NAPLES TO PALERMO FERRY
 

I planning to take the overnight ferry from Naples to Palermo in early April. Does any experience about doing this?<BR><BR>Does it get rough? How are the rooms? etc<BR><BR>Thanks...<BR><BR>Sam

Read the numerous postings on this site.

Samag: If you click on GAC's name above, you'll get a list of all the threads on which GAC has posted, many of which deal with travel to, in and around Sicily. Click. Read 'em. Very informative.

Sam-<BR>My husband and I did this trip from Palermo to Naples in April about 4 years ago. It was ok, but I did get seasick. We got the least expensive room we could and it was in the bottom of the boat. It was just a little windowless room with 2 bunks, bathroom down the hall. In all it was a good way to save a day's driving, nothing more.<BR>You can read about it and our trip at<BR>http://www.wired2theworld.com<BR>Go to the Around the World trip page for Sicily.

Overnight ships are run by both Tirrenia (www.tirrenia.it) and SNAV (www.snav.it). Tirrenia's two ships on this route, the RAFFAELE RUBATTINO and VINCENZO FLORIO were built in 1999-2000 and are around 30,000 tons. Like all modern ferries the cabins are all above the vehicle decks, and all cabins have a bathroom with a shower and toilet. SNAV's ships are older, but are a similar size. Because of this competition, you should have no problem booking a cabin at short notice.

I took the Tirrenia ferry last June from Palermo to Naples. There's a post on here if you search by ferry, Naples or Palermo you should find it. I thought it was a great way to save a travel day and the trip was very comfortable. Our ship was the Vincenzo Florio. We had an inside double cabin and while small, beds were comfortable, acceptably clean and with all necessary amenities - toilet, shower, 2 small closets, small vanity with mirror. We took our car on and overall the embarkation, sailing and debarkation went very smoothly. Of course, if you hit rough seas or are prone to it, you could get seasick, but if you buy some dramamine or bonine and take it 30 mins before boarding you should be fine. <BR>

If you look on the www.tirrenia.it site, you will see color photos of the cabins (both inside and outside) of the Florio and Rubattino. These are the largest and most modern vessels to ply the waters between Naples and Palermo, so the ride should be quite acceptable except during very rough sea conditions.

Take the plane instead. We took the ferry and did not like it at all. We had a first class cabin. Two of us got seasick. It ruined by first two days on the Amalfi coast. We got a refund for the return trip and flew back. Took only 45 minutes and not that much more money. Worth it.

I did the overnight train to Palermo - very weird to wake up in the middle of the night and your train car is being loaded into a boat. Not uncomfortable, but not especially pleasant either.