Heather's Florence/Rome Cruise Extension

Jul 28 - Aug 2, 2026

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Heather Ruggles

Ruggles & Routes Travel Co

Overview


Some cities you see once and cross off a list. Florence is not one of them. It's the city I keep dreaming my way back to, so before we set sail, that's exactly where I'm going... and you're welcome to come with me.

Here's my plan. I will fly out of the States on July 28th and land in Rome on the 29th, then take the train straight from the airport up to Florence... no wasted day, just Tuscany rolling by the window until the city appears. I'll be in Florence the nights of the 29th, 30th, and 31st... three unhurried days in the cradle of the Renaissance, where world-changing art hangs in quiet galleries, the food is honest and unforgettable, and the golden light spills over the Arno every evening.

On the 31st, I'm heading out into the Tuscan hills to spend the afternoon wine tasting through the Chianti region... long lunch, rolling vineyards, and views that go on forever. On August 1st, I'll take the train down to Rome and spend August 1st and 2nd in the Eternal City before we all board the Celebrity Equinox together on the 3rd.

If Florence calls to you, come along! We'll eat well, shop the boutiques most travelers walk right past, and sip Chianti like we have all the time in the world. The days are loose. Wander on your own, sleep in, get pleasantly lost... or meet me for espresso and we'll set off together, and there's a seat in the Tuscan hills for anyone who wants to join the wine day. However you want to do it is the right way to do it.

And if Florence isn't your plan, that's just as easy. Some of you may want to fly straight into Rome and give the Eternal City the time it deserves... two nights, three, four, however long you'd like. Maybe you've seen Florence and it's Rome you're after this time, or maybe you just want a slower start before the ship. Whatever shape your trip takes, I'll build it around you... the hotels, the transfers, the reservations, all of it handled.

This is simply me telling you where I'll be and when. The rest we design together. If you've ever wanted to wander Italy with good company and nothing to prove, consider this your invitation.

Cheers๐Ÿฅ‚

Day 1 ยท Tue, Jul 28 ยท โœˆ๏ธ Travel to Italy


Travel to Italy (FCO/Rome)

Today is the day it stops being a plan and starts being real. You leave home behind and point yourself toward Italy... the long flight, the quiet anticipation, that first glimpse of a different sky out the window. Rest if you can. Tomorrow morning...

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Day 2 ยท Wed, Jul 29 ยท Florence, Metropolitan City of Florence, Italy


Arrive FCO, Train to Florence

You land at Rome's Fiumicino in the morning, and instead of losing the day to traffic and transfers, we do this the Italian way. We board the Frecciarossa, Italy's sleek high speed train, at the airport, with reserved seats already assigned and wa...

3 Night Stay at Hotel Pendini

Jul 29 โ€“ Aug 1

Hotel Pendini, Via degli Strozzi, Florence, Metropolitan City of Florence, Italy

Day 3 ยท Thu, Jul 30 ยท Florence, Metropolitan City of Florence, Italy


Explore Florence

Florence is a city best taken slowly, and a free day here is a gift. The historic center is compact and walkable, which means you can wander from one masterpiece to the next with a gelato in hand and no need to rush. Most travelers want to stand b...

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Sunset Food & Wine Walking Tour

End your first full day the way Florentines do, wandering from one hidden spot to the next as the light goes golden, glass in hand, tasting your way through the city with no agenda but pleasure.

Day 4 ยท Fri, Jul 31 ยท Florence, Metropolitan City of Florence, Italy


Lunch & Wine Tasting in Tuscany

Day 5 ยท Sat, Aug 1 ยท Rome, Metropolitan City of Rome Capital, Italy


Morning Train from Florence to Rome

Florence has a way of making you want to stay, but Rome is calling and the clock matters now, so we catch an early Frecciarossa and don't waste the day. Reserved seats are secured for the group again, so all you do is find your place and watch Tus...

2 Nights Hotel Navona (Rome Pre-Cruise)

Via dei Sediari 8, 00186 Rome, Italy

A charming, intimate inn tucked into the very heart of historic Rome, just steps from Piazza Navona and an easy stroll to the Pantheon, the Trevi Fountain, and the tangle of cobbled streets that make this city so unforgettable. With only eighteen ...

Day 6 ยท Sun, Aug 2 ยท Rome, Metropolitan City of Rome Capital, Italy


When in Rome...

This is the day. Your one full day in the Eternal City, and by tonight, the whole cruise crew is together... the friends who flew in for the cruise have landed, the group is complete, and Rome is ours to explore before we set sail tomorrow. Here's...

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