carrieandchris

Hi all...
We are going on a cruise for our honeymoon and are STRUGGLING with picking a shore excursion out of Naples.
I've always wanted to go to Positano and do the Amalfi Drive as well as see Pompeii.

Here's the problem...

Three excursions to choose from:
1) Amalfi Coast by Motor launch & Pompeii
...starts in Salerno, 45 min cruise to Amalfi where we get to walk around a little, etc, then return to Salerno, drive to Pompeii, have lunch/wine and see the sites, return to Naples.
$157/person
2) Amalfi Drive & Pompeii
...drive along coast from Naples, pass Positano, lunch and stroll in Amalfi, pass Vietri sul Mare enroute to Pompeii, explore Pompeii, return to ship.
$157/person
3) Exclusive Amalfi Coast, Positano, Sorrento and Pompeii.
...This is via a small van instead of coach...drive to Pompeii and stroll around, drive to Sorrento and stroll around/have lunch/wine, drive to Positano and get to explore, return to the ship.
$345/person

Has anyone been on any of these excursions (Royal Caribbean) and/or to these locales and if so...which would you suggest? We don't want to miss anything but we also want it to be romantic, etc. Just wondering is the price point on the 3rd option is WORTH it or not.
Any help would be GREAT! Oh, and we're going the first 2 weeks in October 2010.

Thanks!~Carrie

worldinabag

Hi

Personally I think you're doing too much. I would do the romantic thing. Go to Positano. Have lunch at Da Costantino - http://www.dacostantino.com/inglese.htm. Authentic and inexpensive italian cuisine. Book a window seat beforehand.

greg

Hmm... none of them strikes as romantic.

The drive from Napoli up to Sorrento is hardly romantic. You pass through "interesting" areas that you want to go through quickly. On the Amalfi coast, the pretty portion is before and after Positano. Amalfi is mass touristy while Positano is less so only because it is very difficult to bring people in big buses to Positano. Probably that is why the trip that lets you stroll Positano is the most expensive option.

ira

Hi C,

If those are the only choices, I would choose #1. The ride from Salerno to Amalfi is very scenic.

I am assuming that a) you are driven from the boat to Salerno, b) you take the boat back to Salerno, c) you are driven along the Coast Road from Salerno to Pompei Scavi.

#2 you can do by yourself for about 1/2 the price.

tilburg

We were not on a cruise. We took the train from Rome to Naples. Then we hired a driver to Positano and stayed overnight in Positano. Positano is magical. Diane Lane's character is briefly in Positano in the movie, Under the Tuscan Sun.

Midnightsun

If you can find a shore excursion that will give you half a day in Pompeii and spend another half day in either Positano or Ravello (in the hills above Amalfi), that would be less hectic. Ravello has wonderful views and picturesque alleys. It is less crowded than the towns it overlooks on the coast. It is very romantic, especially in the evening when you have the Amalfi Coast at your feet, but I guess you won't be there in the evening. However, even during the day a walk up through town and in the gardens of the Villa Cimbrone was a highlight of our first visit there. We had about four hours in Ravello that day, and we liked it so much we returned and stayed for four days last year.

Positano has a beach and many more fashion shops than Ravello. It is also fun to explore for a couple of hours. The coastal drive can be fun if you're in no hurry, but if you're on an excursion that's trying to pack in several stops, you won't get much time to soak up the ambience, and the driving right outside of Naples isn't along a very attractive route. So if you can pick a couple of points rather than being whisked along the coast, you'd probably get the more magical experience

carrieandchris

I know they aren't all that romantic...but those were the three excursions offered that did the Amalfi Drive. Do you guys recommend something we can do on our OWN instead of booking it through the cruisline? I just don't want it to break the bank.
We arrive in Naples at 7am and leave at 7pm and the day before we are going to Rome for the whole touristy thing because my fiance hasn't been and wants to go to the Vatican, etc.
I see these other choices from Royal Caribbean:
Mt. Vesuvius/Pompeii Hike
Sorrento/Pompeii (wine/cheese/olive oil...then visit Pompeii)
Island of Capri with lunch
option #1 above is basically a boat to Amalfi for lunch and then to Pompeii
option #2 is similar but a drive to Amalfi for lunch and then to Pompeii
Capri, Sorrento, Pompeii
Just Pompeii
Just Naples
...not much else!

We are doing a few romantic things in other cities and just putzing around on our own so the romance will be there...just trying to mix in a little bit of fun, history, relaxation, and beauty!

ira

Hi C,

> Do you guys recommend something we can do on our OWN instead of booking it through the cruisline?<

Get off ship.

Take ferry to Capri.

See http://www.fodors.com/world/europe/i...ast-and-capri/

Enjoy your visit.

Discman813

Hey Carrie!

I have been searching for a month for an answer to your exact question! I travel in August. What did you end up doing and what do you recommend?

Thanks!
Travis

Sassafrass

Discman, it has been over 6 years since her trip and Carrie has not responded to other questions, so you might want to start a new thread.

sundriedtopepo

Discman, here's a link

DYI easy peasy

http://www.reidsitaly.com/destinatio...o_by_ship.html

I also recommend posting your own question.