Attending wedding in Siena (Borgo di Castelvecchio) with husband September 26-29, 2025. Plan to fly from NYC to Rome, arriving morning of September 26 and then taking train to Siena. We would then take the train back to Siena on October 29. Two adult children (daughter 30, son 28) would then join us in Rome on September 29/30. Should we meet them in Rome (perhaps stay at the Liberty Boutique Hotel - in a family suite, sleeps 4) then leave for a 7 day cruise on the MSC Seaview, October 1 out of Civitavecchia (Rome), ending up back in Rome at 7 am on October 7, then flying home same day in the evening, or should we have the kids fly to Rome, take the train to Siena and plan several day trips around the area instead? Any advice about the Liberty Boutique Hotel, MSC Cruises and or anything else pertinent. Perhaps we should all meet in Florence? Son has been all over Europe, but daughter has never visited. PLEASE ADVISE! Last time I was in Rome was with my husband on our honeymoon in 1991. Thanks!!
Posted by
Gettysburg PA
8209 posts
“train back to Siena on October 29”
Check your dates and places
This is confusing
Posted by
San Diego, California, USA
1548 posts
Hello aoneill2, and welcome to the forum,
My first impression offhand is that your connections times are very tight and seem to assume nothing will go wrong.
Assuming you arrive very early in the morning of the 26th in Rome I would not expect you to reach Siena before 12:30 at the earliest. And any flight delays, baggage issues or arriving on a later morning flight pushes all this forward into the late afternoon. If you're expected to attend any wedding activities on the 26th before the evening I would think about that.
The same with meeting up your kids. If they are landing in Rome and you have only a day or a partial day they should stay in Rome and meet you there rather than everyone moving to Florence and then back Rome. Because you then need to move to Civitavecchia to meet your ship departure. And then you're flying home the same day your ship arrives back in Rome.
It's probably just the logistical "over planner" in me but your repeatedly tight turn arounds make me nervous for all of your pieces falling into place. It sounds like you're having trouble getting time away from home but Italy has a way of sometimes turning the best laid plans sideways. If you can spare a day or two to pad your schedule I would do that.
My $.02, have a great trip,
=Tod
PS I think you meant "back to Rome" in your second sentence.
Posted by
Gettysburg PA
8209 posts
Borgo di Castelvecchio is not in or near Siena ( at least not the place I see)
https://borgodicastelvecchio.com/
It is in the Val d’Orcia region 1 hour+ south of Siena
That area needs a car-no trains there
Unless the wedding is providing transportation you’ll need to rethink
Posted by
North Georgia, USA
1354 posts
I'd rather stay home than go on a cruise, so I'd vote for splitting your week between Florence and Rome.
We have traveled with other adult family members and would never stay in the same room with them. I cherish my sleep, and especially when traveling, sleep is sometimes hard to come by. Between jet lag, different bedtime schedules, the snoring, maybe needing to get up in the night, I'm just not willing to sacrifice the potential for sleep! Maybe your family is very close, but IME at the end of a day together, people need some down time and space. We always get apartments when traveling with other people. You can get a very nice, centrally located apartment for the price of that hotel!
Did you pick the hotel because it's close to the train station? I'd advise doing some research on the different areas before picking where to stay. We like the Campo de Fiori area.