For the port of Solerno, we booked a ship’s excursion to the island of Capri.
This included an early morning, private water transport for five groups going to Capri with a variety of itineraries. We enjoyed the beautiful scenery along the way.
Our tour was, “On Your Own.” The water taxi docked at the marina of Capri, and our tour host pointed out the lay of the land, told us when and where to meet back, and then he left. We walked along the pier, “following the crowd,” until we got to the buildings.
Hubby and I went to a small building along the marina selling Blue Grotto tours and purchased a “yellow ticket,” for an early tour which included a boat tour around the entire island after a stop at the Blue Grotto. 
We saw the line for the funicular (Funicolare) nearby and planned to ride it uphill to the center of Capri later. The ticket office is not at the entrance, but we found it around to the right so we would know where to go when we finished our boat tour.
Our boat with approximately 40 people neared the entrance to the grotto where there were at least three other boats similar to ours, along with small, independent boats carrying two to five passengers each, and private yachts, all waiting for their turn. 
Only rowboats are allowed into the Blue Grotto because the passage is narrow into the cavern. The rowers take 4 passengers at a time from the larger boats into the cave. 
They jockey their way among all the other rowboats to get into position. People who arrive on land can also line up to board a rowboat. (Notice all the people on the stairs.)
Using a chain that is fixed to the side of the rocks at the entrance, they pull/row/go with the current until inside. 
One rowboat at a time enters until there are about twenty rowboats inside. 
Once full, the rowers sing an Italian Song: “O Solo Mio” (Who knows if that is spelled right?), and they offer to take photos for their customers.
The water is an amazing, blue color. I can understand why Emperor Tiberius claimed this as his private swimming area back in the day.
Going outside is even trickier. Everyone has to almost lay flat in the boat to keep from hitting the top of the entrance to the cave.
After the Blue Grotto experience, our yellow-ticket tour continued around the island of Capri, and we saw a green grotto….
and a white grotto which has three large stalagmites visible from our boat, but not very visible in my photo. The stalagmites are supposedly in the shape of the Virgin Mary. (I have a pretty good imagination, but I could not see her.)
Large rock formations jutted out of the water, and we sailed through them.
When we got back to pier, the crowds in Capri were noticeably thicker. August is the main vacation month in Europe, and Capri is a top European vacation destination. Add to that the fact that we were there on Friday of the final weekend in August. People were lined up eight-across and way out into the street to board the funicular. Tickets for the funicular were in a different line, also long. As much as I wanted the experience of riding the funicular, I didn’t want to risk getting back to the ship late.
We walked among the shops on search of my usual postcard and ornament.
Then we stopped at a seaside restaurant with a table facing the beach area and enjoyed a gelato, “cuppa” composed of mixed flavors with chocolate sauce and crunchy sprinkles. Hubby is not a fan of mint or coffee, and since those were two of the flavors, I only had to share my bottle of water! Don’t feel too sorry for him; he had a cup of gelato earlier. 
Besides the cost of the ship’s, “On Your Own” excursion, our island tour was 18 Euro pp. The ticket to enter the grotto was 13 E pp, and the rowboat captains work for “suggested” tips of 5E pp.
The water taxi to Capri was more fun going in the cool of the morning than it was when returning in the heat of the day, but that is a small concession for a great experience. This turned out to be one of my favorite days in the Mediterranean.
Next port: Civitavecchia, Italy.