Hello - My husband and I will be flying into Naples the second week of October. We plan to land early afternoon and head directly to Capri for a 2 night stay before going to Positano and ultimately ending up in Naples. I have checked the ferry schedule Naples to Capri and note larger ferries being available traveling to Capri. My concern is getting to Positano from Capri if the smaller boats cancel. My question here specifically is....For our trip from Capri to Positano, and in the event of smaller boats cancelling with no options available due to heavy waters, is it unreasonable to have a back up plan in place where we head back to Naples on one of the larger ferries and get a driver to transport us to Positano (and Likewise for the return to Naples from Positano)? We have lovely accommodations booked in Capri, Positano and Naples, all of which are reasonably priced for the locations, and prefer to have overnight stays in each place. I am weary though, of keeping reservations that will be past the cancellation dates as we get closer if there is a possibility we would miss getting to the island or location, so I don't want to wait and see what the weather will be. Thank you for your input!
Posted by
Ontario, Canada
7221 posts
If you are thinking of using a driver to get to Positano, I'd ferry from Capri to Sorrento, which is closer, then have a driver from there. It's half the distance than from Naples.
Posted by
Vignola, MO, IT
799 posts
When I was in Salerno a few years ago ferries were cancelled for a few days due to rough waters. It was mid October but that doesn't mean it will happen every year. You can figure out a plan B if necessary.
Posted by
950 posts
Weather can be unpredictable but I guess I'd be surprised if you couldn't get to Positano. Locals rely on these ferries for their commuting and commerce. Worst case scenario, you take a ferry to Sorrento and then a bus or even a splurgy taxi.
Posted by
Gettysburg PA
9182 posts
It is sea conditions, not necessarily the weather that can cancel ferries especially to Positano as that is a much smaller dock
Really no way to predict
Posted by
848 posts
It would probably be unusual to have “heavy waters” that time of the year, but you never know. For peace of mind, I would take the train from Naples to Sorrento, and then the bus from there to Positano - as a backup plan.
Posted by
OP
8 posts
Oh my. I meant rough waters! Thank you all for sharing your thoughts. I think we will move forward and keep things as they are. Ferry to Sorrento as a back up if needed.
Posted by
848 posts
Heavy or rough, same thing!
Posted by
369 posts
We were in Salerno late October 2025 for 4 nights. The ferry from Salerno to AC was cancelled every day due to rough seas. Even after a few days of calming winds which should have lowered the sea state. We had to take the bus which was incredibly full on the morning we took it. (It was a Saturday, and luckily we knew to walk to the first stop, where the bus depot is, about 10 minutes walk from the train station. We got seats (goofed and picked on the right, should have been on the left for views going toward AC from Salerno, oh well). By the time we got to the train station stop there was only standing room for a few people, at least 30 were left standing at the bus stop to wait for the next bus (next scheduled was 1hr, I'm not sure if they sent an extra one).
Sounds like hoping for the best and planning a back up is a good idea.