Express train S. Pietro to Civitavecchia or Transport Comp?

[Travel To Be Free]

Planning a day in Rome for 7 Adults.  We are planning to take a transport company INTO Rome.  Going to end at St. Peter's/The Vatican.   The transport company said we should leave there at 4 as there could be traffic problems.  (Ship leaves at 7)  

 

(1) Would it be more reliable to book seats on the 4:38 (16:38) Express train back to Civitavecchia?  

(2) How close to schedule does this Express Train stay as far as getting back at 5:20 (17:20)?  

(3) If we book return with the transport company at 4, would you consider this enough time?

 

 

[mapleleaves]

What are your port times ? 

We were on the Epic last Sept and used the express trains both ways.  We went to S Pietro on the 9:35am train, and after the Colosseum  we took a cab to the Ostiense station for the 3:37pm train back to Civi.   Both trains were on time or within 5 minutes.

But don't forget ... when you get to the Civi train station, you catch a bus to the port entrance, then the Port shuttle bus to your ship.   If we missed the city bus, rather than wait for the next, we wouldve walked to the port entrance for the shuttle, but both buses arrived within minutes of each other so we lucked out.  But be sure to allow time for the buses.