NAPLES

My previous visit to Naples was in 1985 while I was deployed with the US Navy on the Aircraft Carrier USS SARATOGA (CV 60). Almost 40 years later, I returned with the Zuiderdam for our first stop of the final segment of the 2025 Grand World Voyage.

The ship arrived at the Naples Cruise terminal around 8 AM. The terminal is modern with restrooms, shops, snack bars, and souvenir shops.

Naples, with the cruise terminal in the foreground and St Elmos castle on the hill in the background

Entrance to Naples Cruise Terminal

Welcome to Naples – this is outside of the cruise terminal as you head into the city

HAL EXCURSION – EATING ITALY

We booked the HAL “Eating Italy” Naples Foodie Walk for $120

Here is the description.

EATING ITALY: NAPLES FOODIE WALK

Activity Level: Strenuous
Approximately 3 hours
Get ready for an unforgettable culinary tour of Naples, the birthplace of pizza and the perfect espresso. Explore the city’s distinctive eateries, learn about the local culture, and take in historic sites on a multisensory gourmet experience. Sample warm pastries at Sfogliatella Mary, savor sublime pizza at Pizzeria ‘Ntretella, and experience local shop life at Il Pizzicagnolo. Been there and done that? Don’t miss the legendary Passione di Sofi, where you’ll bite into heavenly fried pasta.

You can book the same tour independently on the Eating Europe Website HERE for approximately $80, but you will need to find your way to the meeting spot, which isn’t far from the cruise terminal.

Our food tour began at 9:50 AM in the World Stage, where HAL staff escorted us through the terminal and then outside to the parking lot, where we met our guide, Aldo.

Our tour guide, Aldo Ruocco

There were about 16 people on our tour. The ship sold two groups, leaving about 10 minutes apart.

We walked a total of about 2 miles over level ground.

Here is an overview of our docking location and the stops of our food tour

ANNA BELLAVITA

The first forty-five minutes of the tour were a leisurely walk from the Cruise Terminal to the Café Anna Bellavita located in the Galleria Shopping Mall. Along the way, Aldo pointed out local sights and explained some of the history of Naples, as well as various types of Italian cuisine.  Read reviews HERE

The Galleria as seen from the street

Inside the Galleria, a large shopping mall near the cruise port

At Anna Bellavita, we had our choice of beverages and were served a Sfogliatella, sometimes also known as a lobster tail. This is a shell-shaped pastry with a sweet or creamy filling, originating in the Campania region of Italy. We were here for about 15 minutes.

Our first food stop – Anna Bellavita. We had coffee and a Sfogliatella

Sfogliatella

PIAZZA DEL PLEBISCITO

After leaving Anna Bellavita, we headed over to The Piazza Del Plebiscito for about 30 minutes. The Piazza Del Plebiscito is flanked by two iconic structures: the Royal Palace and the Church of San Francesco di Paola. The Royal Palace, with its majestic façade, stands as a testament to the city’s regal past. On the opposite side, the Church of San Francesco di Paola, inspired by the Pantheon in Rome, adds a touch of classical elegance to the square. The square often hosts events, concerts, and festivals.

Church of San Francesco di Paola

Judy and Pete in front of the Naples Royal Palace

SAN CARLO 17

The highlight of our food tour was enjoying authentic Neapolitan pizza at San Carlo 17. The restaurant is on the second floor. I didn’t notice if an elevator was available if necessary.  Read reviews HERE

This is where we had our pizza

Our meal began with a tomato and mozzarella salad, featuring fresh, juicy tomatoes and creamy mozzarella. The salad was drizzled with olive oil and balsamic vinegar, and accompanied by sourdough bread to soak up the delicious dressing. The combination of flavors and textures was a perfect start to our dining experience. We had our choice of red or white wine or soft drinks.

After our salad, we were each served half of a classic Margherita pizza, with a thin, crispy center and a beautifully risen, slightly charred edge crust. The pizza is best enjoyed by cutting it into quarters, then folding each section, and eating it with our hands.

Our guide, Aldo, told us that if you try to order pineapple on a pizza in Italy, the restaurant will likely call the police!

Tomato and mozzarella salad

Margherita pizza,

We were here for about 45 minutes.

MENNALLA IL GELATO

Our final stop was Mennella Il Gelato for a cup of delicious Italian Gelato. Located near the Galleria, it was hectic, but our guide managed to create a separate line for our group, and we were served a scoop of gelato or sorbet quickly. Read reviews HERE.  We had the gelato on the street before continuing back to the Galleria. Here we had the option to leave the tour or follow Aldo back to the ship, about 3/4 of a mile from the cruise terminal. We stuck with Aldo and headed back to the ship.

This was our last food stop – near the Galleria

Judy with Lemon Sorbet from Il Gelato

After buying a few souvenirs in the cruise terminal, we were back on board and relaxed until the sail away.

PIZZETTA SAIL AWAY

As we let go of our lines in Naples, dozens of servers dressed in red flooded the Sea View Pool carrying trays of hot mini pizzas, each inside a custom Grand World Voyage box. Discounted Aperol Spritz were also on the menu.

The mini pizzas were delicious, and the sail away was fun and full of energy.

One of the many servers passing out the mini pizzas

Mini Pizza and Aperol Spritz

Mini Veggie Pizza

Mount Vesuvius

Click on a pin to see more details, along with a photo of the stop