I boarded my train at the platform of Messina Centrale in Sicily.

The train arrived in two segments, which passengers boarded separately.

My train had hardly left the station when it approached the waterfront and a special ferry.

It slowly crept down the pier and effortlessly rolled onto the ship, using tracks cut directly into the deck.

After the train was secured on board, the ferry's engines rumbled and the vessel continued on its path across the notorious waterway.

The train doors opened and passengers were allowed to freely walk around the boat.

Like other ferries in Europe and North America I've been on, this boat had plenty of indoor and outdoor seating, a small café serving snacks, and so-so bathrooms.

Train passengers could stay in the car but I found the best part of the trip was taking in the views and fresh air from the outside deck.

The boat traveled through Messina Harbor then made a full turn, giving passengers impressive views of the towering seaside city.

It took us about 35 minutes to cross the waterway.

As we approached mainland Italy, an announcement asked passengers to reboard the trains. The ferry docked a few minutes later and the train cars slowly backed off the boat.

We stopped at San Giovanni station for about 20 minutes while the cars were reconnected. From there, we continued along the coast of Italy, passing long sandy beaches and the aquamarine Tyrrhenian Sea.

Eventually, after a few hours, I reached Naples — the end of my voyage.

The train ticket from Sicily to Naples cost just under $30, which included carry-on luggage I could bring on board. In total, the trip took about six hours.

A flight from Sicily to Naples would've taken about an hour, though it'd likely cost more than double the price.

Plus, if I'd flown I would've missed this unique experience and views of so much of the gorgeous Italian coastline.

I packed everything I'd need with me in my room in a smaller bag, including snacks, entertainment devices, toiletries, and clothes for sleeping.

I put everything else I needed in Sacramento in a larger bag. I ended up having space to keep both bags in my room, but I was still glad to have everything organized and in one place.

I booked a roomette so I had access to the dining car, which included complimentary meals.

I ate a salad for lunch and had dinner on the train. I thought the train food was decent but I wasn't a huge fan of dinner and dug into the snacks I brought with me instead.

I didn't eat everything I brought on the train, but my own variety of snacks was helpful, so I didn't have to spend money at the café.

Upon boarding the train and arriving in my roomette, the space felt clean. But for my own piece of mind, I was glad I brought a small package of disinfecting wipes.

Cleaning the armrests, door handle, and high-touch items such as the attendant call button and air-temperature dial made me feel more comfortable.

When I boarded the train, two small plastic water bottles were already in my room. Though I could've asked my car attendant for more water, I had already brought my own reusable thermos with me.

Bottle filling stations were also in the same car as my room so it was easier to get my own water than continuously ask my busy attendant for a beverage.

I didn't have access to my own bathroom in the roomette. A shared bathroom was just a few doors down from my room on the same floor and others, as well as showers, were located downstairs on the first level of the sleeper car.

Still, I was thankful I brought easy-to-grab makeup-remover wipes to use at night. The shared bathrooms were quite small so I thought washing my face in a public sink wouldn't have been a pleasant experience.

Amtrak provided a blanket for each sleeper-car bed but I chose to bring an additional one from home.

It was nice to have a piece of home with me on my trip. Plus, I could better adjust my temperature and comfort throughout the night with two blankets.

Some Amtrak trains don't have WiFi, and in my experience, cell service can be spotty for much of the journey.

Though I spent a lot of time talking to other travelers, I was glad I packed a book to read in my downtime. I also downloaded a few episodes of one of my favorite shows at home to watch before I went to sleep.

This was my first Amtrak trip so I didn't know what to expect. Because I sometimes get travel anxiety, I brought a few items that have helped me on other trips.

I packed CBD and essential oils and an aromatherapy mist to help create a calm space if I needed to.

The most important item I wish I had packed was something to help with motion sickness. Since I'd never experienced motion sickness before, I assumed I'd be just fine on a train.

I was OK throughout the entire ride but when I arrived in Sacramento, I felt like I was still on the train and was nauseous for most of the day.

I think having something on the moving train, like a travel wristband or some kind of medicine, would've helped to alleviate motion sickness.

Though a temperature dial in the roomette controlled an air vent on the ceiling, it didn't seem to do much. Even with the dial all the way down to cool, I felt really warm in the middle of the night.

I'd brought heavier clothes to sleep in because I thought I'd be cold but now, I wish I packed lighter pajamas.

There was a latch to lock the roomette door from the inside, which I appreciated at night, but I didn't see one on the outside the room.

When I was roaming the train, I carried my phone and wallet with me so they weren't left unattended. While walking around, I noticed that other travelers had used their own padlocks to lock their sleeper-car rooms.

Next time, I might bring a padlock so I can lock my room and leave my items without having to worry.

After I boarded my train, I learned Amtrak passengers who stay in a sleeper car are allowed to bring their own alcohol on the train.

According to Amtrak's website, bringing private-stock alcoholic beverages are welcome, as long as they're kept and consumed in your own room.

Next time, I'll definitely bring my favorite bottle of wine or hard cider to enjoy while watching the sunset out the window.

This story was originally published on October 2, 2022, and most recently updated on November 27, 2024.

I had the option to check a bag, but I decided to keep all my belongings with me throughout the trip.

I packed comfy pants and shorts since I was traveling south to warmer temperatures. 

I brought a Nintendo Switch, a tablet, and a book to pass the time. I made sure to download a bunch of podcast episodes to my phone in case I lost service and internet at any point during the trip.

Even though Amtrak sanitizes rooms between visitors, according to its website, bringing my own disinfectant gave me peace of mind and made me feel more comfortable relaxing in my rooms.

This packing tip comes from my mom. She always brought some sort of immunity-boosting chewable to protect us from germs while traveling. And as Business Insider previously reported, Vitamin C can help your immune system fight off some infections.

I picked up these memory foam babies at T.J. Maxx for only $20. They slipped on and off very easily, which was great for leaving my room quickly with shoes on.

I took frequent dance breaks in my room, where I closed the curtains and blasted music in my ears. This, of course, required a pair of headphones. 

While I danced throughout the day, I was glad I could listen to music as loudly as I wanted without bothering my neighbors.

In some roomettes (mine included), a side table swings open to reveal a toilet. Above, there's a folding sink and mirror. 

I may have had a bigger problem with having a toilet so close to my bed, but thankfully, I had packed some Poo Pourri, a spray that goes in the toilet just before you poop to eliminate odors.

I thought many of my meals on the train were decent, but there were times, like when I tried and disliked a salmon dish, that I was thankful for this bag of trail mix with my favorite ingredient, coconut chips.

An Amtrak attendant brought me disposable water bottles every few hours, but I was still glad I brought my own pre-filled water bottle.

But my bottle was too wide for the provided cupholders, which were just big enough for 12-ounce bottles. So, I wish I had brought a smaller reusable water bottle.

I figured this would only be temporary, but I thought the whole ride was shaky. I ended up feeling motion sickness for the majority of both trips and kicking myself for not bringing any remedies.

I planned on showering during my 30-hour ride home from Miami, but I decided not to when I realized I had forgotten my flip-flops. I usually wear them in public showers, since it's pretty easy to pick up germs from places where many people have walked barefoot.

I only saw a couple of sets of outlets in the rooms. With several devices to plug in, I should have brought an outlet splitter or two. 

I could have sworn I packed this and was so disappointed when I wanted to use it.

This specific neck pillow wraps around 1.5 times, making adjusting to various long-term sitting situations easy. 

The bed on the Amtrak was firm and slightly cushy on top, just the way I like a bed. But when I was drifting off to sleep each night, I thought of my fluffy, dense, soft pillows at home.