Dress down in foreign ports - Letters

Cruise Travel, Jan-Feb, 2003 by Victor Spiro

I do not know Cruise Travel's policy when it concerns negativity, but I feel that people who enjoy travel--especially cruising, when you pack all your finery--should be knowledgeable about the areas they visit. In particular, I would like to caution people about the city of Naples, Italy.

My wife and I were visiting there in June of 2002 and were talking to four of our friends across from the Opera House. We then left our friends, agreeing to meet them later. Within moments, two of the other women came running after us and told us that one of the men (a policeman in his Massachusetts hometown) had noticed four young men on motorscooters watching us. One of these men crossed the street and, without my wife or I realizing it, walked behind us and pointed to my wife's gold and diamond Rolex watch (the only jewelry she wears in a foreign country). This man then recrossed the street to his friends as our friends moved towards them. The boys immediately took off as they saw our friends approach them. But they then followed us on their scooters as we walked toward the castle on the Bay of Naples. We finally left the area, but the boys on the scooters followed us for five more minutes before giving up on their "prey."

Moral of the story: Always "dress down" when in a foreign port, and be aware of what is happening around you. We have been cruising more than 18 years and have learned that safety should not be taken for granted--especially in our current time.

Victor Spiro, Lakeland, FL