We took a flight from Toronto, Canada by AirTransat Airlines: could not resist the price and direct flight option. It took us about 7 hours driving from Ohio to Toronto, but it was Ok; arrived in Rome 1 hour earlier which was great: we got to Sistine Chapel just before 4 pm and managed to see everything with no crowds.
We stayed in "Milani" hotel a night before the cruise. Not very clean and with fees for almost everything but with a walking distance to Termini; took an IC train to Civitavecchia in the morning. Only 40 minutes and you are in a sea port.
Embarkation was pretty fast and smooth.