Pompeii?
 

We are going to be on a cruise and are dock in Naples for 12 hours (less for sightseeing since we likely won't be off the boat at 7 a.m.).

What would you guys things would be the best thing to do there since time is limited.

I suppose it would be between Pompeii, Capri, some sort of Amalfi coast boat ride or a combination of a couple of them.

We had originally planned on Pompeii, but some of the "reviews" I've seen of it are just not particularly glowing, most especially if you don't have time to do much else.

Any personal experience?

Pompei is simply undescribable, simply amazing. Forget any bad reviews, I have no idea what people could have been expecting and why they were disappointed. At any rate, given that the place is relatively far and huge (you'd need at least 3-4 hours to get an idea), I'd suggest Ercolano instead. Closer, smaller and in some respect even more impressive for a first-timer. That will give you enough time (and will not be so tiring) to allow you a walk through the city of Napoli (with or without the National Museum) and time to enjoy a good pizza and possibly a visit to the cappella Sansevero (cristo velato!!!). Then back to your boat and enjoy the sunset...

Goethe wrote see Napoli and then die, he didn't write see Capri or the costiera amalfitana and then die. ;)

So the boat docks and takes off at 7 AM and 7 PM? You won't get off until near 8 AM, and would probably want to be back near the port around 6PM? That gives you ten hours. That could be difficult to do much outside of the city itself.

Pompeii is one of the world's most important archeological sites. Because the type of ash that covered it was soft and not destructive it just covered the city. It was not hard lava. Thus, the city was not destroyed, the graffiti on the walls remains as it was, you walk into a kitchen from 79 AD, and the pots and pans are still hanging on the walls. It's as if time just stopped. It's a remarkable experience. Maybe the "reviewers" didn't have a nice trip because they had poor transportation, went on a very hot day, weren't prepared for the sun, went when it was super crowded, didn't have a guide and didn't know what they were seeing, they were stuck in the super long lines?

That being said, I'd be a little anxious because you only have about 10 hours. Pompeii is not that close, and you can get stuck in rush hour traffic both going and coming back. Forget the Amalfi Coast, or Capri.

That's up to you if you can take that kind of rush without being too worried. If you do, consider having a driver waiting at the dock to take you there and back, and taking a 2 hour highlights only cut-the-line tour, and get back to Naples ASAP.

Naples is a marvelous city. The archeological museum contains many of the artifacts taken from Pompeii. The Veiled Christ in Capella Sansevero is one of the great masterpieces of sculpture. No one could fail to be moved by the artistry that went into it.

Then of course, pizza, but make sure you know the better places (Sorbillo, 50 Kalo, DiMatteo, La Notizia, etc. Just don't go to Al Presidente. Da Michelle, well, let's just say if it wasn't for the movie....). Sorbillo would be great because it's in really old Naples, a part of the city you should really see. You'll need a cab to and from because otherwise you'll get lost.

You can have it leave you off at the plaza in front of the opera house, Piazza del Plebiscito, then walk down to the Lungomare and stroll along the waterside, looking at Vesuvius in the background. It's one of the most beautiful walks in Italy, and you can take it in just before grabbing a cab for the short ride back to the boat.

Given the lack of time, I'd err on the side of not feeling too rushed, and not having to worry about missing the boat, so you're going to need to think this through.

If you don't make your homework before going to Pompeii or are not into history and archeology you will only see a bunch of stones and ruines.
This is what most of tourists see. Hence the meh reaction.

On such short time I would visit Naples.
Plenty of things to see and do.
Last week I've been taking a guest to museum of Capodimonte and its park.

Amazing to realize from someone else's perspective that this museum alone in any country in the world besides Italy, Germany, Spain, UK, France would be considered the main national gallery, while in Naples you basically have it empty and all for yourself. (Tiziano, Raffaello, Michelangelo, Botticelli, Mantegna, Lotto among others).

Nearby the Cimitero delle Fontanelle is another "off the beaten tracks" thing to see.

Or the stunning view from the Castel Sant'Elmo (get into the funicular departing from Via Toledo, only 10 minutes walk from the wharf where cruise ships dock).

I agree it would be better to just stay in Naples, one of Italy's best cities, unless you have nerves of steel and really want to see Pompeii, and aren't concerned about potentially missing your boat, or not getting a chance to do anything else in Naples because you only have about 10 hours. Vacations to me, are not about rushing around from place to place to see as much as I can. It's about relaxing.

I was in Pompeii earlier this year. If you really want to go there, make sure to do it first thing in the morning, and find a guide to take you. A 3h walking tour will be enough to give you a feel for the place and you won't be bored. Let me stress again, find a guide, or you'll be walking in circles and hate the experience. Access to the site is easy with the Circumvesuviana, with a train station right in front of the entrance.

Naples deserves to be seen, and I would recommend it over spending the day running around with trains and stuff. I would stick to the city, a pizza or two, and a relaxed day enjoying the views.

This for sure. Mrs pbiflyer tried using a book as a guide. While it was still amazing, she was frustrated with all she missed.