Tag: Cruise Port of Call

B&B Fuori dal Porto, Civitavecchia, Italy – Review

B & B Review – Civitavecchia, Italy – Rome Cruise Port

We stayed at B&B Fuori dal Porto, located at Via XVI Settembre n•10.  It is a very convenient 5 minute walk from Largo della Pace, the free cruise port shuttle terminal.

On arrival, there was no answer at the door, but a neighbouring businessman was quick to inform that the gentleman had only stepped out and would return in a few moments.  It was correct, a few minutes later a very friendly Italian speaking gentleman arrive, greeted us and showed us inside.

Graciously, he took my large suitcase and we started the climb to the 3rd floor.  At this point in time, I would like to point out, this is not wheelchair accessable, neither is it appropriate for people who can not climb 3 floors – there is NO elevator.  The stairwell was very clean and bright.

We entered another door which led into the apartment.  A very tidy kitchen was across the hall and we went left to the first room on the right.  The door opened to a nice sized, airy, spacious room with a huge window offering a spectacular port view.  There was a big bed with 2 end tables, in addition to a bunk bed set, a wardrobe closet, and a small table with chair.  The spotless ensuite washroom had a bidet, toilet, shower, sink, mirror, towels and hairdryer.

We paid €60 per night for 2 persons with Internet and an Italian sweet breakfast included.  The price drops to 40€ for a single person.

Bump: When we arrived, the "father" told us our booking was wrong, we had booked for 1 person instead of 2.  We apologized and asked what we owed. He wanted €75 more. We ended up in a huge discussion, telling him he was charging too much. Eventually he called his son (the owner?) and his son sorted it out.  The gentleman apologized several times - he really was a super nice person!  I am only explaining this so it is understood how they went out of their way to correct a problem!  Thumbs up!

Getting up so early to get off the ship is not our favourite part of cruising, so we laid down for a short nap.  Unlike the comfy, big bed, the pillows were not very comfortable, but they did the trick.

In the afternoon when we tried to get onto the included internet, we could not get online and after several frustrating attempts we went in search of “father” who excused himself and said he changed the router to make the internet better. Normally a good thing, right?. The new password did not work either.

We told him we were going to a cafe with internet to get some work done and to please have the internet working by the time we get back. We returned 4 hours later and there was a new internet password taped to our door – it did not work either. In the morning we told him it still doesn’t work and that is when we all realized they had made a mistake with the spelling of the password. Once again, everything sorted out in a very good way.

From here on in all was great.

B&B Fuori dal Porto is located perfect.  In addition to how close to the port it is, you can walk everywhere.-  the waterfront, yacht port, museums, Fort Michelangelo, shopping, market, beach, train station – you get the idea, Civitavecchia is a small town.  Read about what we saw and did on our blog Civitavecchia – Cruise Port to Rome, Italy.

The breakfast, served in the kitchen at our pre arranged time was delicious.  It was a typical Italian sweet breakfast with coffee of our choice – I picked cappuccino of course –  and toast, sweet buns, pie, juice, and bottled water.  Our host was always ready to give us tips and join a conversation.  Although I was not able to speak Italian with him, he made every effort to communicate.  It was a really lovely time!  We met his wife who was equally friendly, but never met the son.

Alas, all good things come to an end and following our second fabulous breakfast at B&B Fuori dal Porto, our host considerately took us to the train station.  Normally, we would have walked, but my large roll suitcase had lost it’s wheels and I had visions of my clothes all over the sidewalk.  Read about our train trip from Civitavecchia to FCO Rome airport on my blog: Transportation How to Civitavecchia Port.

We said our goodbyes with the knowledge that we will definitely return to B&B Fuori dal Porto so long as they continue to have great rates and an available room!  

Great place, great location, very clean, very friendly.

B&B Fuori dal Porto
Via XVI Settembre #10
Civitavecchia (RM) 00053

Internet: www.fuoridalporto.it  Tip: use Google Translate 

Links of Interest:
Civitavecchia Town – Out and about, what to see and do
Civitavecchia Photo Blog
Restaurant Il Boccone d’Oro, Civitavecchia – Review
Pizzeria A Due Passi Dal Ghetto, Civitavecchia – Review
B & B Fuori dal Porto, Civitavecchia – Review
Transportation – Getting out of Civitavecchia

Il Boccone d’Oro, Civitavecchia – Restaurant Review

Where to Eat in Civitavecchia, Italy

Civitavecchia (read about our experience), is a town around 82 km north west of Rome; it is the Port for Rome. 2017 will see cruise ships dock here a whopping 697 times (according to Crew-Center.com).  That can add up to a lot of people looking for a spot to eat.  Following is my review of one of the restaurants we dined in, Il Boccone d’Oro, which translates to The Golden Bite.

For dinner our first evening in town, we went to the Italian restaurant conveniently located in front of the Piazza Calamatta Square.  I really liked the atmosphere with the rounded ceilings, brick and mortar, simplified setting – just like how good Italian food is – simple.

We ordered the following:
– Bottle of red wine: Aglianico Campania 2015 – Mastroberardino
– Bottle of water
– Italian white Bread with olive oil, balsamic vinegar and pink sea salt
– Spaghetti Carbonara
– Bucotini Amictriana

The medium bodied Aglianico Campania, with hints of cherries and strawberries was good, although with an abv. of 12.5% it was under our usual preference of around 14%.  However, it did pair well with my dish.

As is usual in most Italian restaurants, we were served a bread basket which was accompanied with bottles of olive oil, balsamic vinegar and pink sea salt.  It is incredible how amazing these flavors taste together.

My order of Bucotini Amictriana was incredibly delicious.  The perfectly al dente prepared spaghetti like pasta with a whole in the middle was topped with a rich tomato red sauce prepared with pork cheek, slightly spicy cheese and onion.  One bite of my husband’s Carbonara, which hails from Rome, mingled into a perfect creamy texture of eggs, bacon and cheese on top of spaghetti; also delicious.

We slowly enjoyed every morsel of our meals, all the while washing it down with the wine.  When all was gone, our waiter appeared with 2 Limoncello liqueurs as an after dinner digestivo.

Our bill came to a total of €38 – once again, expensive for Italy, but better than Rome ?  The relaxed, friendly atmosphere was nice and the food was very good – we would definitely go back.

Il Boccone D’Oro
Piazza Calamatta, 15,
00053 Civitavecchia RM, Italy
Phone: +39 0766 26375

Links of Interest:
Civitavecchia Town – Out and about, what to see and do
Civitavecchia Photo Blog
Pizzeria A Due Passi Dal Ghetto, Civitavecchia – Review
B & B Fuori dal Porto, Civitavecchia – Review
Transportation – Getting out of Civitavecchia

Civitavecchia – Cruise Port to Rome, Italy

Cathedrals, Forts, Beaches, Markets, Theatre, Italian Food and so much more awaits you in Civitavecchia – Cruise Port to Rome, Italy.

Why rush to Rome if you have already seen it?  There is plenty to keep you busy in Civitavecchia, including just lazing your day away at the beach.  Sunny blue skies with wispy white clouds, rugged buildings, cobblestone streets and the aqua blue Tyrrhenian Sea. This is the unfortunately overlooked port town of Civitavecchia.  (View my Photo Blog for more pictures of the town).

We stayed at B & B Fuori dal Porto, an approximate 5 minute walk from the Largo della Pace (the port shuttle terminal).  Read what they offer, how much it cost and more here: B & B Fuori dal Porto, Civitavecchia, Italy – Review.  As the name suggests, breakfast was included and there was so much food, we did not need to eat until dinner in the evenings!

From our B & B location, you can walk everywhere –  the waterfront, yacht port, museums, Fort Michelangelo, shopping, market, beach, train station – you get the idea, Civitavecchia is a small town.

Beautiful picturesque side streets are waiting to be discovered, filled with churches, cafes, boutiques; sip an espresso and watch the action as hand talking Italians intermingle with frenzied, lost tourists and ship crew wander about getting fresh air and restocking essentials.  Most cafes and restaurants offer wifi.  For those who are missing it, there is even a McDonald’s.

As we wander the streets, Enotecas are noted and tucked away in the back of our minds for an afternoon wine tasting or evening drink. The pace is generally slow and easy with only the occasional dog barking or migrant street vendor selling his wares, all to the bell like clanging transfixing sounds of the sailboat riggings flapping against their masts.

You can, and we did spend the entire day just wandering around this quaint port town, spending extra time in the huge market area and of course on the beautiful waterfront with plenty of benches and walking paths that seem like they go forever along the sparkling Tyrrhenian Sea / Mediterranean waterfront.  Pebble stone Pirgo Beach and sandy Civitavecchia Beach, two beaches separated by the impressive wharf, are free to use at your pleasure.

We order our afternoon wake me up of two coffees – Due caffè per favore – which means two espressos please! Delicious! The €3 is pricey for Italy, but I suppose they are pricing according to their type of tourist – cruise passengers.

For dinner our first evening, we went to an Italian restaurant called Il Boccone d’Oro (read my review / photos) and the second evening we went to a pizzeria called A Due Passi Dal Ghetto Pizzeria, which translates to Two Step from the Ghetto (read my review / photos).

The next morning we woke up to music wafting in through our huge port facing window.  I jumped up to see what the commotion was and there was a huge sail ship called the Cuauhtémoc, from Mexico, playing the anthem and doing maneuvers in the port.  The masts were lined from top to bottom with sailors!  What an amazing site.  We later learned this is their sail training ship.

Following another fabulous breakfast at B&B Fuori dal Porto, our host considerately took us to the train station.  Normally, we would have walked, but my large roll suitcase had lost it’s wheels and I had visions of my clothes all over the sidewalk.  Read about our train trip from Civitavecchia to FCO Rome airport on my blog: Transportation How to Civitavecchia Port.

Links of Interest:
Civitavecchia Photo Blog
Restaurant Il Boccone d’Oro, Civitavecchia – Review
Pizzeria A Due Passi Dal Ghetto, Civitavecchia – Review
B & B Fuori dal Porto, Civitavecchia – Review
Transportation – Getting out of Civitavecchia

A Due Passi Dal Ghetto Pizzeria, Civitavecchia – Restaurant Review

Where to eat in the Rome Cruise Port town of Civitavecchia?

On the second evening of our stay in Civitavecchia (read about it here), we decided to have some Pizza.  Our choice was a pizzeria called A Due Passi Dal Ghetto Pizzeria  which translates to Two Steps from the Ghetto.  Following is my review of the restaurant.

We specifically chose this place due to the fact that part of the reason Italian Pizza is so great is because it is made in wood fire oven, known as Forno al Legno and this pizzeria advertised having one.  So we set out for 15 minute walk from our B&B Fuori dal Porto (read about our experience) to the pizzeria A Due Passi Dal Ghetto.

The atmosphere was nothing special, diner style with basic tables and red chairs and no table service.  It took us a few minutes to read the short menu behind the counter and figure out how it works.  You decide what kind of pizza you want and then you order it by weight.  If it is a special order pizza, you must take an entire pizza, which we did.

So, we ordered:
– Wine (1 bottle): Larentu – Cannonau di Sardegna (red)
– 1 Beer, 1 small water
– Fiori di Zucca (deep fried battered zucchini) ? yum
– Pizza – 1/2 margherita, 1/2 funghi (Pizza is paid by weight)

Our bill came to €40.00 – in my opinion, far too expensive for mediocre pizza and cheap wine – you can buy it for €2 – €5 at an Italian grocer.  However, the young couple running it seemed like very nice people and I hope they may be able to reflect on their price structure and perhaps they will find greater success.  The Fiori di Zucca was good and was stuffed with cheese, the bottle of Larentu was house wine quality – forgettable but drinkable.

The pizza was American style, thick crust, which means you are paying for dough.  At €15 per kg, you are looking at an average cost of minimum €13 for an average size pizza.  We are true Italian fans – we really like everything about Italy from North to South – especially South! – including their fabulous thin crust pizza.  Possibly all you thick crust, deep dish pizza fans would really enjoy this place; unfortunately, it is not what I am looking for in Italy, for that, I can go to Chicago.

The Menu:
French fries €2.50
Deep fried zucca €2
Chicken Nuggets (4 pieces) €3.50
Pizza (including sweet): €15 per kg.

Would I recommend this place?  Probably not
Would I go back? No

But, to each their own.  Let me know in the comments below what kind of pizza you like!

A Due Passi Dal Ghetto Pizzeria
Viale Guido Baccelli, 33,
00053 Civitavecchia RM, Italy
Phone: +39 0766 34761

Links of Interest:
Civitavecchia Town – Out and about, what to see and do
Civitavecchia Photo Blog
Restaurant Il Boccone d’Oro, Civitavecchia – Review
B & B Fuori dal Porto, Civitavecchia – Review
Transportation – Getting out of Civitavecchia

Civitavecchia Photo Blog – Italy – Rome Port of Call

A photo blog of our stay in Civitavecchia, Italy.  Grab ideas of what you might want to see and do while in this charming port of call.  Why rush to Rome if you have already seen it?  Read about our stay in Civitavecchia for costs, tips and more. Click to enlarge pictures.

Links of Interest:
Civitavecchia Town – Out and about, what to see and do
Restaurant Il Boccone d’Oro, Civitavecchia – Review
Pizzeria A Due Passi Dal Ghetto, Civitavecchia – Review
B & B Fuori dal Porto, Civitavecchia – Review
Transportation – Getting out of Civitavecchia