time to observe the flow of the airport station. Just sharing the details in case it helps you on your next trip to Rome! Pro Tip: If you're having difficulty purchasing tickets for a train from the airport through trenitalia, try entering your search and clicking through rome2rio. ;) 
A train on the platform at stazione fiumicino aeroporto in Italy.
Roma Ostiense - Changing Trains
To get to Civitavecchia Cruise Port from Rome Airport you will need to take 2 trains. We took the train from the airport to Roma Ostiense station. We followed the signs to the platform where we would board our connecting train, which you can see below.
Lost in translation
One amusing thing when traveling is finding humor in how signs are translated to English. Apparently, if you do not speak Italian the elevator is only operational from 5am until noon. lol in actuality it runs from 5am to midnight. :p
Elevator operational hours at Roma Ostiense Station
GEtting to the cruise terminal from civitavecchia train stationAfter exiting the train station at Civitavecchia station, there were quite a few drivers offering to take passengers to the ship for a fee. There is also a paid shuttle bus that costs 6 euros per person. We had read conflicting things about how far that bus gets you and the area was so congested we decided to just keep walking toward the ship on our own. I have to be honest, it was not a super easy walk. It was extremely hot out, we had left our house at 3am and it was now like 1:30pm and we were running on fumes, at least I was for sure. Also, the sidewalks are in no way designed for seamlessly pulling luggage. We each had just one carry-on with a personal bag on top, but if you also had checked luggage - forget it! lol Michelangelo Fortress Civitavecchia
As you are walking toward the cruise port, you will see Michelangelo Fortress on your left. It is not necessary to take this path to get to the cruise ships. You actually want to stay on the other side of the street.
Michelangelo Fort Civitavecchia
Free Shuttle to Civitavecchia Cruise Port
After crossing the street, to our happy surprise, we found a free shuttle to the cruise ship! It all happened so quickly, I snapped this picture of what was outside the window of the shuttle once we were on.
Onboard the free shuttle to Civitavecchia cruise port
Here is a snip of a map from the Port of Civitavecchia. I circled in red where the train station is located on the bottom right and where the free shuttle pick up is. 
Map showing the free cruise port shuttle pick up location and Civitavecchia train station
The shuttle was quite full and it was hot onboard as well. About 20 minutes from when we boarded we were close enough to see the ship - so exciting! 
View of the ship from the packed shuttle
There she is - the brand new Sun Princess!
Sun Princess in Rome (Civitavecchia) as seen through shuttle bus window
Boarding sun princess cruise ship in rome (civitavecchia port)Boarding Sun Princess was an absolute breeze. If you're used to sailing the Caribbean you will be more accustomed to longer wait times to board your ship. Because many European/Mediterranean cruises are multiple voyages combined, you don't have a day where 100% of the passengers are disembarking and all the new cruisers are embarking. 
Roma Cruise Terminal
Some people stay on the ship for 2 or 3 itineraries back to back. This makes it really nice, I think, as it cuts down on congestion and speeds up your embarkation time. And hey, if you can swing it financially you might as well. You're probably traveling quite far to embark and if you can stay for 2 segments you will see a ton of Europe or the Mediterranean in one go! As you can see there are very few people in line to board and the chairs are totally empty. :) 
Inside Roma Cruise Terminal Boarding Sun Princess
It took just a few moments at the counter for us to pick up our "Medallions". Some cruise lines use plastic cards as your room key and to scan you in and out of the ship at various ports. Others have move into various wearables like the Medallion Princess has. It comes on a lanyard, but there are tons of accessories you can buy for it if you're into that sort of thing. From wrist bands, to keychains, and Apple Watch adapters to necklaces and bracelets. 
Supplies waiting to be loaded onto Sun Princess for a Mediterranean Cruise
With our medallions in hand it was time to let the adventure begin on this Anniversary Mediterranean cruise "onboard the Marvelous Sun Princess! Ciao.... for now" iykyk :p 
A friendly bear welcomes you to Sun Princess!
Read This Next: Sun Princess Deluxe Balcony Stateroom 11221 Tour
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original post 11/19/2020
Step 1: Make the Pasta Dough
It's best if you can get 00 pasta flour and a ratio of 100 grams to 1 large egg is generally a good place to start. (digital kitchen scales are the best) I guess making dough is a lot about how it feels and in time you will know if you need to add a bit more flour, an extra egg, or a few drops of water to get the consistency just right. The kneading took at least 15 minutes and then we wrapped up the ball of dough and let it rest at room temperature while preparing everything else.
Step 2: Make The Mushroom Ricotta Filling
Olive oil and a ton of sliced mushrooms went in a sauté pan with salt and pepper. Shallots, thyme, and garlic were added later followed by white wine. The mixture now needed to be chopped very finely. Our class didn't all have food processors, so we did the rustic, Italian grandma style chop on alarge cutting board with a good knife. Next time I would probably just save the time and use the food processor. Now we added ricotta, fresh grated parmesan, and parsley and did a final seasoning (salt + pepper) of the filling. then added one egg to the mix and put it in a pastry bag!
Step 3: Making The Ravioli
Clamp your pasta machine to your counter or table and make sure there is enough space for the dough you're rolling out! You'll want to start on the widest setting on the machine and work your way through the thinner settings. Work with a small piece of dough and keep the rest tightly covered so it doesn't dry out. You may need to add a dusting of flour in between to prevent the dough from sticking. Once the dough is rolled out, grab your pastry bag and squeeze filling along half of the dough, at least 1 inch apart. Brush pasta with whisked egg yoke and fold over the other half, carefully pressing the dough together and removing air pockets as you go. Use a cookie cutter, ring mold, or ravioli cutter to cut out each ravioli and put them on a baking sheet lined with parchment (or silpat) and sprinkled with semolina flour and cover with a kitchen towel while you keep working.
Raviolis ready to be cooked!
Step 4: Cooking The Ravioli
In a large pot with salted, boiling water, add raviolis in batches and cook until they float to the top (about 90 seconds or around 3 minutes if frozen)
Step 5: Making The Butter-Sage Sauce
In a large sauté pan, add a few tablespoons of butter, sage leaves, and a couple ladles of pasta water, bring to a simmer and season with salt. As the raviolis boil, scoop them out with a slotted spoon and add them to the sauce with some more butter and a bit more pasta water if needed.You're just going to cook them and move them around until the sauce has covered them nicely! Serve with some grated Parm!
Left over raviolis topped with bacon :p
Bonus: The Egg Filled Ravioli!
Make a dip in the filling with your thumb and try to plop in a single egg yolk. If you can seal the ravioli well and cook it just right, when you slice it open you'll get a perfect runny egg to add richness to the sauce!
Mushroom Ricotta Ravioli Ingredient List
full recipe: Chef Luca Manfé
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