Celebrity Equinox 5/3/2010 sailing from Rome. We elected to take a train from the airport, which required one change in Trastevere. This was not much of a problem even with bags, despite having to change platforms, because the station has elevators. The station in Civitavecchia, however, has no elevator, requiring you to wrestle any bags down a set of steps from the platform and then up another set to the station. Once you exit the station and turn right, it is a pleasant enough walk of about a half mile to the port entrance, where a luxury coach shuttle will take you to the pier. The shuttle stop is a little hidden, so be careful the guard at the gate doesn't just wave you through and send you wandering into the port: ask where the shuttle stop is, because it is right there behind him. Better yet, skip the whole train thing. For 90 Euro per couple, there is a direct shuttle from the airport that takes you right to the ship in great comfort (for groups of more than two, the price is even better). We arrived the night before and stayed at a hotel near the airport. We should have just gone to the port, because one of the better hotels runs a reasonably priced special, with full breakfast and shuttle to the ship, if you arrive the night before sailing. This is what we intend to use for future departures.

Boarding was surprisingly fast, compared with our Royal Caribbean experience in Bayonne. We were a little shocked, however, when everyone's passport was confiscated for the duration of the cruise. This turns out to be a requirement, and why you don't need a visa for Turkey.

The ship is gorgeous, with the notable exception of the Main (Silhouette) Dining Room, which is just hideous: garish and noisy. Everything else was designed with elegance and style. I was surprised, though, to find I missed the central Promenade from the Royal Caribbean ship. I thought it was a little tacky then. Turns out the bars and shops, etc. create a sense of community that the Solstice ships lack. Read more