Best of the Bay of Naples: Pompeii, Sorrento & Capri: My Honest Review of Princess Cruises’ Most Expensive Shore Excursion
- Emma Hamrick
- Oct 17
- 7 min read
Our port day in Naples went well until we found ourselves running through the port parking lot an hour after the ship was supposed to set sail… If visiting Pompeii, Sorrento, and Capri from the port of Naples all in one day sounds like an action-packed, active adventure, you’d be correct. Here’s exactly how the day unfolded: the highs, the lows, and everything in between.
On my recent 7-Night Mediterranean sailing aboard the Sun Princess, I joined Princess Cruises’ “Best of the Bay of Naples: Pompeii, Sorrento, & Capri” shore excursion, a full-day adventure from the Naples cruise port to Pompeii, Sorrento, and Capri.
This post is my honest Naples shore excursion review, covering what went right, what went wrong, and whether this whirlwind Italian tour is really worth $375 per person.
Best of the Bay of Naples - Excursion Overview
Best of the Bay of Naples: Pompeii, Sorrento, & Capri is Princess Cruise Line’s premier tour for the port of Naples. As the name suggests, the journey entails a visit to the Pompeii UNESCO World Heritage Site, a lunch in Sorrento, and a ferry ride to Capri for free time to explore one of Italy’s most exclusive islands.
The tour costs a pretty penny, setting you back $375 per person for a 10-hour experience. Considered a “moderate” activity level by Princess, the tour includes a local guide, motorcoach transportation between the port, Pompeii, and Sorrento, and ferry service from Sorrento to Capri, then Capri back to the port.
At a Glance
⏱️ Duration: 10 hours
💶 Cost: $375 per person
🎟️ Includes: Transportation, local guide, lunch with wine, ferry tickets
🚶♀️ Activity Level: Moderate — lots of walking, stairs, and standing
🏆 Highlights: Pompeii ruins, Sorrento views, Capri’s town square
My Best of the Bay of Naples Shore Excursion Experience
Stop 1: Pompeii
We started the Naples shore excursion at 8:00 a.m., meeting at the Princess Live! Lounge with water bottles and snacks in hand (a must-pack, something light and hydrating).
Pompeii was just a short 25-minute drive from the Naples cruise port. But because we visited during May Day weekend, when Italians get free entry to national sites, the crowds were unreal. To make matters worse, our group tickets hadn’t been pre-purchased by Princess Cruise Line, so we ended up standing 45 minutes in direct sun waiting to enter. Not the most fun start to the excursion.
Once inside, though? Total awe.
Pompeii exceeded every expectation. The ruins were far more preserved than I imagined, with homes, frescoes, and even the grooves of ancient chariot wheels still visible. You could feel the history in every cobblestone.
We missed seeing a few key spots, most notably the brothel and the full plaster casts of the victims, due to time limits. Even so, Pompeii ended up being the highlight of the entire day.
Stop 2: Sorrento
From Pompeii, we boarded the bus again and headed toward Sorrento for lunch. Unfortunately, because of delays earlier in the day, we had zero free time to explore town, which was a major letdown, since Sorrento’s seaside charm is half the appeal.
Lunch was hosted at a gorgeous cliffside location overlooking the water, but we were seated indoors in a banquet hall instead of on the terrace. The meal was fine: lemon chicken, sides, and an amazing olive oil cake for dessert. Each couple got a bottle of wine, which was a nice touch.
I did manage to pop inside a pottery shop across the street from the restaurant for five minutes. I was set on finding a small bowl with painted lemons as a ring dish for my kitchen at home. In my frantic 5 minutes of shopping, I thought I found the perfect bowl. When I unwrapped it at home, I realized my ‘perfect ring dish’ was actually an ashtray. I'm glad I have a memento from our quick Sorrento stop that will give me a good laugh for years to come.
Sorrento’s seaside charm made me wish this Princess Cruises excursion allowed more time to explore.
After our lunch and power-shopping break, we descended a long staircase to the Sorrento ferry terminal, only to wait around 45 minutes for our ferry to Capri. At this point, “hurry up and wait” became the theme of the day.
Stop 3: Capri
By the time we reached Capri, the final destination on our Best of the Bay of Naples tour, the weather had turned overcast. We took the funicular up to the main square, surrounded by designer boutiques and lemon-themed souvenir shops.
Then the rain started.
My mom and I ducked into a cozy restaurant overlooking the water and ordered a Caesar salad and the island’s signature treat: a frozen lemon filled with lemon sorbet. Both were delicious, even if the salad was an outrageous €26. My mom’s limoncello spritz, though, might’ve been worth the price tag.
The trip back down to the port of Capri was rough. The funicular line was packed, with locals and tourists pushing through. We waited nearly 45 minutes, crammed shoulder-to-shoulder, and the ride down felt claustrophobic.
By the time we regrouped at the dock, it was raining harder, everyone was tired, and the hydrofoil back to Naples was delayed. The day wrapped up two hours late, meaning our group actually delayed the ship’s departure.
Thankfully, because we booked through Princess, the ship waited. If we’d gone with a third-party company? We’d be waving goodbye to our ship from the pier.
Highs and Lows of this Naples Shore Excursion
After completing the Best of the Bay of Naples shore excursion, here are the biggest highs and lows from this Naples cruise excursion review.
✅ Pros:
We covered a lot of ground: This tour offered a wonderful sample of multiple points of interest along the Amalfi Coast. If I ever go back to Naples, I know I’d love to spend more time in Sorrento, as well as Pompeii.
Pompeii was incredible: I must admit that I am not a Pompeii or Italian history enthusiast. However, Pompeii blew me away and became the unexpected highlight of this tour.
Lunch included wine and cake: I’m really grasping at straws now, but the white wine served at lunch was… white wine. And the olive oil cake was delightful. And sometimes it’s the little things that bring me joy.
❌ Cons:
This tour is trying to do too much: Simply put, there’s not enough time to do this itinerary. Yes, seeing all three of these major points of interest sounds like an easy way to check things off your bucket list. But after this tour, I’ve concluded that the Amalfi coast requires at least two days to enjoy fully. If I were to visit by cruise again, I’d likely select a Pompeii-specific excursion or select a single city to explore for the day over this whirlwind adventure.
Crowds and weather can make or break your experience: Frankly, Capri was not fun. A rainy day or busy city can happen anywhere while traveling, but the way this tour is structured doesn’t really allow for that. Rain in Capri forced us to cower inside shops and restaurants rather than enjoying the scenery, and we spent a third of our time on the island waiting in lines for the funicular and ferry. There’s a limit to how many crowds I can take, and unfortunately, Capri exceeded my time.
Too much “hurry up and wait:” I’m always down for a journey being part of the destination, but too much of this journey included waiting. First, waiting to start the tour, then waiting to get into Pompeii, then waiting for the bus, the ferry, the funicular, another ferry… I’d estimate that of the 11 hours we spent on this tour, 3 hours were spent waiting. A little back-of-the-envelope math says that I spent roughly $100 of my tour fees on… waiting. That’s a real bummer.
Best of the Bay of Naples: 9 Tips for Future Travelers
Planning to book this Princess Cruises Naples shore excursion? Here are a few tips that’ll make your experience smoother.
Book with Princess Cruises directly. If delays happen, your ship will wait.
Avoid May Day weekend or national holidays. The crowds are next-level.
Bring snacks and water. Meals are spaced out and the day is long.
Dress cute but practical. Think sundress or linen set + comfy walking shoes.
Check the weather before choosing Capri. Rain can impact ferry rides and views.
Pompeii deserves time. If you ever return, dedicate half a day just to exploring it.
If you can, slow down. Consider doing Sorrento and Capri on separate days for a more immersive experience.
Pack your patience. Italy is on every traveler's bucket list for a reason. Expect crowds and lots of waiting.
Consider your physical capabilities. Pompeii is not ADA accessible and this tour included lots of walking on uneven paths, long flights of stairs, and a lot of standing. If you have limited mobility, I would not recommend this tour.
Bottom Line: Is the Best of the Bay of Naples Shore Excursion Worth It? | Naples Shore Excursion Review
Overall, Princess Cruise Line’s Best of the Bay of Naples shore excursion offers one of the most ambitious full-day tours from the Naples cruise port. It's ideal for travelers who want to see as much of southern Italy as possible in a single day.
It’s ambitious, beautiful, chaotic, and slightly exhausting. You’ll end the day with unforgettable memories and a deep appreciation for Italian logistics (or lack thereof).
But if you prefer slow travel and dream of wandering Sorrento’s lemon-scented streets or sipping espresso on Capri without a ticking clock, this may not be your dream day.
For me, the real magic was in Pompeii, which completely surpassed my expectations. Sorrento and Capri were stunning, but both deserved more time to breathe.
Still, I can’t help but smile when I look back. Between the rain-soaked ferry rides, ancient ruins, and €26 salads, it was everything I love about travel: unpredictable, imperfect, and totally unforgettable.
💡 Would I Recommend This Tour?
Yes — if you want to see as much as possible in one day and don’t mind a fast pace.
No — if you prefer slow travel, spontaneity, or hate crowds.
Want to Hear Directly from Me?
A podcast of my complete Best of the Bay of Naples: Pompeii, Sorrento & Capri shore excursion review is available to watch below:
Wrapping it Up
Would I do this exact tour again? Probably not. Would I recommend it to certain travelers? Absolutely.
If you’re chasing a once-in-a-lifetime, all-in-one Italian experience, this excursion delivers. Just go in knowing it’ll be a long, crowded, and slightly chaotic day. It's the kind of tour, the kind of day that leaves you tired but full of stories.
For future travelers looking for more detailed Mediterranean cruise tips, from what to wear in Italy to full reviews of the Sun Princess Cabana Mini Suite, check out my related posts linked below.
Until next time, keep on exploring.
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