A boat day on the Amalfi Coast works in one of two ways: a private boat for the wedding party, routed around coves and a lunch stop, or the scheduled Travelmar ferries that link Salerno, Vietri sul Mare, Amalfi and Positano all year. Put it on the day before or the day after the wedding, never the day itself, because the sea decides whether boats sail.
Private boat or scheduled ferry
A private boat sets its own route and stops to swim, and can collect guests from a beach or a hotel jetty. The trade-off is cost, and the number of passengers each boat is licensed to carry: ask the operator for that figure before you plan the guest list.
The scheduled line is cheaper and needs no captain to coordinate, but it runs on fixed times between town harbours. Travelmar says its service runs all year, and groups of at least 20 who register in advance pay group fares, with one free ticket for every 20 passengers.
Times and 2026 fares on the scheduled line
Travelmar’s 2026 full-price fares, with the journey times on its timetable from 7 September 2026:
- Salerno (Piazza Concordia, by the railway station) to Amalfi: 35 minutes, EUR 12 (EUR 10 group fare).
- Salerno to Positano: 70 minutes, EUR 17 (EUR 14 group fare).
- Amalfi to Positano: 25 minutes, EUR 10 (EUR 8 group fare).
- Vietri sul Mare to Amalfi: 45 minutes, EUR 9.
One carry-on bag up to 45 by 35 by 20 cm is included; other luggage costs EUR 3 a bag. Full timetables are on the Travelmar timetable page.
Starting from Vietri sul Mare
Guests staying at the eastern end of the coast have the shortest start. Vietri sul Mare is a stop on the Salerno line, five minutes from Salerno, and both Palazzo Suriano and Hotel Raito sit on the hill above it. A day can run east to west: Vietri to Amalfi by boat, lunch, Amalfi to Positano, and back the same way.
What you see from the water
The sea shows the coast the road cannot: the cliff villas, the terraces of lemons and the towns stacked above their harbours. Villa La Rondinaia, Gore Vidal’s former house, sits on the rock below Ravello, and from a boat below it the villa is easy to pick out. For how the towns differ as wedding bases, see the Amalfi Coast Wedding Atlas.
Weather and the spare day
Travelmar warns that services can be delayed or affected by adverse sea conditions, and private skippers make the same call on the morning. Keep a second day free, and tell guests the boat day may move.
The crossing to Capri makes a longer day, but it is run by other operators on seasonal timetables. Check their dates for your month before promising it in the itinerary.
Planning the day
- Book lunch at a restaurant reached from the water and confirm where the boat can land.
- Tell guests to bring swimwear, flat shoes for landing stages, a hat and seasickness tablets.
- Agree a return time that leaves room to dress for dinner.
- Book early for June to September, when demand on the water is highest.
Questions couples ask
How many guests can join a private boat?
It depends on the boat’s licence. Ask each operator for its licensed passenger number; larger groups use two boats or the scheduled line.
Can guests book the scheduled ferry as a group?
Yes. Travelmar asks groups of at least 20 to register through its group reservations page, and gives one free ticket for every 20 passengers.
What happens if the sea is rough?
Boats do not sail, or run late. Move the day to your spare date, and have a land plan, such as a long lunch or the pool, ready for guests.
Updated 1 October 2026
