Vesuvius, Winery & Pompeii

One of the most extraordinary days the Bay of Naples has to offer: a journey that moves between raw natural power, ancient civilisation and the simple pleasure of a glass of wine poured on a volcano.

Your first stop is Mount Vesuvius itself. One of the few still-active volcanoes in Europe and the undisputed protagonist of this entire coastline, Vesuvius is surrounded by a National Park rich in native plants and wildlife. As you climb toward the crater, the landscape grows wilder and the air sharper  and when you reach the peak, the reward is one of the most breathtaking panoramas in southern Italy: the entire Bay of Naples laid out below you, stretching from the Sorrentine Peninsula to the islands of Capri, Ischia and Procida.

Coming down from the crater, you'll stop at a family-run winery on the volcanic slopes, where the fertility and mineral richness of the soil produce wines of extraordinary character. This is the home of Lacryma Christi, Coda di Volpe and the celebrated Taurasi among Campania's finest DOC and DOCG labels. A guided tasting here, with the volcano rising behind the vines, is an experience with no real equivalent.

The final chapter of the day belongs to Pompeii. Buried by Vesuvius in 79 AD and preserved in astonishing detail beneath layers of volcanic ash, this ancient Roman city is one of the greatest archaeological sites on earth. But more than simply beautiful ruins, Pompeii is a story of a cosmopolitan, multicultural trading city frozen in a single moment in time. Walking its streets with your guide, the markets, bathhouses, temples and private homes come back to life in a way that stays with you long after you've returned to the ship.

Your driver will have you back at the port comfortably in time for departure.