There are two ways to get from Naples to Stromboli direct: by overnight car ferry, or by hydrofoil. Each method has its pluses and minuses:
CAR FERRY (overnight only):
1. Operator SIREMAR is a subsidiary of State-owned Tirrenia Lines. Departures twice weekly from November through March; thrice weekly in April, May, June and October; five times a week in September and six times a week in July and August.
NOTE: Beginning with the summer 2005 schedules, sailings will be FOUR TIMES WEEKLY FROM JULY THROUGH SEPTEMBER, and TWICE WEEKLY FOR THE REST OF THE YEAR.
2. Travel time is 8 hours in each direction.
3. Departs Naples/Stazione Marittima at 21:00, arrives Stromboli 5:00. Departs Stromboli at 22:00 (often later, due to embarcation of heavy vehicles at Lipari), arrives Naples 7:00. Ferry usually makes up lost time en route.
4. One way basic fare of just under 30 Euros from October through May, 32.40 Euros in June and September, and 35 Euros in July and August. Port taxes an additional 77 cents. Add 5.50 Euros for a reclining seat, and about 20 Euros for a sleeping berth in a very small twin cabin (double occupancy, otherwise approx. 30 Euros for single occupancy). TIP: at a minimum, go for a (reserved) reclining seat; otherwise, in high season, you may end up having nowhere to sit or if you're lucky, on an uncomfortable cocktail lounge chair. Cabins and reclining seats should always be reserved in advance.
5. There is a cafeteria, bar and lounge on the ship, and a full-length open-air deck for taking beautiful photos and videos at daybreak. Most lights in the public areas are turned off at night, so you can gaze at the stars on the open sea.
6. Ferry continues on to Panarea, Salina, Lipari, Vulcano, and Milazzo.
7. Siremar has recently subsituted larger and more modern ships on this route. Newer ferries "Palladio" and "Laurana" (formerly operated by Adriatica Lines) displace 11,000 tons, measure 400 feet in length, 63.6 feet in width, travel at 17 knots, and accommodate 800 passengers and 276 autos. There are 158 cabins, and 200 reclining seats (with decent recline) with leg rests in a closed salon. The ferries have a cafeteria and large public salon with bar area.
HYDROFOIL (daylight only):
1. It runs daily, but only from the beginning of June through the end of September, and is subject to cancellation at any time for bad weather.
2. Two companies compete on the route: SNAV and Ustica Lines. SNAV charges between 58 and 64 Euros (one way), depending upon the week and day of travel. Some seats on SNAV (VIP class) cost more. Ustica Lines charges 56.80 Euros. It is useful to book seats in advance if travelling in July or August.
3. Naples/Mergellina departures at 8:30 (Ustica Lines) and 14:30 (SNAV). Return from Stromboli at 9:05 (SNAV) and 16:05 (Ustica Lines). SNAV runs from roughly June 1 through September 11; Ustica Lines from June 26 through September 30 (dates can slip by a few days owing to weather and lack of passengers).
4. Travel time is 4 hours in each direction.
5. Hydrofoil is subject to lots of rocking and rolling. Can definitely cause sea sickness. Bring dramamine (perhaps take it in advance) and a plastic bag with you.
6. Need to keep your seat for the bulk of the crossing, especially once the boat reaches top speed; nowhere to walk around, vessel is fully enclosed, not feasible to take photos or videos. Very little to no views of the water or coastline. Windows, which are not much above the water line, are often fogged up, marred, or just plain dirty. A little bit like being on an airplane or bus. Limited on-board refreshments.
7. The hydrofoil continues on to Panarea, Salina, Lipari and Vulcano (but you must consult the schedule, as not all stops are made in geographic line of travel).
OVERALL ASSESSMENT: take the ferry. You'll save a bunch of money, experience the magnificent sunrise over the water, gaze upon Stromboli from afar, and see the City of Naples, in all its splendor, from the water. The ferry is much more seaworthy than the hydrofoil. Travelling solo? Save about 30 Euros and reserve a reclining seat rather than a cabin. Eight hours is no more than an average transatlantic flight, and you can walk around the ship as well, any time and for as long as you desire. Stromboli is one of those islands you don't want to miss.
NOTE: For Summer 2005, SNAV has substituted a giant catamaran (700 passengers and 50 metres in length) for the smaller hydrofoil.
GAC, does the hydrofoil have any restroom facilities for a four-hour trip? I was just wondering because of what you said about the necessity to keep to one's seat.
Yes, the hydrofoil does indeed have restroom facilities! (Not just the hydrofoil to Naples, but also the local hydrofoils which connect the islands to each other and to Milazzo).
The hydrofoil service to Naples is also supposed to have bar service, although it may be unmanned when the passenger load is very light.
I took the SNAV line from Mergellina to the Aeolian Islands (the hydrofoil) and I was not told I had to stay in my seat. I was able to walk around, especially when we got close to Stromboli it was wonderful to go onto the little outside area and see the approach. No one seemed to have an issue with a few of us being out there. Granted the bulk of the ride is boring and you need a good book, but I preferred it to the overnight.
A fair comment. Nevertheless, walking about the hydrofoil is a bit like walking on an airplane: not much room to roam. And yes, you can step outside when the boat slows down, but not at high speeds. Also, the panoramas from "down low" are not the equal of those from "up high" on the top deck of the car ferry.
Persons who don't particularly like travelling on the sea, or who are pressed for time, or who wish to avoid overnight travel, may indeed prefer the hydrofoil, since travel time is cut in half.
I still vote for the ferry, but recognize that it's a personal preference and that others will prefer the hydrofoil. Thanks for sharing your experience.
Good to hear your thoughts on the overnight! The beauty of either trip is that once you get there, the Aeolians are fantastic! I had a great time and would go back in a heartbeat.
For July and August 2005, there will be a second car ferry operator sailing between Naples and the Aeolian Islands, competing with the traditional SIREMAR car ferries:
Medmar Group will sail from Naples every Friday night at 23:00 to Stromboli (arrive 6:15 on Saturday morning), Panarea, Salina, Lipari (ar. 8:50 on Saturday morning) and Vulcano.
Return from Lipari on Saturday evening at 21:35 (Stromboli at midnight), with arrival in Naples on Sunday morning at 7:00.
Note that the Medmar ferry is ONE HOUR FASTER to Stromboli than the Siremar ferries.
Sailings once per week during July and August ONLY.
Service will commence again on June 23, 2006
One way fare Naples to Stromboli 30 Euros; Naples to Panarea 35 Euros; Naples to Salina, Lipari or Vulcano 38 Euros.
Extra charge for automobiles. No cabins available (SIREMAR ferries have cabins and reclining seats). The Siremar ferries are considerably larger ships.
The brand-new ferry ship "Lora d'Abundo" measures 269 feet in length, 49 feet in width, travels at 18 knots, and accommodates 895 passengers and 140 autos.
Update of service from November 1, 2005 through March 31, 2006:
During this five month period, the traditional car ferry "Palladio" will depart Naples for Stromboli at 21:00 on Tuesday and Friday only, arriving next morning at 6:30. Return from Stromboli to Naples at 21:30 on Monday and Thursday only, arriving next morning at 7:00.
"Palladio" has 158 twin cabins, 200 reclining seats, a cafeteria and bar.
One-way deck passage costs 30.40 Euros, including port taxes. Add 5.50 Euros for a comfortable reclining seat. Cabins cost still more.
The traditional car ferry is the ONLY direct trasportation between Naples and Stromboli until hydrofoil/catamaran service is commenced again in June 2006.
Crossings are sometimes cancelled or delayed in winter due to very rough weather. Even though "Palladio" is a large ship, it's a good idea to carry dramamine with you.
NOTE: Travelling "deck passage" means finding a lounge chair or sofa seat in the forward bar lounge (with TV sets on all night), which often receives greater turbulence than the quiet reclining seat lounge further back.
BUDGET CUTS FORCE SIGNIFICANT REDUCTION OF TRADITIONAL CAR FERRY SERVICE BETWEEN NAPLES AND STROMBOLI
For the remainder of 2006, and owing to budget cuts, the Siremar Lines Naples to Stromboli overnight traditional car ferry will operate TWICE WEEKLY ONLY, on Tuesday and Fridays evenings at 21:00, arriving at Stromboli at 6:00 a.m. the next morning.
Return sailings from Stromboli to Naples will depart on Monday and Thursday evenings at 22:00, arriving in Naples at 8:00 a.m. the next morning.
From June 23 through and including September 8, competitor Medmar Lines will offer a ONCE WEEKLY car ferry crossing exclusively on Friday evenings at 23:00. The return trip from Stromboli to Naples will be on Saturday evenings at 22:45, through September 9. The ship used by Medmar will be much smaller, albeit faster than the Siremar ferry, and will not have any cabins, only reclining seats.
Daily hydrofoil and/or catamaran crossings via Ustica Lines and SNAV (4 hours) will continue during the summer months, as last year.
Although the car ferry takes twice the time of the hydrofoil, it is the only real way to afford beautiful and sweeping views of Stromboli at dawn, and is therefore highly recommended. On the return trip, taking the ferry affords magnificent views of the Naples skyline in the early morning. Unforgettable.
Moreover, by crossing at night, you avoid the cost of one night's lodging in Naples, and thereby can travel to Stromboli essentially free of charge.
The cost of the Siremar ferry to Stromboli starts as low as 32.40 Euros in low season for deck passage. Add 5.50 Euros for a reclining seat or 21 Euros for a bunk in a twin cabin with private facilities. A reclining seat on the Medmar ferry is a flat 35 Euros.
Here is a link to a comprehensive description of the overnight car ferry service to the Aeolian Islands out of Naples:
GAC - any chance you can point me in the direction of ferry services from Tropea or Capo Vaticano (or any close areas) to any of the islands or sicily?
Posts: 18 | Location: NYC | Registered: 08 May 2006
Italian media are reporting that, beginning next week, there will be FOUR (not two) weekly car ferries between Naples and the Aeolian Islands for the balance of the summer season (through September 30, 2006). One of the four weekly ferries will be the FAST FERRY "Scorpio" which will make one non-stop run to Lipari Island (only Lipari Island) in FOUR HOURS (this will be the absolutely fastest service to Lipari from Naples).
This last-minute accommodation was reached after a ferocious, fight-to-the-death lobbying effort mounted by civic authorities of Lipari to restore at least some of last year's summer ferry services between Naples and the Islands. Even so, the revised schedule for this year (which has yet to be posted on the Siremar website) will be one third than that of last summer (when there were six weekly ferries, of which two by Scorpio).
Keep looking at the Siremar website for the revised Naples to Aeolian Islands ferry schedules for summer 2006!
NOTE: "Scorpio" will NOT NOT dock at Stromboli. The other three weekly Siremar car ferries, as well as the one weekly Medmar car ferry (summer only), will stop at Stromboli.
1. Departures from Naples MERGELLINA on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Sunday. Departures from Naples PIAZZA MUNICIPIO Molo 14 on Fridays and Saturdays.
2. Friday and Saturday departures out of Naples will be on the brand-new GIANT CATAMARAN "Don Francesco", which measures 197 feet in length, 54 feet in width, and trasports 670 passengers and 60 autos.
3. Departures on other days will be on smaller hydrofoils/catamarans, out of Naples Mergellina.
DON'T GET THE TWO DEPARTURE POINTS CONFUSED!!!
DON'T GET THE TWO DEPARTURE POINTS CONFUSED!!!
4. Fares are steep: e.g. Naples to Lipari on the weekend, one way fare of 103.50 Euros; Naples to Stromboli on the weekend, one way fare of 80.50 Euros.
5. Travel time to Lipari: 6 hrs.; to Stromboli 4 hrs. Also stops at Panarea, Salina and Vulcano islands.
NOTE: Ustica Lines is expected to commence daily hydrofoil service between Naples and the Aeolian Islands around June 29. Siremar MAY restore superfast car ferry service between Naples and Lipari twice weekly ONLY in August.
1. Overnight car ferry sailings from Naples to STROMBOLI will operate ONLY on Tuesdays and Fridays. Siremar Lines on Tuesdays and Fridays at 20:00 (arriving Stromboli next morning at 5:40); Medmar Lines on Fridays only from June 22 through September 7 at 23:00 (arriving at 6:15). One way fare in high season is 44.40 Euros on Siremar (reclining seat) and 40.00 Euros on Medmar (deck passage). Slightly lower fares at other times of the year. Only Siremar has sleeping cabins (additional cost). The Siremar ferry is much larger but slightly slower. Ferries depart from Naples Stazione Marittima.
2. Apparently, this year there will be NOT be a doubling of car ferry crossings on Siremar during the months of July and August, as was the case in past years.
3. Return Siremar ferry from Stromboli to Naples on Mondays and Thursdays at 21:20 (arriving Naples next morning at 8:00); Medmar on Saturdays at 22:45 (arriving 7:00).
4. Daylight hydrofoils/high speed craft (4 hour crossing) operated by Alilauro Lines, SNAV Lines and Ustica Lines (the latter through Sept. 30). One-way fares starting around 60.00 Euros. Some lower advertised promotional fares may also be available on selected dates. Crossings are sometimes cancelled due to bad weather. CHECK SCHEDULES CAREFULLY BECAUSE NOT ALL HYDROFOIL OPERATORS RUN DAILY FOR THE ENTIRE SUMMER SEASON. ALSO VERIFY NAPLES DEPARTURE LOCATION (EITHER MERGELLINA OR BEVERELLO, DON'T GET THESE CONFUSED!!!).
5. Advance bookings are essential from late June through mid-September (particularly for sleeping cabins on Siremar).
6. After the last Ustica Lines hydrfoil on September 30, ONLY the twice weekly Siremar overnight car ferry will operate direct between Stromboli and Naples.
7. A much less direct way to travel to Stromboli is to take the TRAIN to either Reggio di Calabria or Milazzo, then the hydrofoil to Stromboli. Milazzo to Stromboli on Siremar and Ustica Lines; Reggio di Calabria to Stromboli only on Ustica Lines. Some hydrofoil runs may require a transfer in Lipari.
8. Medmar Lines offers a 20% discount on round-trip fares. Stromboli to Naples (return crossing) reduced to 33 Euros inclusive of taxes.
The Siremar "overnight" car ferry service between Naples and the Aeolian Islands has (at least temporarily) become a DAYLIGHT CROSSING using the fast ferry "Isola di Stromboli" rather than the traditional "Palladio" class ferries.
THIS FERRY HAS NO CABINS AND ONLY RECLINING SEATS.
Note that the ferry departs Naples at 8:00 a.m. on Tuesdays and Fridays and arrives in Lipari at 18:00. Service is nonstop to Stromboli (7 hrs. 15 mins.), then the ferry stops at Panarea and Rinella before continuing on to Lipari, Vulcano and Milazzo.
Return service from Milazzo to Naples is also by DAYLIGHT, on an identical itinerary. Crossings are on Mondays and Thursdays. Departs Lipari at 9:40 and Stromboli at 12:25; arrives in Naples at 19:40.
The fares to look up on the website will be those for a reclining seat.
THIS IS QUITE A MAJOR AND TOTALLY UNEXPECTED CHANGE, reportedly occasioned by the need to overhaul the regular, overnight ferry.
Therefore, this change of schedule and vessel may be temporary.
Here are photos of the Isola di Stromboli car ferry:
The Siremar website has now been updated to reflect that the twice-weekly DAYLIGHT car ferry between Naples and Milazzo will continue at least through the end of February, 2008, with the same schedules as for January.
UPDATE: I just received an e-mail from Medmar Lines. They advise that the once-weekly overnight car ferry service between Naples and the Aeolian Islands (in competition with Siremar Lines) will NOT NOT be restored this June, as during the previous two summers. Consequently, the twice weekly Siremar Lines ferry (which stops at Stromboli) will be the ONLY overnight maritime service to the Islands from Naples.
