Train (Sleeper Car) from Sicily to Venice
 

My husband and I (active 50s) will be travelling to Sicily for the first time. We would like to consider travelling by train from there to Venice, where we will meet up with some friends. (I figure this is one way to see some of the country.) We will have four days between the time we leave Sicily before it is necessary to arrive in Venice. This will be in late April. I've reviewed the various train sites on the WEB: I am confused. Is it possible to reserve a private sleeper cabin for that trip? (It seems that I have seen different meanings of "pullman" in my research) Which train provides sleeper cabins, if any? If there aren't any sleeper cabins, is it ridiculous to think of sleeping in the train on a reclining chair; are they incredibly overcrowded trains? Any other information you can give me about fares and costs or recommendations of how to spend those four days (if not on the train), would be helpful. Thank You

Nearly all overnight trains in Italy and in Europe have at least two types of cars - Couchette car and Sleeper Cars (aka Pullman) - couchettes are typically 6 berths in one compartment - mixed sex - three bunks with blankets, sheets and pillow on each side of an aisle

sometimes there are 4-person couchettes - aka first class couchettes but not typically - just the six-person

But in the sleeper cars are Singles, Doubles and Triples usually - at times quads - but almost always doubles - private doubles with doors that lock both on the outside and more important on the inside - usually now a bolt lock so even the conductor cannot come in at night if you keep the bolt lock on, which, in zillions of overnight train trips conductors almost always exhort me to do.

As for fares go to www.trenitalia.com and you'll get the fare but apparently Americans with American credit cards cannot book online - you should have little problem IME booking upon arrival - at least in the sleeper car - couchette berths to/from Sicily can be booked for weeks (as i found out once when going from Taormina to Milan - i had to pay more for a place in a triple as couchettes were literally booked up for weeks - many Sicilians live in northern Italy to work and go back and forth and couchettes, being much cheaper than sleepers are more in demand. But to be sure you may want to book thru an American agent before leaving - this can usually not be done until 60 days before the train, sometimes 90. The following sites i have found to be loaded with lots of great info on usuing European trains and describing overnight trains: www.budgeteuropetravel.com; www.ricksteves.com; www.seat61.com. I will try to check schedules to see if the Venice to Sicily trains indeed do have a sleeper car on them and report back!
Trains to Sicily typically split after rolling off the train ferry at Messina - with one part going to Palermo and the other to Catania/Syracuse.

There are many overnight trains in Italy with sleepers and couchettes, as described by Palenque.
The train called 'Freccia della Laguna' goes from Sicily to Venezia. One part of the train leaves Palermo at 1458 and the other part leaves Siracusa at 1510; they cross the straits from Messina to Villa San Giovanni together in the early evening, and eventually get to Venezia the next day at 1150. Both parts of the train have one-, two- and three-berth sleeping compartments and four-berth couchette compartments.
If you don't want to do the whole journey in one go, there are other options. There is one from Palermo at 1840 to Roma, arriving at 0723, with 'Excelsior' sleeping compartments which have showers and WCs.
All the trains cross the staits by ferry. If you cross during the night, you can stay in your sleeping compartment. By day, people get off the train during the sea trip to get a drink, a snack or some sea air.
There are also direct overnight ferries from Catania to Napoli, Messina to Salerno, and Palermo to Napoli, Civitavecchia, Livorno or Genova. The ships have a range of cabins, restaurants, etc.

Most Italians would recommend that you skip the sleeper train (too long a journey, and often runs late) and fly instead (there are cheap low-cost carriers between Palermo, Catania and Venice). Alternatively, that you take the overnight ferry to Naples (much more comfortable) and proceed by daylight train.

If you do end up taking the night train, one very good feature about the "Freccia della Laguna" EXP night train described by Geoff above (aside from the fact that it is a through train) is that it travels non-stop between Salerno and Firenze, thereby allowing the possibility of a decent's night sleep between half-past midnight and 7 a.m. A twin sleeper without private toilet costs 106 Euros per person, or 85 Euros with the advance purchase "AMICA" fare. The toilet is at the end of the railcar. The sleeping compartment has a very small wash basin with hot and cold water (not for drinking). This train does NOT have the "Excelsior" class sleepers with private facilities.

Fly to venice---life is too short.

Thanks to each of you. Your responses are all so informative and interesting and I've started to research them further. Now, we are leaning towards taking the overnight ferry to Naples and proceeding by daylight train. Maybe stay in Naples for a night or two. I feel that it is my responsibility to research this more before I ask for more help/info/suggestions from you, but if you would like to give further info now (especially about the ferry option and spending a day or two in Naples) it sure would be appreciated. In the meantime, I'll try to get some info, when/where I can. Thanks again

Palermo to Naples overnight car ferry:

www.tirrenia.it; or
www.snav.it

Book your sleeping cabin in advance.

Naples to Venice daylight train:

www.ferroviedellostato.it

HINT: Save 50% on the Naples to Venice route by taking the IC train "Matilde Serao" rather than the faster and much more expensive ES/AV trains. Depart Naples 8:24, arrive Venice 16:49. Travel time on the IC train: 8.5 hours versus 6 hours on the AV. Fare: 50 Euros on the IC versus 80 Euros on the AV. Possibility of saving an additional 20% ("AMICA" promotional fare) by booking the IC trains several days in advance once you arrive in Italy. No restaurant car on the IC train, so bring your lunch with you on board.

I can't imagine spending that much time on a train. I would look at the overnight ferry options to somewhere farther north. From Catania to Genoa on Grimaldi Lines and then train on to Venice (about 4 1/2 hours). I doubt you can check spring schedules online for most ferry lines until later in winter, but perhaps you can get an e-mail answer. Some ferries don't travel every day.
http://www.grimaldi-lines.com/england/index.jsp?lan=EN

Grand Navi also runs ferries between Palermo/Genoa, Palermo/Rome (Civitavecchia is Rome's port an hour north) and Palermo/Livorno.
http://www3.gnv.it/it/gnv-home/gnv-h...home-page.html

I would also check some of the budget airlines. For a random date in April, Easy Jet shows a price of 44€ (price includes one checked bag) from Palermo to Milan.
http://www.easyjet.com/EN/Book/

the IC train i took to Venice only served the Mestre train station and then change to a shuttle - not as convenient if that is true on all IC trains - and in Florence the IC train did not similarly deaprt from the main station, SMN but only from Rifredi and Campo di Marte station.

A direct sleeper train leaves Palermo at 14:58 and arrives Venice 11:50 next day. A similar train runs from Siracuse and Catania to venice. It's the 'Freccia della laguna', the 'Lagoon Arrow'.

Yes, you can book a private 2-bed sleeper compartment that converts to a private sittying room for daytime use. With a sleeper, it's around 106 euros per person for an advance-purchase Amica fare, you can check times and prices at www.trenitalia.com.

This is a great journey, an adventure, and takes little longer than an afternoon of flights and airports and airport security hassles plus a hotel, and saves a hotel bill.

The train is shunted onto a train ferry to cross from Sicily to mainland Italy, an experience in itself. The scenery along the coast is great. And of course it's centre to centre, no baggage fees or airport taxes.

Never fly when you can have an adventure and learn and see something, life's too short to fly everywhere at 30,000 feet.

You could, as Kybourbon suggests, take an overnight ferry "farther north", such as Civitavecchia, Livorno or Genova, then proceed by train to Venice. However, if you do this, your total trip will actually be much longer than if you take the overnight ferry to Naples, because ferry service to Livorno and Genova takes much, much longer than to Naples, yet the AV train from Naples to Venice takes only 6 hours. The ferry to Civitavecchia does not gain any additional time, since it's two hours longer by sea, yet the train to Venice (connecting through Rome) saves only about 30 minutes than from Naples (and indeed saves even less time, because you need to connect in Rome).

If you do decide to take the overnight ferry from Palermo to Naples, you MAY be able to take the 7:16 AV train to Venice (but DON'T count on this), although you're much more likely to make the 8:24 IC train instead (which takes 90 minutes longer but costs 30 Euros less than the AV train).

Kybourbon is correct that the fastest and cheapest method of travel (by a long shot) is by low-cost airline.

I suggest that you price the following alternatives:

1. Fly from Palermo (or Catania) to Venice
2. Overnight ferry Palermo/Naples, connecting to direct train
3. Overnight ferry Palermo/Civitavecchia, connecting to train (requires a connection in Rome).

There is also an overnight ferry from Catania to Naples.

www.tirrenia.it
www.snav.it
www.gvn.it
www.snav.it
www.tttlines.it
www.ferroviedellostato.it
www.volawindjet.it
www.meridiana.it
www.alitalia.it

I only had one experience on an overnight sleeper train in Italy and it was many years ago. It was a very unpleasant experience.

I would opt for a direct flight.

The original poster said she had four days to get from Sicily to Venezia, so there is an opportunity to break the journey for a couple of days and see something of Napoli, Roma, Firenze or almost anywhere else in Italy.

CORRECTION: I made an error in part of my posting above. Here is the corrected text:

If you do decide to take the overnight ferry from Palermo to Naples, you MAY be able to take the 7:16 AV train to Venice (but DON'T count on this), although you're much more likely to make the 8:24 IC train instead (which takes 2.5 hours longer but costs 30 Euros less than the AV train).

Thanks again for so many responses. It seems that so many different options are available. Many more than I imagined. After looking at everything, I'm realizing how very little I know about the terrain, etc. So, if any of you would like to respond further, I'm putting this out there: What would you suggest if my husband and I want to ferry from Palermo (overnight) to a destination which would be a starting point for a train ride (not overnight) that would take us through some interesting (diverse?) landscapes on the way to Venice? We could stay overnight in the city the ferry lands in, or go ahead and stay overnight elsewhere (maybe go all the way to Venice, depending on what seems best).
Since the ferrys all seem to leave Palermo very late at night, are there any recommendations about that last day in the city? For example, do you recommend that we leave luggage at the hotel, explore Palermo further, pick up luggage late and get to ferry (best way?). Is there a station at the ferry where we could comfortably (safely, too) spend a few hours before the ferry leaves? How long before the ferry is scheduled to depart must we arrive at ferry terminal? I'm sure there must be so many other things I haven't thought of, sorry.
Again, I'll keep researching all options, but if any one of you has what "you would do" (except fly directly from Palermo to Venice)given the circumstances, I would be very glad to have that information.
Thank You

Most ferries state 2-3 hours before departure, but many are assuming you are loading a car. It will depend on which ferry company you use and their rules.

Here are some ideas:

1. Spend your last day in Palermo visiting sites in the central city; possibly including Monreale.

2. Leave your luggage at your hotel. Take a taxi to the ferry. There is really no good place to wait for the ferry nearby. Without a car, you don't need to board until about 60 minutes before departure time. This assumes you already have tickets for your cabin accommodations.

3. Have a (very, very) early dinner in Palermo, or you can eat in the ship's formal restaurant or self-service cafeteria.

4. Spend two or three nights in Naples (if you have never been there). You could also visit Capri, Ischia, Caserta, Pompei, Ercolano, and/or Sorrento.

5. Take the daylight train from Naples direct to Venice, or break your journey in Orvieto (if you have never been there). If you stop in Orvieto, you MUST take the IC train and NOT the ES/AV train (which does NOT stop in Orvieto). (NOTE: you could also break your journey in Rome, Cortona, Arezzo, Florence, Bologna, Ferrara, Padova, etc.).

6. The train trip from Naples to Venice is fairly interesting, but not "spectacular". The landscape is indeed diverse, and the train ride is worthwhile, in my opinion.

Here are the boarding rules from the Tirrenia Lines website:

"BOARDING

For trip destinations to Italian harbours with no accompanying vehicle, boarding is required fifteen minutes before departure as scheduled. For voyages with an accompanying vehicle, boarding is required two hours at least before the departure time scheduled. For international voyages, either confirmed through the ticket purchase or not, no boarding will be allowed before checking in with the shipping agency two hours (three hours for parties) before departure as scheduled.

In any case, after these terms have expired no boarding will be allowed."


The SNAV Lines website requests passengers to board two hours before scheduled departure, but this applies primarily to passengers with automobiles. Many passengers board later than this.

Late April is still considered low season. You can expect the ship to be about half-full.

Unless Easter is late perhaps or would it still be low season if Easter were in latter April?

Easter is still considered "low season" for the purpose of the applicable fare, but one can expect there to be more passengers than the norm for the time period.