Rome Cruise & Stay
"Rome is like a looking glass into the past. It is a city where you could easily spend days wandering amongst the ancient beauty of centuries gone by."
Welcome to Rome
Cruise Nation are delighted to bring you our great range of Rome Cruise & Stay Holidays. These packages all feature a cruise sailing from the port of Civitavecchia. This means that Cruise Nation bring you massive choice on cruise lines to sail with throughout the year. Our Rome Smart Packages feature FREE stays in one of many handpicked hotels which are all centrally located in Rome providing you with the ideal base from which to explore all that this exciting destination has to offer.
With our Rome Cruise & Stay packages, your flights will always be included. We also offer flights from a number of regional airports throughout the UK giving you much greater flexibility and making your holiday experience as smooth as possible.
What's included?
The Colosseum is truly a site to behold. Construction began on it in 72AD and it’s the largest amphitheatre ever built, designed to house between 50,000 to 80,000 spectators who would watch brutal gladiatorial shows and animal hunts.
Rome is filled with squares, some which are large and bustling with people and others which are more sedated and offer a charming and romantic ambience. For one of the grandest visit Piazza del Popolo and for one of the most elegant and cheerful visit Piazza Navona. Whether it’s for prayer or celebration the squares are part of Roman culture and a definite sense of place can be found here.
Sit by the Trevi fountain with a deliciously cold gelato and appreciate the ornate detail of the sculpture which depicts Triton taming Oceanus’ shell-shaped chariot drawn by sea horses. At night the pool is lit with lights giving this monument a magical appearance.
There’s a flair for food in Rome and the cuisine here is so delectable that some of the national dishes here including bruschetta and spaghetti alla carbonara have become firm favourites in destinations around the rest of the world too. That doesn’t mean there aren’t new delights to try here though; crostata di ricotta is a popular Roman dessert which is a richly baked cheesecake made with ricotta and flavoured with lemons or oranges and Marsala wine.
Weather in The Mediterranean
In Rome you can marvel at priceless pieces of art at one of the many art galleries scattered around the city which display exhibitions ranging from 21st century contemporary artists to the Borghese Gallery which houses works from Raphael, Bernini, Titian and Antonello de Messina who is thought to have introduced the technique of oil painting to Venice.
Take a break from the chaos of the city in the glorious parks and gardens which are scattered throughout. The Garden of Roses is one of the city’s most romantic spaces whilst Villa D’Este has garden features so wonderfully beautiful that you could easily sit for hours amongst them.
Last but by no means least, is the chance to discover the extraordinary Vatican Museum and Sistine Chapel with their minutely detailed facades and domed ceilings which seem a world away from the interior design of today.
They say Rome wasn’t built in a day... which is why you’ll need more than just a fleeting visit to explore this fantastic city. Take a look at our Smart Packages to discover some of our best cruise and stay offers in Rome.
Things to do in Rome
Pantheon
The Pantheon is the best preserved ancient building in Rome.…
Pantheon
It was originally built between 119-128 AD by Hadrian as a temple dedicated to the 12 classical deities. In 608 the Pantheon was converted to a church and even today it contains the tombs of the artist Raphael and Vittorio Emanuele II – Italy’s first king.
Colosseum
Work first began on the Colosseum in 72 AD and by the time it was finished it could seat 50,000 to 80,000 people.…
Colosseum
It’s hard to imagine that such an impressive piece of architecture was used for people to watch what was essentially mass slaughter. People would fight one another, animals would fight one another and sometimes humans would fight the animals. Over the 100 days held in inauguration for the Colosseum, more than 5,000 animals perished and by the time wild animal shows were banned in 523 AD, the elephant and tiger were almost extinct in Arabia and North Africa.
Trevi Fountain
Standing 86ft high and over 160ft wide, the Trevi Fountain is certainly an impressive sight.…
Trevi Fountain
It’s the largest Baroque fountain in the city and probably one of the most famous fountains in the world. An estimated 3,000 euros are thrown into the fountain every day and over the course of a year this money is collected and used to fund projects in the city such as the creation of a supermarket for Rome’s most needy.
Vatican Museums
The Vatican Museums are the Christian and art museums in located in Vatican City.…
Vatican Museums
The museums contain the immensely impressive collection of art and artefacts that have been amassed by Popes over the centuries. The collections include some of the most renowned sculptures and pieces of classical Renaissance art in the world. The museums have around 70,000 items in the collection and at any one time you’ll find as many as 20,000 on display.
Restaurants in Rome
Il Pagaliaccio
Anthony Genovese is one of Rome’s most talented chefs and thanks to his experience working in the Far East and on the Amalfi Coast, he’s integrated the dishes and flavours from these destinations into the playful menu he serves at Il Pagaliaccio.
Pizzeria del Remo
This is one of Rome’s best known and most popular pizzerias. Their thin-crust Roman pizzas and fried arrancini starters will have you going back for more.
L'Arcangelo
Offering fresh and local ingredients with a cordon bleu twist, L’Arcangelo is where you’ll be able to enjoy a mid-range gourmet meal. At the end of your meal, you’ll be given homemade Vov which is a zabaglione liqueur, along with sweet biscuits for dipping.
All’Oro
This inventive restaurant has moved locations several times; however it seems to have finally found its home in the intimate basement of a villa. The chef behind All’Oro is Riccardo di Giacinto and he is a master of culinary camouflage – one of his most famous dishes is oxtail dressed up to appear as a Ferrero Rocher chocolate. There are four different tasting menus available at All’Oro and one of them is vegan.
La Pergola
If money is no object and you’re looking for a truly special meal with great views, then only La Pergola will do. With 3 Michelin stars to its name, a meal at La Pergola is around £190 for a 7 course tasting menu and £230 for a 10 course tasting menu. It’s not just the food you’re paying for though as diners are rewarded with fantastic views over the city from the heights of Monte Mario.
Rome Nightlife
Open Baladin
This beer bar is simply extraordinary; there are over 40 different beers on tap and over 100 different bottled beers available. You can soak up all the alcohol with gourmet comfort food including delicious organic burgers and more unusually – liquorice flavoured chips.
Freni e Frizioni
This shabby chic bar is a popular place amongst students who gather here at around 7.30pm to take advantage of the free aperitivo buffet. During busier spells, it’s not surprising to find people spilling out into the street. Make sure to queue at the till to place your order.
Rome Tram Tracks
This is certainly an unusual way to experience Rome! When the sun starts to set you’ll board this vintage tram which is packed with wine and a live band belting out hits from The Rolling Stones and Elvis. The tram will take you around the city and you can see the sights in a new (and slightly inebriated) state.
La Cabala
This is one of Rome’s most chic and exclusive nightclubs and you’ll find it in Piazza Navona above the restaurant Hostaria dell’Orso which is a 14th century building overlooking the Tiber river. The club is spread out over three levels and it attracts a very glamorous crowd who come to listen to the house, dance and techno music.
Events in Rome
Settimana Santa & Pasqua
On the Saturday before Palm Sunday, visitors flood into the city to gather into St Peter’s Square for the open-air mass. There are non-stop services throughout Holy Week, however some of the highlights of the event are the mass which takes place in the Colosseum late in the evening on Good Friday and the lavish picnics which have become a tradition that take place on Easter Monday.
Cosmophonies – Festival Internazionale di Ostia Antica
Held in the incredible ancient theatre of Ostia Antica, Cosmophonies takes place from June until mid-September. The festival includes performances from theatre, music and dance with previous acts including Sonic Youth and Morissey.
Stagione Estiva del Teatro dell’Opera
This operatic event takes place in the extraordinary location of an ancient archaeological site, delivering a truly unique and memorable experience for those attending. Dramatic lighting draws attention to the Roman ruins but the incredible musical performances still steal the show.
RomaEuropa Festival
RomaEuropa is a cutting-edge music and performance festival held between September to November. There’s a mix of international and upcoming acts who deliver eclectic performances across the arts of music, theatre and dance.