We stayed overnight in Civitavecchia as we had previously stayed 3 nights in Rome.We stayed at Tenuta dell'Argento which is a cattle ranch in the hills above the port city. It has a wonderful relaxing location overlooking the port. They have their own restaurant and shuttle service. We had the best room, No. 25 which has the best view of the port and surrounding locale. If you are looking for a restful night's accommodation either before or after your cruise, you should consider this resort hotel. The staff are friendly, helpful and bilingual.Our cruise was most enjoyable. The staff, the service and the food were all excellent. Our excursion to Ephesus was outstanding, although the walking is quite long and the temperature was pretty hot. we would do it again. It is quite amazing to realize that this excavation has been ongoing since the 1840s.The ship's amenities are excellent. The entertainment in the evening was ok. We have experienced better.Our main criticism would be the size of the ship. On the day of departure it took the longest time to be registered of all the cruises we have been on. I think it is simply because of the number of people to be boarded.At disembarkation they excelled. It was smooth and quick. All in all it was a very enjoyable experience. Istanbul is amazing and worth a vacation by itself.