Has anyone had experience with this ferry ride? We will be in Salerno in late April and early May with next stop somewhere in Sicily - so it seems like a good idea. What do you know that I don't? How likely is rough sea? What accommodations are available?
Posted by
Washington DC
28450 posts
No experience with the ferry, but congratulations on not planning to take the night train. I did; wow, was that a mistake.
Since Messina is probably not among your ultimate destinations, I'd look for a different landing point in Sicily. Ferry schedules often vary quite a lot by day of week. I spot-checked and found an overnight ferry to Catania and both day and night ferries to Palermo. It appears that there may be only daytime ferries to Messina.
If you aren't specifically looking for an overnight trip, flying from Naples to Sicily would probably be better. There are multiple airlines offering low-cost flights between Naples and Catania. I assume the same is true for Palermo. Check skyscanner for schedules and fares.
Posted by
Chicago
2124 posts
No experience with the ferry, but congratulations on not planning to
take the night train. I did; wow, was that a mistake.
Come on, A.C., dish the dirt. Tell us everything!
Posted by
Washington DC
28450 posts
I've posted about it before. Basically, it seemed that the rails on that route were nowhere near smooth enough for a night train. I've taken night trains in the past, north of the Alps (when I was much younger and--admittedly--slept better), and it was possible to get some sleep. On that Italian train, there was a side-to-side jerk every few seconds. I didn't sleep a wink. As soon as I got into my B&B room in Catania I collapsed into bed, so no sightseeing time was saved.
In sum: a miserable experience, but not even an exciting one to describe!