Is it possible to do Pompeii, Mt. Vesuvius and Herculeneum in one day? Our ship docks at 6 AM and we need to be back on the ship by 7PM.

It depends on your definition of "do." We spent the better part of a day at Pompei and didn't see the entire excavation. It's a fascinating place.

If you had a driver, it would be physically possible to get to all three places (starting with Vesuvius) but this would be a long, tiring and rather expensive day. Don't forget to factor in lunch somewhere.

And when you say you have to be "back on the ship by 7 p.m.," what does that mean exactly? Will the ship be docked in Naples or anchored in the bay off Sorrento? While in Sorrento, we've seen people waiting in long lines on the dock to get onto small launches to take them back to their ship. The process looked like it would easily take more than an hour.

Hi K,

>Our ship docks at 6 AM and we need to be back on the ship by 7PM.<

You won't be off the ship before 7, and you ought to be back on it by 6:30.

I suggest that you choose between Pompei and Herculaneum.

Is there a particular reason for climbing up a mountain that you can see from the Bay of Naples?

You will miss all that Naples has to offer, including the Archaeological Museum, the Capella Sansevero, Spaccanapoli.....

Enjoy your whirlwind.

If you have a guide and a car waiting for you it is possible to do all three sites. To do them well, however, it would be best if you choose two out of the three and set times to 3-4/hours per site.

Furthermore, I would not choose climbing Mt. Vesuvius vs. a visit to the Naples Archaeological Museum. I agree Pompeii is a must. Make the reservations/arrangements before you get in the boat. Cruises often have post forums for upcoming guests; see if you can get a couple to split the cost with you.

You can take a bus to a large parking lot near the top of Vesuvius then walk the rest of the way. The only problem is that by then you are usually in the clouds and can't see the crater anyway. That's what happened to us.

Ira and Viajero,
We thought that the crater would be neat to see with our 7 and 9 year old. Will the museum be enjoyable to them at their ages? Is the museum accessible from Pompeii and Herculeneum by bus or train?

Hi K,

Your plan is much too full to be dragging a 7 and a 9 yr old around.

Take them to the Castel dell'ovo fortress, which is very near the docks, or take the funiculare up to Castel St. Elmo.

You can see Vesuvius from both points.

You can then decide if you want to stay in Naples and sop up some culture along with pizza and gelato, or haul them off to some old ruins in the heat.

I don't know how long you will have been on the boat, but your kids might need a day to run around in the parks on land.

Enjoy your visit.

Thanks, Ira! Know a good pizza place to take the girls to?

kelkel-- the hike/walk up the Vesuvius is nowhere as easy as it may look. The volcano (still active, by the way...) is a very incline, sandy-like hike to the top. Obviously, I don't know your kids, but trying to do all your itinerary in a day, including a hike up the Vesuvius w/a 7 and 9 years olds is a bit unrealistic.

Viajero:
Just got back from cruise. We did indeed, do Pompeii, Herculeneum, and Vesuvius over a 12 hour period. Actually, my 9 tear old ran up the volcano and I was the one that had a hard time! Our 7 year old pooped out and my husband carried her up...yes, carried! I am glad that we did it. The volcano was smoking....it is on borrowed time!

There is a great pizza place across the street from the Amphitheater entrance to Pompei.

dave