My trip nears and your postings have been SO helpful. I depart from Los Angeles on July 2.

My question is: Once our ship docks in Naples, how will I find the train station to go to Positano? Right? Left? Straight ahead? Once I get to Positano, you had mentioned in one of my earlier queries that I would need to take a SITA bus to Ravello. Once I get off the train, how do I find that SITA bus?

Should I buy a bus ticket in a tobacco shop or??? My guess is that I should do Ravello first then Positano and work my way back to Naples.

As I mentioned previously, I've done Capri and Pompeii extensively before.

I'm a female traveling alone so I'd like to make this as uncomplicated as possible with safety in mind. Cameos will be the biggest point of interest for me.

Thanks Ira (or anyone else!

Hi france,

>Once our ship docks in Naples, how will I find the train station to go to Positano?<

Take a cab to the train station. Ask the Purser to arrange it for you. That's his job.

>My guess is that I should do Ravello first then Positano and work my way back to Naples.<

In that case, you might want to take the train to Salerno, then the ferry or bus to Amalfi. From Amalfi you take the bus to Ravello.

Take the bus back to Amalfi and then the bus to Positano. From there you take the bus to Positano, Go on to Sorrento by bus and then take the Circumvesuviana train to Naples.

Alternatively, you take the Circumvesuviana train from Naples Centrale to Sorrento. The SITA bus is across the street from the train station exit.

You take the bus to Positano, then on to Amalfi, bus to Ravello and then return.

It is going to be a long day.

What time do you have to be back at the ship?

If you are planning on seeing Positano and Ravello, and doing some cameo shopping in one shore day, I would hire a private driver for the day and then you won't have to worry about making all these connections on various forms of transportation and finding them in the first place. There have been several people on this board that have hired a driver for the Amalfi Coast and I'm sure if you are interested they will chime in with names and prices. Also, you may consider taking a ferry from the dock in Naples directly to Sorrento. That ferry may even continue on to Positano, or you can switch once you get to Sorrento.

If you take the bus from Sorrento, get a window seat on the right side of the bus going and left side coming back.

You're planning a very full day - it will be a rush!

I'm not even sure that you have time for Ravello ... That will depend on what time you have to be back, I think.

If I were doing it I'd take the jetfoil to Positano, weather permitting (- it's much quicker than the train/bus route).

There's a Metro del Mare jetfoil from Naples (Molo Beverello) departing at 08.50, arriving Positano at 09.45.
www.metrodelmare.com

I'd then take the ferry or jet to Amalfi rather than the bus, as this is much quicker.

If you really want to include Ravello you might need to get a taxi from Amalfi, as buses only run hourly between Amalfi and Ravello.

For your return journey there is a jetfoil from Amalfi to Naples leaving Amalfi at 17.10 (arr. Naples 18.35).

If that's too late, your best option will be ferry from Amalfi to Salerno, then train back to Naples.

I'm not sure where you fit in the cameo-shopping - unless there are outlets in Amalfi or Positano ...

Hope this helps ...

Steve

The main Cameo Factory is at WWW.giovanniapa.com

The idea of a driver is a good one.

You could try to find another couple or two on board to split the cost.

We used Renato Cuomo to drive us between Naples and Praiano. He is a former bus driver and knows the area very well.

www.cuomonet.it [email protected]

Enjoy your cruise.

Thanks for the informative responses.

I didn't realize Ravello would be so dificult to get to.

The ferry sounds like a good idea.

Ira, you asked when my ship departs Naples. We dock at 7:00Am and depart at 7:00PM. I was hoping the time alotted would be sufficient to see Positano and Ravello.

Grazie!

We rented a Vespa Scooter to get up to Ravello easily from Positano via Amalfi. There were so many Trafic jams from the tour buses and we could easily and safely slowly pass the lines of cars waiting for a bus and then just wait a minute for the bus to negotiate a curve and we were on our way, ahead of all of the cars. That saved us hours!

Renato was a great driver and would be very efficient, and with a few people spliting the costs, it would be affordable. I would also suggest getting into each town as far as you can. Positano feels much different as you get further up the hill away from the beach. Amalfi was more tourist filled than Positano and Ravello was very quiet and felt more local.

With your time schedule you will certainly have time for Positano & Ravello.

I think the jetfoil will be your easiest option if the weather's good, and will avoid any potential traffic problems.

The 08.50 departure goes direct to Positano (arr.09.45) and Amalfi (arr.10.10).
http://www.metrodelmare.com/l-mm2_b.html

So you could either -

- stop first in Positano and then continue to Amalfi/Ravello, or

- go direct to Amalfi, up to Ravello, then return to Positano.

But ... where do you want to go cameo-shopping?

Steve

topping

Torre del Greco has a Museo del Corallo (all works in coral/cameos) that is directly off the main highway that a taxi could very easily take you to. I believe you can also walk there fairly easily from the Torre del Greco stop on the Circumvesuviana train line.
There is a school in Torre del Greco that trains people to produce gold and cameo jewelry, so that city in particular tends to have quite a bit of cameos.

I agree with the driver idea. Much more efficient timewise than messing with trains, buses and boats. There is a great cameo shop right next to the church on the piazza in Ravello. Also great pottery shops nearby. The shopping in Ravello was more laid back and to us appeared more reasonably priced.

Nnolen:

Is Torre del Greco a city? If so, where is it situated between Positano and Ravello?

The Museo del Carallo sounds right up my alley. I collect Cameos and I am always on the hunt!

Torre del Greco is actually between Naples and Pompei. However, if your ship is docking in Naples, and you want to go to Ravello on the Amalfi Coast, I think Torre del Greco and the Coral Museum are more or less on the way if you are going in a car.
I found an address for a store in Torre del Greco, too, that sells gold and cameos, but there are tons more than just this one.
De Luca Brothers
Via Montedoro, 21/23
80059 Torre del Greco (NA) - Italy Tel. +39 +81 882.46.66
Fax +39 +81 849.21.32
http://www.dilucabrothers.com/it/ind...context=storia

Sorry, just found this info. There is also apparently a coral museum in Ravello. The address is Piazza Duomo, 9.