Caremar

Who they are

Caremar (Campania Regionale Marittima) is the public-service ferry operator for the Bay of Naples, maintained under a regional service concession to guarantee year-round connections between the mainland and the inhabited islands of Capri, Ischia and Procida. While private operators compete on the most popular summer routes, Caremar's mandate is broader: it serves residents as much as tourists, running through winter storms and off-season quiet periods when commercial logic alone would not sustain sailings.

The company is part of the fabric of island life in the Bay of Naples. For the tens of thousands of people who live on Ischia, Procida and Capri and commute to Naples for work, school or medical appointments, Caremar is a utility rather than a tourism product.

Network and routes

Caremar's network radiates from Naples across the Bay to all three major islands. Ischia — the largest and most populated of the Bay's islands — receives the most frequent service, with ferries calling at both Porto d'Ischia and Casamicciola depending on the route. Procida, a smaller and less commercialised island that has attracted significant attention since its designation as Italy's Capital of Culture, is served by Caremar ferries from Naples and from Pozzuoli on the north shore of the Bay.

Capri is served by Caremar hydrofoils and ferries from Naples, though the island's strict vehicle restrictions mean most traffic is foot passengers. Caremar's inter-island connections within the Bay allow passengers to move between islands without returning to the mainland.

Fleet and on board

Caremar operates a mixed fleet appropriate to a public-service operator: conventional ro-ro car ferries for vehicle-carrying routes to Ischia and Procida, and faster hydrofoils or passenger ferries for the Capri connection and supplementary services. The car ferries are workhorses — functional and spacious, with covered lounges, seating decks and a café-bar.

Hydrofoils are enclosed and fast, suited to foot passengers in a hurry. They are more sensitive to sea conditions; in rough weather the car ferry schedule may be the only reliable option. The Bay of Naples is generally calm, but winter storms and the occasional Libeccio wind can affect services.

Booking and tips

Caremar tickets can be purchased at the port ticket office, from automated kiosks or through the company's website. For casual day trips to Capri or Ischia, walk-up purchase is usually possible outside peak summer. Foot-passenger tickets do not require advance booking on most services, but vehicle spaces on the Ischia and Procida ferries should be reserved ahead for summer travel.

Molo Beverello is the main departure point for fast hydrofoils and passenger services; Calata Porta di Massa (a short walk away) handles car ferries. Allow time to navigate Naples' busy waterfront, particularly if you are travelling with luggage. Pozzuoli is a useful alternative embarkation point for Procida, reached by the Naples metro.