Private Guide for Pompeii

Do you have the RS italy or Mediterranean cruise guide books? Those are where I’d personally start. I would also evaluate costs of the private guide with car vs cruise excursion for 3ppl. We were very happy with our 1/2 day in Pompeii via ship excursion.

There have been a number of recommended guides here within the last six months: This might be helpful- https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/trip-reports/best-pompeii-tour-guides
Our tour of Pompeii was with a tour of the region, so I can’t recommend a private guide.

Which cruise port? I would assume Naples but best to clarify that?

If it's Naples, you might look at Mondo Guide tours. Any number of RS posters have used their small-group shared tours for Pompeii, Capri, Naples or other locations around the Naples/Amalfi coast region. Those are attractively priced, and have seen mostly positive reviews from those who've used them. Their Pompeii shared tour starts and ends AT the scavi so transport is not included.

However, you are looking for a PRIVATE tour that includes a driver to/from the port. They do offer one of those but be forewarned that it's not inexpensive. Also, a driver and a guide are two different things: most drivers are not licensed guides so hiring BOTH adds to the the cost. As an example:

https://mondoguide.it/city-tours-from-napoli/pompeii
This is a 1/2 day tour with pickup and return. I picked a random date of Jan. 18th, and a tour price for 2 people. It comes up as 350€ just for the car service, and an additional 130€ for 2 hours with a guide. Entry fees of €16 PP to the scavi are additional. It could be that you're fine with that but best to know what sort of cost you're looking at if not wishing to join a group tour?

In April 2022, we were very happy with the private guides provided by Askos Tours. We made all of the arrangements by email - they were quick to respond.

https://www.askostours.com/

Estimated Prophet, could you provide the cost of your tour, for how many people, and if it included any transport? If it did, where they picked you up/dropped you off? The OP might find the info useful. :O)

Estimated Prophet, could you provide the cost of your tour, for how many people, and if it included any transport? If it did, where they picked you up/dropped you off? The OP might find the info useful. :O)

I don't like to tell how much I pay for things on this Forum, because I don't enjoy "The You Paid Too Much Chorus". The OP is welcome to message me and I will let her know the cost to the best of my recollection. I booked the guides over 6 months before our travel dates for two reasons - I wanted to be sure that I got the guides and the dates that I really wanted, and to spread out the "sticker shock" of our trip.

We stayed across from the Amphitheater entrance to Pompeii, so on Pompeii Day, the guide just met us in the lobby of our hotel. On Herculaneum, Oplontis, and Stabiae Day, Askos provided a guide, a van and a driver for basically the same price as the all day guide to Pompeii.

We used Antonio Somma who was recommended in the Rick Steves book and he was great! I could imagine doing it without him because it was so hot and he focused on the sights most recommended. He was also really good at navigating the crowds. I don't know if he'd pick you up from cruise ship. He met us at train station and gave me really clear instructions on how to get the train from Rome to there. So he probably could at least help you figure out how to meet him.

We are using a Mondo guide when we go to Pompeii in July. It is a Rick Steve's rec