€2500 for full day boating outing on Amalfi coast?
 

Sooo... I don't even have my hotels in Rome booked yet, but this one day out on the water is the one to which I have looked forward forever! We are staying at a small villa five minutes from Sorrento in mid August, and although I researched companies such as Luccibello and Gennaro e Salvatore, I casually mentioned to the concierge at the hotel that I would love for her to get me some prices for some excursions. This is a very celebratory trip as it is my parents' 70th birthday year and my 11-year-old son's first time to Italy. This day on the water with a private boat and captain is my gift to them. I don't want to do ferries, or group tours etc. Just our family of five: my parents, my husband, my son, and myself. We had done something very similar out of St. John a few years ago. We spent the day exploring all the little islands in the BVIs. It was so unbelievably wonderful. Magical. I think I will enjoy it even more on the coast of Italy.

This is what my concierge sent back to me this morning. ( I realize there might be charges to dock in the towns. And of course there is the price of fuel which we actually paid separately and **after** our excursion in the Caribbean). What do you all think?


- " Private boat full day 8 hrs, five people, Amalfi, Capri, Positano, peninsula coast, stops for snorkelling, equipment included, welcome drinks, English speaking skipper, transport assurance, pick-up from/to Villa. € 2500
Please note that disembarkation in Amalfi and Capri will have an extra supplement of €50 each"

My dad loves a good bargain and is the type of guy who would walk around the "marinas" and try to find someone who would do it for much less. But I honestly don't want to take that chance. And I want someone who is a licensed skipper. Plus, he will never know what I paid anyway! It's my gift to him and my mom. Thankfully I'm in a position where I can afford to splurge like this, yet I consider myself something of a savvy shopper and I don't want to be ripped off.

Any thoughts or suggestions?

Mille Grazie,
Lisa

Boy, That is a huge amount of money to me, plus the supplements in Capri and Amalfi. I hope someone with more knowledge comes on to post.

Check out Blue Star Boat Tours on Amalfi Coast. It is a small family owned company. They are rated by TA as the number 1 out of top 10. You could go through Viator, but I would go directly to Blue Star, no middleman. Hope that helps.

I think anytime you go through a hotel, you're going to pay more than you need to. I would continue to research/look around online.

I sent emails to Lucibello, Gennaro e Salvatore and Blie Star. Then my husband found one located right in Sorrento which will save us the transport fees back and forth to Positano which is where most of these other companies are based. The company is Sorrento luxury charters. I received this response already and it even includes lunch. Much better pricing already:

We can offer you following tour.
Departure from Sorrento harbour.
We'll start with welcome drink on board, we'll proceed along the Sorrento coast to the golf of Naples, then we'll visit a nice natural pool of Queen Giovanna where you can make the first dip in the sea, then we have to visit a natural Green waterfall where the capitan explain the history of our coast, the ancient Saracino's tower and Massalubrense's lemons story passing through amalfi's coast and Positano typical sea.
We continue with a special free beach where we can stop for the first swim and snorkel.
Then we'll go to Capri Island, where we can visit the most famous Green grotto, white, coral and Faraglioni Rocks.

The blue grotto is a museum and the ticket price is extra we don't suggest sometime because there are many boats traffic to wait ( but at 5pm o'clock you can swim inside ).

For the lunch we have many choices, on the island of Capri or we can organise directly together when you'll be on board for the time.
Usually we prefer Nerano's bay, where you should taste the typical italian food ( not touristic ):

you'll taste spaghetti with zucchiné, fresh fish, and traditional food.

Then there is an higest quality restaurant "Quattro Passi" with one Michelin star, or the "Cantuccio restaurant"typical family or the old style.
Return at sunset-shadows.

We offer a nice aperitive on board... with typical products, Prosecco openbar, Caprese's salad, fresh fruits.

The boats avaible are:

-Tornado express 45, full day, € 1.550

- Rizzardi 50, full day, € 2.150

I'll keep you guys posted. Thank you as always for the encouragement and insight.

I'm glad your research turned up some options. The original quote seemed truly excessive to me.

That boat will return about 125L an hour.

The fuel alone for the trip could be over E400.

The boat costs over E500,000 new.

I wouldn't like to offer private charters and try to make huge amounts over a very short season, at E2000 a day including add ons.

Zen, whatever happens you really NEED to post a trip report when this trip is concluded. Why? Because, quite frankly, you have put so much energy into the perfection of this thing (understandable) I strongly suspect a lot of people around here are going to be very interested in what really happened.

You are going to need a vacation from this vacation at this rate. And as to that fab concierge...hey, you should know by now that some things go waaaaay up in price whenever a hotel gets involved.

I will absolutely post a trip report. A long, indulgent one ;) And the truth is that I have not even begun the most exhaustive research which will be for the restaurants and trattorias and gelaterias. I am involved heavily in the food world and was laughing last night when my 11 year old son called me from my parents' home and asked me to spell "Roscioli" so that he could Google Image it and show my parents "burrata pictures". The apple doesn't fall far from the tree, methinks.

Thank you all so much for your invaluable insight. And encouragement. I've been busy all day, but the first thing I will do tomorrow is to really try to find the perfect Rome accommodations. Still can't figure that part out!

Case anyone is following along for their own personal planning, this is what I received from Blue Star:

1. Capri Special – Full day tour with a small group of 12 people on our nice boat

Price: 70,- € per person

Start: 9:00 am – Return: 5:30 pm

Snack, soft drinks, Coke and beer included for the day, towels and shower/toilet on board

Tour from Positano to Capri Island – trip around the beautiful island – stop for swimming and snorkeling (masks on board for free) – visit of all important grottos (stop Blue Grotto: + € 13 p.person – if you do not want to do it, you just wait on board) – port of Capri: 3.5 hours on the Island to explore by yourself – on the way back to Positano stop for swimming



2. Capri Private tour – full day excursion only for you

Start: 10:00am – 6:00pm

Price: € 950,-/ full day (boat: THATS AMORE)



Snack, soft drinks, Coke and beer included for the day, towels and shower/toilet on board

Tour from Positano to Capri Island – trip around the beautiful island – stop from swimming and snorkeling wherever you want and how often you want (masks on board for free) – visit of all important grottos – port of Capri: as long as you want – possibility to have lunch in one of the beautiful local restaurants on the seaside

ONLY FOR YOU: white wine, Prosecco and fresh fruit



3. Explore the Amalfi Coast – Full day tour with a small group of max. 12 people on our nice boat

Price: 70,- € per person

Start: 10:00 am – Return: 5:00 pm

Snack, soft drinks, Coke and beer included for the day, towels and shower on board

We travel slowly along the Amalfi Coast stopping at the most attractive bays for a swim and admiring all the inlets and grottos some of which are only accessable by swimming. We pass in front of Praiano, the fiord of Furore, Conca dei Marini where the Emerald Grotto is situated (visit if desired +€ 5,- p.person), and then the ancient maritime republic of Amalfi. We procede to a small cascade of fresh spring water. Here you can have a really refreshing swim! If there is still time we go on past Maiori for another swim in a nearby cave.
For lunch time we stop in Amalfi where you have 3 hours to explore this colourful city and can continue up to Ravello (15min by bus), one of the city highlights above the Amalfi Coast.Slow return to Positano.

4. Amalfi Coast Private tour – full day excursion only for you

Start: 10:00 – 6:00pm

Price: € 650,-/half day (boat: THATS AMORE)

Price: € 850,-/full day (boat: THATS AMORE)



Snack, soft drinks, Coke and beer included for the day, towels and shower/toilet on board

Tour from Positano to Amalfi – stop for swim and snorkeling in nice private beaches and grottos (visit of the famous “Emerald grotto)”

(€ 5,- per person) and of the mystic “Pandora grotto” ) – stop in the port of Amalfi: possibility to visit Amalfi town and Ravello (min. 2,5 hours stop) or lunch in a nice and typical restaurant on the coast

ONLY FOR YOU: white wine, Prosecco and fresh fruit



5. Sunset Private tour –1.5 hours excursion only for you

Start: 6:15 pm

Price: € 250,-/tour

This trip starts at 6:15pm and finishes around 7:45pm. The boat for this tour is called “SEA LADY”. We leave from Positano beach with a glass of Prosecco driving along the lovely coast. You will enjoy one of the most beautiful sunsets near the famous “Li Galli Islands”. You can see the sun go down in the center of the famous “Faraglioni Rocks” from Capri Island. This is the perfect tour for enjoying a romatic view on Positano and the Coast.

Location: from Positano



Details for the booking:

If you want to book a date please send me the following info:

<!>Name of accommodation (hotel, BB, villa,…)

<!>Date of arrival

<!>Date of departure

<!>Name of the reservation

<!>Date of the boat tour, number of people

<!>Credit card details and expire date, only for guarantee (Visa, Mastercard) – we do not debit anything - please call me for writing down the details via phone +39/3342354122 (Elisabeth)

<!>Cell phone in case of emergency

I had a private half day trip around Capri on a gozzo (beautiful wooden boat) with stops for swimming and the Blue Grotto and it was 240 euro - just to give you an idea that 2500 euro is way over the top. Try this website for more options.

http://www.theamalficoast.net/

zen, thank you for sharing all the details about private boat options. It's on my list of things to do for my upcoming trip in September.

Regarding Rome, good luck with your search. As I mentioned, I've stayed in at least eight hotels in Rome on numerous trips and have not found the perfect one. I'm feeling very good about the choices for my upcoming trip but I reserved months ago. You will find something and it will be great!

Happy to help, LouisaH.

Thanks so much for all this info. We will be in Positano again in late August, early Sept. About 10 years ago we did a half day boat rental from Sorrento though we were staying in Positano for 6 of us for a mere $600+. It's my daughter's favorite memory. We'll be traveling alone this time but would still enjoy a boat ride and some of these offers might be just right. Great to share info on fodors.

I have had good luck with Gennaro & Salvatore for a semi-private excursion for much less---did they quote you or did I miss that?

We used www.privatdaytours.com with Gialucca Savarese last year.
They picked 11 of us up at the villa near Sorrento. And took us to the dock.
We had some Proseco and snacks on board. We were able to swim from the boat and snorkle. We stopped at a restaurant for lunch that was only accessible by boat.

We also stopped in Positano to shop or get a snack. We paid for our own meals when we stopped. We choose not to go to Capri but decided to spend the whole time just cruising up an down the coast.

They returned us to the dock in Sorrento and transported us back to the villa. It was a private tour and was from about 10:00 until 5:30.

The cost was E1000.

I think you should keep checking prices. The hotel has to be kidding.

Also remember that the whole thing could tank because of weather. Snorkelling is so much better in sunlight. Boating, in general, may not be too pleasant if it is windy and or/rainy. So, I would sure want to know what the cancellation policies are, or would want flexibility in my schedule to pick another day.
From a sailor.

Also try WHALES DI WENDY based in Capri. You could take the ferry over to Capri from Positano, then walk to their offices from the dock.

I don't know your budget for Rome, but my favorite hotel is ALBERGO DEL SENATO. We've stayed there four times. It's on the Piazza Della Rotunda, which is also home to The Pantheon, and within easy walking distance of most major sightseeing areas.

Please note that disembarkation in Amalfi and Capri will have an extra supplement of €50 each">>

this signalled rip off to me - an extra €50 EACH? you only have to stop and tie up the boat once which at those prices should be free anyway.

What I think the hotel email meant was there is a fee of $50 at each of Amalfi and Capri for boat docking.

I don't know about Amalfi, but the Capri docking fee is new this year, but it is legit.

ekc...you are probably right. I read it the way annhig did though and that's when I really felt I was being ripped off.

And for what it's worth, neither Lucibello nor Salvatore e Gennaro has responded to my email. The only ones who have are Sorrento Luxury Charters and Blue Star. I never chase down people to give them my money, so chances are I will go with the vendors who took the time to respond to me.

good choice, zenlist - and IMO €2,500 was already pretty steep. After all, you're not Richard Branson, are you? [or perhaps...]

Interesting that you never heard back from Lucibello, as I received very prompt responses to my inquiries early this summer - but I was asking about trips from Positano where they are based.

It is high season, so it is probable they are uber busy. I'd give it another day and re-send.

I was also asking about trips from Positano. And I emailed them last week and again on Monday :( I asked for general info about their "tours".

From Gennaro e Salvatore:




Have a look at about your request I can offer a private boat full day Capri of Amalfi Coast
embark: Sorrento Port 9:30am
disembark : Sorrento Port 6pm
Boat of 10 mt with cabin, shower and toilet
€ 900
Includes: driver, free soft drinks, beach towels, aperitif on board, tax.
Have a look at www.gozzosorrentino.biz

From Lucibello:

Hello
our company is Positano , but we can pick you up and drop off in Sorrento.

Concerning your kindly request , I can suggest some itineraries:

Capri Island:
Departure from Sorrento at your favourite time straight to Capri, with possibility to have free time on the island at your disposal.
Then tour around the island, stop to visit the Blue Grotto ( weather permitting , the entrance costs extra € 15.00 per person),Capri lighthouse , the Green Grotto,
possibility to stop and swim in the nicests spots, towards Marina Piccola, Faraglioni rocks,Villa Malaparte, the White Grotto.
Then La Conca del Sogno for lunch
On the way back , slowly cruising the peninsular , possibility to stop nearby Sorrento to have extra swim then back .

- Gozzo Aprea 32 ( La Lucia or San Salvatore) € 1000.00
- Apreamare 100 ( Ue ma) € 1000.00
- Tornado speedboat € 1200.00
- Itama speedboat € 1500.00
- Lady L € 1800.00


Amalfi Coast 1

Departure from Sorrento at your favourite time, straight to Amalfi Free time to walk around Then cruise of the Amalfi coast to admire the nicest spots and swim.( Conca dei Marini, Esmerald grotto,( weather permitting , the entrance costs extra € 5.00 per person)Fiordo di Furore,
Praiano,Positano , (possibility stop for shopping , and walk around.),
Possibility to stop for lunch in Positano or in Nerano ( small fishermen village along the coast )
then slowly cruising the peninsular , possibility to stop nearby Sorrento to have extra swims then back .

Amalfi Coast 2
Departure from Sorrento at your favourite time, cruise of the Sorrento Peninsula , possibility to stop for swimming, then slowly cruise of the coast towards Positano , possibility stop for shopping and walk around.
Then the Amalfi Coast , admiring the most scenic spots: Praiano, Fiordo di Furore, Esmeraldo grotto
( weather permitting , the entrance costs extra € 5.00 per person), Amalfi.
Free time to walk around . Will be also possible to land on a quite beach nearby for lunch.

On the way back , to Sorrento, we can also pass by Li Galli Islands( marmaids islands).


- Gozzo Aprea 32 ( La Lucia or San Salvatore) € 1300.00
- Apreamare 100 ( Ue ma) € 1300.00
- Tornado speedboat € 1600.00
- Itama speedboat € 2000.00
- Lady L € 2200.00

Of course the itineraries are just suggestions , we leave open to agree with your captain on the boat.

Price includes: Fuel, captain, Taxes, towels, drinks, snacks, masks.


From Positano we also offer other services as following:
BOATS WITHOUT DRIVER :
- tipycal wooden boat 8HP , € 35.00 per hour, over 3 hrs we give a
little discount. Daily rental ( over 5 hrs) € 180.00 including 1 tank of
gasoline ( just to cruise along the coast) maximum 4 people

- Small rubber boat ( without canapy) 40 Hp € 60.00,over 3 hrs we give a little discount. Daily rental ( over 5 hrs) € 280.00 including 1 tank of gasoline maximum 6 people

- Large rubber boat ,8 seats with canapy,40 Hp € 70.00,over 3 hrs we give a
little discount. Daily rental ( over 5 hrs) € 320.00 including 1 tank of gasoline
maximum 8 people

Suggested itineraries by private boat with captain:

AMALFI COAST:
Departure from Positano cruising the Amalfi coast, passing by
Praiano, Fiordo di Furore , Esmerald Grotto(entrance costs extra € 5.00),
Conca dei Marini, stop for swimming at Marmorata waterfalls , then we
pass by Minori , Maiori, we stop to have another swim at Pandora cave, Cetara , Vietri.
Possibilty to visit the little towns of the coast .
( We suggest Amalfi and Ravello) . Also on this side of the coast there are several typical restaurants if you like to have lunch ( to avoid Amalfi that is more touristy) etc.

CAPRI Island:
Departing from Positano at their favourite time to Capri, tour around the island, passing
by the White Grotto, Faraglioni rocks, towards Marina Piccola, the Green Grotto.
Along this part of coast we stop to have a swim if they like. Stop to visit the Blue Grotto ( weather permitting , entrance costs extra € 15.00 each) ,then free time on the island . On the way back , slowly cruising the peninsular , possibility to stop in Nerano ( small fishermen village ) for a late lunch ( less touristy then Capri) , stop for extras swim and back to Positano.



PRIVATE BOATS with driver , to Capri or Amalfi coast:( between 9 am and 6 pm)

- Gozzo Esposito Pappa €450.00 ( only for the Amalfi coast)
- Gozzo Aprea Lucilla €550.00
- large rubber boat 26 feet € 700.00
- Lancia Notte e Juorno € 850.00
- Gozzo Sorrento 32 € 1000.00 ( San Salvatore)
- Aprea 32 open € 1000.00
- Apreamare 100 Ue ma € 1000.00
- Itama 45 speedboat € 1500.00 .
- Lady L € 1800.00

Half a day rental ( from 9 am to 1 pm or from 2 pm to 6pm)
- Gozzo Esposito Pappa €350.00 ( only for the Amalfi coast)
- Gozzo Aprea Lucilla €400.00( only for the Amalfi coast)
- Large rubber boat 26 feet € 450.00
- Gozzo Sorrento 32 € 700.00 ( San Salvatore)
- Aprea 32 open € 700.00 ( La Lucia)
- Apreamare 100 Ue ma € 700.00
- Itama 45 speedboat € 1100.00
- Lady L € 1300.00 up to 12 people

We accept Visa and Mastercard.

Excursions :

CAPRI SPECIALE *

Suggested Departure from Positano by 9.00/9.15 to Capri, tour around the island, passing
by the White Grotto, Faraglioni rocks, towards Marina Piccola,the Green
Grotto.Along this part of coast we stop to have a swim.
Stop to visit the Blue Grotto ( weather permitting , entrance costs extra
€ 13.00), then free time on the island.( 4 hrs /5hrs ) and back to
Positano . € 70.00 each

Towels and soft drinks provided.


LA COSTIERA:*

Departure from Positano at about 10.00/ 10.30 , cruising the Amalfi coast, passing by
Praiano, Fiordo di Furore , Esmerald Grotto(entrance costs extra € 5.00),
Conca dei Marini, stop for swimming at Marmorata waterfalls , then we pass by Minori , Maiori, we stop to have another swim at Pandora cave.
Then we stop in Amalfi about 4 hrs pm then back.
€ 70.00 each.

Esmerald Grotto: ( during about 1.45/2hrs)
Departures at 10:15 am and at 1.45pm.
Short tour along the Amalfi coast ,passing by
Praiano, Fiordo di Furore , Esmerald Grotto(entrance costs extra € 5.00),
on the way back stop for a swim off the boat and back to Positano .

€ 25.00 each


*Towels and soft drinks provided.

Payment only in cash

Regular fast ferry just to Capri and back

POSITANO JET fast ferry schedule :

POSITANO -CAPRI at 10.25am - 2 pm - 6pm
CAPRI - POSITANO at 12 am- 3.10 - 7 pm
30 minutes ride

€ 17.00 one way

€ 34.00 return ticket

Capri Town Hall disembark tax € 1.50 each from July 1st, 2012

now you are spoilt for choice!

it had never occurred to me to even think about hiring a private boat and driver but really some of these are quite reasonable for a special treat perhaps.

Help me make my decision, Annhig lol It's so tough for me. I stink at making decisions.

CAPRI Island:
Departing from Positano at their favourite time to Capri, tour around the island, passing
by the White Grotto, Faraglioni rocks, towards Marina Piccola, the Green Grotto.
Along this part of coast we stop to have a swim if they like. Stop to visit the Blue Grotto ( weather permitting , entrance costs extra € 15.00 each) ,then free time on the island . On the way back , slowly cruising the peninsular , possibility to stop in Nerano ( small fishermen village ) for a late lunch ( less touristy then Capri) , stop for extras swim and back to Positano.>>

I don't like the responsibility, zenfoodlist, but I like this one, if you want to go to Capri. My only reservation is the amount of time you might have on the island - given what you will be paying I would want to maximise my time on the boat.

if you are ok with not going to Capri, then i like this one because you get to do any walking first, and swimming in the pm when the water will be warmer:

Amalfi Coast 1

Departure from Sorrento at your favourite time, straight to Amalfi Free time to walk around Then cruise of the Amalfi coast to admire the nicest spots and swim.( Conca dei Marini, Esmerald grotto,( weather permitting , the entrance costs extra € 5.00 per person)Fiordo di Furore,
Praiano,Positano , (possibility stop for shopping , and walk around.),
Possibility to stop for lunch in Positano or in Nerano ( small fishermen village along the coast )
then slowly cruising the peninsular , possibility to stop nearby Sorrento to have extra swims then back .

Does that help?

If this helps, we hired a private driver with a rubber boat no canopy to take us to Nerano from Positano one day. Don't do it. Boat was very uncomfortable and not easy to get into or out of for anybody, including our kids. BTW, Nerano would be almost an hour from Amalfi, and that's a long time to sit with your knees almost up in your face if the sea is rough!

Thanks annhig. I still haven't booked anything and probably will not until we get a bit closer. I am worried about weather and cancellation policies etc. I know from experience, however, that charters DO sell out. We had to book our charter in the BVIs weeks in advance and we when got there, our friends who decided to wing it, couldn't find anyone for the day we were all heading out. I'm just a bit overwhelmed at this point with other things. I will get to it! I want a combo of Capri AND the towns etc and some swimming. I want it ALL! ;)

I want it ALL!>>

IME travel [and life] becomes much more comfortable when you realise that's just not possible. Why not e-mail your favoured company and ask them for a quote for your ideal trip?

if they can't do it, [or it's too expensive] you'll know where you are. if they can, and the price is right, you can prove me wrong!

IMO it would be a shame to visit Capri, but not have time on the island. We were recently there and the views from the highest point are lovely. From the boat docks you must take a funicular to Capri town, then a bus or private taxi up to Ana Capri. Finally after wandering around there, you take a 13 minute chairlift to the peak. You will want at least several hrs there.

dgunbug - in theory I agree but surely the whole point of hiring the boat for the day is to be ...on the boat.

IMO it would be better to use the boat to explore the coast including the coast of Capri, and actually go to Capri to explore the island as you suggest on another day.

A charter is fabulous time!!! but E2500 sounds a bit overheated to me... but price aside, 8 hours on a boat is a long time... It better be a pretty big boat!!! we just chartered a beautiful 14 person mahogany venetian taxi on Como for E150 an hour for the ten of us... we had a nice wine & cheese party, saw a good bit of the lake and it's famous villas... and it was great, but everyone had enough after 3 hours... enjoy... i'm sure you'll have great fun!!!

Zen- forgive me if I missed it but which did you end up booking? I recently booked an 8 hour boat charter with skipper and English speaking guide for 1600 with Amalfi Sails. This is for a Pershing 37. I got quotes from about 4 different companies, the first one was also 2500 and it did not come through a hotel, it was direct from the charter company.

I wish I saw your thread earlier, I was trying to do exactly the same thing as you at exactky the same time, also for a family of 5.

Oh I just saw your last update & that you haven't booked yet. As far as wanting it all - wanting Capri AND some towns and swimming, etc. That is exactly why I ended up booking with Amalfi Sails, they will essentially just play the day by ear, coming from the customer's mouth. They'll go to & stop at as many places as time allows. I would think at some point a fuel surcharge could be incurred for going further than a reasonable distance. I should inquire about that. But anyhow, I think a cruise along a bit of the coast, then stops in positano and Capri with some swimming stops mixed in will cover having it "all" in my party's case.

Good luck with your charter search & trip :)