Coming home

The last day of a cruise is not only sad (holiday ending) but also a bit bleak. As a cruiser I suddenly feel dispossessed. The room that has been mine for 10 days is suddenly mine no longer. In fact, a firm note tells me that I must be out of it, with my remaining belongings, by 8am. (My suitcase had been put outside the stateroom door the night before.) I know the times that the restaurants close (8:30 being the latest) and the time by which I must be off the ship (9am) so that my room and the public areas can be cleaned for another set of guests. I am no longer welcome.

Of course, the best-laid plans do not always work. The Civitavecchia port officials had a few problems and could not process all the guests quickly enough. Some were lined up, sitting on stairs and just waiting; others were in the theatre waiting their turn to be called for the lines (processed in order of when their transfers were due to get them to the airport for their flights - I wonder if any of them missed out); those of us who were travelling independently and in no hurry for flights were asked to wait until last, so we relaxed in the most comfortable armchairs we could find.

It was a hot day and I had a long way to travel. My flight was not until 6:45, so I had hours to get from the port of Civitavecchia to Rome airport. I could have taken an official transfer, for around $US200, and arrived by about 11am, after 2 hours in a coach. (I've done that before when it was included in the fare.) I could have taken a taxi for 200 euros. Instead, I took the port shuttle bus to the edge of the port, I walked for 500 metres to the train station, and then I took local trains to the airport (changing at Rome Trastevere) for 11 euros! I had plenty of time and nothing to do for the day, so was happy to save the money. I had gone armed with 2 rolls from the breakfast buffet and 2 drink bottles full of ice and topped off with Coke Light, so felt fortified for the journey. (However, by the end of it I was left feeling that I will never again fly out of Rome in Summer with a HEAVY suitcase. I must learn to pack light!) 

I arrived at the airport with 5 hours before my flight, 2 hours before I could check in. Luckily I had booked assistance for this flight. I knew I could make it by myself if all went right, but if anything went wrong I would be in trouble. (I was justified in this decision, as I reached the point where I could hardly speak sense, and that was 2 hours before my flight, which is always an indication that the Chronic Fatigue is at a bad point.) Because of having booked assistance, I was able to sit in an air-conditioned lounge for 2.5 hours before booking in, I was taken by wheelchair or motorised vehicle over long distances, I was able to board the plane in the first wave (which is great as I cannot stand for long in a queue), and at the end of my journey I was taken straight through passport control instead of waiting in a 2-hour queue. (I remember my last trip home from Australia where I ended up having to sit on the floor under one of the queuing tapes, and wait for my section of the queue to walk around and back opposite where we'd been. That was only a 10-minute queue. I would never have survived a 2-hour queue!)

All the arrangements for getting home worked fine: the Hoppa bus arrived within 10 minutes to take me to the hotel; I managed to find my car with no difficulty (though had trouble working out the exit system); traffic was light and I stayed awake while driving home! I was home by about 10:30 (though 11:30 Rome time).

It was a great holiday. I very much appreciate my travel concierge company, WEXAS, for sending me the email alerting me to the cruise, and for their part in giving me the $US500 onboard spend. This paid for my gratuities, hours of internet time so I could post the blog, a vintage brooch from the gift shop, and a few glasses of wine to celebrate!