I always envisioned my first visit to Positano involving leisurely strolls through a dreamy, brightly colored coastal landscape. Instead, I found myself rushing down a vine-lined street, feeling lost and confused.
Watching the time fly by, I debated whether I’d make it to the beachfront and back in time to catch my shuttle to the cruise ship. My tour guide’s warning from earlier, “Meet here in 45 minutes or we’re leaving without you,” echoed in my head.
Begrudgingly, I turned around and stopped in some of the well-known shops I had dreamed of visiting for years. I couldn’t help be disappointed as I frantically rushed to pick out souvenirs.
Despite being an experienced cruiser, I had made a major mistake tracing all the way back to when I booked this itinerary.
I focused on where I wanted to go and assumed I’d be, not where my ship would dock
I’ve grown up going on cruises, including many through the Caribbean and, more recently, several itineraries in Europe. They’ve become my go-to way to visit multiple destinations without having to drag around a heavy suitcase.
While searching for Mediterranean itineraries, I saw “Amalfi Coast (Salerno)” listed as a stop and got excited. I’d always wanted to visit Positano on the Amalfi Coast, and this sounded like a great jumping-off point.
At the time, I didn’t realize that Salerno was a separate port city that cruise ships often use to access the Amalfi Coast. It’s not on the Amalfi Coast, it’s east of it.
To get from where our cruise ship docked in Salerno to Positano, I’d need to take a car or ferry. Although I could have made the trip independently, the quickest options would still take close to an hour.
For ease and peace of mind, I ended up booking an excursion through my cruise ship that included multiple stops along the Amalfi Coast.
It was nice to visit Sorrento and have lunch along the way, but our time at each stop was limited. By the time we got to Positano, we were only given 45 minutes to explore before we had to head back to the ship. I would’ve preferred to have more time in one destination rather than cramming multiple into one day.
To make matters worse, we had about a two-hour traffic-filled journey back to Salerno by shuttle, and the winding Italian roads triggered my motion sickness.
Back on board, I still couldn’t shake the nausea and ended up needing treatment in the ship’s medical center.
As someone who has been sailing for over 20 years, I was shocked by how poorly I planned my port day. I should have researched the ship’s actual docking location and how far it was from the places I actually wanted to visit.
Now, I check exactly where my ship will dock before booking and plan accordingly
This past June, I decided to embark on another Mediterranean cruise, hoping to get a redo on the Amalfi Coast. This time, I prioritized sailings that brought me closer to Positano.
I ended up booking a 12-night cruise with stops in France, Italy, and Croatia. The itinerary listed “Amalfi/Positano,” and I double-checked exactly where the ship would dock. ( If this information isn’t available online, you can also reach out to the cruise line and ask.)
I found out the ship would anchor offshore from Amalfi, with a tender boat bringing guests directly into town in about 10 minutes.
Once on board, I checked in with the ship’s destination services for the best way to get to Positano. Based on their advice and my own research, I booked a 25-minute ferry from Amalfi to Positano.
This time, since we actually docked in Amalfi, the journey to Positano was quick, easy, and scenic. I hopped off the ferry at the same beachfront I never made it to on my first cruise.
Marveling at the postcard-worthy view, I felt a wave of relief.
Since we started closer to Positano, I could skip a full excursion or a long ride to get there and better explore the village at my own pace. I had hours to wander in and out of shops.
Now, I know it’s pretty common for cruise ships to dock outside of the destination listed — especially on Mediterranean itineraries.
For example, cruises to Rome actually tend to dock in Civitavecchia, more than 40 miles from the city’s center. In Taormina, my ship tendered into Giardini Naxos, and I needed to find my own transportation into town.
My parents also recently took a cruise that advertised a stop in Berlin, but reaching the city actually required a lengthy train ride from a nearby port.
Sometimes, cruise lines will arrange shuttles to and from a port. In other cases, you’re on your own. For both, it’s really important to plan ahead and set realistic expectations.
Ultimately, having two very different experiences in Positano made me feel more confident in my ability to plan a port day. Now, I take some extra time to look into every stop before I book a cruise.
I confirm the exact port, how far it is from the places I want to visit, and the best way to get around.
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