Wife and I are ready to do a 20 day cruise in the Med. HAL has a cruise that starts and ends in Rome. Cruise leave 4/29/08. Need a couple of days before to do a bit and insure arrival for cruise. Cruise ends on 5/19. Need a day after as the connections (according to Costco Travel) are tights, all before noon. Need to stay near AP if I want to use cruise transport ($344 total for both of us, to and from).

1) Cruise wants $1600 for coach each. Costco says 1156 each (Atalia, if they are still in business at the time).

2) We would prefer business, but quote is about 3500 each (Delta) seems way too high, offseason. Any suggestions? Only have 35,000 each with AA, 35,000 each with UA and 140,000 and growing with AS.

3) Is it realistic to take a couple day tours (organized bus is fine with us) from an AP hotel to see some of Rome, or do we need to stay in town and figure in the transport to the hotel, then the cruise, then the hotel and then the AP? I am told the AP is fairly far from the city.

Any help? Suggestions? Who else goes to Rome from SAN?

Thank you in advance.