4.7 / 5Best of Istanbul and Rome
2 Port Package
4.7 / 5 | 228 Reviews
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Difficult
If you are arriving by cruise ship, a 10 to 15-minute shuttle ride is required to reach your departure location. Guests staying in hotels in Rome must arrange their own transportation to the meeting location. Full details will be provided in your electronic ticket upon confirmation.Classical Rome Tour
Journey from Civitavecchia to the Eternal City and discover Rome's most iconic landmarks on this panoramic and walking excursion designed to showcase the highlights in a single unforgettable day.
Upon arrival in Rome, your first stop will be Vatican City, the heart of the Roman Catholic Church. From St. Peter's Square, admire the impressive exterior of St. Peter's Basilica, one of the world's most renowned Renaissance churches. Please note that this tour does not include entry into the Basilica. During the Vatican stop, you will admire St. Peter's Basilica from the outside, with explanations provided by your guide. At this stop, you will also have some free time at a souvenir shop.
Back aboard your coach, enjoy panoramic views of several historic sites as you drive through the city, including Tiber Island, Trastevere, Circus Maximus, and the Palatine Hill.
Arriving at the Colosseum, you will stop to admire this world-famous ancient amphitheater from the outside. Built between 70 and 80 AD, the Colosseum is one of the New Seven Wonders of the World and remains a powerful symbol of Imperial Rome. Take advantage of excellent photo opportunities while your guide shares fascinating insights into its history.
From here, your guided walking tour begins. Stroll along Via dei Fori Imperiali with views over the Roman Forum, once the political, religious, and commercial center of ancient Rome. Continue to Venice Square to admire the impressive Victor Emmanuel II Monument, also known as the Altar of the Fatherland.
Your walk will continue to the Trevi Fountain, the largest and most famous Baroque fountain in the city. Be sure to toss a coin into the fountain to ensure your return to Rome. You will then pass by the magnificent Pantheon, one of the best-preserved monuments of Ancient Rome. Originally built as a temple to all the gods and later converted into a church, it is renowned for its impressive dome and central oculus. Your tour continues to the lively Piazza Navona, where elegant fountains and stunning Baroque architecture provide the perfect backdrop to soak in the atmosphere of the Eternal City. Free time for lunch (not included) will be scheduled by your guide either near the Trevi Fountain or in the Piazza Navona area. At the conclusion of your Roman adventure, your guide will escort you back to the bus, where you can sit back and relax on the scenic drive to Civitavecchia.
Please Note: This tour does not include visits to the interiors of any attractions or landmarks. This tour is intended for guests arriving in Civitavecchia. While guests staying in hotels are always welcome, they are responsible for arranging their own transportation to the meeting location on the day of the tour. This tour is available in Spanish upon request. Please select your preferred language above when placing your booking. The tour may be presented in both English and Spanish. This tour can accommodate guests who are disembarking their cruise ship with luggage. You may bring luggage on this tour and leave it on the bus while touring. If you are disembarking your ship and do not wish to ride back to the cruise pier, the tour will end at the Justice Palace, Piazza dei Tribunali. All guests planning to return to the port should check with the guide for the shuttle's final departure time and location.
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Cruise Ship PierExclusive Wonders of Istanbul
This exclusive introduction to Istanbul tour includes an orientation drive and two of the big three sites: The Blue Mosque and Hagia Sofia.
After meeting your professionally trained tour guide on the pier, you will begin an orientation drive through the business center of the modern city, across the Galata Bridge, along the banks of the Golden Horn and under the Byzantine Aqueduct of Valens. Along the way, you will see the Suleymaniye Mosque, dedicated to Sultan Suleyman the Magnificent. You will continue around the mighty city walls, which once protected Constantinople from the many invasions and attacks it incurred over the centuries.
In the Old City, your first visit will be to the Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque, formerly known as the Byzantine Church of Divine Wisdom. Originally built as an Orthodox basilica, it later was used as a mosque. Built in 537 on the orders of the Byzantine Emperor Justinian, it served as the cathedral of Constantinople and was the largest cathedral in the world for nearly a thousand years. Upon the conquering of Constantinople by the Ottomans in 1453, Hagia Sofia became a mosque and was used as such until 1931. It was opened as a museum in 1935 until 2020, when it became a mosque once again.
Departing Hagia Sophia, you will next visit the world-renowned Blue Mosque finished in 1616. Sultan Ahmet I commissioned the Blue Mosque when he was only 19 years old. The interior of the mosque is lined with more than 20,000 handmade ceramic tiles in more than fifty different tulip designs. The tiles at lower levels are traditional in design, while in the galleries they become flamboyant with representations of flowers, fruit and trees.
Next, visit the Hippodrome, originally the home of sports games in the Byzantine period. It is estimated that the Hippodrome of Constantine was about 1,476 feet long and 427 feet wide, and capable of holding 100,000 spectators. The track was U-shaped, and the emperor's box was located at the eastern end of the track.
You will be treated to an optional carpet demonstration with about 1 to 2 hours of shopping in the open (uncovered) section of the Grand Bazaar and the nearby covered area of the Grand Bazaar that dates to 1461. Well known for its jewelry, pottery, spice, and carpet shops, it also has areas where stalls are grouped by the type of goods sold, such as leather coats or gold jewelry. What started as one main building has grown into a sprawling complex consisting of 12 major buildings accessed through 22 doors. It is thought to have more than 5,000 shops and stalls, two mosques, two hamams, and many restaurants and cafes. Explore the shops filled with jewelry, carpets, leather ware, and copper goods. You will then be returned to the ship pier. Your time at the Bazaar is enough for an introduction. This is not a "shopping" tour. For the serious shopper wishing more time in the Bazaar, you can end your tour here. Please let your guide know you are not returning with the group. Guests remaining at the Bazaar are responsible for their own transportation back to the pier.
Please note: The Blue Mosque is closed from 30 minutes before until 30 minutes after prayer time, and 2 hours during Friday noon prayer. The covered area of the Grand Bazaar is closed on Sunday; a visit to the Spice Market will be substituted. The carpet demonstration is optional and guests not wanting to attend can use the time to stroll, shop or purchase refreshments.
Please select your language preference for your tour. If a certain language is not available on the date you requested, an alternate language will be suggested.
Please select "Yes" or "No" to indicate whether you will be carrying luggage on this tour or not. Please note this field is REQUIRED.
Please enter "Yes" or "No" to indicate whether you will be staying in Rome after your tour or not. This field is REQUIRED.
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