Need advice on flying into Venice and out of Rome.
 

We are planning on taking a cruise to the Greek Islands etc. that will begin in Venice and end in Rome.I want to use frequent flyer miles to upgrade flight. I know I will not get any free flights as we are leaving the last of Sept 2012. Does anyone have any experience with any trip like this? I also neeed suggestions for a hotel close to the cruise port.
Thank you for any info.

Best post this thread on the Italy forum. Either ask the moderators to add a tag for Italy, or post again on a new thread tagged for Italy. :-)

I asked for the tag change.

Other than a hotel recommendation I'm not sure what advice you want? Upgrading using FF miles? Going on a cruise?

PS There is no Italy forum. There is a Europe forum with tags for the countries.

Hi Adrienne,

Yes, I know there are no specific country forums, and was using that as a generic term. I have my computer bookmarked for Greece, and only see posts tagged for Greece unless I switch to another country in the drop-down menu. I'm sure there are others who do this for Italy, and won't see this post without the tag. No need to nitpick. ;-)

Many airlines are now charging a co-pay plus miles to upgrade flights. For September 2012 (!) it may be hard to find availability, since that is the tail end of the summer season in Europe. I would look into it ASAP.

Not sure why you need a hotel close to the port at the end of your trip? I assume you're going to spend some time in Rome? And if so, you'd be better off closer to the historical city center for sightseeing and everything else.

Heimdall - I'm not nitpicking! What if the OP starts looking for an Italy forum? He/she won't be able to find one and will be even more confused. I was trying to be helpful to the OP with my comment.

I do understand that some people only look at posts for certain countries and that's why I asked the editors to change the tag. Again, trying to be helpful.

The port for Rome is Civitavecchia, which is about an hour from the city of Rome. Would you like to stay in Rome after your cruise or at a coastal location near Civitavecchia?

Cruises leave Venice from a few different locations. Do you know from which location your cruise departs?

Well, at the top of this page it says "EUROPE FORUMS" (plural) with "View by countries" to the right. So is it a forum or forums? ;-)

Like Heimdall i too see only posts tagged with Greece, which i always considered to be the Forum for Greece.....
Forum Graecum .. ;) lol

I did this trip last September from IAD (Washington Dulles) to VCE, return FCO to IAD on United. United charged a copay of $550.00 plus 20k in miles for each upgrade from coach to business class. On our outbound we found out we were upgraded a few days before the flight, on our return we found out at the gate (we asked at the ticket counter and they said they did not know yet if we had been upgraded). This May, also on United out and back to FCO we were upgraded, but not until the day of our flight. Again, $550 co pay and 20k in miles. United upgrades based on ff status and which fare class you purchased your ticket in. Not all co pays are $550, put mine were because I bought a cheaper ticket, and banked on my status moving me up the wait list. This info is only for United. I don't know how any other airline does there upgrades. Good Luck.