Naples Cruise Excursion

The first thing that struck me was the walking tour. Given your previous history, do you really think you could keep up with a large group walking the often uneven pavements of Naples?

I will be curious to hear what other travelers have to say, but this lasts 6 hours and even provides you leisure time? With all due respect, to enjoy your Neopolitan pizza will take at least 45 minutes, and (in my opinion) there is no BAD pizza in Naples, so you could enjoy that anywhere in the city!! (OMG, you need to check out the pastries and the panna cotta).

My personal recomendaton (because port stops are limited for time) would be to take the Hop On Hop Off bus. You will see lots of things in a short period of time....it costs less than 30.00 and you could spend a decent amount of time in the museum of your choice.Lots of times Rick recommends a public bus trip around the city. This comes with a commentary, (it's kindof corny and a touch hard to hear) but certainly hits the highlights.

I love Naples. It is a little crazy. Have a wonderful trip.

I happen to like modern and contemporary art, but a lot of people do not. So you have to consider whether the first attraction will be enjoyable for you. "a slice of pizza" solve the problem of having to wait in line and order a whole (personal-sized, maybe) pizza of your own - so a plus for light eaters. Like others, I question whether you personally will enjoy the amount of walking; note that the Archaeological Museum has plenty of walking - I suspect there's an elevator to the second floor. I don't know how big the Madre museum is. Is this a PRODUCT of the CRUISE LINE? Or did you find it on the internet?

I think you are very price sensitive. While a "ship-excursion" eliminates the risk of missing the ship departure, you could also take a taxi to the Archaeology Museum on your own. Do I remember that you had the option of a ship-tour to Caserta? That's much farther, and involves stairs and much walking, too. Clearly the tour you are asking about here is designed for less vigorous cruisers. You didn't quote the "Level of Activity" rating the ship gives this tour, but I imagine it's the lowest.

For those who have not read your previous discussions, it is very difficult to give a useful answer to this new question. I myself feel nervous about either recommending something too strenuous for you, and something too slow-paced. How many trips/cruises did you go on in 2023?

You might wish to post a link to your previous NAPLES questions, if you know how to do that. Like this:

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/italy/campi-flegrei-shore-excursion-from-naples

Thank you for those who remember me, my knee and my situation. I do feel genuinely touched by it.

Norwegian gave this.a level 2 and I worry about how much walking. I am able to do some and even a lot sometimes before I can not do any. I now have a cane but do not always use it. I have a heating pad, use ice, have topicals and braces. My arthritis is better managed but I see the handwriting on the wall and know that I need surgery.

I have called shore excursions but they do not seem to know a lot. It seems to be a call center. They did tell me that they will be adding more excursions . I asked about the Amalfi Coast and I was told "probably not" because it is late in the season. Color me disappointed.

They bury "slice of pizza" in the description. Are they really just going to give us one slice of pizza and nothing more. Do we get to sit down somewhere?

I do not know how long the guided walk is going to be and it is possible that I can sit down as needed.

I am just exploring this as an option. Waiting to see what else might be added.

Hi Jody,

The shuttle bus described in the excursion is actually a hop on hop off bus. I did ask when I called shore excursions. So maybe we can get the option of just riding around Naples.

The description says something about going inside two attractions, a guided walk and a pass to one other attraction of our choice from three options.

Somewhere we get a slice of pizza as it is put. One slice pf pizza???

It is sounding like a flexible excursion which I am liking. I have an arthritic knee and need to sit a lot but it sounds like I might be able to if needed.

Hi Tim,

I love art and that includes modern / contemporary. I have found that in most museums there are plenty of places to sit down which is a plus. I really love museums.

I copied and pasted the description of the excursion. And so Madre Museum is from the cruise line. Is it a typo? I will not be shocked as it is. I am going to look it up now.

Shore Excursions told me they will be adding more excursions shortly so I am shopping around you might say. Keeping my options open. I was hoping that they might add the Amalfi Coast but the rep I spoke to yesterday said that it. might be too late in the season.

I have only been to one pizzeria in Naples (Gino Sorbillo downtown, but he may have a cruise port outlet???). The point is that "pizza by the slice" is NOT "a thing" in serious restaurants in Italy. I'm sure it can be found, say in Florence or Rome - but apparently restaurants can be found that serve fresh pasta to locals and dried pasta to tourists! And I've had some lousy pizza in Florence. Best I had was in Reggio Emilia.

We waited ONE HOUR (last week of May) to get into Gino Sorbillo. So be careful what you wish for!

Even the better pizzerias in New York City have a sign on the window, "No Slices." And that particularly applies to pizzerias with "certified Neapolitan" ovens. Yes, that's a thing. Note that it's impossible to pick up a slice of Neapolitan pizza, even if you wanted to. You have to eat it from a plate, and it declines in quality fast as it cools. OTOH, it's much cheaper than in the US. So you can ... gasp! ... leave half of it on your plate if you have to. That's what I do in New York, at age 72.

Tim,

To answer your earlier question.

I only took one cruise in 2023 and I will only take one in 2024.

Some is budget but much more is time and energy. As you can see, I spend all year planning my one cruise. It is a lot. of work which i really enjoy. I do not travel during holidays or during the summer. In fact i stay inside day after day going out at 7 pm for months but planning my cruise as I get closer and closer. I am so relieved when September arrives knowing that both fall and my cruise are coming.

What I would do if I were in your shoes, and this will cost a LOT LESS than that excursion, is take a taxi from the cruise port to the MANN (archeological museum). Just walk in and buy a ticket. It is an amazing museum filled with treasures from Pompeii among other pieces such as marbles from Palazzo Farnese in Rome. Just take your time there exploring the museum (and if you read up on it in advance you'll have a better sense of its riches). There are places to sit and you can see it at your own pace. After that, walk as much as you are able, or take a taxi, part way back toward the port and stop to treat yourself to a Neapolitan pizza. The whole thing, not just a slice, will probably be 10 euros or less. There are restaurants everywhere with outdoor dining so you'll have a chance to see the food before you pick a spot. After that, find a bakery and get an awesome desert such as a cannolo filled while you wait. In the Rick Steves guide he has a "Naples Walk" so if you feel able to explore more in the central city you can just follow this pedestrian route to see some interesting historical sites. In any case, when you feel pooped out, just take a taxi back to the ship. And make sure they run the meter :). I think you will find this approach highly satisfactory and it's not dependent on other peoples' pace.

I totally agree with ponygirl and will just add that you might like to see The Veiled Christ at the Capella Sansevero as well. It's not far from the archaeological museum. But that ticket is one that does need to be purchased in advance, because it sells out.

I like Ponygirl’s idea quite a bit as well. Don’t sign yourself up for any excursion with a walking tour. It will be painful and probably a bit stressful. With walking tours it usually isn’t the walking that does a person with knee issues in, but the standing while the guide is talking and that happens a lot. Most of what is described in the museums is exploring on your own, so why not explore on your own!

Thank you acraven and Carol for your always valuable input

Norwegian also added two excursions to Pompeii which is completely out for me due to my knee issues.

I am waiting to see what else they might be adding and am disappointed that it will probably not be to the Amalfi Coast.

When I have gone on guided tours, I usually have to find a place to sit down and miss some to a lot of the information. This problem is not just limited to museums.