2025 Volendam, Naples, Italy...

This morning, I waited in the Crows Nest out of the wind until we got to within shooting range of Naples. The first time I went to the outer decks the winds were howling so I thought I’d wait until the distance was closer.  By the time we reached Naples the winds had calmed down and I captured my sail in photos from the front deck. Ann, Cathy and I got off the ship right away accompanied by our Guest Services friends, Janczy and Micheal. It was a jungle out there today with 4 large ships in port…we finally found our guide Rafael in the parking lot and off we headed to explore 3 towns on the Amalfi Coast. With so many cruise ship passengers in town, our driver decided to switch up the itinerary to try and alleviate some of the crowds. Our first stop was Ravello.  Ravello is perched on a hillside, offering spectacular, high-altitude views of the Amalfi Coast and the Mediterranean Sea. We had an hour to tour around the town. Flanking the town square is the lovely Basilica Ravello found by the Benedictine Monks in 1086. Next, we drove to Amalfi. It is hard to grasp that pretty little Amalfi, with its sun-filled piazzas and small beach, was once a maritime superpower with a population of more than 70,000. Our driver dropped us on Amalfi’s main street, Ruga Nova Mercatorum that leads up from the water and past the cathedral…this bustling street is filled with dozens of souvenir shops, restaurants, and cafés. The highlight of this street is the Amalfi Cathedral…Smack dab in the middle of the town, you see stairs before you notice anything else, and its bell tower is sure to inspire a photo or two. We went on a quick tour of this 9th century church. After visiting the Cathedral of St. Andrew, we toured the souvenir shops and the waterfront before heading to Positano. The traffic was really heavy on our drive along the scenic Amalfi coast. Once in Positano we parked halfway down the vertical city and walked down hill to the church and the beach. Positano is a picturesque town known for its colorful houses that cascade down a cliffside to the Tyrrhenian Sea. It is a very popular tourist destination famous for its stunning views, beaches, and narrow, winding streets, which are lined with boutique shops and cafes. On our climb back up the town, we stopped for Italy’s delicious pizza and gelato. The weather was perfect as was the company… Janzy and Mike really enjoyed their trip with us to the Amalfi Coast. Thanks to Rafael for maneuvering the traffic and the windy Amalfi Coast roads. It was a wonderful day.