Hi all, five of us are taking a cruise around Italy in May and will have a 12 hour stop in Naples. I have a tentative itinerary based on Rick's suggestions ("Italy 2011" book), but am not sure if it's do-able, especially time wise. Please advise and comment: 7:00am: Boat docks 7:30am: Get off the boat, take taxi to Museo. We will have some extra time until Museum opens (9am). Either chill on boat a little longer, or just go towards the museum and chill at a coffee shop near the Museum. 9:00am-11:00am (2Hrs): Archaeological Museum 11am-1pm (2Hrs total): "A Slice of Neapolitan Life." Take a self-guided walking tour (1Hr long walk, plus time to eat and visit), visit/pass: Piazza Dante, Cafe Mexico, Spaccanapoli, Piazza Gesu Nuovo: Church of Gesu Nuovo & Church of Santa Chiara, Piazza San Domenico Maggiore, Cappella Sansevero, Statue of the Nile, Via Vicaria. Not stopping at every place, of course.
Posted by
Park Ridge, IL
524 posts
What is your reason for going to Mt. Vesuvius? Not that you have to do the normal shore excursions, but often travelers go to Pompeii and / or the Amafi Coast.
Posted by
OP
HOUSTON, TX, USA
6 posts
(continue) 1pm-2pm (1Hr): Lunch @ Antica Pizzeria de Michelle or Pizzeria Trianon, then dessert at Polo Nord Gelateria. 2pm-6pm (4Hr): Visit Mt. Vesuvius Take taxi to Mt. Vesuvius (30mins, approx. 40euro each way) 2:30pm: Hike up Mt. Vesuvius (30-45mins hike) 3:15pm-4:15pm: 1 hour Walk around the volcano rim 4:15pm-5pm: Hike down the mountain; 5:00pm-5:30pm: Taxi back to Beverello Port (30mins, approx. 40euro each way) with 30mins extra to spare 6:00pm: Board the ship.
7:00pm: Ship departs.
Posted by
OP
HOUSTON, TX, USA
6 posts
(continue) 4 Questions: 1. Does this itinerary work or are we being too ambitious? 2. Would it be better to start at Mt. Vesuvius, lunch at the pizzeria, then do the walk tour backwards? That way, we can use the extra time before 9am on the taxi ride to the mountain. 3. There are five of us, so we may need to take two taxis. Is this going to be a problem. 4. Three of us are 30yo, and two are 60yo with OK health. Will this be too much walking/mountain climbing for one day? Thank you!
Liang
Posted by
OP
HOUSTON, TX, USA
6 posts
1. To save money. We are already taking pre-designed shore excursions at many other ports, and most offerings at this stop were quite expensive.
2. We do not want to visit Pompeii. We do not have to go to Vesuvius. I put it on the itinerary because I thought it was a nice destination. Rick Steve didn't give Vesuvius any star in his book, but did say it was worth visiting in one of his posts on the website. Are you saying Vesuvius isn't worth the trouble?
Posted by
Ottawa
1446 posts
Not really, no. Vesuvius is most impressive from a distance and desolate at the top, IMO. Naples has a hop-on, hop-off bus that you may want to consider. Your HO/HO ticket would be good all day. When you first get off the ship, walk towards and around the castle, before you head to the museum. Or, in the morning, consider taking the short ferry to the island of Ischia and back (45 min each way by hydrofoil /"aliscafo"). Then do the museum in the afternoon.
Posted by
OP
HOUSTON, TX, USA
6 posts
Diane, thanks for your suggestions. I assume you meant Ischia instead of Istria. I think I will take your advice and visit Ischia (Procida as a back up) in the morning and Napels city center in the afternoon.
We will probably get there at 8:30ish and depart Ischia Porto at around noon. What would you recommend on the island of Ischia? How do we get around on the island? Thanks in advance!
Posted by
point pleasant beach, nj, usa
646 posts
Liang, If you go to the Trip Advisor travel site and key in Ischia, Italy forum, you will avail yourself of lots of advice about visiting the island. There is someone on the site who lives in Ischia and he has lots of information. Not that you would not receive invaluable advice on this site. I also use Trip Advisor as additional travel info.
Posted by
OP
HOUSTON, TX, USA
6 posts
Hi, all, Thanks for all your replies! Camile, yes I have found "ABritin_Ischia" on TripAdvisor, and he gave me some tips. I think Ischia is very beautiful and deserves more than a half day. So we are going to dedicate all day to Ischia, and Procida and Naples will be our backup plans. On Ischia, we will visit the Argonese Castle and the Mortella Garden among other places, and I think there are buses and taxis to get us around on the island. We are really laid back and enjoy seeing everyday people's life just as much as visiting a museum. So I think no matter what we end up doing, staying on the mainland or going to an island, we will have a good time. :)
Liang
Posted by
Texan in CA
4407 posts
Liang, just a reminder to be sure that everything you want to visit is actually open that day. You'd really hate to have to come up with a back-up plan at the last minute because you are already crunched for time as it is.
Posted by
Seattle, WA, USA
7737 posts
Have you considered Herculaneum? It's like a bite-sized version of Pompeii and very interesting. Can be done in a couple of hours. And it's closer to Naples than Pompeii is.
Posted by
Gaston, Oregon, USA
931 posts
Liang, we have done both the AE Museum in Naples and Ishia and Procrida. If I had my choice again, I would go to the Museum first. It is just amazing! It has all of the valuables that were found in Pompeii. I&P are just "nice little islands" in my book, and are easliy replicated elsewhere. I also vote for Herculaneum; small and easy to explore, and better preserved than the burned out shell of huge and barren Pompeii. And nix going to the top of Vesuvius.
Posted by
Naples, Italy
4 posts
If you're going to take a taxi all the way up to Mount Vesuvius you should make sure the top is open and not closed for a strike. I live here and can tell you the strikes are all too frequent. Also, there is lots of traditional pizza in Naples. I wouldn't lock yourself into a particular restaurant, though Da Michele is pretty famous.