Debark Tour - Vatican, Sistine Chapel & St. Peter's

Description

Be sure to read the Special Notes further down this page for important requirements and restriction.

The excitement of a Princess Cruise continues on disembarkation day when you board your air-conditioned motorcoach for a scenic 90-minute drive from the port of Civitavecchia to unforgettable Rome.
Your tour's first stop is the spectacular Vatican Museum, a complex that houses one of the most impressive and varied collections of art in the world collected by the popes through the centuries. Walking through select portions of the museums with your knowledgeable guide, you'll marvel at the astonishingly rich collections and their significance throughout history.

Continue on to the Sistine Chapel, small and elegant but huge in artistic significance, and home to the masterpieces of the great artist Michelangelo. A recent restoration has revealed the beautiful colors that were used in his work. The exquisite frescos hanging on the sidewalls were created by artists such as Botticelli, Perugino, Rosselli, Ghirlandaio and Signorelli, which complete this overwhelmingly beautiful room.

Step outside into the fresh air and stroll through St. Peter's Square, This striking plaza frames the entrance to St. Peter's Basilica, located on the site where St. Peter was martyred and buried. With the largest interior of any Christian church in the world, St. Peter's Basilica holds 60,000 people and is regarded as one of the holiest and the greatest of all churches of Christendom. Michelangelo deserves much of the credit for the massive reconstruction, completed in 1626. Admire the majesty of the Basilica from outside, as your Guide provides a thorough explanation.

Following the outside visit of the Basilica, you'll have free time to marvel at the enormity of St. Peter's Square and shop for souvenirs and religious artifacts. With its fountains and semicircular colonnades crowned with statues of the saints designed by Bernini, it perfectly frames the Basilica's entrance.

Enjoy a delightful walk back to the motorcoach before boarding your transport to the centrally located Ostiense Train Station. Additional transportation is also provided to the Cruise Plus Hotels.

Special Notes:

Please Note: free time may be modified to adhere to local regulations and guidelines for COVID 19 protocols.

Tour timeline may vary to avoid overcrowding, etc.

This tour includes extensive walking on cobblestone surfaces as well as negotiating 250 steps while visiting the Vatican Museum. This tour is not recommended for Guests on wheelchair and Guests with walking difficulties.

This tour can only be purchased by passengers staying at a Cruise Plus Hotel or independently in Rome. This tour will end at the Princess Cruise Plus Hotel or Rome Ostiense Station in the case you are booked at another hotel.

This tour will not be available on Sundays & Religious Holidays as the Vatican Museum is closed. The drive between Civitavecchia and Rome is approximately 1 1/2 hours, subject to traffic conditions. Sightseeing in the Vatican City will be on foot as motorcoaches are not permitted in the vicinity. This tour involves a great amount of walking, therefore it is not recommended to Guests with walking difficulties or using wheelchairs. Guests must be able to negotiate the steps of the coach.

Proper attire that covers shoulders and legs must be worn by both men and women in the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel - mini-skirts, shorts and capri pants are not acceptable.
Please note that for tour groups on visit to the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel the use of headsets owned and provided by the site's management is compulsory. It is very important for guests to be aware that they will be responsible for the headset devices provided. The headsets company will charge Euro 50.00 for every missing device.

Visitors must pass through metal detectors at the Vatican Museum. Large bags or umbrellas, bottled water, video cameras, knives or scissors must be checked at the security check-points. Large back-packs or bags cannot be taken inside Vatican Museum. Flash photos are not permitted in the Vatican Museum. Photography and video are not permitted at all in the Sistine Chapel.

You might encounter considerable crowds, lines and delays at the venues.
Should the designed motor coach drop off / pick up point for St. Peter's Square be congested or unavailable, an alternative drop off / pick up point location will be used. Please note that an additional walking portion of 0.6 miles from / to the alternative location should be considered.

The order of the tour may vary due to traffic conditions but will cover the same sites.

This tour uses headsets.