I am planning a trip to Calvi - planning to fly in, looking at the Grand
Hotel Calvi for a few days (any comments or suggestions?) and then take the
ferry to Nice out of Bastia. I am a little confused by the SNCM site...do I
need to purchase a seat in addition to the fare? I am planning on the
afternoon crossing, not the overnight, so I assume I don't need a private
cabin, but would like to be somewhat comfortable. I still have to check out
transportation (train or bus) from Calvi to Bastia, but imagine it is doable
by the 14h30 departure. Any experiences or recommendations are gratefully
welcomed.
Many thanks, Denise Bradshaw
[email protected]

I did something similiar to this I took the Ferry Toulon to
Ajaccio and then came back Bastia to Marseilles. And from
what I recall:

1. Depending on the boat you have your choice of a
chair, a deluxe chair or a cabin and you have to book one.
The chair is the equivalent of a coach airline seat. They
have a luggage closet which gets locked when you leave dock
and unlocked when you arrive so you can wander the ship without
too much worry about belongings.

2. There is a "train" which runs in sort of a cross on the Island
from Ajaccio to Bastia and another route going more east and west
which crosses in the middle, so I think you would have to change
trains. A train is a bit kind. It is a 4 hour subway ride with
the toilets which drain right out on the track, but it is the only
way. The reason it is so long is that the terrain is rugged so
a lot of the time it is only going about 30 mph. Plus it is a
local, it stops at a lot of little stops. Many people stay
at the coast take the train to the middle of the mountains
hike for the day and catch the train back.
The view from the train for allit's drawbacks is pretty spectacular.

3. If the seas are rough they might get you there but not how you
anticipated. There were big storms on my trip there so they actually
took us to Ille Russe? and bussed us across the island.
Ille Russe is the city on closest to the mainland on the north.

"Denise Bradshaw" writes:

    >I am planning a trip to Calvi - planning to fly in, looking at the Grand
    >Hotel Calvi for a few days (any comments or suggestions?) and then take the
    >ferry to Nice out of Bastia. I am a little confused by the SNCM site...do I
    >need to purchase a seat in addition to the fare? I am planning on the
    >afternoon crossing, not the overnight, so I assume I don't need a private
    >cabin, but would like to be somewhat comfortable. I still have to check out
    >transportation (train or bus) from Calvi to Bastia, but imagine it is doable
    >by the 14h30 departure. Any experiences or recommendations are gratefully
    >welcomed.
    > Many thanks, Denise Bradshaw
    >[email protected]

bonjour
you have a very nice train between Calvi and Bastia; your hotel there
should be able to confirm schedules
there are also flights between Calvi and Nice: it is only a 35' flight
have a nice trip

michel

Denise Bradshaw wrote:
    > I am planning a trip to Calvi - planning to fly in, looking at the Grand
    > Hotel Calvi for a few days (any comments or suggestions?) and then take the
    > ferry to Nice out of Bastia. I am a little confused by the SNCM site...do I
    > need to purchase a seat in addition to the fare? I am planning on the
    > afternoon crossing, not the overnight, so I assume I don't need a private
    > cabin, but would like to be somewhat comfortable. I still have to check out
    > transportation (train or bus) from Calvi to Bastia, but imagine it is doable
    > by the 14h30 departure. Any experiences or recommendations are gratefully
    > welcomed.
    > Many thanks, Denise Bradshaw
    > [email protected]
    >
    >