We purchased our train tickets online with Trenitalia ~ only to be advised two days before departure that they were going on strike! The great thing about train strikes in Italy, however is that they are scheduled 24-48 hour strikes and luckily we were able to avoid the disruption. I have been told that even IF the train in question was not running there is generally an alternate line available. We hop out of our taxi and proceed to collect the luggage that suddenly seems far too heavy and cumbersome for this adventure. As we enter the train station, we stand like two kids at the gates of Disneyland staring at the commotion and confusion, realizing that we don't have a clue where to proceed from here! Imagine an airport for trains with all signs in Italian and passengers scurrying here and there purchasing tickets and running to their platforms. We proceed to one of the ticket windows and are advised that our email IS our ticket and we only need to go to our platform and wait. Great...so WHERE is our platform? We approach a couple of policemen who are chatting nearby...they are absolutely no help. "Over there!" was all one could manage in English. By now I am certainly looking frustrated and not just a little panic stricken. Our luggage seems to have doubled in weight, it's hot and I can't remember where I packed my Italian phrase book ~ can you say frazzled?? Just around this time a sweet, kind-looking young lady approaches Reese and I and asks if we need help. YES! I am wondering where this train angel came from, but am happy to finally have someone who understands us and more importantly seems to understand our dilemma. She asks to see our tickets and then searches the boards to find our platform. "OK..just follow me" she offers. At this point Reese is asking her if she works here, having noted that she isn't wearing a name badge or any uniform. "Oh yes...this is my job", she replies sweetly. She proceeds to grab my suitcase and we scurry after her. She then proceeds down a flight of cement stairs (approximately 15 steps) with my heavy luggage, all the while Reese is trailing behind with his own and I am marveling at the fact that there is no escalator or elevator in the entire station. How do the elderly travel by train? Would they be expected to drag their luggage behind them down these stairs? What about a child in a stroller or heaven forbid a wheelchair?? As we finally reach the bottom we proceed along the platforms and then approach another flight of steps ~ but these ones will require you to carry the luggage UP about 15 stairs!! I am wondering how this miniscule little gal is managing that 30kg suitcase and hoping that Reese doesn't hurt his back. Reese is still wondering whether this angel of mercy works here and why there aren't more like her. As we approach the platform we have been seeking, we are advised that this is it, we have only to stand here and wait and the train will arrive shortly. She explains to us that because we are first class, second cabin we should look for the second car on the train when it arrives. Look for the number 1 or 2 on the actual side of the train indicating what class it is and then the car number should be indicated either on the door of the car or on a digital screen adjacent to the door. I give her a hug and thank her and she asks Reese for 5 euros a bag. Wait a minute...doesn't she work here?? Well actually she DOES work here, but she is not employed by the train station. She looks for confused tourists or passengers with heavy bags and offers help. Just keep in mind that the help is for hire!! So we settle in on our platform and start to chat up a lovely couple from Australia who have been following us as they are on the same train and were equally perplexed. The train arrives and we are confused as to why the number indicated on the train is not the number on our tickets. Ah well, perhaps it will change..you know like a bus! So we try to open the door of the second car only to be stopped by the shouts of a train worker. "No no...not open yet! " he snorts. For good measure I instruct Reese to have this gentleman check his ticket. Imagine our surprise when he tells us this is not our train!! Our train would be on the next platform and would be arriving in about ten minutes AND we needed to validate our ticket first. This must be done by sticking your ticket in one of the many machines scattered throughout the terminal. The ticket will then have a punch on the outer edge. Our train angel has quickly lost her wings. We do manage to change platforms and when our train finally arrives we are happy to finally settle in. This particular train offers storage behind the seats for your larger luggage and overhead storage for carry on bags. The seats are large and cozy an there is a pull out table top so that one can read, use their laptop or enjoy a meal. Civitavecchia is only about 40 minutes by train so no sooner are we settled in, then it is announced we are here. Funny enough just at this very moment the beverage cart is entering our cabin offering light snacks and beverages. Timing just doesn't seem to be on our side today! After bidding goodbye to our new Aussie friends who are proceeding on further, we disembark at the train station in Civitavecchia.
I must say that the lack of signage is a bit alarming. We simply followed the masses, however if one didn't have the benefit of a large mob heading to the same area you could easily get misdirected here. As we walk through the station and out the opposite side we are greeted by buses and taxis offering to take us to the ship. We had decided we could walk as we had read it wasn't far. Take my advice....TAKE THE BUS!!! We dragged what by now felt like a dead body in a bag for quite some time...down one flight of stairs and up two...over cobblestone sidewalks and finally arrived exhausted and dishevelled at the shuttle stop for the Crown Princess. We boarded the shuttle, breathed a huge sigh of relief and peered in awe out our window at the size of the cruise ship as we grew nearer. From the moment we stepped aboard we were on vacation and the sense of adventure and discovery took over. Reese and I headed to the front desk to collect our room keys and proceeded to our cabin on the Riviera Deck ~ R241. We had toyed with the idea of upgrading to a balcony, but I can say with sincerity we truly felt our inside cabin was everything we needed. It was spacious, with a large queen sized bed. There was a flat screen television, two end tables and plenty of storage. The bathroom had a shower and was well-appointed and the mini-bar was stocked and ready to go. We washed our faces, brushed our teeth, grabbed our ship map and headed out to explore the ship. Eventually we found our way to the Horizon Buffet where we enjoyed a light lunch. I have to give kudos to the incredible staff of the cruise. Their attention to every detail and genuine friendliness truly made our cruise that much more memorable. Eventually we would make our way up to the Skywalker's Lounge on the top deck to enjoy a drink while we watched our home away from home sail away into the calm seas of the Mediterranean. Tomorrow we are at Sea....join us as we explore our ship! Ahoy!
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