Lake Como: Train issues & long ferry queues?…

The route is heavily used by both locals and tourists both staying and daytrippers. I'd avoid rush hours or get a taxi from Milan if not traveling light because you need to line up to catch a ferry from Varenna to Menaggio after getting off the train with your bags and then off the ferry to get to the lodging .June is the start of peak travel season compared to visiting in October,

We went on the Milan-Varenna route two years ago. We traveled to Varenna in the mid afternoon and it was fine. For the return we ignored some very good advice and took a mid morning train right after we had to be out of the rental. It was mobbed, we stood shoulder to shoulder for the entire trip. Probably would have been better if we had left earlier or later.

Pregnant people, regardless of gender, have priority seating on Trenord trains. Look for seats with the handicapped sign (wheelchair) generally located near the exits at the end of the cars. If your DIL is visibly pregnant, I’m sure passengers will offer a seat.

Also on the ferries, communicate to the crew personnel that you may need assistance and priority seating. Tell your son to learn to say:
MIA MOGLIE È INCINTA
Or
MIA MOGLIE È IN STATO DI GRAVIDANZA
you can use Google translate to hear the pronunciation.

The crew will get her a seat, if necessary by throwing overboard any passenger carrying a Rick Steves’ Guidebook, since those people are known in Varenna to be only trouble.