Last Saturday evening we took the ferry Sardinia - Sicily, from Cagliari in Sardinia to Palermo in Sicily. The ferry takes 12 hours and runs 1-2 times/week, depending on the season. We paid about 2500 SEK for two adults and a motorhome, without a cabin.
Since the ferry left at night, it would have been nice to have a place to sleep, but ALL sleeping options (cabin, bed, armchair) were fully booked so it was just to bite the bullet. We each packed a pillow and a blanket and slept on the benches on the deck, directly under the starry sky.
Ferry Sardinia - Sicily and a night on deck
We thought we were a bit clever packing a pillow and blanket, but most other deck travellers were even more experienced. When evening came, tent beds, sleeping mats and sleeping bags were unpacked. One dad shamelessly inflated a huge air mattress in the bar. Then people slept everywhere: in the restaurant, in the bar, in the corridors, on the deck ...
What a night!
Despite terribly disgusting food (half-cold revived spaghetti with small strange pieces of squid), the ferry journey went better than expected. We looked around and found places, no, empty floor space in the corridors because there were others lying there too. Those who did not lie already had put their bags or backpacks to show that it is busy.
After a while, some ship staff came and scared us away, so we went up on deck instead with blankets and pillows. We lay down on these white benches and slept in the sweet summer winds of like 25+ degrees. All of a sudden the sun came up and revealed a beautiful sky. Palermo in the morning light. Absolutely fantastic to wake up like this with the sun in your eyes. Now we have arrived in Sicily!
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Åsa says:
It must have been a bit of a pain! So annoying to have nice sleeping places in the motorhome and not get to use them! Hope you find a nice place to recover! Wondering if you can find the pink beach?
27 July 2015 - 11:55
Steel city anna says:
Sounds pretty cosy anyway!
27 July 2015 - 12:15
admin says:
Åsa, there is apparently a ferry (in another place in Italy) that has "camping on board" - that would be a boat! 😉 I haven't heard about the pink beach!???
Steel city Anna, it was cosy to wake up from time to time and look at the stars! But it was uncomfortable so you did not sleep a princess sleep 😉 .
27 July 2015 - 12:20
BP says:
What a great picture of a newly awakened Helena! Really good actually! Up with it on Insta;-)
Oh what beautiful photos of both Cagliari and Palermo. Hope you will enjoy yourself there. But beware of the mafia;-)
Glad Peter read all the Arne Dahls. I love them!
Lying slightly uncomfortable on the deck, but being able to look up at a starry sky in the heat is really romantic:-)
27 July 2015 - 12:39
Mr Steve says:
Benvenuti in Sicilia!
Air mattress in the bar. You always get to experience something new.
Half-cold revived spaghetti in the homeland of pasta. Not good.
27 July 2015 - 13:19
Frankie & Co says:
I knew you would make the trip - one experience and story richer and I can see in my mind's eye that you are getting pop-up tents for two for such ferry trips in the future ? ?
It will be exciting to see Sicily through your trip - tell Johanna if you see her in Montalbanoland!
27 July 2015 - 18:16
Matts Torebring says:
I have read that Sicily is the poorest part of Italy and the north the richest. It will be interesting to see how you experience it.
27 July 2015 - 18:54
Marina says:
It sounds like a slightly uncomfortable night, but that's what you remember afterwards 🙂 It will be exciting to come to Sicily!
27 July 2015 - 20:15
Ditte says:
You are one experience richer. And maybe next time you bring your own food... Why not a delicious picnic under the stars?
Beautiful pictures with a lovely light and the one of you was extra delicious.
Looking forward to more....
27 July 2015 - 20:33
admin says:
BP, glad you liked the photos! 🙂
Steve, thank you! Food on boats is not always good - this was exceptionally bad!
Frankie & Co, Montalbano...???
Matts, I have also realised that the north is richer. Will return with reports!
Marina, a memorable night indeed! 🙂
Ditte, picnic would have been better! 😉
27 July 2015 - 21:46