The ferry from Naples to Sorrento - what is it really like?

I've read a number of reviews about difficulty boarding.

I had no troubles at all boarding ferries. When you buy the ticket they tell you to be at the dock 20 minutes early, as long as you do that, I don't think you would have problems getting on your ferry.

At the end of a long day, I’d take the “door-to-door” car service. I didn’t have any issues with the ferry, but there’s not a real upside. There’s not much of a view per se, you’re just crossing the bay. It’s not like the Amalfi Coast ferries that way. The port itself takes some getting to. And at least on my trip, the last ferry left in like mid-late afternoon, which was rather early imo.

escud, it may be important to give the month of travel, because ferry companies run smaller ferries off-season. If anyone answers the OP, I hope you can also say whether a "hydrofoil" was involved, or if this is a historical myth?

Just out of curiousity - which ferry line did you both take? We were hoping the ferry might be a really beautiful ride back to Sorrento - especially if it goes close to Capri with a nice view of the island? Is it possible to stand outside on the boat? We're New Englanders and love fast ferries with standing areas for passengers outside. Just being on the Bay of Naples seems like fun but not if we can't spend the trip outside soaking in the Bay of Naples. Thanks for your helpful advice!

Tim, we'll be there the first week in July - a month from now.

Is it possible to stand outside on the boat?

There’s a ferry called Positano Jet that lets you stand outside and move around, I took it in Capri, Amalfi and Positano. I don’t know if it does Naples to Sorrento.

In my experience last month, the ferry was super easy and a quick 45 minutes. Took it multiple times between Sorrento and Naples. Seating was all inside.

Purchased our tickets in advance online, retrieved the boarding passes from the ticket office, then boarded.

The Naples port has a digital board with the departures and dock assignments listed so you know where to queue for boarding. Super efficient.

Sorrento I didn’t see a digital board and it wasn't clear which dock to queue in front of, but there were workers to ask and when boarding begins they loudly yell out the destination.

I don’t recall the line, and at least the one I was on was a larger ferry with all seating inside. It doesn’t hug the coast, but crosses the bay directly. You’re some ways from land and it did not make for great views.

The car service sounds attractive to me because if you plan on wrapping up near the museum, you’re not close to the port. It’s either going to be a taxi ride or a long (but interesting!) walk through Naples in July with family in tow. An air conditioned car ride sounds easier all around.

What you’re envisioning for the ferry is absolutely the experience you get on the Amalfi Coast ferries. These are smaller boats, open top deck, which hug the coastline for incredible views. If that’s on your agenda at all, then you’ll be well happy.

I would be interested to see deck plans of these vessels. I haven't travelled on them but would be very surprised if there was no external deck space. It is international maritime law that there has to be external space for smokers. In his response the OP has stated that he is willing to stand there for the views. He may have to do that as there is no requirement for external seating. That smokers deck also doubles as where liferafts would be launched from if needed.

I would recommend the car transfer as you have a family and will not be close to the port for the ferry. It is not a “scenic” boat tour and just a mode of transportation. My wife and I stayed near the port and it worked great for transportation but take the Amalfi Coast ferries for the scenery.

There's a lot of speculation and wistful thinking going on here. Why would a profit-making ferry use extra fuel and time to "show you" Capri on the way to coastal Sorrento? Both our Sorrento-Capri ferries had no outside seating. The big one had cars and trucks, with a covered open air rear second-floor deck, but it was so crowded we could not reach the covered and recessed railing overlooking ... ... the vehicle deck. The smaller one had 300 airline seats in a sealed air-conditioned cabin with two rectangular windows.

You don't get to choose the ferry model. The ferry company uses date of year, and passenger-load history to assign the most economical boat for the company. BTW, our Capri return to Sorrento used a different ferry slip (i.e. with a vehicle ramp) almost 1/4 mile from the slip where we arrived. No warning. Next time I'll look for a bulletin board at the port.

Just because this newsboard worships "the view from the water" does not mean it will be a significant fraction of a 40-60 minute journey.

Wow! You all are great! I think we'll go with the car transfer but look into more scenic boat trips from Sorrento that go to island of Capri instead. All your advice and expereince was incredibly helpful Thanks!

we'll go with the car transfer but look into more scenic boat trips from Sorrento that go to island of Capri instead

The views from the Sorrento to Capri ferry are nice but I wouldn't call them spectacular views. If you want spectacular views from the ferry, take the ferries between Amalfi Coast towns or between the Amalfi Coast and Capri or the Amalfi Coast and Sorrento or the Amalfi Coast and Salerno. Like I said earlier, the Positano Jet ferry lets you stand outside and walk around which is nice if you like coastal views. A lot of people just sit inside.

Thanks, Marco! The Positano Jet ferry looks really nice. If we were longer in Sorrento the cruise to the Amalfi coast would be tempting. We're focused more on the ancient ruins and archaeology of Pompeii and Herculaneum on our trip but perhaps in future travels!

Because you said "focused" don't overlook the Five [ancient] Site unified ticket option. Circumvesuviana and walking, as well as proprietary shuttle bus.

Tim, thanks for the tip! I'm going to look into it.