I'm going to have tons of questions with a first time Europe trip, but I'll start with one just one for now! It's re: traveling from Barcelona to Vernazza. Hubby & I will be in Barcelona in mid Sept. for 3 nights, wanting to go to Vernazza for a couple of nights, then onto various places in Italy for an additional 18 days. I'm wondering about taking the 20 hr train, or the 18 hr ferry, or flying. I can't find the cost on the train or ferry, Any help with that would be appreciated, seems the different web cites come up either nothing available or it's too far out date wise. Is the train ride very scenic? Anyone done the ferry?

The ships from Barcelona to Genova are run by Grandi Navi Veloci (www.gnv.it). Some of the ships have all cruise ship amenities, with a swimming pool and entertainment, but others (the AUDACIA, TENACIA and CORAGGIO) have more limited passenger facilities; the website indicates which ship sails on which date. All have restaurants and cabins.
There are also services from Barcelona to Livorno and Civitavecchia run by Grimaldi Ferries (www.grimaldi-ferries.com).
By train, the easiest would be the hotel train from Barcelona to Torino. By day, the train journey along the coast is scenic in places, but isn't possible in one day, so you'd need to stop overnight somewhere en route.
For train schedules, see www.bahn.de. To get train fares, try a day in the next few weeks: for the hotel train, see www.elipsos.com; for others use the national sites - RENFE to Port Bou, SNCF from Cerbère to Ventimiglia and Trenitalia from Ventimiglia.

re the Trenhotel from Barcelona to Turin/Milan....overnight as Geoff has indicated but may be more expensive than a possible budget flight which you can also check using www.skyscanner.net or www.whichbudget.com

I've done the train, twice and the gran classe accommodations are more comfortable than others and probably quieter.

I would seriously look at flying - I 've got to think that will save you a lot of time.

Thanks for the insight, at this point I think I'll look into flying, for time and probably cost. We have a rough itinerary, with a few places that are for sure, and I know I need to think about travel time between places. I'm enjoying reading everyones ideas and trips. Thanks again.

That is a long long way. I would train and stop for a nite in Menton, or fly perhaps into Bergamo. Try to plan destinations based on a max of 4 hour travel time.