Malta cruise port hecklers

[GeneMachine]

That is not the vibe in Malta at all. Palermo, yes, Naples, yes, but not Malta.

I felt like a total mark in Palermo and Naples. In Palermo, taxi drivers and others start talking to you as soon as you get off the boat. In Naples, at least you have a small area of security before you are confronted with all manner of people trying to take your money. If you are taking your own excursions in Naples, you have to pay cash directly to your guide (we had to do this in Rome, too). Thieves know this, and know there's a relatively good chance that if they pickpocket or mug someone, they'll get some substantial cash out of it if they do it to someone coming off a cruise boat.

I wouldn't say Naples is an extremely dangerous place, but it is a place where you have to watch your back and very aware of your surroundings. Orienting yourself constantly is important too. Carry as little cash as possible, and carry it either in a money belt or in your bra. Don't let strangers (even children) get close enough to touch you. They are trying to distract you and find your money! Be smart, and you will be fine.

 

[bibbidibobbidibecky]

Naples is the dirtiest city I have ever been in and I've been there twice, both times just to pass through. However we didn't have anyone bothering us at the port. We went straight to the hydrafoil though. If you go to this blog and scroll down you will see a pic of the trash in the street between the walk from the tram to the train station. Nasty. Sorry I can't post just a pic...

http://thefairygodblogger.blogspot.com/2011/07/day-8-10-year-old-promise-fulfilled.html

 

[MrsScooby]

Naples is the dirtiest city I have ever been in and I've been there twice, both times just to pass through. However we didn't have anyone bothering us at the port. We went straight to the hydrafoil though. If you go to this blog and scroll down you will see a pic of the trash in the street between the walk from the tram to the train station. Nasty. Sorry I can't post just a pic...

http://thefairygodblogger.blogspot.com/2011/07/day-8-10-year-old-promise-fulfilled.html

Nice trip report
Making me excited for my first trip next summer

Was there a strike in Naples at the time? Thought I read somewhere that the garbage in the streets was due to a strike

 

[bibbidibobbidibecky]

Nice trip report
Making me excited for my first trip next summer

Was there a strike in Naples at the time? Thought I read somewhere that the garbage in the streets was due to a strike

I'm really not sure. But I remember the trash from 2001 also ... It was a bit worse in 2011 but both times I wanted out of there

 

[tajz90]

I'm really not sure. But I remember the trash from 2001 also ... It was a bit worse in 2011 but both times I wanted out of there

There was a strike in 07 and trash was everywhere. We were there in 2011 and not trash.

I think they like to strike a lot!

We were told by Disney that Palermo was the safest place we would visit on the sailing in 07 because it's ran by the mob and the mob didn't allow petty crime. I'm serious, that's what they told us.

 

[Angie_Ohio]

My DS16 and DPs70 went on the 2011 Med cruise and visited Malta, Naples, and Sicily. Malta was beautiful and clean. Walked about and then on the road back to the ship I got a taxi to the Blue Grotto. I had a very pleasant cab driver who conversed with me the whole way, took my picture and showed me a picture of his 2 year old daughter.

In Sicily, the vendors are right on the walkway out of the port and were quite pushy. We got a rather gruff driver who took us about for an agreed upon price. We were shorted about an hour of time but had seen enough.

In Naples, the streets near the train station and in the city were strewn with trash. I didn't feel afraid just kind of grossed out with so much litter. My son and I asked a taxi driver to take us to a particular pizza place from Rick Steves recommendations and he waited for us and brought us back.

Can't wait to do it again in June!!

 

[kcashner]

My biggest memory of Naples is how dirty it was. It didn't help that our day varied from gloomy to sprinkling to pouring rain, but the weather can't explain the filth. We were very glad that we didn't have an excursion that required us to stay out in it.

 

[kaseyC]

When we were in Naples in 2011, there was trash everywhere. We did a half day private tour of Pompeii and a pizza lunch so we were in Naples a very short time but I remember the excessive trash when our driver took us to his neighborhood grocery store to buy Limoncello.

 

[clairedy6]

Somehow among all the chaos Naples still looks beautiful to me. I can't wait to visit!

 

[tajz90]

Somehow among all the chaos Naples still looks beautiful to me. I can't wait to visit!

We loved Naples, and enjoyed our visit to Pompeii and the Herculeum. When we visited Italy in 2011, we went to climb Vesuvius and noticed that there was a hop on hop off bus up there.