Travel to Pompeii from Naples

Norman, you'll get more info if you post "To the Boot", but the local train info is this: from the Centrale station in Naples (Piazza Garibaldi), go downstairs to the Circumvesuviana station (there's another ticket window for these trains. Trains leave for Pompeii at least once an hour and usually every half hour. Get off the Circumvesuviana train at "Pompeii Scavi". There is not always an announcement for stops, but there is a rail map showing every stop in every car. From the cruise port to the trains station, a taxi is easiest - make sure you know the fare at the beginning.

Our experience with the taxis when the cruise ships are in port is that the rate more than doubles. That day for us they wanted 10E for less than a mile trip. Take tram 1 from the port to the train station. One Euro a couple of years ago but higher today. I thought the train to Pompeii run much oftener than once an hour. It is a basically a commuter run. We did not pay any attention to the schedule. Just got off the ship as soon as possible, caught the tram, bought the ticket (be sure to buy a return ticket) and waited about ten minutes for the train. Same way on the return. We spent most of the day in the ruins, packed a light lunch from the ship's breakfast, and returned about 3 pm. There is a small snack area, restrooms inside the ruins towards the north end. We purchased some cold beverages and ate our lunch on the outside tables. We used a local guide we hired at the entrance which was fine. The train platform is next to the entrance to Pompeii and again I think we waited about ten minutes or so for the next train back to Naples. On return we took the bus back to the port. In square in front of the train station is a huge bus park. In the middle was a ticket booth with a huge sign in English stating that Bus ? goes to the Port with an arrow pointing in the direction to the bus. Again it was Euro.

Norman, You should be able to find schedule information on the Circumvesuviana website. I'm not sure what the cost will be for a Taxi from the docks to Napoli Centrale, but as Frank mentioned I suspect the prices may "differ" on cruise ship days. You might want to read the warnings about Taxi's in Naples in the Italy Guidebook. Happy travels!