– Flight Options: If flights to Catania aren’t convenient, look for flights to Naples International Airport (NAP). Taking the overnight boat from Naples is easy, as going from the airport to the port is quite fast. The cabins are reasonably comfortable, making it a good choice. The boat’s price is higher than that of the boats from Catania, but the advantage is that you arrive at 6 am at Stromboli, which gives you the whole day to enjoy. Going back, the boat leaves at 10 pm, so you can again enjoy your entire last day fully at Stromboli. 

The boat from Napoli was our only reasonable choice for the first seven editions of the Poi Retreat, as the boats leaving from Messina, Sicily, are new. The journey is convenient but more expensive, and after coming back from the quiet and picturesque island of Stromboli, it’s quite a culture shock to arrive in a noisy and busy Italian city with your taxi driver getting pissed that saying goodbye to your new friends takes too long, haha. So that’s why, from now on, our first choice would be to take the boat from Sicily to Messina.

– Getting to the Port: From the airport, take a taxi or bus to the port, which will take 15 to 45 minutes. Alibus, the cheapest and most convenient public transport option, takes you from the airport to the port for 5 euros, and it will take around 40 minutes. Here is where you can get on the Alibus at the airport: Get off at the “Porta di Massa” stop. How to find the ticket office. It can be unclear, as it’s not well indicated when you arrive at the port. You’ll have to walk around 5 min from where a taxi or bus can drop you off. The boat company is called Siremar. This is the exact location of the ticket office.
– Overnight Boat from Naples to Stromboli: The cost is around €95 for a pedestrian ticket and around €125 for a room (cheaper if shared). The duration is approximately 10 hours.

RESERVE YOUR BOAT TICKET: https://booking.carontetourist.it/en/isole/start.
If you want a cabin, buying it in advance is advised, as they can be sold out. It’s improbable that the pedestrian tickets will be sold out, as the ship is very big. They are a bit cheaper at the ticket office than online.

The English option on the website Siremar still has some Italian words when buying your Ticket; here are the translations and terms;
TICKET OPTIONS
– Passaggio Ponte: A pedestrian ticket allowing access to the ferry.
– Poltrona: This ticket provides access to a large room with armchairs. Please note that the armchairs do not recline, so you’ll have to sleep in a sitting position.
Cabin: Reserve a private cabin or share with other attendees. One month in advance, a Whatsapp group will be created for all attendees. There, you can find your cabin buddy.

CABIN TYPES
– External Cabin:
– It is located on the ferry’s outer deck or the upper decks above the waterline.
– Features natural daylight with windows or portholes.
– Includes a washbasin, toilet, shower, and two single (bunk) beds inside the cabin.
– Internal 2nd Class Cabin:
– Situated on lower decks below the waterline or in the middle of the boat.
– There is no natural daylight.
– Includes a washbasin and two single bunk beds.
– Shared shower and toilet facilities outside the cabin.