Exclusive Cruises is a private charter agency working the Amalfi side and the whole Gulf: Salerno, Amalfi, Positano, Capri, Sorrento, Naples, Ischia and the Cilento coast. It sells whole boats only, with no single seats and no shared timetables, and it publishes no price list: the figure arrives as a quote once you have given your date, boarding port and party size. It is the opposite model to the package from Naples, and it has to be judged by different standards.
What it is
The site footer carries VAT number 06117390655, and the contract terms name Salerno as the court of jurisdiction: this is a business rooted on the Amalfi side, not on Capri, whatever the domain name says. The press coverage the operator publishes credits the running of it to Valeria Carrano and her husband Francesco, and the contact page lists both their direct numbers. The site describes itself as a small agency in high demand and advises booking well ahead in peak season.
The fleet is not listed boat by boat but by category: small craft, leisure boats, upmarket speedboats, yachts, sailing boats and passenger gozzi. The “about us” page mentions RIBs, gozzi in the Sorrento tradition, well-finished speedboats and yachts, with multi-day charters possible. If you are after an identifiable gozzo with dimensions and berths, this approach is less transparent than that of other operators in the Gulf.
What it publishes and what it costs
The price is missing; the contract is not, and it is unusually detailed for an operator this size. It is worth reading before you write, because it contains the lines that count:
| Item | As written on the site |
|---|---|
| Full-day duration | about 6–6.5 hours |
| Extra hours | €50 an hour under 28 feet, €150 for speedboats, €200 for 50-foot yachts |
| Late arrival | one hour of free waiting on transfers, then the same hourly rates |
| Balance | due 48 hours before departure |
| Cancellation under 46 feet | deposit refunded if you cancel at least 48 hours ahead; inside 48 hours, full fee |
| Cancellation from 46 feet | refund only more than seven days ahead |
| Bad weather | the date is moved first, then a full refund of what you have paid |
The only numeric reference on price is on the Capri page: short mini-cruises and photo shoots “from around €300”, varying by boat, itinerary and port. On that same page the operator also quotes other people’s prices found online: those are not its own, so do not use them as an estimate. The home page shows a 4.9 with a link to Google Maps but no review count: take it as the operator’s own claim, not as a verified figure.
How the day works
The model is pure private hire: a route agreed with you, elastic timings, swim stops decided on board, lunch ashore in a harbour along the coast if you want it. The terms say plainly that the captain has the last word on navigation, stops and the return, and that with the weather turning he can shorten or change the itinerary. The sailing times given help you size the day: about 60 minutes from Naples to Capri, 45 from Ischia to Capri, 30–40 minutes from Positano to Capri. If your aim is to see Positano and Amalfi in one day starting from Naples, the private boat is the most expensive and the most comfortable answer; the reasoned alternative is on the page about the Amalfi Coast in a day.
How to check before you pay
Ask for four things in writing. The name and exact length of the boat assigned, because the penalties change above and below 46 feet. The time you are back in port, because a full day is defined as 6–6.5 hours and the rest is charged by the hour. What is included on board and what is not, tips aside: the site suggests 5 to 10% of the charter cost. And the insurance: the terms state that every vessel carries the compulsory passenger cover, so have the details written into your confirmation. If your group is small and your budget tight, an operator with a published price list such as Sea Horse or Capri Island Tour gives you a quicker comparison.
Against the package on GetYourGuide
The Amalfi Coast boat tours sold by the platforms leave from Naples, include the transfer to the harbour and cost a fraction of a charter, with fixed times and a shared boat. Prices checked regularly.
Same product, platforms compared
Prices refreshed from the GetYourGuide, Tiqets and Headout feeds.
| Platform | Price | Rating | Duration | Cancellation | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GetYourGuideSorrento, Positano & Amalfi Premium Tour & Boat from Naples | €58.50 Lowest price | ★ 4.8 (1,276) | 8 h 30 min | Free | Book on GetYourGuide |
| GetYourGuideFrom Naples: Amalfi, Positano & Sorrento tour with boat ride | €60.99 | ★ 4.8 (1,593) | 9 h | Free | Book on GetYourGuide |
| TiqetsAmalfi & Positano: Day Trip from Naples By Boat | €89.10 | ★ 4.5 (25) | 10:00 | — | Book on Tiqets |
The comparison is only honest at equal party size: with two or four of you, the package from Naples costs far less and solves the transfer as well; with eight or ten, a whole day in hand and the urge to decide swim stops on the spot, the charter comes back into range. The formats and typical prices of the Gulf’s boats are on the page about boat tours in the Gulf of Naples, while vouchers, refunds and support on the partner side are in the GetYourGuide review. If you are starting from the peninsula, look at Sorrento in a day and Capri in a day too.
The verdict
This is an operator that is transparent about its rules and opaque about its prices: usually it is the other way round in this market. The written terms, the declared jurisdiction and the VAT number in plain sight all count in its favour; the absence of a price list and of a fleet described boat by boat forces you into a round of quotes before you know whether it fits your budget. Ask for one for groups, special occasions and shore excursions from a ship; for an ordinary day out for two, start with the package.
Questions people ask
Does Exclusive Cruises sell group tours?
No. The site states that it works with private boats only: no single seats, no fixed departure times shared with other passengers.
What does it cost?
There is no public price list: you ask for a quote for your date, port and party size. The only written reference on the site covers mini-cruises and photo shoots, given as starting from around €300.
How long is a full day?
The contract terms put a full-day charter at roughly 6 to 6.5 hours. Beyond that, extra hours kick in: €50 an hour under 28 feet, €150 for the speedboats, €200 for yachts of 50 feet and up.
What cancellation policy applies?
A deposit confirms the booking. Under 46 feet the deposit is refundable if you cancel at least 48 hours ahead; inside 48 hours the whole fee is charged. From 46 feet up, a refund only applies if you cancel more than seven days ahead.
And if the sea is rough?
The captain decides. If the boat does not leave harbour, the operator first tries to move the date and, where that is not possible, refunds what you have paid. Rain on its own is not grounds for cancellation.
Where does it leave from?
The boarding ports listed are Salerno, Amalfi, Positano, Capri, Sorrento, Naples and Ischia, with itineraries running as far as the Cilento coast.
Should you tip?
The site calls it optional but suggests between 5 and 10% of the charter cost, depending on the boat.
Official sources
Read next
- Amalfi CoastMinivan, boat, ferry or train plus bus: what an Amalfi Coast day trip from Naples really costs, with verified timetables and tours compared.
- Boat toursGozzo, shared boat, yacht or kayak: capacities, departure quays and verified prices per person or per boat. Pick the right format and book your trip.
- Sea HorseSea Horse Luxury Boat reviewed: gozzi from Amalfi, Positano and Salerno, public prices from €74, groups of 10. When it wins and what to check.
- Capri Island TourCapri Island Tour reviewed: private trips from Marina Grande, per-boat prices, what is left out and when a tour from Naples wins instead.
- GetYourGuideGetYourGuide reviewed: 89 products in the Naples catalogue from €5 to €285, vouchers, who runs the tours and when the official channel wins.