Can you believe it?

For the first time in history, SIREMAR Lines will connect Naples/Stazione Marittima with Lipari/Marina Lunga, by super-fast car ferry, in merely FOUR HOURS!!!!!

The sleek ferry ship "Scorpio" (leased from parent company Tirrenia Lines) will operated out of Naples at 13:00 on Wednesdays and Saturdays from July 1 through September 30, and out of Lipari on Fridays at 12 noon and on Sundays at 10:30. Travel time in either direction is 4 hours. High season fares are 85 Euros in second class and 110 Euros in first class.

"Scorpio" and its three "Jupiter Class" sister ships are the largest fast car ferries in the Mediterranean. Displacing 11,350 tons, the ship measures 478 feet in length, 72 feet in width, and accommodates 1800 passengers and 460 automobiles. It can travel at an amazing 43 knots. There are two snack bars on board, and reclining seats for all passengers. There are no cabins.

THIS IS THE ABSOLUTELY FASTEST METHOD OF PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION BETWEEN NAPLES AND LIPARI.

Note: The traditional overnight car ferry continues to be operated by Siremar four times weekly from July 1 through September 30, less frequently in other periods. Departures from Naples at 21:00; from Lipari at 17:20. Travel time approx. 13.5 hours.
One way high season fares: Euro 44.90 for a reclining seat; Euro 39.40 deck passage; more for a sleeping cabin. The ferry displaces 11,000 tons, measures 400 feet in length and accommodates 800 passengers and 272 automobiles. There is a cafeteria and two snack bars on board, as well as approx. 160 cabins. There are also 200 reclining seats which cost less than a cabin.

Note: the summer-only hydrofoil continues to be operated once daily by Ustica Lines. Travel time 5.5 hours. One way fare: Euros 74.90.

Note: SNAV now runs a super-fast catamaran between Naples and Lipari once daily during the summer, replacing a smaller hydrofoil. The "Orion" is 50 meters in length, travels at 40 knots and can accommodate 700 passengers on two decks. It commenced service last May. Travel time is 5.5 hours, and one-way high season fares at Euro 85 (Euro 107 in VIP class).

www.siremar.it
www.usticalines.it
www.snav.it

Travelling between Naples and Lipari in OCTOBER?

The Siremar fast ferry "Scorpio" will continue service ONCE per week in October (from Naples on Sundays at 13:00; from Lipari on Saturdays at 10:30). Travel time in each direction 4 hours. One way low season fares: Euro 80 in second class; Euro 100 in first class.

The fast ferry continues on to (and originates from) Milazzo, on the Sicilian mainland, but calls ONLY at Lipari/Marina Lunga.

In OCTOBER, there will be no hydrofoil and no catamaran service, but the traditional overnight car ferry (also operated by Siremar) in 13.5 hours to Lipari will run twice weekly (in addition to the once weekly fast ferry). A reclining seat on the traditional ferry costs about 40 Euros in low season, or HALF the cost of the fast ferry. The traditional ferry stops at Stromboli, Panarea, Salina, Lipari and Vulcano and terminates at Milazzo.

From November through mid-June 2006, only the traditional overnight ferry will operate (twice weekly) directly between Naples and the Aeolian Islands.

www.siremar.it

The overnight service is still quicker because it doesn't waste any waking hours. The SCORPIO's service is the fastest daytime service, but is only possible because Tirrenia has no other use for these craft: they have gas turbine machinery and so have high running costs which make them quite uneconomic. Tirrenia uses one for services from Fiumicino to Sardinia, but two others are laid-up.

Great news ! Thanks for letting us know, GAC.

Geoff is absolutely correct on his observations concerning Scorpio and her 3 sister ships.

Nevertheless, this new service is a huge improvement over the smaller hydrofoil still used by Ustica Lines during the summer.

It should also provide greater seaworthiness than the new but much smaller catamaran operated by SNAV.

During August 2006, Siremar will run its fast ferry "CAPRICORN" (sister ship of "SCORPIO", used last year) twice weekly between Naples and Lipari, non-stop in 4.5 hours.

The daylight crossings will cost 110 Euros in first class and 85 Euros in second class. Reclining seats only.

Siremar's much slower and less expensive "traditional" overnight ferries will run four times weekly from the very end of July through the middle of September; twice weekly for the rest of the year.

You can read the full story in my posting of today in:

www.slowtrav.com

"Naples to Aeolian Islands Ferry: the complete details"

There are also hydrofoils and catamarans from Naples to the Aeolian Islands from June through September, although these are NOT non-stop to Lipari.

www.siremar.it
www.usticalines.it
www.snav.it
www.alilauro.it

Thanks very much for the up to date info, GAC. Mm, maybe something to consider for next year