NCL excursion to Capri!

Has anyone done the excursion to Capri that NCL offers? Is it worth it to be guaranteed a seat on the ferry back to Naples or do we go on our own... we are in port 7am-7pm...the only time left to take the ferry on NCL web site is 8:45...will we have enoughtime to explore Capri as NCL has the tendency to " rush back" from previous experiences!

We have posted on this topic many times so you might just want to use the "Search" for this forum. Perhaps we should explain how it works if you go on your own, and you can make your own informed decision. There are currently 2 different companies (SNAV and NLG) who operate fast boats (jetboats/hydrofoils) which take about 50 min one-way. Tickets cost approximately 45€ (round trip) and then you will spend a few more Euros to get up to Capri Town (from the Marina Grande Port). So, on your own, figure transportation at about 50€ which you might want to compare to NCL's excursion price.

Unfortunately, the two different ferry companies do not except each other's tickets so one should buy a ticket for the ferry company they intend to use. We simply get off the ship ASAP, walk over to the ferry port (Molo Beverello) and purchase a one-way ticket on the next fast boat...(both companies are fine). Once we arrive at Capri we stop at the small ticket office at the end of the pier, check the return schedules (you want only boats going directly to Naples/Molo Beverello) and purchase our return ticket at that time. As a general rule, if you want to later take an earlier ferry you can use the ticket as long as its with the same company.,

DW and I have probably done this Naples-Capri trip about a dozen times and never had a problem getting on the boat of our choice. That being said, we have seen a few posts where folks said the ferry of their choice was full. Perhaps this happens...but we have never seen it.

As to "rushing back" we would never recommend taking the last possible ferry. We usually try to be back in Naples about 1 1/2 hours before we have to reboard the ship. We would only cut it tighter if we knew that we could easily catch the ship the following day :). Our secret of more then forty years of extensive independent travel (on and off cruises) is to always leave some margin for things going wrong.

Hank

Thanks so much Hank! We will follow your advise for sure!

Thanks so much Hank! We will follow your advise for sure!

If doing this on your own we would offer some additional suggestions. Port days are always too darn short, so extend your day by trying to among the first off the ship so you can get on an earlier boat. Once at Capri, buy that return ticket so you have some peace of mind and remember to allow extra time to get back down to the ferry port when you are scheduled to leave. You can always have a drink at one of the cafes located close to the ferries.

On Capri, one of our favorite activities is taking the single chair lift from Anacapri to the top of Mt Solaro. Of course you do need some decent weather without too much wind. The Chair Lift takes about 15 min (each way) and they are single chairs (where your legs dangle). It is a problem for those afraid of heights....but otherwise is an amazing bargain that rewards you with a fantastic view. You can get to Anacpri by taking a small public bus from Capri Town...or you could splurge on a taxi. As to the Blue Grotto, you can get boat/tours right from the same dock where you arrive at Marina Grande (Capri's small harbor). The Blue Grotto is probably one of the most hyped tourist traps in Europe and everyone will have to make up their own mind if its worth the money (and its not cheap). If you are going to go to the Blue Grotto, its best to do it as soon as you arrive on Capri (but first stop and get that return ticket to Naples). If the Grotto is open, there will be folks holding up signs right on the pier. The boat ride around the island (to where you transfer to the small boats to enter the Grotto) is quite picturesque.

The shopping on Capri can be very interesting. Capri Town has its share of touristy shops, but also has a street with quite a few world-class boutiques (its the first place we saw 600€ Jeans). Some of these boutiques are quite exclusive and an outfit will cost you more then the cruise :).

Hank

My first visits to Capri were always off or shoulder season and it wasn't until I took a July cruise a few years ago that I experienced the intense crowds of summer. While I love using public transport, if you are there in the summer I think one of the open-air taxis from the port up to Anacapri is a bargain in terms of time saved (who wants to spend an hour on line for the bus, port days are short enough as it is), and a hoot on top of that. (And that wait is on top of the wait for the funicolare from the port to Capri unless you get one of the buses right from the port.) The taxi fare is fixed so you know ahead of time what it will cost (€23 for example, from the port to Anacapri for up to four people) and you can share the cost with other cruisers if you can convince them to join you.

At any rate, regardless of whether you take a taxi or the bus, the secret to saving time on Capri is to head directly for Anacapri upon arrival (after purchasing your return ferry ticket, as Hank says) bypassing the town of Capri until later in the day.

Info on taxis toward the bottom of this page: http://www.capri.net/en/getting-around