I’m mapping a 7-night Med run and debating whether to keep Naples (07:00–18:00) and Civitavecchia (08:00–20:00) back-to-back or drop one for a sea day so guests can enjoy late dining and shows without crashing. For those packaging air and pre/post stays, are your clients happier with five ports plus one sea day, or four ports with two sea days?
I keep both but turn Civitavecchia into a ‘half-day’: skip the Rome slog and book Tarquinia/Ostia or a beach club so they can still do late dining after that ‘08:00–20:00’ day. If they’ve got a Rome pre/post, I’ll swap Civitavecchia for a sea day instead; does your group already have Rome time baked in?
On that 07:00–18:00 Naples, I’ve had the best luck with a “Pompeii express” — 08:00 private guide, back onboard by about 14:30 — so they can nap and still make late dining and a 21:30 show, then keep Civitavecchia as the full push day. For air+pre/post clients, mine are happier with “five ports plus one sea day,” but if it’s multigen I’ll trade Naples for a sea day. Is your group more culture-forward or ship-time focused?
@OP With that 08:00–20:00 Civitavecchia, I do a “Rome lite”: buy the BIRG, take the about 09:20 Regionale to San Pietro, hit just St. Peter’s + Trastevere, then the about 17:10 back so you’re aboard by about 18:00 with energy left. For groups that tire easily, I keep Naples but stay local — Castel dell’Ovo and a lungomare lunch — rather than a full Pompeii run; are your travelers first‑timers to Rome?