Anyone ever shipped their luggage to port?

Have a cruise booked this summer, leaving from Rome, and we’re looking to tack on a week+ of Europe travel before we embark. We’ll be flying in from the states. We’re tying to keep our family’s cruise luggage (nice outfits, etc…) limited to a single bag that we would send ahead of time and then try to be nimble and backpack train around Europe.

Anyone have any experience / recommendations for sending luggage ahead instead of flying with it? Is this a crazy idea?