Airport Transfers in Europe are Really Expensive!!!

[Mebert]

I'm going to be taking a bus arranged by Carnival Cruise Lines from the Rome airport to the port at Civitaecchia to catch the Carnival Freedom.

They are charging $150 round trip for a little over one hour ride. That's $300 roundtrip for two people. That's more than I paid for a whole day on the cruise ship with food and entertainment included.

Where's the justice? Where are the transfer bargains?

Sorry folks, I'm just letting off a little steam. That price is really outrageous.

[JoeyandDavid]

Mebert I feel your pain... you may want to consider a private car however you did say that the 150 was round trip...so thats 75 one way...

Celebrity charged us 30 pp from Venice one way..

the ride from the airport to the pier for Rome IS OVER an hour away and in fact may well be worth the 75pp fare considering they wont leave u stranded..

But it is outrageous! I do agree there

Joey

[Spikesgirl]

We've been doing research for our upcoming cruise and it is shocking just how expensive everything is over there. We are suffering form serious sticker shock and we haven't even left yet.

Hopefully, it'll be such a great cruise, that will all come out in the end, Mebert.

Charlie

[mercedes]

I always let Carnival make my flight arrangements, which include roundtrip transportation from the airport to the port. I could probably get a better deal elsewhere, and I am sure that the price they are charging you Mebert is included in the air fare that I am paying, but I feel better knowing that Carnival has taken care of everything.

[sailinglisa]

Another thing to take into consideration is that the US Dollar is weak compared to the Euro, so it will cost more for US travellers than it has in the past when the dollar was somewhat stronger.

[Rat]

Melbert, I feel your pain! For our upcoming QM2 sailing, we are paying over $800 (including tip) rt private car transfer from London to Southampton. Cunard's transfer fee is around $500rt for the three of us. Plus we have to hire a cab to get to the meeting point. Unbelievably expensive in England.

[Mebert]

Thank you all for your sympathy.

mercedes,

It's a good idea to let the cruise lines arrange the air. When all is said and done it may seem more expensive but the assurances and transfers make it seem more worthwhile.

Rat,

How long is your ride in the private car? That is really, really steep.

[SMB]

Wow, you guys are getting ripped off!

Public transportation in Europe is very safe and very cheap!

The only question is comfort. If you are older, the joints are working as well, and the bags are at their weight limit, then you might want to suck it up. But I would consider taking the bus or train. There is always some nice young person who is willing to help with the bags. Offer a few euros for their trouble if you want.

Rat, my friend, please RENT A CAR!!!! Driving on the left side of the road is not as hard as it sounds (in fact, I like it better than the right side.) $800 wow... I can't believe anyone made that offer with a straight face.

Lisa is right, The dollar is tanking against the Euro (and pound)... another one of the side benefits to the war in Iraq! In the four years since we invaded, the cost of buying ONE euro has gone from $.83 to $1.33 and it is not going to get better as long as we are financing billions in war debt. The best plan is to arrange as much as possible now and in US dollars.

[Mebert]

SMB,

I agree with you about public transportation in Europe. I've taken the train on several occasions. The cruiseline discourages the use of public transportation to far away places because the say it's unreliable. But I take a chance anyway. I got from Cannes to Monte Carlo by train for far less than the cruise line excursion. I saw several fellow passengers in town while I was there. I just made sure to leave extra early to make it back to the ship.

In the case of the airport to pier transfers, we're sort of captive because there is no public transportation from the airport to the pier. The is a train that goes to Civitavecchia but it doesn't go anywhere near the pier and cabs from the station are difficult to come by.

If Carnival keeps sailing from Civitavecchia, perhaps they will eventually find a less expensive carrier for transfers.

[Rat]

This is our first cruise out of Southampton, so I don't know how long the drive is. It must be over 2 hours as on the map, it looks further than from London to Dover. Six months ago, our private car transfers there was $300 one way. Our mighty American dollar isn't so mighty anymore in Europe. In England, it's worth around 50 cents. A trip to McDonald's for my family of 3 was $35. Melbert, as expensive as your transfer sounds, it's still a deal. Europe is EXPENSIVE!