Hotel:area suggestion please 1st TIMER

We loved our apartment in Trastevere snd walked to the Vatican snd the Coliseum area from there, around 30 minutes each time.

This is the apartment, with 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms, a small kitchen and lovely rooftop terrace overlooking the piazza.

https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/1361769?source_impression_id=p3_1723050149_P3Hb-31YoCdkaWiZ

How long will you be in Rome each time? If just a few days, a hotel would be easier, with easy checking in and out, a staffed desk, etc. If longer, like a week, the convenience of an apartment might be worth it, room to spread out and have meals, maybe do laundry, etc.

Trastevere would be walkable and charming, but the Pantheon area might be more convenient for sightseeing, shorter walks to more places.

For local transportation, buses work well. The subway is good but serves limited areas. Taxis are plentiful and reasonably priced, but your own car would be a mistake.

Welcome!
When is this trip ?

2 hotel rooms gives you 2 bathrooms
The 20 yo girls are old enough to stay in their own room

An apartment for just 2 nights really not worth the trouble

We prefer to stay right in the heart of Centro Storico
Between/near Pantheon/Piazza Navonna/Campo de’ Fiori
From there you can walk anywhere

Hotel Smeraldo is a forum favorite

Italy does not allow the kind of uber that exists in the US. If walking or public transit, rail or bus, is not suitable, then a taxi is the option.

How many days on either end of the cruise will you be in Rome?

How soon is the trip? Is the 'overwhelmed' due to a time crunch ?

Does your question re transportation include getting to/from the cruise port? You can start with these forum posts:

https://search.ricksteves.com/?button=&date_range=2y&filter=Travel+Forum&query=Civitavecchia+transfer&utf8=%E2%9C%93

While in the city, assuming you stay in the city center, the best transportation is your feet. For longer distances, if you get tired of walking, since it's 4 of you, a taxi would not be too expensive. Italians don't hail taxis like in NYC. You either call, or walk to a taxi stand, or summon via app (ItTaxi app, or FreeNow app). Uber (Uber Black or Uber Van) is allowed to operate only with licensed limo drivers, therefore a bit more expensive than taxi. Uber operated by regular folks driving their own car is not permitted, and it it were it would be useless anyhow, much of the city is closed to private car traffic, unless one is a resident with permit.
To go to (or come from) the Civitavecchia Port, the most convenient option is a private driver or a taxi. The cost is about 140€ (one hour drive). The cheapest option is probably a train, however the Civitavecchia station is a long walk to the port, and I presume getting a taxi to the station may not be that quick and easy given the large number of people disembarking and embarking.

I agree with others that the apartment is a better option only if you stay at least 3-4 nights.

THANK YOU!!!