12 hours in Salerno

Sounds like a cruise stop. Salerno is wonderful small Italian city. Enjoy!

Walk through the Old Town, stopping at St. Mathew's, and the 10th century Duomo where there are relics. For the student in art history, "...The Romanesque exterior with its cloisters and 12th c. bell tower is beautifully preserved. The entranceway features a bronze door commissioned from Constantinople in 1099, and a pair of stylized Byzantine stone lions." We loved it. Gems in every nook and cranny of this place.

Not far away, still in the Old Town, there is also the Minerva Gardens, which is actually vertical with an amazing irrigation system and probably the best views of Salerno's port.

The little shops in the area are picturesque and charming. Finally, for the best pizza outside Naples, just outside the Old Town is Pizzeria Trianon, which actually originated in Naples in 1929.

Pompeii is a must see, and easy to do without the $175 ship outing. If you have been to Pompeii, I would share an all day cab rental with another couple to Paestum. (Too risky by public transit with cruise departure.)

Yeah, Tim, but to take public trans to Pompeii, the OP would have to disembark the ship at the port in Salerno and it's easily a mile to Salerno Centrale train station. Then take the train 50 minutes to Pompeii-town, and walk 20 minutes to the Porta Nocera (southern) gate of the ruins, or take a taxi from the station to the Marina entrance. Then to do Pompeii right, it's a good 4 hours. Then, repeat the whole process in reverse. Sounds tiring just thinking about it!

I know the OP would have 12 hours and it probably would work out fine. But maybe the $175 ship-sponsored tour doesn't sound so bad after that.

I do like the idea of sharing a tour to Paestum with another couple as it's a 40 minute straight shot south of Salerno. Less things to go wrong. And they'd still have time to grab some pizza upon their return.

I second the suggestion for Paestum.