Hey everyone -- I'm booked on a simply italy tour, and I'm havinga hard time figuring out how much "free time" I'm acutally going to have. IE. If I take the guided Imperial tour of Rome, will that eat up all my free time, or will I have time to get in a tour of Vatican City/Sistien Chapel as well? And how long is the extra trip into the blue grotto? Will the tour boat wait for those people who want to do this?

Any thoughts/advice on this sort of thing?

Guided Imperial tour is only about 2 hours or so in the morning. After it's done, you have free time to do whatever you want. I didn't do the Imperial tour, but I know that many people on my Contiki who did it, went to see the Vatican and Sisten Chapel after. They had plenty of time for that. Blue Grotto only takes about 15 minutes. Most time is spent waiting to transfer from a big tour boat to a small boat that goes in to the grotto and also waiting in line as there are many small boats trying to get in to the grotto. But it's really super fast once you are inside. You do the blue grotto while you ride in a big boat around Capri and yes, it does wait for the people who want to go in to the Grotto.

Hey! Thanks so much for the information. does the coach drive us around on that last full day in Rome, or does it just drop us off, and we find our own way around?

Any other tips/suggestions about the trip? I've read not to follow the guide out of pompeii, cause you'll spend like 1.5 hours in the souviner place.

On the last day we took metro in to the city. We walked to the metro from hotel. We were given metro passes both ways. Our TM came with us in the morning and took those who were doing Imperial Tour to where they were supposed to meet the guide for that. Than you are on your own. We were given a time when the bus would leave from the hotel for the last night optional dinner.
I would recommend prebooking Uffizi and Accademia museums in Florence before you leave. The lines for those are huge. Those who didn't prebook, had to get up very early before Uffizi opened to get in line. And later those who chose to see David, stood in line for 3 hours to get in. Also recommend an extra day in Rome. I came 1 day before the tour, but I guess staying after is better.
I don't know about following guide in pompeii. We spent way too much time in pompeii with our guide. I was ready to get out of there when the guide was done. After Pompeii tour, we just went to grab something to eat. No souvenir place for us.

You are being SO helpful Nat! Do you know if the ticket you get with the imperial tour includes admission to Palatine Hill? I know the tickets you buy individually do. Does it permit reentrance later in the day?

I am assuming you are talking about Imperial tour optional contiki offers. You don't get admission to Palatine Hill. I don't even think you get a ticket. I didn't do this tour, so not sure. I think you just pay your TM for the optional. The guide only takes you around Colloseum(not inside) and Roman Forum explaining what each ruin used to be.
I went to Palatine Hill on my own and highly recommend. There are some really nice ruins. I don't know if reentry is permitted, but really why would you want to reenter? There are other things to see in Rome. Buy your ticket for Palatine Hill and Colloseum(1 ticket allows you entry to both) near the Palatine Hill entrance. There is a huge line to buy tickets at Colloseum and there was hardly anyone at Palatine Hill.

I did this tour Dec/Jan, and the inside of the Collosseum WAS included in the Imperial Tour. When I did European Encounter the previous Jan/Feb, it wasn't included. My sis did the Imperial tour in the morning, had time to meet me for lunch, then about 10 of us walked straight into the Vatican Museums, and my sis even had time to climb the dome. We still had time to get back to the hotel and get ready for the final dinner (fun times). I would recommend NOT having an early flight the last day...we had extra days in Rome but foolishly promised to get up to say goodbye to the early leavers...not a good idea after many Italian reds and 2.5 hours sleep :-p