Yes, I think you are all correct---i will limit our trip to Italy with the 3 cities and perhaps a side trip or two. I am now going to get my hands on a couple of guide books and start planning. With that said----many of my friends have done a 10 day mediterranean cruise which starts in barcelona and ends in venice with stops at a greek island and prague. They have all said it was outstanding. We are hikers (with tired knees----not what we used to be) and love to explore and we are looking forward to seeing history. We have never been on a cruise----has anyone taken a med. cruise? My one big concern with that is---how can anyone spend only 1 day in Rome? I do appreciate all of your input. I have lots of time to plan but have to start somewhere. You have really helped me filter out what not to do. Now I have lots of decisions to make.

Talk to your husband and see what he's interested in.

As for the cruise, you can easily go back to Rome after ending your cruise in Venice. I've been told it's a very easy train ride from Venice to Rome (this is actually in my plan for August).

Talk to your husband and figure out where you two want to go before you worry about how to get there and in between places. :)

"We have never been on a cruise----has anyone taken a med. cruise? My one big concern with that is---how can anyone spend only 1 day in Rome?"

And especially considering the port used to visit Rome (Civitavecchia) is at least an hour from the city, limiting the time even more. The same is true for the port used for Florence (Livorno).

You are beginning your planning in a good frame of mind. Don't overplan, but DO research the possibilities so you will be sure to include the sights and activities that will interest you and your husband. Most guidebooks will have itineraries for 1-day visits, 2-day visits, 3-day visits and such. These are a good place to begin, but don't feel compelled to follow every suggestion--it is still YOUR trip, and you know best what will please you. A guidebook might suggest an afternoon in yet another gallery of Roman statuary while you and your husband might better enjoy an afternoon at the gardens of Tivoli or at Ostia Antica or poking around in a supermarket.

A lot of people like cruises but most of the trip is the cruise. You don't get a full day in any of the ports as it takes time to get from the boat to the cities and return (along with hundreds of other people). You have perhaps 6 to 8 hours off the ship and get to see very little of each city. You need to either plan your own day out, with transportation, or take the optional cruise city tours. And the scenery between ports is water.

To keep within your budget you would probably need to do a re-positioning cruise where you fly to your first port and then take the ship back to the US. You can get these cruises for as little as $2,000 per person if you book at the last minute.

It's not my idea of a vacation but not everyone is interested in more than a few hours seeing a city.