Thinking about a trip to Naples and Sicily for next time in Italy; and I'm wondering if anyone has recent experience on the overnight ferry from Naples to Catania?
I see GAC: you have some older posts, but I was looking for info no older than one or two years.
What are the cabins like?; and is it a rough journey sometimes, or does the ship keep fairly close to the coast?
Do you think this would be preferable to flying, and getting to and from airports; we would be on foot.
Also: is Catania as rough as some people seem to think it is? Surely not!
All info gratefully received!
Thanks.

I have not ridden on the ferry but I have spent time in Catania (3 trips of two weeks each). I liked Catania and have nothing bad to say about it, except that the traffic and the drivers are the most challenging I have dealt with.

To answer your questions:

1. I have not personally taken the TTT Lines ferry, but have read one very positive review of a very recent crossing from Naples to Catania on this ship. In any case, the ferry is fairly new, and the cabins are usually quite acceptable for the limited purpose of sleeping and taking a shower.

2. Quality of the crossing depends entirely on weather and sea conditions: during calm weather, the crossing is very smooth. The ships are large (25,000 tons) and seaworthy.

3. Better to fly? That depends on a few factors:
(i) final destination: City of Catania or some other city (i.e. Taormina, Siracusa, Ragusa, Modica, Piazza Armerina) which can be reached by airport bus?
(ii) wanting to save the cost of one hotel night (take the overnight ferry)?
(iii) prefer to avoid the stress of airport check-in, security controls, etc.?
(iv) prone to sea sickness?
(v) afraid of flying or of sea crossings?

NOTE: If you are continuing on from the Port to another destination such as Siracusa, bear in mind that some buses stop nearby (400 meters) in Piazza Borsellino (without needing to go all the way to the main bus depot near the train station). Find out if the bus to YOUR destination stops in Piazza Borsellino BEFORE trekking all the way to the bus depot (1600 meters).

4. City of Catania: the areas immediately surrounding Via Etnea and the Cathedral Square are pleasant and scenic, but if you stray a few blocks in the wrong direction (i.e. toward the Port/Train Station), you get into some very sketchy parts of town, which still show the ugly scars of WWII in ways which even Palermo has been able to erase. To get an idea, look at Google Photos of the major streets leading to and from the Catania train station (esp. Corso Martiri della Liberta'): there are entire blocks of open fields (some being developed, others turned into parking lots or simply abandoned for decades). You'll also see these open fields by enlarging the Google satellite maps of Catania in the areas immediately to the west of the train station, leading eventually to Via Etnea and the Cathedral. Nevertheless, I have the impression that the more time you spend in Catania proper, the more you appreciate it as a unique Sicilian city.

5. If you are relying on public transportation, Catania offers the BEST base to visit cities and towns in eastern Sicily: Messina, Taormina, Acireale, Siracusa, Noto, Modica, Ragusa, Piazza Armerina, etc. Bus service is especially frequent and dependable. You can also very easily travel as far as Palermo and Agrigento from Catania as a daytrip by public bus. The bus stop in Piazza Borsellino is especially convenient to the area near the Cathedral (just 300 meters distant).

6. Catania is most certainly worth a visit (if for no other reason, to pay homage to Vincenzo Bellini's monumental tomb in the Cathedral and his birthhome/museum 300 meters away in Piazza San Francesco d'Assisi), but does not compare well with cities such as Palermo and Siracusa from the viewpoint of the tourist.

Oh, thank you so much everyone for your kind information!
GAC: I knew you would know all the transport angles and details.
(Do you live in Italy?)
I'm filing all this away for when we really get busy planning.

I took SNAV in 2003 from Palermo to Naples and TTT Lines from Naples to Catania in 2009. They were both nice, clean and good for a one night stay. I didn't really feel the motion of the sea and was able to get a good nights sleep on both ships. I'm taking another one this coming summer from Palermo to Naples. It's a simple way to travel and you get the full day on day of departure since they leave on the later side.

Thanks.
One more question: does anyone know of a place you can store luggage until boarding, at the ferry terminal?
If we go to Naples, we would rent an apartment, so would have to check out in the morning; and not be sailing until 9pm.
Thanks!

There is a luggage deposit office at the Port of Naples.

I took the overnight ferry in 2007... so slightly more historic than you were asking. We loved the experience and would totally do it again.

We were a family of 4 and wanted to make sure to get sleep so we booked a room with 4 bunks. It was perfect... it even had a small bathroom/shower. Like being on a cruise ship- but even smaller and with bunk beds.

One of my best memories of the trip is seeing the sun rise and reflect off of Etna as we headed south.

On that trip we didn't stay in Catania - we took a train north to go to Taormina. But this past summer (June 2011) we spent some time in Catania and really enjoyed it. Turns out my husband has 2nd cousins there that he didn't know about.

Hi GAC Where is the luggage storage at the Port of Naples?
I may be in Naples this summer and might need to use it.

Thanks

This Trip Advisor discussion has a link to a picture of the luggage storage in the parking lot of Molo Beverello.

Thanks, everyone.