Spring is one of the best times to sail the Mediterranean and enjoy pleasant temperatures with fewer crowds.
2025 Greek Isles Cruise Deals
This cruise affords the opportunity to participate in unique and faith strengthening tours for those who love Bible history!
Prices valid through November 7, 2024. Missed the deal but love the itinerary?
Message your Royal Caribbean Travel Agent for prices on current inventory! :) 7 night greece, cyprus, turkey cruise itinerary interactive map:SUGGESTED EXCURSIONS FOR THIS CRUISE:More Cruise Deals ;)
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On this Princess Cruise Blog we visit the Mediterranean Port of Chania in Crete, Greece and share some things to do in Crete cruise port including souvenir ideas!
Starboard View of Souda Port Chania on the greek Isle of Crete
We mused that the "Welcome to Souda Port Chania" sign must have been there since Paul's day based on how worn and barely visible the words were.
View from Balcony 11221 Starboard, looking at Chania port toward the left, straight ahead, and to the right respectively. Crete Cruise Port FAQs
Is Chania a tender port?
It can be, but on our Mediterannean cruise we did not tender on Crete with Princess Cruise Lines. Check your cruise itinerary or contact your cruise line to confirm if you will be tendering or docking on Crete. Where do cruise ships dock in Crete? The majority of cruise ships will dock in Iraklion (Heraklion) port or Souda (Chania) when visiting Crete for the day. Where does Sun Princess dock in Chania, Greece? On our cruise, Sun Princess docked at Souda Port. Souda is the name of the port in Chania. Also note the blue dot on the map below to indicate where Sun Princess was docked in Crete. Cruise Travel TipCruise Travel Tip: On Sun Princess, there were large screens along the path to exit the ship on port days which featured contact information for the Port Agent. Make sure to snap a photo of the Port Agent Contact Information. It will usually be in your printed daily schedule as well. If you run into any trouble while in Port, including if you're running late, (ps. please don't run late getting back to the ship!) it will be essential to contact this number for help. It is well known that cruise ships will leave passengers who aren't back on board in time, so always get back to your ship with plenty of time if you are doing your own excursions. Still, 'unexpected events overtake us all' and if you find yourself in that situation, call the port agent right away and let them know. No guarantee the ship can wait or will wait, but you stand a better chance if you've communicated and they know what's going on. =) Our one day in chania cruise portShuttle Bus to Chania Town
Chania is a very walkable and cute port to visit, however you cannot quickly walk to Chania from Souda Port. It would be quite a long walk, something to the tune of 2 hours. Needless to say, we were very happy that Princess had a complimentary shuttle bus from Souda Port which dropped us off in Chania near the Municipal Garden of Chania.
A walk through chania, creteAfter getting off the shuttle I snapped a pic of this monument and area which was under construction. As it turns out this is the entrance to the Agora, the Municipal Market of Chania. It is currently being restored and while it was anticipated to reopen in summer 2024, the expectation is now at least spring of 2025. As we walked along the perimeter of the Municipal Gardens of Chania to reach the coastal area, we met two of the loveliest elderly ladies at the cart. We learned via google translate, it was their custom every week on this day to be there. Modern day Anas to warm our hearts. Although we couldn't speak the same language we instantly felt the special bond that is such a treasure. Next we popped into a grocery store to take a peak around. Fully enjoyed this coffee grinder. Nothing like freshly ground coffee beans! Walking around Chania is enjoyable. From wide shopping and dining streets like this one ..
... to narrow winding alleys, you'll enjoy exploring this Greek isle on your cruise!
Here's a cute hotel entrance framed by a blooming bougainvillea which provides shade like an umbrella from nature for anyone sitting at that little table. =) Unique Greek Gift Ideas on Crete
Leather goods make a great souvenir from Crete. This leather shop called Baba Yank Handcraft Leather Workshop sold leather belts, leather purses and backpacks.
Do you see the green and yellow leather bags in the photo? This backpack style is called Vourgiali or Vourgia. According to their website, this style of bag is used by Cretan shepherds and farmers to store their daily meals. Vourgiali can also be found in Cyprus and the Dodecanese islands. This leather backpack would be a really cool souvenir from Crete - it's useful, it's unique, it supports a local artisan, and it has cultural significance and an interesting story. If leather isn't your thing. check out O Armenis for more unique souvenirs from Crete. O Armenis sells traditional cutlery and you can see how unique these handmade knives certainly are. The tall walking sticks / shepherds crooks caught my eye as well. I was curious how much they cost. These cool walking sticks were 80 euros, but I imagine they will be hard to pack in your checked luggage. lol
The store Cream Of Hippocrates also looked to have some unique items. Bags made traditionally on a handloom, homemade creams, not to mention books and toys.
Walking past the next store, something immediately caught my eye - the colorful coin pouches inside the doorway. They looked Thai, without a doubt. This cute boutique, Wipa Silk Shop, has loads of cute dresses and accessories including many authentic Thai goods. It was a highlight of the day to chat with the owner, a kind Thai woman. Please stop in at Wipa when you are in Chania! Another great souvenir from Greece would be handmade leather sandals. Typically the sandals will have the family name stamped in the footbed. I much prefer this dignified way to acknowledge the maker than the overly branded items popular today, which can be tacky. cretan Cats of chaniaIn the neighborhood were some adorable street cats and a comical, scruffy little dog. old venetian port of chaniaWe had made it to the Old Venetian Port of Chania. We found more cats hanging around waiting for a fresh catch and this one looked quite distinguished. There are plenty of restaurants to dine at along the Old Venetian Port where you'll have a view of the water and the Lighthouse of Chania. What's so special about Chania's Lighthouse? It's said to be the oldest lighthouse in the world so we thought it worth the walk down the long mole (the stone pier leading to the lighthouse), but not without first taking in the views. Before walking down the pier, take a peak around the corner of this stone wall to see glimpses of the Chanion Gulf in the Sea of Crete. The walk to the lighthouse starts out well. The walkway is spacious and affords views of the boats docked along the shore with the Venetian shipyards in the background.
The mountains made a majestic backdrop for the Venetian Shipyards at the Chania Marina. Originally they were to build and maintain Venetian galleys (a type of boat that relied mostly on oars and was used for warfare, trade, and piracy in the European seas. source). Later when the Ottomans invaded Crete, the Shipyards actually became storehouses for food.
Sadly at this point on the journey to the lighthouse, things took a turn. I have to say the walk to the Chania lighthouse is not for the faint of heart on a blisteringly hot day.
The old sea wall going out to the lighthouse has sort of an upper level and lower level. At one point we took stairs to the upper level, which was more narrow and because I started to feel uneasy we turned back in order to continue on the lower level a la Proverbs 22:3. Shortly thereafter my sandal proceeds to break in an irreparable way while we are on the middle of this long walk to the lighthouse in the blazing heat. We had no choice but to turn back and let me tell you it was an even longer walk back trying to hold onto my flipflop by scrunching up my toes while walking. Tired, overheated, frustrated, and hungry we hobbled our way to a place called Tostachi. Tostachi Restaurant Review | Chania Cruise Port Crete, GreeceTostachi is a cute little restaurant serving bio (organic) foods made from the heart. Tostachi Chania MenuGreek Coffee
We started off with a greek coffee which is made in a pot called a Briki and is reminiscent of the Armenian coffee we had at Ararate Restaurant in Lisbon.
Cretan Spinach Pie
We ordered the Cretan spinach pie with "handmade phyllo pastry, wild seasonal greens & large variety of herbs."
Stelio's Salad
While we actually ordered a Greek Salad, in the end we seemed to have received Stelios's salad "with tomato, cucumber, onion, lettuce, rocket, herbs, coriander, avocado, olives, mizithra cheese & balsamic vinegar".
Kalitsounia with honey - Dessert
For dessert we decided to try the kalitsounia with honey. This is "handmade phyllo pastry with mizithra cheese with Cretan thyme honey & cinnamon"
By the way, if you're wondering what is mizithra?! It's a homemade traditional cheese made from goats milk. Fruit Plate
At the end they brought us this lovely fruit plate of fresh honeydew and strawberry with their compliments!
The best part of tostachi.
Chef Stelios, shown in photo wearing his apron, was the absolute highlight of our visit to Tostachi. He was passionate about all of the food he made, eager to explain each menu item, happy to take a video while he made our dessert and show it to us, and he just had a warmth and kindness about him that is rare to see these days.
The kind of guy who would repair a sandal for a total stranger :) and as if that wasn't enough, even provide extra wire in case the first fix didn't stay. What a legend! walking back to the cruise shuttle bus
With a newly repaired sandal, we could start the walk back to the shuttle bus pickup point, remembering to factor in the 20 minute bus ride and then walking to the actual ship so we wouldn't miss all aboard!
Cool Buildings in Chania
For some reason this red building was so intriguing..
We walked near the water and the views of the Chanion Gulf were so beautiful. Once I saw these steps I knew I had to run down them real quick and dip my toe into the water - it was my last chance! When would I be on Crete again?! It was soooo refreshing on such a hot day. Wouldn't you love to visit Crete and spend some time in these beautiful waters?! Sailing from crete on Sun princess
Once we got back on Sun Princess we grabbed a little strawberry-topped donut snack and returned to our balcony for the sail-away views of Crete.
The views...... were just ...so so so good!We couldn't get enoughof the views through souda baydinner and Dancing in the Piazza
To wrap up a roller coaster of a day we grabbed a most random dinner from The Eatery on Sun Princess consisting of asian food and a dessert plate of greek sweets like baklava.
In the Piazza, the band was bringing out some smooth moves from fellow cruisers.
Day 5 of this Mediterranean Cruise on Sun Princess is a Sea Day so get ready for more cruise food pics and let us know if you think the food on Princess Cruises is good!
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After a day of wandering around Naples by foot and eating so many delicious things like pizza in Naples, not to mention sweltering in the excessive heat, we were happy to have a sea day to recover.
We pretty much skipped breakfast and went straight to way too much lunch at the Americana Diner onboard Sun Princess. |
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The americana diner on sun princess
Here's a sample menu:
The hit buffalo wings
Sticky Pork Ribs
Wait... cornbread? I'm just now realizing there is no cornbread on this plate. Corn, yes. Cornbread no.... :(
The Americana Burger
This is a legit burger.
Coffee and donuts milkshake
We really enjoyed our lunch at the Americana Diner. This is a free dining option on Sun Princess Cruises and we definitely recommend checking it out. It was relaxed, the crew were extra friendly up there and the food was very good!
Now.. let's explore the Sun Princess ship some more.
Public Restooms on sun princess
Most people did not opt to use these air hand driers because their position over the sink coupled with the strong air movement meant water from the sink would be spraying back up at you which is kind of weird. Fortunately there were always paper towels as an option. :)
Alfredo's Pizzeria
Sabatini's Italian Trattoria
Free jewelry cleaning - story time.
Now let's be clear... yes. These things are "complimentary". However, obviously like any free sample the overall purpose is to get you in the door, to try something, and to walk away buying something.
After deliberation I decided to work up the nerve to get my "complimentary" jewelry cleaning of my wedding rings seeing as they needed it and this was an anniversary cruise after all. :)
It was a funny experience.
First of all, there seemed some slight confusion as to if this event was really happening. The crew seemed to question the event until I showed the app. (This happened multiple times on this cruise btw) We had a brief small chitchat while he first examined my rings with his little eye magnifying glass thing. Official terms here people.
Next he cleaned my rings with the exact jewelry cleaner I have at home. lol. Good to know that's what the Diamonds International people are using.. Then he tossed the rings into a machine. His colleague offered us some bubbly while we waited which was nice and then added with a chuckle 'might as well since it's about to get thrown out anyway' and that was clear since there was hardly a bubble to be found. Not complaining, just stating facts. :) It was a nice gesture. Overall I was really pleased with the experience. I thought they made us feel welcome even though we were there exclusively to clean the jewelry and not to shop. But later I really had to laugh because as we walked away and I took my ring off and saw the underneath part had not been cleaned at all. You know, the part where all the soap and nastiness is.. aka the part that actually needed cleaned... lol! |
For instance, you can often enjoy a free glass of champagne or rosé at the jewelry store or watch store. While you browse expensive jewelry the cruise lines are happy to dull your senses with a glass of something or other so that you don't see the price tags as clearly ;p
In some case there will be set times scheduled on your cruise app / daily schedule like the princess patter indicating they are offering this. In other cases there is always a bottle on ice inside the stores and if you feel like it you can waltz in, ask for a glass, look around, and then leave.
Afternoon treats
Actually these ice cream cones reminded me of the occasional service break at McDonald's for an ice cream cone growing up! Nothing tastes better than nostalgia. :)
Scotch with a view
the Captain's Champagne Effervescence show
Captain's welcome dinner in the main dining room
Prociutto Ham Starter
Caesar salad
Roasted beef tenderloin and grilled tiger prawn with port wine reduction
Captain's Welcome Dessert Menu
Caramel pecan turtle cheesecake
Black forest cake
More in this sun princess cruise review series:
Ready to enjoy a sea day on the mediterranean?
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
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. :)
piazza giovani bovio King victor manuel II Monument
"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 napoli
The 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
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
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..
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
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
Napoli Metro Station
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
fashion in naples
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 ;)
deeper than decorative
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.
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
PIZZA IN NAPLES - DAY 2 SUN PRINCESS MEDITERRANEAN CRUISE WITH GREEK ISLES, ITALY & TURKEY
7/15/2024
But first, let's take in the views from the balcony!
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.
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Would you like to see a view of Napoli from the docked cruise ship?
Quick bites to eat on sun princess
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
A Pastel de Nata is a delicious and famous Portuguese pastry - a custard tart which we are well familiar with ;)
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 ;)
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
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?
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. :(
The Eatery on Sun Princess Lunch - Tom Kha gai + 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?
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.
If you're looking for fresh, healthy meal ideas for hot summer days - try a Poke Bowl! :)
INTERNATIONAL CAFE - Chocolate Drizzled Merengue
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?
Okay enough of the cruise ship food. Let's get to the main event - Pizza in Naples!
Pizza & Passione Pizze - Italy Restaurant Review
After 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. :-/
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:
I can't imagine how hot it must have been inside given the temperature outside.
Hard at work cranking out pizzas for the seated guests. Here's a peak at Pizza & Passione's seating:
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.
Ripieni Fritti - o' battilocchio Fried Pizza at Pizza & Passione
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!
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.
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 & PASSIONE
Whenever 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.
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.
This margherita pizza cost 6 euros in Naples, Italy in June 2024.
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
returning to the ship in Naples
one day in NAPLES CRUISE PORT - italy travel blogs
Dinner on the pool deck
Dessert at the international cafe
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!
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. :)
Sun princess Inaugural Season Cruise Blogs:
- Sun Princess Mediterranean Cruise with Greek Isles, Italy & Turkey - Day 1
- Sun Princess Deluxe Balcony Stateroom 11221 Cabin Tour
- How to get to Civitavecchia Cruise Port by train from FCO Fiumicino Airport in Rome, Italy
- Traveling From Portugal to Rome For a Mediterranean Cruise - Ryanair flight review
Book a mediterranean cruise
❤ Let me know when you want to set sail! ❤
International Cafe on Sun Princess
Princess Pizzeria on Sun Princess
Burgers & Fries
2 cats in the piazza
Rome SAIL-AWAY on Sun princess
sail away dinner menu Sun Princess
Dessert menu day 1
Sun Princess Tips: On embarkation day request a fluffy robe!
SUN PRINCESS INAUGURAL SEASON CRUISE BLOGS:
- Sun Princess Mediterranean Cruise with Greek Isles, Italy & Turkey - Day 2 Pizza in Naples
- Sun Princess Mediterranean Cruise with Greek Isles, Italy & Turkey - Day 1 (you are here)
- Sun Princess Deluxe Balcony Stateroom 11221 Cabin Tour
- How to get to Civitavecchia Cruise Port by train from FCO Fiumicino Airport in Rome, Italy
- Traveling From Portugal to Rome For a Mediterranean Cruise - Ryanair flight review
Want to book a MEDITERRANEAN Cruise?
Read Next: How to get to Rome Cruise Port By Train & Save a lot of Money!
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If you want, you could get a private transfer from FCO airport to the cruise port. It will probably cost you around $100 per person. On the other hand you can a take the train and it will cost you around just 11 euros per person. You don't have to guess what we chose lol.
What follows is a step-by-step travel guide that will help you take the train from Rome airport to the cruise port and potentially save a ton of money! :) |
How to get to the train station from FCO Airport
Once you round the bend, look for the bright yellow sign featuring various modes of ground transportation including the Train.
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.
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!
Entering the rome airport train platform
The 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! :)
Upon entering the platform is a sign showing the next train and the stops it will make, as seen below.
Rome Airport Train Station - Buying Tickets
When it comes to buying train tickets you have a few options.
- You can buy them in advance from trenitalia
- You can buy them at a ticketing machine in the airport or train station
- You can buy them at a ticketing counter - which is helpful if you need assistance from a human. :)
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. ;)
Roma Ostiense - Changing Trains
Lost in translation
GEtting to the cruise terminal from civitavecchia train station
After 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
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.
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!
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.
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. :)
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.
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
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We were really happy to discover we could take a direct flight from Faro airport in Portugal right to FCO in Rome ahead of the Sun Princess Mediterranean Cruise.
This trip would consist of many firsts:
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How to get to faro airport from Western algarve
Typically we would fly out of Lisbon which requires taking the bus 2.5 hours and staying in a hotel the night before or paying around 50 euros in tolls plus gas each way not to mention parking.
So to be able to fly out of the airport less than an hour away and park our car there for around 100 bucks seemed great! Then the other shoe dropped. When I went to book the parking, the saver price was sold out and parking would now cost over 200 euros for the same time. UGH. :( We had to adapt. I was able to book an uber in advance for a 3am pickup. Yes, you heard right... 3 am pickup. It was about 55 euros. The ride back from the airport, this time via Bolt was 45 euros. In the end we paid about the same to be driven to the airport as we would have paid for parking after driving ourselves if we had gotten the cheaper price. And since that price was no longer available, we basically saved 50% off the prevailing rate by taking uber/bolt. It worked well! |
Check parking prices at Faro airport here.
Flying Out of Faro Airport
We arrived at 4:05am for a 6:20am flight to Italy. The airport was already abuzz with activity.
Boarding Ryan air at Faro Aiport in Portugal
Ryan Air FLight Safety Card
Arriving in Italy
How much does it cost to fly from portugal to rome?
First impressions of ryan air:
I would not hesitate to fly Ryan Air again based on this experience. Let's hope they are all as good!!
RyanAir Travel Tip: Buy a cabin bag to get priority boarding ;)
How early should you fly ahead of a cruise?
We would have preferred to arrive a day before the cruise started as it's just best practice, but since flights are only available a few days per week out of FAO Faro Airport to FCO Rome Airport, we didn't have much choice other than to fly the day of the cruise and assume some risk.
We calculated the risk and if something happened and we were to miss embarkation we felt relatively secure since our flights had been booked with our Sapphire card which has built-in travel protection. And we figured worst case scenario we could take a train to Naples and hop on the next morning. Much less risky than if we had been traveling from the States.
If you are traveling to Europe from the US, for example, I would never risk arriving the same day as the cruise. It could be so much more stressful if anything went wrong and overall I recommend arriving a day or two early at least to combat jetlag ahead of your amazing Mediterranean cruise!
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Entering Your Sun princess Cabin with the Medallion
You can also see on the display that as you enter or exit your stateroom on Sun Princess, you can tap for Privacy or to notify the Stateroom Steward that it's an ideal time to service your room.
Deluxe Balcony Stateroom 11221 Photos
Desk Area - Balcony Cabin 11221 Sun Princess
The desk area is quite spacious and there are two drawers to keep yourself organized. The chair is designed with a leather handle at the back which proved very useful when pulling it out to have a seat.
The mini fridge can be found in the bottom cabinet and if you have a mini bar set up you will find the fridge filled with a variety of mixers and small bottles of liquor on the shelf above. This is a complimentary perk for any Elite travelers on Princess.
Read: Elite Benefits We Used on Sun Princess (coming soon!)
Spacious Couch in SUN PRINCESS Stateroom 11221
Bed by Balcony in Cabin 11221 Sun Princess
There are two nightstands at either side of the bed. You also have standard wall lamps as well as small reading lights beneath, which is a nice touch. Switches beside the bed make it convenient to shut off the lights or turn them on without having to get up and you will find outlets and charging ports at the bedside which is always a great feature!
In-Stateroom TV on Sun Princess
Sun Princess Cabin Private Bathrooms
Cruise Travel Tip: If you have particular hair, I recommend bringing at least your favorite conditioner as the one provided did my hair no favors. This is my favorite at the moment and doesn't even take space in your TSA liquids bag! ;)
Portable Hair Dryer on Sun Princess
Drawers and Closet Space on Sun Princess
Deluxe Balcony on Sun Princess 11221
Read: How to get to Civitavecchia Cruise Port By Train (coming soon!)
Here you can see the sun dipping low over the coast of Italy near Civitavecchia port as we head south to Naples.
You can see the balconies of the C2 mini suites on deck 9 as well as the private Cabana Deck (with the plush lounge chairs). We thought it was an incredibly strange design that these suite balconies were so exposed. They really had no privacy despite costing more and to some extent one could say that they obstruct the view of balconies above. What do you think?
Cruise Tip: Your travel agent can help you choose a room that has the size and amenities you want (like a mini suite) with the location you want. ;)
Sun Princess Stateroom 11221 Location
Cabin 11221 on Sun Princess is a Deluxe Balcony located Forward and Starboard as you can see in the red box on the accompanying deck map. The elevators (Lift) are also noted in red so you can get an idea of the distance this balcony stateroom is from the nearest elevator.
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