Rome is a marvelous city and deserves a visit of several days, weeks, or even months. Those of us who love cruising are lucky to get a few days in Rome, either as a port of call or as a pre-cruise or post-cruise extension. Rome is not actually on the Mediterranean Sea; it is situated on the Tiber River, which is too small for cruise ships to navigate. Ancient legends report that Rome was founded on the seven hills flanking the Tiber by the two brothers Romulus and Remus. Cruise ships port at Civitavecchia, and passengers can visit the city with a one-hour ride by bus or train. Consequently, visiting Rome by cruise ship is similar to visiting Florence—it’s not that easy to get from the sea to the city, but it’s well worth the trip.