Day 4 Saturday 8th October Naples and then Capri
Oceana sailed into Naples’ harbour and was docked at the quay just after 7 am.
We were motivated to leave the cabin as the ship was being bunkered with oil right under our balcony.
After breakfast spent chatting for a long time with fellow passengers we left the ship to find the ferries from the port. The terminal is rather grand and leaving involved going up staircases, along hallways with closed shops and then down yet more stairs.
Unlike Livorno the wi-fi in the terminal was not great and I was unable to make any connections. At the small tourist booth we picked up a map and directions to the local ferries.
We queued to buy a ticket for the ferry to Sorrento only to discover that the next one was not until 11 am. Change of plan – we joined the queue for tickets to Capri.
The queue to board the ferry became a mad scramble once the gates were opened. Once aboard the ferry we were downstairs at the stern – not the best way to travel.
Capri
Just about 50 minutes later we were on Capri and picked up a map at the tourist information office at the end of the quay.
The queues for boats around the island and to visit the Grotta Azura (Blue Grotto) were long and due to the rough seas none of the boats could actually go into the cave.
Further along the quay amongst the souvenir shops and cafes was the funicular to take visitors up the hill away from the harbour. This again had long queues
Instead we started to walk up the Via Truglio which was signposted to central Capri. This path started with several flights of steps and continued alternating between steps and steep paths with cobbles.
As we climbed I captured some shots looking out of Capri across the Bay of Naples. We passed under the funicular, looked down on the diesel electricity station for the island and then crossed roads as we climbed further up.
We could see the funicular terminus above us to our left but instead of climbing some more we turned right and followed the signs to a restaurant called Panorama.
The Panorama opened at noon but we were able to buy a couple of beers. We had to sit at the back of the plaza as were not eating despite being the only customers! Not sure they appreciated our not buying lunch but as we had a ferry back to Naples in just over 1.5 hours we didn’t feel we had time.
A little grumpy for customers only wanting beer, but at 4 Euros for a 330ml bottle they weren’t cheap. As I paid I asked for the wi-fi code and soon had a fast connect and it was all smiles when I took our glasses and bottles back to the bar.
The views from the restaurant were amazing and and I also took a picture of where we were supposed to have climbed – the funicular terminus.
The Via Truglio was now very busy with tourist walking up and even more joining us going back down.
The occasional glimpses of the Bay were spectacular.
Once back at the harbour we stopped at Bar Corallo for a second beer and to watch the world walk by.
It was fascinating how the boats dropped their anchors in the harbour and used them as a pivot to spin and then reverse into their spaces on the quay.
As we left the cafe I picked up a 3 Euro pizza slice ‘to go’.
We double checked where our ferry back to Naples was leaving and had an ice cream while watching people on the small beach at the other side of the pier.
Our ferry back had an open top deck with lots of space to move about and to take pictures.
Back in Naples at the cruise terminal all the shops were now open, the wi-fi still didn’t work and after all that walking on Capri I used the lifts rather than the stairs in the terminal.
At 5.15 pm the sail away party started out on the Lido deck. By then the temperature had fallen a few degrees and the air was definitely chilly. As I watched the clouds above Mount Vesuvius changed as we sailed out.
I sampled Doombar again as neither of the draft beers were appealing from the Lido bar.
These are the views of Naples as the sun set and some of the images of the harbour.
Later I watched as ships sailed in and out of the harbour as we left Naples.
From our balcony I watched a ship sail past Capri (very dark and I was using a telephoto lens…)
Before dinner I again sampled Love Lane from Liverpool.
Dinner was chicken Caesar salad (no anchovies) followed by gammon steak then a sultana brioche bread and butter pudding.
The concierges rate for postcards was £1.0 leaving at 3.30 pm.
Moral about our visit to Naples, leave the ship at the earliest time possible and to try to avoid the queues at the ferry ticket offices or buy the tickets online.
If you would like to skip the shops (and the stairs) in the terminal then at the Coastguard monument it is possible (sometimes) to walk under the building to join the queue for boarding.
After a sea day and passing through the Straits of Messina we would call at Dubrovnik in Croatia.