European Cruise and Italy

You might want to reconsider a day trip to Venice from Rome. Even the fastest train will take a great deal of time each way. That will leave very little time for Venice. I'm afraid your trip to Venice will just be a long day on the train for almost nothing. Don't mean to rain on your parade, I really don't. Just offering food for thought.

TC is correct. Venice is too far from Rome for a day trip. Save it for another trip --- OR -- Fly into Venice, Spend a couple of nights there and then train to Rome. I know you said you were not interested in the train but it is convenient. We have taken it fire times with no problems. The train station is right at the port. When you get off the train you probably will see your ship. The port is a good hour drive from Rome so the private drivers are quickly absorbed. Hard to do a lot of round trips. Good luck --

Must sees in Lisbon include Sintra and Belem. Allow at least a minimum of half. day for both places, if possible.

I loved Lisbon and four nights was not enough.

I ported in Porto and took an excursion to Braga which was very interesting and beautiful .

Welcome to the forum, cubssox0709!
Afraid i'm going to echo TC and Frank where day tripping to Venice is concerned. It's over 4.5 hours one way by the fastest trains between Roma Termini and Venezia S. Lucia. That's over 9 hours of sitting, and a big chunk of time that could be spent sightseeing instead. Have you considered any other day trips to destinations not so far away? Do you need some suggestions based on your interests, if you'd share those with us? Or could you give up one of your nights in Rome for an overnight in Venice?

Have you checked out all of these guides others have recommended for Rome? If any of them are available I would have them clarify if it might be your responsibility to acquire the entry tickets. There are also small-group tours out there if a private guide doesn't work.
https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/day-tours/private-tour-guide-in-rome-italy

Must-see tips for Rome depend, again, on what you're interested in. Art? Architecture,? History? Archeology? Help us out?

A day trip from Rome to Venice will not do it justice. While Venice is one of my favorite European towns - it deserves a few days. It is FAR from Rome and a day trip, to me, isn't feasible. I'd fly into Venice and spend a few days, then take the train to Rome.

A 'few pieces of luggage" --- just take one 26 inch suitcase and one carry on each (like a backpack) - you won't be able to manage more. And it's too much. Watch videos on how to pack for Europe. We go over every year for 3-4 weeks and only take ONE 26 inch suitcase and one backpack each. We take the Rick Steves HideAway Tote over empty and bring back our purchases in it and it acts as our personal item on the trip home.

Did I miss when you were sailing? If Venice was a must, I would have recommended you fly into Venice, stay overnight and head to Rome from there.
Though not ideal, and I suspect would leave you disappointed, if you must do it as a day trip from Rome, then you won't be the first and last. I know sometimes you have to take what opportunities come around.
I am assuming you have also checked out Viator for the Coloseum? Alternatively take a group tour?
Check The Roman Guy for Coloseum.
Not sure if you are aware, but you can pre book taxis on the Booking dot com website, so you get a set pre arranged price as well.

I agree with Kathy, "Must-see tips for Rome depend, again, on what you're interested in. Art? Architecture,? History? Archeology?" If you like a mix, elsewhere on this website is a list of Rick's "three-triangle" sites in Rome. I use an app on my phone (and computer) named Wanderlog. If you put in, say, three churches that you plan to see on the same day it shows you where they are on the map and can offer suggestions of what is nearby.

Have a great trip!

My upcoming cruise ENDS in Rome, and I opted for the transfer offered by the cruise line. I recommend you look into what the cruise line offers you.
In Rome, have gelato every day. Go to Trevi Fountain FIRST thing in the morning. Visit St. Peter's Basilica.
Of course everyone who said Venice for a day is too far is right. But, if you really have your heart set on it, it can be done, you could see it, and you would have a nice train ride there and back. What would you regret more? All the time on the train, or, not seeing Venice?
Don't overpack. I did a cruise plus Italy last year, and while train travel is easy, the luggage is such a burden, and not worth it.

It's not just the long travel time that makes a day trip to Venice a poor idea--under those conditions you may well dislike (or even hate) the city. The path between the train station, the Rialto Bridge and Piazza San Marco is packed to the gills--not the Venice one dreams of. But short-term visitors tend to spend nearly all their time there, because they want to see Rialto and San Marco just like all the other short-term visitors. The charm of Venice is along the back canals, which you probably won't have time to see with mere hours in the city.

Besides the month of the trip, your general budget hopes would be helpful. There's nothing wrong with private car services and private guides, but this can quickly add a lot of cost to a trip. Is this your first time in Europe, ever? I ask because you may be treating it as a one-time option to add days. Have you rejected the bus and private car options sold by the cruise company? Honestly, a "car service from Rome to Civitavecchia" is a commodity. That cruise port is so far that it's a vital product with many, many providers. Some years, our (various ... ) hotel has offered one free transfer with a three-night stay.

Now, adding Rome days to a cruise from there is an excellent idea. And Lisbon is a nice destination, but it is a bit distant from flights home from anywhere else. I bring that up because Lisbon's cruise activity can fill up flights from that city pretty quickly. Last time we were there, there was still a big price difference between Lisbon and Rome. Visitors are very welcome in Lisbon, but there is less English spoken/understood than in Rome. It's hard to pronounce even the six Portuguese courtesy words you should learn.

Our cruise starts in Rome and ends in Portugal. We will be traveling in September. We've added days on both the beginning and end of our trip. The cruise only offers transfers to/from the airport. When I mentioned luggage I meant for all travelers. I was just looking for more convenient way to travel to the port. I have taken the train and plan on taking the train for the Venice trip (No luggage). Yes we do plan on doing Venice in a day and I know it's a long day trip. It's probably our only time we will be traveling to Italy and we want an opportunity to see it, didn't expect to fully experience everything in the city. We are visiting the Colosseum, Vatican and plan and walking around to enjoy the sights of Rome. Just wanted to know if there were any other recommendations on visiting the city.

There is still an Inter City Notte (night train) between Venice and Rome- 2305 from Venice arrives Rome at 0635. That would be one way to extend your day. Prices are very affordable. Same timings Venice bound.

The first 0500 train from Rome gets to Venice at 0934, so you could get almost 14 hours in the city. If this is a bucket list thing and you don't mind a very long day to achieve it then all of that is an option.

The last day train is at 1926 from Venice so that would still give 10 hours there.

Since my Civitavecchia (Windstar) cruises carried only 350 passengers, I'm astounded to hear there are no transfers for sale to Rome. That's almost unbelievable. Have you asked your Rome hotel about it?

Edit: Here's a concrete idea-Your cruise company certainly offers (for those needing a lot of hand-holding) a one-night add-on in Rome, with a bus to the ship. If you call the company and ask, they may already have a price at hand, for you to present yourselves at the Official Hotel for the ride to Civitavecchia. No hotel night included.

But -- there could be three or four other ships in port at the same time. Lots of pressure on everything.

Yes we do plan on doing Venice in a day and I know it's a long day trip. It's probably our only time we will be traveling to Italy and we want an opportunity to see it, didn't expect to fully experience everything in the city.

Are you aware that it is 5 hours ONE WAY by train? Add to that the time to get to and from the train station. The only way I'd even consider such a trip would be to leave Rome late afternoon, spend the night, then catch the train back late afternoon the next day.

Have you traveled in Europe before? I know you said you hadn't been to Italy before. What are the "several excursions" you have planned for Rome?

Be aware that both Rome and Venice are way over touristed and things will take much longer than you expect them to, especially if you are moving about with "some friends". If it's one other couple it's one thing, more than four people and logistics get very complicated.

Think like Rick Steves and assume you will be back. A day trip to Venice will only check off a place on a bucket list. We have spent three days there and are going back again next month to spend another four days there. The best part of Venice are the back canals and just getting lost, and late dinners along a canal after day trippers leave. Plan another trip sometime when you can take in Northern Italy (Venice, Dolomites, Lake Como, CT, Liguria, etc.) There are lots of places closer to Rome for days trips such as Assisi, Civita di Bagnoregio, Orvieto (all favorites of ours).

The OP said that they don't expect to return to Italy, and that they know that Venice is going to be a really long day. So be it.
The options provided by isn31c are pretty much what they have to work with. Would I do it? No but as said, if it's a bucket list item....

cubssox0709, however you decide to do it, I would want to be flexible enough on this plan to drop it if the weather doesn't cooperate. Not every day in Venice is a dry one, and I don't know how enjoyable this trip would be in pouring rain. Sure, all of us have to suck it up and be ready to deal with weather when we travel but when you only have one day to play with, a wet/windy/chilly day might be a bigger disappointment than otherwise.