Day 5 – Rome, Italy: A Day at the Vatican

Trip Report: Oasis of the Seas – Mediterranean Cruise 2024

When we planned our Rome day, we had big ambitions — the Colosseum, Trevi Fountain, gelato stops, and dinner back in Civitavecchia. But the moment we set foot inside Vatican City, everything else faded away. The art, the history, the holiness of the place — it drew us in completely.

What was supposed to be a half-day tour turned into a full-day experience, and none of us regretted it. We may not have checked every box on our Rome list, but we walked away with something far more lasting — a sense of awe, reverence, and connection that words can barely capture.

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Express Train to the Eternal City

We took the early Royal Caribbean express train from the port of Civitavecchia straight into Rome. The ride was just over an hour and brought us right into the heart of the city, where our Viator tour of the Vatican began late that morning.

The tour itself was exceptional — organized, informative, and full of context that brought centuries of faith and history to life. Our guide navigated the crowds effortlessly, weaving together stories of art, architecture, and devotion as we moved through the museums toward the Sistine Chapel.

Tip: If you can, book a skip-the-line Vatican tour through Viator or a similar provider. It’s worth every penny for the expertise and access.

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The Vatican Experience

St. Peter’s Square

We began our Vatican morning in St. Peter’s Square, where faith and architecture meet on a grand scale. The ancient obelisk stood proudly at the center — a silent witness to centuries of pilgrims. Nearby, the Bernini fountains sparkled in the morning light, and we caught reflections dancing off the polished stone.

From there, we paused at the Sphere Within Sphere, a striking modern sculpture that seemed almost out of place among the Baroque beauty, yet somehow perfectly at home in this city of contrasts.

Just beyond the gates, the Swiss Guard stood watch — disciplined, colorful, and timeless. Their Renaissance uniforms may look ceremonial, but every guard is trained to protect the Pope.

Vatican Museums

Our first stop inside was the Vatican Museums — a maze of marble and masterpieces. Gallery after gallery unfolded before us: ancient busts, mosaics, and statues that seemed to capture the very breath of antiquity.

The first photo is the statue is of St. Longinus, the Roman soldier who pierced Christ’s side during the crucifixion and later converted to Christianity. It was sculpted by Gian Lorenzo Bernini around 1638–1639 and stands inside St. Peter’s Basilica beneath one of the great arches supporting the dome.

The next is the famous Laocoön and His Sons, an ancient Greek marble group (1st century BCE) unearthed in Rome in 1506 and now displayed in the Vatican Museums’ Octagonal Courtyard. It depicts the Trojan priest Laocoön and his sons being attacked by sea serpents—one of the museum’s most celebrated sculptures.

The next photo is of the tapestries from the Gallery of Tapestries, woven in the early 1500s by Pieter van Aelst’s workshop in Brussels using designs by Raphael’s students. It shows the Adoration of the Shepherds, part of a set illustrating scenes from the life of Christ.

We made our way to the magnificent hallway and one of the most famous parts of the Vatican Museums. The ceiling’s golden frescoes and 40 map panels along the walls depict regions of Italy as they were known in the 16th century. Commissioned by Pope Gregory XIII and painted between 1580 and 1585, the gallery connects the museums to the Sistine Chapel — so you actually walk through centuries of geography and artistry before entering one of the holiest places on earth.

There is no photography allowed inside the Sistine Chapel, and honestly, I was grateful for that rule. It forced everyone to pause, to look, and to simply be present. Standing beneath Michelangelo’s ceiling — the Creation of Adam, the prophets, the sweeping story of Genesis — felt like stepping into a living prayer.

The air was hushed, though the room was full. Even surrounded by hundreds of people, there was a sense of shared awe — as if we all understood we were in a space that transcended time. The Pilot and I didn’t speak. We just looked up, hearts full, and let the beauty of it all sink in.

Leaving the chapel, sunlight spilled through the corridors again, and we found ourselves walking in silence — the kind of quiet that comes when words simply aren’t enough.

The final two photos are views through the museum windows, this peaceful scene looks out over the Vatican Gardens — a lush area occupying nearly half the Vatican’s territory. The gardens are filled with olive trees, fountains, and sculptures, serving as a private retreat for the Pope. It’s a rare glimpse of calm green space within the walls, usually only visible from select windows along the museum route.

This is just a fraction of the photos we took — each one a small attempt to capture what words and cameras never could. We tried to soak up every ounce of history and reverence, knowing we might never stand here again. The photos were meant to help us remember, but the truth is, we’ll never forget. There’s nothing that can fade the feeling of standing in a place so rich in faith and artistry — a place where history and devotion intertwine. Every Christian should have the chance to experience it at least once in their lifetime.

The Papal Tombs

t’s hard to pick what moved us most. Every section we entered revealed a deeper sense of reverence — each hallway, each chapel, each sculpture carrying centuries of faith and human devotion.

Beneath all that grandeur lies a quiet world. The Papal Tombs are hushed and profoundly moving. To stand before the resting places of popes and saints — including St. Peter himself — was a moment that left us both humbled and silent. Knowing that Peter, one of Christ’s disciples, was martyred here, crucified upside down out of humility, added a weight that no photograph could ever convey.

Inside St. Peter’s Basilica

Emerging from the crypts into the brilliance of St. Peter’s Basilica felt like stepping into heaven itself. Marble columns reached skyward. Light filtered through ancient windows. And Michelangelo’s Pietà, serene and perfect, stood as a quiet testimony to devotion through art.

It’s hard to describe the feeling of standing in a place where so many have come to pray, to hope, to seek. Amid the crowds, there were quiet moments — of gratitude, of peace, of realizing we were standing on holy ground.

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Lunch at La Soffitta Renovatio

After our tour, our guide recommended La Soffitta Renovatio, a small ristorante-pizzeria just a few blocks from St. Peter’s Square — and it was everything you’d want from an authentic Italinan lunch. The food was simple and perfect: handmade pasta, local wine, and that kind of slow, unhurried service that makes you realize Italians truly understand how to enjoy life.

We lingered longer than planned, replaying the day in conversation and still trying to absorb everything we’d seen inside the Vatican. It was one of those meals where time doesn’t matter — where the air feels lighter, the food tastes better, and the world seems to slow down just enough to let your heart catch up.

When we finally pushed ourselves away from the table, we made the several-block walk back to the train station — tired, full, and completely overwhelmed in the best way. By the time we boarded the return train to Civitavecchia, the motion of the rails felt like a lullaby after one of the most meaningful days of our lives.

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What We Missed (and Why It’s Okay)

By the time we stepped back into the sunlight, we were both overwhelmed — not just by the art and history, but by the emotion of it all. Every corner of Vatican City had carried its own kind of power. From the square to the museums, the tombs, and the basilica, each space revealed something deeper. It wasn’t just sightseeing; it was an experience that stirred something in both of us.

We had ambitious plans for the rest of the day — the Colosseum, a scoop of gelato at Dell’Angeletto, and dinner at Gambero Rosso back near the port. But after hours of walking through the Vatican, we were exhausted in that deeply satisfied way only travel can bring.

As we headed back to the ship, we all agreed: one day in Rome isn’t enough. The Eternal City deserves a return trip — one where we can slow down, explore, and truly soak in everything beyond the Vatican walls.

Later that evening, as we sailed away from Civitavecchia, I caught sight of a Virgin Voyages ship gliding past us in the fading light. It felt like a quiet full circle — two ships crossing paths, each filled with travelers chasing their own kind of wonder.

Tomorrow – we’re off to the Naples and the Amalfi Coast