My husband and I booked our cruise online and booked the airfare independently on US Air. We had a smooth overnight flight to Rome, took Leonardo Express train to Termini station. We intended to drop our bags at a hotel we booked for the end of the trip, and do some sightseeing. Unfortunately there was a misunderstanding and the hotel did not have our reservation. We felt lucky to discover it ahead of time and booked a room with a different hotel nearby. Due to the snafu we just had time to get lunch (pizza and some pastry) and get the train to Civitavecchia. We didn't have too much trouble negotiating the ticket machine or boarding with our luggage.
At this point I'd like to say that we used Rick Steves' Italy book and much online research for advice, time- and money-saving tips. For a trip of a lifetime like this, you need to do some homework in order to maximize your time and pleasure. We planned and did all our excursions on our own, at our own pace. We did book a guided tour at the Vatican museums. We were able to see most everything we wanted to and did it fairly economically. We met other cruise passengers who did not even know what there was to see in some of the scheduled ports. Okay, 'nuff said.
GENERAL CRUISE/SHIP INFO: