Ferries Naples – Palermo round trip
The route connecting the regional capitals of Campania and Sicily is almost 170 nautical miles long. The ferries that shuttle between the port cities of Naples and Palermo, the most important in continental and insular Southern Italy, are part of the fleets of the shipping companies Grimaldi Lines, Tirrenia and GNV, which guarantee one or two trips a day overall. Departures are in the evening and the journey takes about ten hours.
To get an overview of the important informations you can consult the pages to which the following links refer: both for the Naples – Palermo route and for the one in the opposite direction Palermo – Naples you can find the map, timetables, prices and you can book the tickets online. You can therefore have an overview of the trip before purchasing, also noting how much the crossing costs based on your preferences; to proceed, enter the number of passengers, the type of vehicle, if any, the number of pets (if any), the preferred accommodation and services.
Grimaldi Lines
The ferries of the Grimaldi Lines fleet depart, in the evening, three times a week and take 10 hours. The carrier is the Cruise Ausonia, on which you can travel in the “Deck passage” mode or book, as regards accommodation on board, an armchair or a cabin (internal or external, Superior or even for the disabled); there is also the possibility to book meals (business or standard breakfast, standard, business or in the à la carte restaurant dinner).
There is also a self-service restaurant and several cafes. Those wishing to bring a pet into the cabin can purchase the appropriate pet kit; alternatively, you can stop with the animal on the external decks or leave it in one of the cages provided. There is also an area equipped for children, a video game room, a shop and, in the summer, the swimming pool.
The embarkation pier of the port of Naples is the Quay Immacolatella Vecchia (Pier 15 / c). In the port of Palermo, embarkation can take place at the 4 Venti quay or the Puntone quay. The fast check-in allows you to go, once you have purchased the ticket (also online) directly alongside, boarding without having to first go to the ticket office. You must show up for boarding at least an hour and a half before departure.
Tirrenia
The Tirrenia company ferries depart every day, generally in the evening, and take ten hours and thirty minutes to complete the route. The carriers are Vincenzo Florio, Janas and Raffaele Rubattino. You can choose to make the crossing by traveling on deck or book the seat or cabin (internal or external) and, as regards meals, breakfast and first and / or second course can be booked for self-service.
An à la carte restaurant, bar, vending machines, children’s area and cinema are also available on board. There are some special cabins where access with pets is allowed, which may otherwise only access the external decks or, where available, the special shelters.
In the port of Naples, embarkation takes place at the maritime station of Calata Porta di Massa. In the port of Palermo we embark at the Calata Marinai d’Italia. The check-in procedure foresees, once in possession of the ticket (digital or papery one), the acceptance in the square in front of the ship, where it is necessary to show up at least half an hour before if you are traveling as pedestrians and at least an hour and a half before with vehicle in tow.
By purchasing the late check-out service, you can choose to stay on board until 10:00 am on the morning of arrival.
GNV
The ferries of the GNV shipping company depart daily in the evening with an expected journey time of 11 hours. The carriers are Aries, Antares and Cristal, on which it is possible to travel on deck, armchair, bed, inside cabin or sea view one, double or family suite. The “Food Pass” can also be booked, with which you get a percentage discount at all the refreshment points on the ship.
Among the services on board we find a restaurant, pizzeria, self-service, snack bar, children’s room and shop. Pets can be brought inside the cabin by booking a special one for pets too, otherwise they will have to be placed in the kennel or cattery; there is also a special area used for walking with animals.
Check-in operations must be carried out at the port ticket office by presenting the ticket purchased online, which must necessarily be printed; you will then receive your boarding passes, with which you can check in on the ship’s access ramp and embark. In the port of Naples, the ticket office is located in Piazzale Immacolatella Vecchia and boarding takes place in Piazzale Molo Pisacane. In the port of Palermo, the ticket office and boarding pier are both located in Calata Marinai d’Italia. You must show up at the ticket office at least one hour before departure if you are on foot, or two hours before if you are traveling with a vehicle.
By purchasing the “Late Check-Out” service (service already included in the price of the special cabins for pets) it is possible to stay in the cabin up to a quarter of an hour before the ferry arrives at the quay.
