Amalfi Coast Cruising Guide

A short transfer from Naples International Airport will bring you to your yacht where your Captain and crew will be ready to welcome you onboard. The respective legacies of Greeks, Romans, Aragonese and French sum up the city’s attractions: tumbling streets, ancient ruins, Spanish castles and fine wines. Sure enough, some quarters are not for the faint-hearted. The fish market of Porta Nolana is a living aquarium of octopus, tuna and squid; the historic district of Spaccanapoli is a colourful cauldron of speeding scooters, splendid churches and street markets. Once you have settled in onboard we will begin cruising to your first destination.

As you arrive in Ischia you’ll feel volcanically charged because Ischia was born in a seismic eruption 66,000 years ago. The island’s cliff-sharp coast hides boat-only beaches solely accessible by sea, while Volcanoes warm thermal springs and effervescent beaches. Head to Spiaggia Le Fumarole and jump in the water. Here you can float in San Pellegrino-style bubbles.

Towering cliffs crumble into a turquoise sea to form secluded bays, sandy-bottomed coves and a chain of unnamed, unpopulated, islets. The extraordinary Blue Grotto is one of several watery tunnels to explore, each lit by an eerie coral glow. Capri epitomises island exclusivity. Its very name conjures up café-strewn piazzas and flower-filled lanes. Enjoy cappuccinos in La Piazzettaa, sunset daiquiris at Da Paolino and jive at Anima e Cuore.

Amalfi cashed in its maritime empire in the 13th century. Its gold ducats were wisely spent on whitewashed piazzas and churches that now form a UNESCO World Heritage Site. No architecture is more ostentatious than Amalfi’s spellbinding Cathedral. Palm trees shade frescoes from the 13th century. Delight in pasticceria sweets, salsicciotto sausage, zeppole donuts and mozzarella in carrozza fritters, plus seafood from the local fishing fleet. Explore the vineyards that cling to the mountainsides for crisp white Falanghina and regional red Olivella wines.

Seen from a superyacht deck, Positano is an amphitheatre of colour. Its waterfall of pastel-hued villas drips into a royal blue sea. All roads in Positano lead down to the beach bars of Spiaggia Grande. Mick Jagger and Keith Richards wrote the bluesy track Midnight Rambler here in 1968. Ramble along the coastal footpath to Spiaggia Fornillo, an altogether more exclusive beach.

Enjoy a leisurely breakfast onboard in these spectacular surroundings before you are greeted by a car for your journey to Ravello. Italy’s most spectacular clifftop town looks like a royal palazzo - floating in the sky. Take the daredevil route back down with a hike along a fragrant downhill trail to the coastal gem of Minori. We promise 60 minutes of pinch-yourself ocean views. Swim before dinner? Kayak or paddleboard to Spiaggia Cavallo Morto. This golden sandy crescent is accessible solely by sea.

Cruise to Nerano, the tip of the Amalfi Coast, for lunch. Each establishment is built on stilts atop the shore. The local dish is spaghetti con zucchine alla Nerano, a basil-drenched pasta.

Secretive bathers hike on to Recommone, a 10-minute trek or kayak away. Here a single beach restaurant soaks up the sun, while the Grotta dei Pescatori sea caves offers swimmers cooling shade. A final secret beach is Ieranto far beyond the mountain ridge. It’s off-the-radar, deserted, and almost inaccessible for those without a boat.

Cruise on to Sorrento which has enjoyed two millennia of uninhibited wealth. Even the local coffee shop in the picturesque old town is covered with 15th century frescoes that would make an art collector swoon. Emperor Augustus kicked off the trend of in Sorrento and in the 19th century Lord Byron and Percy Shelley drank its limoncello and DOC Sorrentina white wines. The tree-dappled piazzas and clifftop bars have since entertained modern celebrities. Those craving a shade more privacy can motor to the crystal-clear water at Tordigliano; a beach is only accessible by sea. Enjoy sundowners from the deck of your superyacht.

In 79AD Pompeii woke up to a volcanic fury: a 7m-thick layer of lava-like ash saturated the city’s 20,000 inhabitants. Vesuvius’ fallout preserved Pompeii like an organic time capsule, offering a unique window into ancient Roman life. The complex comprises 67 hectares of wealthy city streets. Many villas are lined with fine mosaics and boast heated indoor swimming pools.

Nine panoramic trails loop around the still active Mount Vesuvius. The immense topography runs from arid to moist, from cloud-topped to sun-drenched. Oaks, orchids and volcanic-fuelled vineyards spill down the mountainside. From these vines comes the dense red wine Lacryma Christi – a welcome post-hike reward.

Marina di Stabia is the perfect place to end to your Amalfi Coast charter. As you cruise back to shore, take in the final views of Naples and the majesty of mount Vesuvius. On your final morning, the crew will be on hand to help with packing and any last minute requests as you relax and enjoy your final brunch onboard. The captain and crew will gather on deck to say their final goodbyes, and to wish you a safe onwards journey.