Ferry to Sicily, Italy
Oct 20th, 2011, 03:22 PM
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Ferry to Sicily, Italy
Needing information on taking a ferry to Sicily. Our travel dates: June 12th - 19th, 2012. Both travel days are on a Tuesday.
My husband and I plan on traveling from Naples to Sicily and to return by way of Catania to Naples. Both the departure and return sailings to be at night.
We will get a car once we get to Palermo.
Does this plan seem resonable?
Does anyone have information regarding a ferry line they have used?
How far out should we book to get a private cabin?
Would appreciate information regarding a car rental agency near the Palermo port.
Looking forward to getting information.
ATMJY
My husband and I plan on traveling from Naples to Sicily and to return by way of Catania to Naples. Both the departure and return sailings to be at night.
We will get a car once we get to Palermo.
Does this plan seem resonable?
Does anyone have information regarding a ferry line they have used?
How far out should we book to get a private cabin?
Would appreciate information regarding a car rental agency near the Palermo port.
Looking forward to getting information.
ATMJY
Oct 20th, 2011, 05:49 PM
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Take the train!! The train from Rome (or Naples) goes straight to Catania!! No need to get off!! The passenger cars just roll onto the huge ship, and roll off onto the track on Sicily! It takes an hour or more, so you can run up on deck if you want to. Or just take a nap on the train. I took the night train several years ago, with a sleeper, and it was fun! Probably you could also get off at Messina or go to Palermo.
Oct 20th, 2011, 06:29 PM
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Here is current information on the two ferry operators between Naples and Palermo:
http://slowtalk.com/groupee/forums/a...1#484002555001
Here is less current information on the one ferry operator between Naples and Catania:
http://slowtalk.com/groupee/forums/a...693#1371012693
BEWARE: I have not updated the previous posting since January 2008, so all the fares are outdated. References to the "AMICA" fare on the Trenitalia trains should now refer instead to the "MINI" fares.
Renting a car in Palermo? Certainly NOT to visit the city itself!!! Where are you going: you might not need a car at all!
You need to be more solicitous of booking a cabin from Catania to Naples than from Naples to Palermo (because the ferry ship between Catania and Naples has relatively few cabins). I'd say at least one week beforehand from Catania to Naples, and just a couple of days beforehand from Naples to Palermo. Ordinarily, Tuesday nights are not particularly busy.
http://slowtalk.com/groupee/forums/a...1#484002555001
Here is less current information on the one ferry operator between Naples and Catania:
http://slowtalk.com/groupee/forums/a...693#1371012693
BEWARE: I have not updated the previous posting since January 2008, so all the fares are outdated. References to the "AMICA" fare on the Trenitalia trains should now refer instead to the "MINI" fares.
Renting a car in Palermo? Certainly NOT to visit the city itself!!! Where are you going: you might not need a car at all!
You need to be more solicitous of booking a cabin from Catania to Naples than from Naples to Palermo (because the ferry ship between Catania and Naples has relatively few cabins). I'd say at least one week beforehand from Catania to Naples, and just a couple of days beforehand from Naples to Palermo. Ordinarily, Tuesday nights are not particularly busy.
Oct 21st, 2011, 07:34 PM
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Just to update the fares between Catania and Naples:
AIR: as low as 50 Euros on Air Italy. Other fares can be much higher. Alitalia is a little more expensive. Add 4 Euros surface transportation to get to the airports.
OVERNIGHT FERRY: as low as 45.50 Euros for a reclining seat in low season on the TTT Lines ferry ship. Cabins are more expensive: A bunk in a quad cabin costs 59.50 Euros in low season. A bunk in a twin cabin costs 70.50 Euros. A single cabin costs 120.50 Euros.
DAYLIGHT TRAIN: regular fare for a seat in second class is 45 Euros, but the LOWEST "MINI" advance purchase promotional fare is 18 Euros (difficult to find unless one books around 4 months in advance). Other "MINI" fares can give discounts ranging between 10% and 60% off of the regular fare.
NIGHT TRAIN: regular fare for a bunk in a quad couchette is 65.60 Euros. Save 19 Euros with a six-bunk couchette (not recommended). A bunk in a twin sleeper costs 96.20 Euros. Each of these fares is discountable up to 60% per the "MINI" rates. This train has ONLY couchettes and sleepers (wagons lits), no regular seats. Travel nonstop from between Naples and Villa San Giovanni in five hours (allowing some sleep).
www.alitalia.it
www.airitaly.it
www.tttlines.it
www.fsitaliane.it
AIR: as low as 50 Euros on Air Italy. Other fares can be much higher. Alitalia is a little more expensive. Add 4 Euros surface transportation to get to the airports.
OVERNIGHT FERRY: as low as 45.50 Euros for a reclining seat in low season on the TTT Lines ferry ship. Cabins are more expensive: A bunk in a quad cabin costs 59.50 Euros in low season. A bunk in a twin cabin costs 70.50 Euros. A single cabin costs 120.50 Euros.
DAYLIGHT TRAIN: regular fare for a seat in second class is 45 Euros, but the LOWEST "MINI" advance purchase promotional fare is 18 Euros (difficult to find unless one books around 4 months in advance). Other "MINI" fares can give discounts ranging between 10% and 60% off of the regular fare.
NIGHT TRAIN: regular fare for a bunk in a quad couchette is 65.60 Euros. Save 19 Euros with a six-bunk couchette (not recommended). A bunk in a twin sleeper costs 96.20 Euros. Each of these fares is discountable up to 60% per the "MINI" rates. This train has ONLY couchettes and sleepers (wagons lits), no regular seats. Travel nonstop from between Naples and Villa San Giovanni in five hours (allowing some sleep).
www.alitalia.it
www.airitaly.it
www.tttlines.it
www.fsitaliane.it
Oct 22nd, 2011, 12:04 AM
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Oct 22nd, 2011, 08:40 AM
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GAC, can you tell me how far in advance the ferry schedules are posted? I am looking to reserve a cabin for end of March 2012.
Thanks so much for all the useful information you post. I have been a loyal fan of yours for a number of years now.
Thanks so much for all the useful information you post. I have been a loyal fan of yours for a number of years now.
Oct 22nd, 2011, 09:41 AM
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Julia1: neither Tirrenia nor SNAV Lines has yet uploaded schedules for 2012 (Naples/Palermo), but you can use the current year's schedule as a guide (crossings are nightly in each direction by each operator).
By contrast, TTT Lines already has schedules for March 2012 between Naples and Catania.
If you're planning to take the overnight ferry between Naples and Palermo, don't worry about booking much in advance for late March: there are plenty of cabins on the two ferry operators, so booking one week to several days in advance (or even on the morning of departure) should be sufficient at that time of year.
Booking a cabin on TTT Lines is a little bit trickier, because there are only 78 cabins on the twin ferries to/from Catania, so you need to book in advance to get a cabin.
By contrast, TTT Lines already has schedules for March 2012 between Naples and Catania.
If you're planning to take the overnight ferry between Naples and Palermo, don't worry about booking much in advance for late March: there are plenty of cabins on the two ferry operators, so booking one week to several days in advance (or even on the morning of departure) should be sufficient at that time of year.
Booking a cabin on TTT Lines is a little bit trickier, because there are only 78 cabins on the twin ferries to/from Catania, so you need to book in advance to get a cabin.
