Travel Tips

Cruise News Travel Planning Travel TipsFeb 2, 2022May 25, 2022 By maucast 0

Caravaggio in Rome. Where to see it for free

An alternative Shore excursion from the port of Civitavecchia to Rome

If you’ve already been in Rome, and you have already seen and reviewed the Vatican, the Colosseum and all the most famous places in Rome, you might be looking for something different, but also unique. Getting to the port of Civitavecchia and have the oportunity to see some of the most amazing works of a revolutionary painter, is a wonderful opportunity. Our goal is always the same: offer the best at the best price. That’s why we propose you a day in Rome to discover Caravaggio without admission fee.

Michelangelo Merisi; known as Caravaggio, the greatest of all! An adventurous life, a tragic end, an unmistakable, that marked a leap, a discontinuity in the world of painting; there was a painting before Caravaggio, and there was another after Caravaggio. For this reason too, to admire his work, it is worth coming to Rome.

In fact some of the most famous paintings by Caravaggio are located in Rome. They are of some of the most famous paintings of the Baroque period. And you can freely admire them because they are there to adorn the Roman churches.

San Luigi dei Francesi

The best place to “meet” Caravaggio in Rome is the small church of San Luigi dei Francesi next to Piazza Navona. Inside the ‘Chapel Contarelli’ is the cycle of works dedicated to St. Matthew: “The Calling of St. Matthew”, “Inspiration of St. Matthew” and “The Martyrdom of Saint Matthew.”
The entrance to the church of San Luigi dei Francesi is free. 1 euro can be used to turn on the lights, the better to see the paintings of Caravaggio.
It is open from 10:00 to 12:30 except Thursday and from 16.00 to 19.00; (During the harvest it is not possible to visit the church).

Basilica di Sant’Agostino

Basilica of St. Augustine; Via della Scrofa, so close to Piazza Navona, it is this church where you can admire the Madonna of the Pilgrims. The church is open every day from 7.30 to 12.30 and from 16 to 18.30 (during the harvest is not possible to visit the church).

Chiesa Santa Maria del Popolo

Finally, to admire another free Caravaggio in Rome you have to go in the Church of Santa Maria del Popolo is located in the north side of the central Piazza del Popolo. Within the Cerasi Chapel there are two extraordinary works by Caravaggio: “The Crucifixion of St. Peter” and the famous “Conversion of St. Paul on the road to Damascus.”
Entry into the church is every day at 7:30 to 12:30 / 16:00 to 19:00
Friday and Saturday: 7:30 to 19:00 hours

Once you exit the church, nothing better than a walk in the center of Rome, to complete a fantastic day!

Cruise News Family Travel Travel TipsJan 15, 2022May 25, 2022 By maucast 0

5 mistakes not to be done on board the cruise ship

Here are the 5 mistakes to avoid on a cruise.

1) Wear white clothes.
The sailor look is always very fashionable on board, but pay attention to the stern (the back of the ship), where it is advisable not to wear white clothing. Particles of black powder often come out of the ship’s smokestack together with the smoke, which releases stains that are very difficult to remove on the fabrics.

2) Store all your clothes in your suitcase.
During the last night on the cruise you will be asked to pack your suitcase and store it in front of your cabin door, so as to allow the crew to collect them before disembarking. Before packing, think about which clothes you want to wear for your departure.

3) Always sleep for a long time
One of the most beautiful moments of a cruise is the entry into port at dawn. It’s a show to experience at least once during your vacation on board! Losing this emotion because you prefer to sleep late is a real shame!
Usually you will have up to 10 hours for your shore excursions, so there is no hurry, but starting early the day you will have plenty of time to explore the cities included in the itinerary and discover their peculiarities. The early bird catches the worm!

4) Give the personal badge on board.
Your personal badge is equivalent to a credit card in your hands. During the cruise be careful in lending it to your teenagers for not having surprises at the end of your holiday! During your stay on board, you can go to reception at any time and ask for a statement of your expenses.

5) Visit the areas reserved for the crew.
The crew lives on board for 3 to 6 months. Do you have a request to make to one of the stewards and you can not find it anywhere? Do not invade privacy and crew spaces, the crew does not like to see guests in their area. Also for security reasons, it is better to stay in the public areas of the ship.

Cruise News Travel TipsJan 12, 2022May 25, 2022 By maucast 0

ATM’s at the Civitavecchia Port?

A frequent question by cruise passengers stopping at our port: ATMs?

Can you confirm if there are ATM’s at the Port itself? We will disembark from a cruise ship and need to know if we need to bring cash with us or if there are an ATM to obtain euros so we can pay for our transfers into Rome.

Lyn (New Zealand)

Unfortunately, there are currently no ATMs inside the port. The nearest ATM is in Piazzale degli Eroi, 2; at 100 meters from Forte Michelangelo: to reach it, exit the port at Varco Fortezza and take Via Giuseppe Garibaldi.

Or you can find it near the train station of Civitavecchia, if you go to Rome by train. Or if you go to Rome with a private transfer service, you can ask your driver to make a stop at the nearest ATM

Cruise News MSC Travel News Travel TipsMar 5, 2020 By maucast 0

Coronavirus. What cruise lines are doing to mitigate the effect of the emergency on reservations

Cruise companies focus on discounts to mitigate the effect of the Coronavirus emergency on bookings, and put in place different discount options that can be estimated, depending on the cruise companies, in a range between -10 and -25% .

Certainly the cruise sector is not helped by the news that a ferry for the transport of vehicles and passengers, the Gnv Rhapsody, now stopped on site in Genoa for maintenance, has been placed in isolation at the Port of Genoa, with 50 crew members on board, after a passenger, who landed in Tunisia on February 27, tested positive for the virus.

What is Costa Crociere doing now?

Costa Crociere, for example, launches several promotions, including Voglia d’estate, which allows you to book an all-inclusive cruise with the possibility of free cancellation until April 30. While Costa Club Members (including new members) by 8 March can book and cancel without penalty until the end of May, also enjoying a 25% discount on the cabin price.

Finally, for all new reservations, it is possible to book an external cabin at the internal price, or one with a balcony at the external price. Other companies, such as MSC Cruises and Norwegian Cruise line, are also running a promotion campaign.

What is MSC doing now?

In particular MSC, for all individual bookings already confirmed and for new confirmations by March 31st, allows you to withdraw from the contract within 21 days on the departure date with a practical management charge of 50 euros per person. The promotion is valid for the departures of March April May and June. In addition, for bookings until March 15, the Aponte group company offers the possibility to book a cruise with 50 euro deposit (per person) and a 25% deposit to be paid 60 days from the departure date.

Our opinion

Almost all companies are making discounts ranging from 10% to 25%. All companies are applying the utmost attention from the health point of view. Those who board, for example, must fill in a document certifying that they have not been in areas or countries at risk.

Currently booking a cruise is an excellent opportunity to tick off a great discount!