Has anyone taken a cruise out of Italy?

[ilovedolphins]

I am looking at cruises and found one that leaves Rome and goes to France and Spain.  Just wondering if anyone has taken one before.

[whoami]

I was in Rome for 8 days in May. I would never take a cruise to places like that because there is way too much to do and see in those cities and you wont even scratch the surface with a cruise.

[ilovedolphins]

Where did you stay?  Can you go there without having to rent a car?  I would love to just pick one city and see all the sites but I guess I am a little intimidated going by myself.

[whoami]

We did a Rick Steves tour. I highly recommend it. We loved our tour guide who was from Italy. They have single supplements which was like an additional $300 added to the per person price. We had 24 in our group and I think 5 or 6 were singles. They take you to the highlights but you also have plenty of time to wander around on your own.  You get to skip a lot of lines by being part of the tour. You can google Rick Steves 7 day city tours and check out what is availible. Go a day early to adjust to the time difference and if you are interested in seeing more, do it at the end. You will be accustomed to the time change and will have a feel for the city so you will know where you want to go. We did not rent a car...they have a limited subway and the bus system will take you anywhere you want to go. We used cabs alot as well. The tour gives you a combination bus/subway ticket that is good for 7 days. 

[ilovedolphins]

I will have to check that out. 

[Apple]

I also did just over a week in Rome (took my son and my sister--won't take my sister again).  We found a hotel that was about a 20 minute ride to the metro station just outside of the Vatican.  The hotel had a shuttle that left every hour or so, you just had to be in the lobby or at the metro station when the time came. 

The man in the gift shop at the hotel was very helpful in helping us plan out what we would see in a day.  We decided to use a bus/metro/sightseeing pass that would be good for 7 days, allow entry into something like 3 or 5 sites free, and then the rest for half price. 

It was pretty easy to get around, and enough people spoke English that we did ok.  We did learn to say a few things in Italian before we left (please, thank you, where is the bathroom?, how do you get to...?) but when people saw we were trying, they replied back in English. 

We also brought a basic map of the area when we were walking so we could ask and they could point on the map.

I know it's scary the first time out, but you can do it!  I've done three trips to Europe and have not yet rented a car.  So far the buses, subway and trains have been enough to get us where we want to go.  We did get a cab once in Rome--we were going to be late for our Gladiator School appointment.  For that, I made sure to write the address in Italian so I could give it to the cab driver.

ETA: it's not an area I would do a cruise in either (although I've never done one...)

[sarcasticgirl]

I've been to Italy multiple times and I'd never cruise through Europe. A day is simply not long enough. I've spent a total of 4 weeks in Rome over 6 trips and I still haven't done and seen everything I want to in the city. I wouldn't go for less than 3 days.
I am totally not in to tours and prefer to explore on my own. One of the best days I have ever had was simply roaming around Rome with my friends and a map. We found the most amazing hole in the wall restaurant that we'd have never seen otherwise. No car is needed. There is an fossils navigable but system and taxis aplenty.

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[NastyWoman]

Dolphin it is such a pleasure to see you making plans to do fun things and inject a little adventure in your life
As a european myself, I too would not easily take such a cruise. But that does not mean that I think this may not a great idea for you to do so! This cruise would be like a tasting menu for you, where you can get a sample of different places so you can find out whether you want to spend a week in any one (or all) of them. Maybe Rome is your thing, or Spain or France are more to your liking. I think you will have a great time in Europe.
Should you decide to follow the suggestions of others, I'll give you a little tip for staying in a country where you don't speak the language: grab one of your hotels business cards and carry it with you. That way, if you get lost you just get a cab and get back to your hotel . I still do this where ever I am since I forget names faster than I can read them. I have never needed the cards, but it takes the worry of getting lost of the table and I can just enjoy roaming around. Keep on planning and enjoying life and please let us enjoy it with you -> keep on posting about your plans

[Deleted]

I like the idea of a Rick Steve tour more than a cruise for the reasons mentioned above.  And if they can get you into places without waiting in lines, that's huge.  I was in Paris in May.  I waited in some pretty awful lines and completely skipped some things because the lines weren't worth it.  DH and I aren't into group tours but Rick Steve's has a good reputation and they'll take over a lot of things you might not want to manage on your own, such as getting to and from the airports, etc.  You'll also have someone who can answer your questions as they come up, and point out interesting things you might not even notice.

[Gardening Grandma]

If I were travelling solo, I would absolutely go on a Rick Steves tour.  I know a number of people who have done so and they loved it.  I agree about not trying to see Rome while on a cruise.  Too much to see in the brief time.

Rome has a good metro and it is pretty easy to figure out.  Last year we rented an apartment close to the Coloseum for 5 days.  There were these little buses (Route 115 and 116, iirc) that took back streets.  They were really good for sightseeing because they were so small and got into places big buses couldn't go.  I read how to use them in the Rick Stves guide.

We only took a taxi twice in those 5 days - arriving and leaving with our luggage.  Metro, buses and walking the rest of the time.