Train to ferry or plane from Rome to Sicily?

I'd vote for flying, especially if you're prone to motion sickness. The last time I was on a ferry in the Mediterranean it was a beautiful sunny day and the water looked perfectly smooth when we boarded. But once we were out of sight of land the sea was undulating a little and the ferry bobbing up and down a bit, and I saw more than one passenger turning green and heading for the rail.

I haven't taken the ferry but it's a quick, easy flight from Rome. Check www.whichbudget.com to find a budget airline that flies from Rome to either Palermo, Catania, or Trapani - depending on your itinerary. Travel in Sicily is great fun!

I wouldn't count on ferries in November. Find a website for the ferry and check. Weather can get rough enough to halt ferries; some may run only in the summer months.

There is both a direct night train and a direct day train from Rome to Sicily. The train travels by ferry from the mainland to Sicily and the ferries run year round. You can get very cheap flights to Sicily on Wind Jet, easyJet, and Alitalia.

Avoid at all costs the night trains to Sicily, they are crap and take up to 4 hours longer than day trains. There are many flights from Rome to Sicily, Palermo and Catania being the busiest year-round destinations. As for the ferries: there are year-round ferries. They are really ferries, not cruise liners: cabins are modest, and there will be only a small bar/restaurant selling microwaved food and, desserts, snacks. But the ferries that operate year-round depart more often from Napoli (1h train + 20 min taxi) than from Civitavecchia (the main ferry port for Rome). I suggest you to fly. Try companies like Wind Jet, Air One, Meridiana etc.

November is the 2nd rainiest month in Sicily, but the temps will be mild, and parts will have much less rain than others. You may want to plan your trip to one of the "dryer" areas: http://www.bestofsicily.com/weather.htm Fly!

Thanks everyone!