Cruising around and through Europe Part 30: Naples part 1
Apr 1, 2024 10:41:37 #
We awoke to a beautiful sunrise on the way to Naples and then went back to sleep for a bit. We had breakfast in The Restaurant (the main dining place on the ship) at 9:15; excellent as usual. We walked around deck 2 on a beautiful morning and snapped a few photos. We went to the Explorers Lounge to read, but it was a bit crowded, so we stopped outside the pool to read. We had a short pleasant conversation with a couple and then went to our room to relax. We arrived at the harbor around noon and docked about 30 minutes later as scheduled. We sailed in, then did a 180 degree turn and backed into the pier. It was a beautiful day in Naples.
We had a quick light lunch in the World Café and then went on our tour, Scenic Naples, 2PM- 5PM. From Viking: “Discover the highlights of Naples, a major center of Italian culture, during a scenic drive. Naples was the location of a powerful independent kingdom for 500 years, luring the region’s finest architects and artists, yet its history stretches back thousands of years. See evidence of its rich past, from Greek and Roman monuments to Renaissance splendors. Embark on a coastal drive to Mergellina, a residential area that has long offered Neapolitans a respite from city life. Admire the many beautiful villas and enjoy photo stops that offer stunning views of the gulf and the city. Return to the city center for a drive by Piazza del Plebiscito, perhaps the grandest public square in the city, with the former Royal Palace of Naples overlooking the bustling square. You will also see the imposing medieval fortresses of Egg Castle and New Castle, before returning to your ship.”
The tour was very good and the harbor is beautiful, as is the view of Mt Vesuvius. Our tour guide, Enzo, was excellent, as all have been. We got to spend some time on our own in the San Ferdinando square. One of my goals was to try pizza in Naples. We found a café and got a margherita pizza; I also had a Peroni beer (appropriate!) and my wife Kathy had a Coke with her pizza. The pizza was excellent: great crust, tomato sauce, some mozzarella and basil.
My previous post can be found at https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-803547-1.html, while the first post of this series (that includes a map of all of the places where we stopped) can be found at https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-801137-1.html
Next up: More of Naples
We had a quick light lunch in the World Café and then went on our tour, Scenic Naples, 2PM- 5PM. From Viking: “Discover the highlights of Naples, a major center of Italian culture, during a scenic drive. Naples was the location of a powerful independent kingdom for 500 years, luring the region’s finest architects and artists, yet its history stretches back thousands of years. See evidence of its rich past, from Greek and Roman monuments to Renaissance splendors. Embark on a coastal drive to Mergellina, a residential area that has long offered Neapolitans a respite from city life. Admire the many beautiful villas and enjoy photo stops that offer stunning views of the gulf and the city. Return to the city center for a drive by Piazza del Plebiscito, perhaps the grandest public square in the city, with the former Royal Palace of Naples overlooking the bustling square. You will also see the imposing medieval fortresses of Egg Castle and New Castle, before returning to your ship.”
The tour was very good and the harbor is beautiful, as is the view of Mt Vesuvius. Our tour guide, Enzo, was excellent, as all have been. We got to spend some time on our own in the San Ferdinando square. One of my goals was to try pizza in Naples. We found a café and got a margherita pizza; I also had a Peroni beer (appropriate!) and my wife Kathy had a Coke with her pizza. The pizza was excellent: great crust, tomato sauce, some mozzarella and basil.
My previous post can be found at https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-803547-1.html, while the first post of this series (that includes a map of all of the places where we stopped) can be found at https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-801137-1.html
Next up: More of Naples
Sunrise, nearing Naples
(Download)
A beautiful day to be cruising on the Mediterranean
(Download)
The pilot boat approaching to transfer the pilot to our ship to guide us into the harbor
(Download)
From our veranda
(Download)
(Download)
Touring around Naples
(Download)
(Download)
Naples Harbor, Mt. Vesuvius on the right
(Download)
Mt. Vesuvius
(Download)
Palazzo Salerno
(Download)
Apr 1, 2024 11:54:37 #
Apr 1, 2024 12:27:33 #
Apr 1, 2024 13:16:47 #
Nice pictures - thanks for the memories. 
Another trip down memory lane - NSA Naples is a United States Navy Base that is located at the Naples Airport. The naval base is home to both the United States Sixth Fleet and the United States Naval Forces Europe. When deployed to the Med on a ship, Naples becomes your temporary home port and we became very familiar with the beautiful city while there for 6 months.
Another trip down memory lane - NSA Naples is a United States Navy Base that is located at the Naples Airport. The naval base is home to both the United States Sixth Fleet and the United States Naval Forces Europe. When deployed to the Med on a ship, Naples becomes your temporary home port and we became very familiar with the beautiful city while there for 6 months.
Apr 1, 2024 13:45:08 #
Apr 1, 2024 13:46:19 #
NMGal wrote:
Naples with no picture of pizza! Sacrilege! Otherwise, great photos.
Pizza will be in my next post, either tomorrow or Wednesday. Glad you liked the post.
Apr 1, 2024 13:50:20 #
Shellback wrote:
Nice pictures - thanks for the memories. img src=... (show quote)
Glad it provided good memories Shellback. I was a civilian Aerospace engineer for the Navy for 26 years doing in-service engineering, but the only time I got out of CONUS was about 250 miles off of the coast near San Diego when I spent 3 days on the Kitty Hawk trying to resolve a landing gear issue on the S-3. We flew on and off in a C-1; got a trap, but they deck ran us off, so no cat shot.
Apr 1, 2024 16:31:17 #
DJphoto wrote:
Glad it provided good memories Shellback. I was a civilian Aerospace engineer for the Navy for 26 years doing in-service engineering, but the only time I got out of CONUS was about 250 miles off of the coast near San Diego when I spent 3 days on the Kitty Hawk trying to resolve a landing gear issue on the S-3. We flew on and off in a C-1; got a trap, but they deck ran us off, so no cat shot.
Still fun though
Apr 1, 2024 20:03:47 #
Apr 1, 2024 21:34:41 #
Apr 1, 2024 23:45:30 #
Thanks Mark, I really appreciate your comments. It was worth waking up early and catching the sunrise.
Apr 2, 2024 07:18:36 #
Apr 2, 2024 07:34:30 #
Apr 2, 2024 11:35:01 #
Apr 2, 2024 12:14:38 #
If you want to reply, then register here. Registration is free and your account is created instantly, so you can post right away.