Published on Jun, 2023
I've given this tour a 5 star review as the actual tour of Naples and Pompeii were excellent so the problems we had should not bring the rating down as it was nothing to do with the actual guide. The problem we had was that a taxi driver was supposed to collect us from the cruise port and drop us off at a meeting point where we would join up with another 10 or 12 guests. The taxi driver wasn't there on time, albeit he was only about 7 or 8 minutes late, but it was enough to make our tour start in chaos. We were there before the 8am meeting time, looking round the numerous name signs which the drivers hold up. When we couldn't find our name we began to think we were in the wrong spot. Luckily we hung around and sent a message via the Viator app to the tour company to ask if we were at the correct meeting place. When the taxi driver did turn up he had our name scrawled in small letters on a bit of paper which he wasn't even holding up so you could read it as he was busy checking his phone. There were 2 other guests to be picked up from our cruise ship but they were nowhere to be seen. It later transpired that they had got off the ship at 0730 so by the time 8am came round they thought they were in the wrong meeting place so wandered off along the road to where other cruise ships were docked. I feel that had the taxi driver been on time, or early as they usually seem to be, then the tour would have got off to a great start. If you are booking I would suggest letting them know the name of your ship. Our meeting point was directly outside the gates of the port... just wait there and the driver will find you... don't be tempted to wander off!
We finally joined the rest of the group at about 9am outside a church in the middle of Naples. From then on the tour was excellent, albeit a bit rushed due to us joining late. The guide was excellent - I can't remember her name but she had brown very curly hair and a peach umbrella so I hope the tour company gives her some credit as she was really very good.
Pompeii was amazing - I have been before but it is still as interesting as last time, probably more so as our guide seemed to tell us even more than the one years ago did. If you haven't been to Pompeii you really should go - you have to see it to believe it. Please don't let my taxi driver story put you off booking this trip as it was probably a one-off. In hindsight I think the taxi driver was probably having some sort of personal drama going on as his mind didn't seem on it and he was checking his phone a lot. The actual tour, when we joined it, was excellent.
