Italy - What is the least expensive way to travel?

I plan to travel to Italy in the next year or two. What is the least expensive way to get there from the Maine? I have a friend that is traveling to Ireland next month and she is leaving out of New York on the Queen Mary 2 and then is taking trains and a ferry to reach her final destination. Has anyone ever traveled via ship as opposed to plane across the Atlantic? Based on what she told me the tickets on the ship are not as expensive as one would think. Thoughts, advice????

Swim..............?

stay at home

Backpacking through. Be spontaneus!!!

stay in maine, italy aint that cool
i'd know, i live there.....

Train Europass rail or hitch hiking

best cheapest way is doing this...

go to aircanada.com and get a flight to london- 500$
go to British Airways.com and get a flight out of london to rome and make it so it conects with this flight- 350$
should cost you 850$ if you do it early. or you can go to expedia and pay 1400