BEWARE: LAST SUMMER, THE OVERNIGHT LIPARI/AEOLIAN ISLANDS CAR FERRY "SURGE" BEGAN ON THE LAST SUNDAY IN JULY


I hate to be the bearer of bad news (in this case, for "Aeolian Goddess", who wants to take the overnight car ferry from Naples to Salina on Sunday July 1).

Over the weekend, I found the summer 2006 Siremar ferry schedules buried in my desk drawer (they can no longer be located on the web), and here's the deal:

Last year, the summer "surge" in overnight sailings between Naples and the Aeolian Islands commenced on the LAST SUNDAY IN JULY through September 15, as follows:

Naples depart 21:00 on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays

NOTE: The Tuesday and Friday sailings are year-round. The sailings on Thursday and Sunday are ONLY during the "surge" period.

Milazzo depart on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

NOTE: The Monday and Thursday sailings are year-round. The sailings on Wednesday and Saturday are ONLY during the "surge" period.

So Aeolian Goddess is likely out of luck, assuming that the summer 2007 schedule will be nearly identical to that of 2006.

So, what are the alternatives for Aeolian Goddess for Sunday, July 1:

1. Take the SNAV "high speed craft" "Don Francesco" from Naples Beverello at 14:30, arriving Salina at 19:45. One way fare 100 Euros, or 120 Euros in "VIP Class" with lunch included. Don Francesco measures 197 feet in length, 54 feet in width, and accommodates 670 passengers and 60 autos.

2. Take the Ustica Lines hydrofoil from Naples Mergellina at 8:00, arriving Salina at 13:15. One way fare 72.70 Euros. The hydrofoil measures 100-138 feet in length and accommodates between 240 and 366 passengers.

3. Take the Alilauro Lines hydrofoil from Naples Mergellina at 14:00, arriving Salina at 19:00. One way fare 74.50 Euros. Hydrofoil similar to those of Ustica Lines.

4. Take the train (day or night) from Naples to Milazzo, then connect to a hydrofoil to Salina.

www.siremar.it
www.snav.it
www.usticalines.it
www.alilauro.it
www.ferroviedellostato.it


FINAL NOTE:

Last year, the SIREMAR super-fast DAYLIGHT car ferry between Naples Stazione Marittima and Lipari commenced on the FIRST WEDNESDAY OF AUGUST through the SECOND SATURDAY OF SEPTEMBER, as follows:

Naples depart 12:30 on Wednesdays and Saturdays (arrive Lipari 17:00)

Lipari depart 13:00 on Fridays and Sundays (arrive Naples 17:30)

One way fare to Lipari: 85 Euros in second, and 110 Euros in first, class

NOTE: Do NOT confuse this super-fast DAYLIGHT car ferry with the traditional overnight car ferry. Both are operated by SIREMAR, but the DAYLIGHT ferry runs only to Lipari and Milazzo, and NOT to the other islands. You must connect in Lipari to reach the other islands.

NOTE: SIREMAR won't publish its summer 2007 schedules until late May, at the earliest.

thanks, I replied in another thread (sigh)