Italian Train adventure

It's super easy to just fly-suggest you look at Kayak for prices. Last November we did Alitalia for under €100 each with checked bags. As far as the train is concerned am pretty sure you have to either reserve a room or a seat for a night train.

No automatic sleeping berth. Just a seat. I am not sure there is a sleeper running between Naples and Palermo.

PS At ten hours that is a long trip. Most are intercity trains that come with a seat reservation when you book the ticket. Different level of seating is simply going to be first and second class. The pricing levels will be Super Economy, Economy, and Base depending on seat availability and time. SE and E tickets come with limitations on changes.

The following is from The Man in Seat 61 a very useful website.

Naples to to Palermo, Catania, Siracuse & Sicily...
There are two daytime InterCity trains and one time-effective overnight sleeper train direct from Naples to Palermo, Messina, Catania and Siracuse in Sicily - yes, they are indeed direct, the trains get ferried across the Straits of Messina on board a ferry, a fascinating experience. Just book from Naples to Sicily at www.italiarail.com or www.trenitalia.com. More information here.

Alternatively, overnight cruise ferries with comfortable en suite cabins sail from Naples to Palermo, See www.tirrenia.it & www.snav.it for times, dates, fares & online booking.

We were going to fly from Naples to Palermo. However we are staying in Sorrento which means we have to leave extra early to get to the airport for the flight that leaves at 11:50. So , it's a matter of spending 10 hours total traveling time to arrive in Palermo at 16:00 by air or leave the previous night, spend a relaxing day in Sorrento and Naples. I just have to cut one day off my overnight in Sorrento. It's still about 10 hours total time either way. I think when I went to the Trenitalia website there are couchettes(?) available as an option. I'm not sure if these are berths and seats or what

FYI, Iberia Air runs a non-stop flt from Rome to Palermo for less than $40, and will get you there in a little over an hour, if you can modify your itinerary to depart from Rome rather than Naples.
Much better alternative than the ordeal of an overnight train (IMHO).

We took the overnight ferry in the opposite direction (Palermo to Naples). The stateroom was tiny but bunks were comfortable and they have ensuite toilet. It was fun and I slept like a baby. It was quite a while ago and I don't remember the cost but it was a great way to get where you're going and be rested and ready to go when you get there.

Couchettes are sleeping compartments with regular seats for the daytime, and fold-down beds for sleeping. There tend to be 4 fold-down berths per compartment, so depending on how many people are in your party, you may be sharing the couchette with others.

Over the years, I've taken several night trains in the past, and (as a younger person) my sleep has ranged from not great to actually pretty bad. Your results may differ, and at least you're not facing a number of country border crossings with passport controls and knocks on your cabin door throughout the night. The couchette compartment does have a locking door for the security of the occupants, but if you have to get up in the middle of the night to use the WC, you'll have to arrange to get out and back in.

Not sure whether the train ferry crossing will involve some stopping, starting again, stopping some more, and clanking or jolting. It's great that you wake up at your destination the next day, but it may not be the best night's sleep of your life. And that's easier when one is younger . . . sigh.

P.S. Three years ago we flew to Palermo, but we were coming from Rome.

Paul, in May 2014 I flew the opposite way, Palermo to Naples, on a fine, cheap flight on Volotea, a one hour flight. Just be aware of baggage limits and plan at booking to check your normal carry-ons. I don't know just when you are traveling, but Volotea has inexpensive flights leaving Naples at 8:15 pm, arriving Palermo in an hour. You might check that out. You could even explore Pompeii or Herculaneum, or Naples, on the way to your flight, or take a late afternoon bus from Sorrento directly to the airport in Naples.

The train ferry crossing does indeed involve starting, stopping, creaking, jostling, and other sleep interruptions. I have done ferries, train ferries, and planes, and now I will backtrack to Napoli to fly rather than give up a night's sleep on a train.

Thanks for all the tips. After talking to the better half she wasn't comfortable with sharing a bunks with strangers so we are back to the airplane route. Found some reasonable flights from Volotea leaving in the early afternoon and we get there in an hour. This trip is pretty ambitious for us plus it is a dream trip for me. We are going to Florence first than a few days in Rome(which we have already been to once before),then off to Sorrento and finally Palermo. We are following the warmth :-))