[ 04-09-2008: Message edited by: dmwnc1 ]

Clockwise, from the left, we see one of American Export's Four Aces, CRISTOFORO COLOMBO, ANDREA DORIA, and VULCANIA. I was just at the Stazione Maritima four months ago, and it is still unchanged after all these years.

Some 30 years ago I spent a summer studying in Florence--people in the North of Italy, and even in Rome, tend to look down on Naples as dirty, crowded, poor, etc. But it is an exciting, lively city with lots to see and do.

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Originally posted by Linerrich:

Some 30 years ago I spent a summer studying in Florence--people in the North of Italy, and even in Rome, tend to look down on Naples as dirty, crowded, poor, etc. But it is an exciting, lively city with lots to see and do.

Rich

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Tuscany is one of my favorite places on Earth; the Napa Valley of Europe.

The rivalry between Northern and Southern Italy is like that of New York and Philly looking down on New Jersey.

Northern Italians tend to disdain the south and southermost Sicily is considered the Cleveland of Europe. American Italians are referred to in politically incorrect terms and not considered Italian. Southern Italians at worst call the Northerners Germans, and Sicilians are called Africans.

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Tom Burke wrote:
The Stazione was used in the Bourne Supremacy film; Jason Bourne arrived in Naples on a ferry from Tangier. Do such ferries exist?

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There was a service by Comanav (Compagnie Marrocaine de Navigation) between Naples and Nador (Morocco). Currently GNV (Grandi Navi Veloci) and Comanav have ferries operating between Genoa and Tangier.

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Linerrich wrote:
Some 30 years ago I spent a summer studying in Florence--people in the North of Italy, and even in Rome, tend to look down on Naples as dirty, crowded, poor, etc. But it is an exciting, lively city with lots to see and do.

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That's very true. Many northern Italians are very harsh in their criticisms of the south (which incidentally begins south of Rome), however most of the populace from the southern regions are warm, kind, hardworking and honest people. Crime, corruption and other perceptions have given it a bad name. The Camorra (Neapolitan mafia), the N'drangheta (Calabrian mafia) and Cosa Nostra (Sicilian mafia) are hugely to blame. If it wasn't for southern immigrants going north, Italy’s industry would have struggled, just like many have immigrated abroad and given their contributions to many countries. It is sad that Basilicata and Puglie, two other mostly forgotten regions of the south, also get caught up in the fray.

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desirod7 wrote:
Tuscany is one of my favorite places on Earth; the Napa Valley of Europe.

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Been to Lucca? If you are calling at Livorno and don't want to see Pisa, go there instead. It has much more to offer.

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I am 170 days to Italy which will be my 3rd time. My last visit was 1989.

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Long time no visit. Hope you enjoy it.

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Tuscany is indeed ripe with places to visit, my other favorites besides Florence and Pisa, being San Gimignano and Siena, both of which I highly recommend.

http://www.sangimignano.com/sghomei.htm

http://www.travelplan.it/siena_guide.htm

Interesting:

http://goitaly.about.com/od/tuscany/tp/toptuscany.htm

A side note: La Spezia, just north of Livorno in Tuscany, has a place in ocean liner history. It was here on September 23, 1978 the Leonardo da Vinci returned to be laid up. She never returned to service again. After being laid up for two years, a fire started onboard on 4 July 1980. The ship burned for four days and eventually capsized. The burnt-out hulk was later righted and towed to the scrapyard at La Spezia where it then was scrapped in 1982.

After being righted:

I also remember seing a cruise ship that looked exactly like this but painted all white in Hong Kong but anchored alone way out in the distance. I took a picture of her (wish I had a scanner). She looked pretty shabby but had the exact same profile as the Leonardo da Vinci. This would have been in the mid-80's. Any ideas?

[ 04-10-2008: Message edited by: dmwnc1 ]

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Originally posted by dmwnc1:
[...] She looked pretty shabby but had the exact same profile as the Leonardo da Vinci. This would have been in the mid-80's. Any ideas?

[ 04-10-2008: Message edited by: dmwnc1 ]

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Originally posted by dmwnc1:

I also remember seing a cruise ship that looked exactly like this but painted all white in Hong Kong but anchored alone way out in the distance. I took a picture of her (wish I had a scanner). She looked pretty shabby but had the exact same profile as the Leonardo da Vinci. This would have been in the mid-80's. Any ideas?

[ 04-10-2008: Message edited by: dmwnc1 ]

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You probably saw the CRISTOFORO COLOMBO--she arrived in Hong Kong in May, 1982; my boss was there at the time and took photos for me. The liner was anchored in the harbor until July 1983, when she was towed to Kaohsiung and was scrapped.

But Ernst may be right--I've just remembered that the PRESIDENT (ex.AUGUSTUS) was in Hong Kong from Oct. '85 to Oct. '87.

Rich

[ 04-10-2008: Message edited by: Linerrich ]

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Originally posted by Linerrich:
You probably saw the CRISTOFORO COLOMBO--she arrived in Hong Kong in May, 1982...The liner was anchored in the harbor until July 1983, when she was towed to Kaohsiung and was scrapped.
Rich

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My fault for supplying an incorrect time span. I did 2 West-Pacs while in the USNavy, the first in 1982-83 and again in 1983-84. I visited Honk Kong on both trips but it was on the first trip I saw the 'ghost ship' at anchor. By looking at the photograph and stock pictures of the CRISTOFORO COLOMBO, it was definitely her. Sorry Ernst for the wrong dates.

Back to Naples...

There is a wine made from the grapes that grow on the side of Mt Vesuvius called 'Lacryma Christi'. It's quite enjoyable. Pick up a bottle next time your there.

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Originally posted by Frosty 4:
We did the Amalfi Coast trip. This is a hairy/scary bus ride along the coastal cliffs which in some cases the bus had to make a few tries to get around the sharp curves. Amalfi (town) was tucked away into the cliffs. We enjoyed pizza in a small diner. Of course we bought a bottle of lemoncello(liquer) which is renown in this area for the large lemons that are grown there. You can sample in most stores.
Pompeii is a must see while in Naples. Be sure to pick up a DVD about this historic place.
We did not get a chance to see Naples itself due to the long excursion mentioned above.
Frosty 4

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Originally posted by dmwnc1:
Does anyone who has been to Naples have any pictures you can share?

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Pompeii Nov 2003

Naples July 2005

I love there area and have a few albums around; many more of the ships in port. My favourite place though is Lucca.

Lucca April 2003

Naples Oct 2003

I love the top photo including the usual ferry suspects, SNAV Campania & either Trinacria or Partenhope. The same rust buckets are along the outer wall there too.

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Back to Naples...

Does anyone who has been to Naples have any pictures you can share?

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Naples: http://www.travelserver.net/travelpage/aspgallery/view_ad.asp?Ad_ID=1919

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Capris is really beautiful, but worthy of a longer visit I always think than from a cruise ship?

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Very much so, but I'm not sure how much longer. Also it's an expensive place!

We were hoping to get back there a year later but our call at Naples in July 2007 was a bit of a disaster. Here's the account I wrote in my blog:
http://tomtotley.wordpress.com/2007/07/01/day-10-naples/

Here's the link for the whole of that cruise:
http://tomtotley.wordpress.com/category/galaxy-2007/

On the next visit we went to Capri on a ship's excursion so we didn't see anything of the city that time, and the most recent visit was when we had our disappointing trip to Sorrento. This time we did get a glimpse of (a bit of) the city: we got a tram to the Circumvesuviana station but missed it and ended up at the main station. We then walked back to the Circumvesuviana station through a strange 'street market' which seemed to be old/poor people, plus non-Italians, selling a variety of old/worn-out/broken household objects: it was a somewhat chilling glimpse of real poverty.

Driving through the port there were signs of communities of immigrants and gypsies living rough,

En route there were heaps of garbage rotting at the roadsides, long before the refuse collectors' strikes reported this year.

I'll be back in July, on Balmoral, and I rather fancy staying in the city - Castel Nuovo looks worth a visit.

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Originally posted by greybeard:
.. and I rather fancy staying in the city - Castel Nuovo looks worth a visit.

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Yes, a visit to Castle Nouvo, a walk around the local shops and a Funiculare ride to 'Castel Sant Elmo' makes a good day trip. All are within reasonable walking distance of the cruise terminal.

On GRAND PRINCESS we called in Naples, at the Stazione Marittima, though sadly we did not use the building itself. We spent the day on a long excursion to Pompeii, Sorrento and Capri - very enjoyable but we did not see any of Naples.

On MARCO POLO we called in Sorrento, where we took a tour on the Amalfi Drive to Positano and visited a citrus and olive farm in the morning, and just spent time wandering around the town in the afternoon.

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Originally posted by Malcolm @ cruisepage:

Yes, a visit to Castle Nouvo, a walk around the local shops and a Funiculare ride to 'Castel Sant Elmo' makes a good day trip. All are within reasonable walking distance of the cruise terminal.

See Here

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But don't forget the hop-on hop-off busses.
In 2005 we did the Bay of Naples route and in 2006 we wanted to take another one. Unfortunately, that day there was a strike in public transport, so the whole city was a traffic jam.