Amalfi Drive/Sorrento or Capri
 

We're going on a cruise and will have the opportunity to do the drive along Amalfi with a visit to Sorrento (via a cruiseship tour) OR a day in Capri (on our own). Unfortunately, we cannot do both as we will only be docked in Naples for the day. Which one would people pick and why? Thanks!

You have a tough decision, although I'm not sure I'd include Sorrento in an Amalfi Coast tour - I think I'd spend more time along the coast in other towns, such as Positano, Amalfi, and then up to Ravello and back. With this option you'd even have time to visit Pompeii, although it would be a VERY full day. Some cruise ships offer this combo tour, but when we did this last year (we were on Celebrity's Millennium) we hired a private driver, who also arranged the guide for Pompeii.

On the other hand, Capri is also wonderful. We spent a couple of days/nights on Capri when we were on a land tour a couple of years ago. With only one day there, I think you'd want to get over there early and spend your time judiciously so as to include walks/hikes (e.g., Arco Naturale), a visit to Anacapri, take the lift up to Mounte Solaro, then spend some time near and in the town of Capri (Augustus Gardens, La Piazzetta, chi-chi shops, etc.). The town will be chock full of daytrippers (like yourself), so you'll need to be patient - sit at one of the outdoor cafes on the Piazzetta and enjoy an apertif and people-watch.

Either of these excursions are wonderful. The Amalfi Coast drive is probably more restful (although depending on the time of year that can also be a tourist madhouse).

Have a blast with either one.

KC

Hi Haliburton -

I just saw your post regarding the Vatican. I didn't realize your cruise was in November. At that time there will NOT likely be the mad crush of tourists in either Amalfi Coast or Capri - in fact, some places may have closed for the winter (e.g., some of the shops in Positano and on Capri). And of course the weather might be a bit dicey for walks and hikes then - take an umbrella, jacket, etc.

Still that part of Italy is beautiful.

KC

Hi H,

For a visit in Nov, I think I would do the AC drive - not necessarily the ship's tour.

Weather could be very iffy. Ferries might be forced to stop due to rough seas.

The SITA buses between Sorrento and Amalfi will still run.

((I))

Are you going to explore Napoli at all?? There is plenty to see and do there--museums, go to Pompeii, etc.

I love Capri, but it will be dead in November.

I absolutely HATE Sorrento. It is full of English geezers on the prowl for tea towels and ham sarnies.

Jeepers, it doesn't sound like Capri is the way to go (since we're going in November) nor Sorrento (nobody likes Sorrento!). If the weather is rainy(which I am hoping desperately that it isn't), we won't be comfortable renting a car to do the Amalfi coast on our own (driving in a strange country is stressful enough let alone driving in rain in a strange country). We're on the Celebrity Millennium cruise and the two tours that the ship offers that includes an Amalfi Drive is either (1) Amalfi Drive & Pompeii or (2) Amalfi Drive & Sorrento. Which one would people pick? Or the other option is just to grab a local bus that travels between towns and gives us a cheap way to do the Amalfi drive - we'd be okay with that too although I'm not sure if such a bus system exists.

If the weather is nice, Amalfi Drive & Pompeii. If it's rainy, may be too foggy to see much and I doubt the coastline would be appealing in rainy weather. There's nothing to see in Sorrento, per se -- have stayed there twice and it's convenient as a base but no real sights. If the weather is not great, I would go to Pompeii and Naples museums.

Hi Haliburton -

Another option would be to hire a private driver to take you on the Amalfi Coast drive and to Pompeii. As noted, crappy weather would diminish both (and certainly Capri if, as Ira notes, the ferries aren't running). We were on the Millie Venice to Barcelona cruise last year (in June) and opted for Amalfi Coast and Pompeii, but there were four of us so that the price wasn't too bad. Have you checked with your fellow cruise-mates to see if anyone would want to join you with a private driver (go to CruiseCritic dot com and join a roll call).

If you are interested in a private driver, there are lots who have been recommended on this board. We used Francesco Marrapese in 2005 and he was great (http://www.francescomarrapese.com/) - he wasn't available for us in 2006 but arranged for another driver who was also great. If interested in a private driver, use the search function on this board and other suggestions will appear.

Hope this helps. And maybe, JUST MAYBE, you'll have great weather!

KC

Thanks everyone for their help.

Does anyone know if there is a local bus service that runs out of Naples to some other town but along the way gives us a ride along the Amalfi Coast? I don't really care what other town it goes to so long as I get a good view along the way (and of course, be able to come back to the cruiseport within 3 or 4 hours).

I hate to hear that people are so resilient to Capri- it is actually quite beautiful- make your own mind up as to where you want to go and enjoy your time there- it will always be a great memory and experience!

Salud-

1239 - I am not sure people are against Capri but more so on the month I am going (November)...I guess Capri is pretty dead that time of the year and the ferry from Naples to Capri may not even run.

Nobody likes Sorrento? I do!

I think the problem with seeking the advice of people on these either/or choices is that we don't know you at all. We don't know what interests you, how fit you are for hikes or challenging walks, whether you'd rather sit on a piazza and people-watch or race around and see as much as you can, whether you like to shop or see the sights, etc. We're just telling you what WE liked, not necessarily what you will like.

Me? Mid-50s, very fit, hates to shop, hates to sit, loves history, art, local culture and food, up for any walk or climb to the top of a bell tower, would not go to Capri in November. If the weather is bad, I wouldn't go to Pompeii and I'm not sure I'd even enjoy the coastal towns that much. If it's raining, I'd go to the archeological museum in Naples, a couple of churches and, if time remains, the Galleria and the Palazzo Royale near the ferry dock.

With only 3-4 hours, I wouldn't use public trans to see the coastal towns. First, you have to get to the train station from the dock. It's an hour on the train to Sorrento, then nearly another hour to Amalfi on the bus before you start the return trip. Either hire a car and driver or go on the cruise' tour.

Sorrento is a scenicly beautiful town, and a wonderful place to experience that part of the country. Walking the streets, looking at the views,and getting a good taste of that area is a real treat. Combined with a day trip to the Amalfi Coast would be great.

Or you could probably get a personal driver to drive you,, maybe for about the price of the cruise day tour.
Capri is nice and beautiful, of course,but that involves taking a boat/hydrofoil....(and you will have just "come off the ship/water"!
You could just do the Almalfi coast on a bus or driver, stopping at Poisitano, as well as town of Amalfi, and possibly Ravello.etc.

I've never heard of anyone who did NOT like Sorrento...(until now),,,but that seems to be a minority count (:>)

When people say it rains in Naples/Capri/Amalfi Coast in November - are we talking about downpour non stop rain, some drizzle or sudden rain and the it's over with quickly and the sky becomes clear again? I will be in that area on November 10th.

In my experience it's usually a short, sharp downpour/thunderstorm.

Steve

Do the day in Capri. I would not drive the Amalfi Coast if I were you. It is extremly narrow. We took a bus ride from Sorrento to Positano and it took a while and they were flying. Why November?

Short sharp downpour and then it's over with (and we have the rest of the day to enjoy), doesn't sound that bad.

nohelp - November 10th b/c we are on a cruise and that's the day the ship is docked in Naples. Cruise starts in Barcleona on Nov 4 and makes its way to Venice by Nov 18 (covering cities in Italy, some of the Greek islands and Istanbul). I asked my travelagent before booking and she told me it would be fine and I even did some quick average weather search for each of the individual cities on the web and they seemed okay but I'm hearing differently from people on this board.

Haliburton33,

I did the same cruise on the Millie back in 2003. Our group hired a company to take us to the Amalfi coast. We stopped in Sorrento, Amalfi, Positano (had lunch there),and Ravello. For my cruise this October (on the Galaxy), three of us are taking a taxi from the port to the train station and heading to Pompeii. We'll spend about 3 hours (yes, probably not long enough) and then head into Naples for lunch and sightseeing.

I considered a day trip to Capri, but decided that when I go there I want to spend a couple of nights on the island.

This is the link to my journal: http://www.luvtotravel.homestead.com/Cruise03.html It's VERY, VERY LONG, so just scroll down to May 16th.

This is the company we used: http://www.seesorrento.com/index_eng.html

Monica ((F))

PS: Have you looked at the roll call for your cruise on Cruisecritic.com?

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=381114

You can meet your fellow cruisers and maybe even plan some day trips together, which would be less expensive than booking the ships tours.

Monica ((F))

Hiring a driver for the day would give you the most flexibility, though I don't know the cost. You could have a flexible plan: Pompeii (even via train) if weather is good, Naples for the museum if weather stinks. Pompeii is an unforgettable experience, Capri is just OK.
Capri in November sounds like a waste of time, it may not be nice enough to walk around.