CRUISE SHORE-EXCURSIONS RESPECT LANDING AND REBOUNDING SCHEDULES OF VARIOUS CRUISE-LINES AND ARE SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED TO COMPLETELY SATISFY TRAVELLERS WISHING AN EXCLUSIVE VISIT OF ROME WITHIN THEIR AVAILABLE TIME.

After a pleasant stretch along the coast, accompanied by your English-spiking driver, reach the centre of Rome and meet-up with your private city-guide. From Capitoline Hill enjoy a spectacular panoramic view of the ancient Temples, Triumphal-Archers, Senate-House, Basilicas and Sacred Way surrounding the old Roman Forum, hub of political, religious and commercial life during republican and  imperial days and forming the most historical archaeological complex in the western world. Visit the nearby elegant renaissance square modelled by Michelangelo for Pope Paul III and adorned by the bronze equestrian statue of Marcus Aurelius, father of the infamous gladiator-emperor Commodus. Take in the Circus Maximus of Ben Hur fame with its impressive views of the sprawling ruins of the Imperial Palaces on Palatine Hill.

  Then proceed to the Colosseum and hear about the bloody gladiator combats, wild animal games and other astonishing events held there to satiate the excited 70.000 spectators Circle around Piazza Venezia, dominated by the massive looming "Wedding Cake" marble honorary monument erected in 1885 to commemorate King Victor Emmanuel II and drive to the Quirinal Palace, official residence of the Italian President originally built by popes in the 1580s as their splendid summer residence for many centuries. Descend to the cascading waters of the Trevi Fountain, fed by an ancient intact roman aqueduct of  19BC and toss a coin into its gushing sprays propitiating a sure return-visit to the Eternal City.

Stroll by the Spanish Steps the favourite  spot of European nobles during the Grand Tour era Pass Palazzo Chigi, home to Italy's prime-minister and the nearby Italian Parliament as you make your way to Piazza Navona, the most loved meeting place of Romans today, embellished by Bernini's fountains. After an inside visit to the awe-inspiring Pantheon constructed by Emperor Hadrian in 120 BC, spanned by a solid concrete dome, enjoy a light lunch or snack in one of the numerous cafés or bars in the picturesque and operatic square facing the monument. Subsequently cross the River Tiber to the Vatican City, smallest sovereign state in the world, to visit the immense papal art collections in the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel. After admiring the masterpieces of Raphael and Michelangelo and numerous artworks visit St. Peter's Basilica with its great baroque colonnaded square and Swiss Guards. At the end of your extraordinary full-day discovery of Rome head back for port or be accompanied to your reserved hotel in Rome.