Corsica Ferries

Who they are

Corsica Ferries – Sardinia Ferries is the private ferry operator most associated with Corsica crossings from the French and Italian rivieras. The company was founded in 1967 by the Corsican Pascal Lota, is headquartered in Bastia and Vado Ligure (near Savona), and is immediately recognisable by its bright yellow-hulled ships, a fixture in the harbours of Toulon, Nice, Bastia and Livorno. It carries more passengers to Corsica than any other operator.

Unlike the Marseille operators, which run the subsidised public-service routes, Corsica Ferries competes on commercial terms with a low-cost model. The company markets itself as Sardinia Ferries for its services to Sardinia, though the fleet and operation are the same. In recent years it has also added routes to the Balearic Islands.

Network and routes

Toulon is Corsica Ferries' busiest French port, with sailings to Bastia, Ajaccio, L'Île-Rousse, Propriano and Porto-Vecchio. Toulon–Ajaccio takes about 8 hours and Toulon–Bastia around 10 hours or more, with a mix of day and overnight sailings. It is convenient for travellers coming from Provence or driving down the autoroute.

Nice is the closest French port to Corsica. Sailings go mainly to Bastia (about 6 to 6.5 hours) and L'Île-Rousse (about 5 hours, spring to autumn), with seasonal summer sailings to Calvi, and a few summer sailings to Ajaccio, Porto-Vecchio and Propriano. Sète, west of Montpellier, has sailings to Ajaccio and L'Île-Rousse.

From Italy, the company links Livorno and Savona to Bastia, and runs a seasonal Piombino–Bastia crossing of about 3 hours. Livorno–Bastia takes about 4 hours and is among the most convenient ferry access points to Corsica from central Italy; Savona–Bastia takes about 6 hours.

Sardinia is served under the Sardinia Ferries name, with routes from Livorno to Golfo Aranci and from Toulon, Nice and Sète to Porto Torres. There are also some seasonal sailings between Sardinia and Corsica (Porto Torres or Golfo Aranci to Ajaccio or Bastia). Corsica Ferries does not sail the short Bonifacio–Santa Teresa Gallura crossing, which is run by Moby and Ichnusa Lines.

Balearic Islands: Corsica Ferries sails from Toulon and Sète to Alcúdia in Mallorca, with onward connections to Menorca.

Fleet and on board

The Corsica Ferries fleet consists of conventional ro-pax ferries, most named in the Mega Express series, alongside the Pascal Lota, Mega Regina, Mega Andrea and Mega Smeralda. They carry both passengers and vehicles, with open lounges, seating and, on longer overnight sailings, cabins. On daytime crossings, most passengers sit in the interior lounges or claim a spot on the open sun deck, which becomes the social hub of any warm-weather crossing.

Vehicle decks handle cars, camper vans and motorcycles. There is a bar and cafeteria on board, and on longer routes a sit-down restaurant. The overall experience is functional and relaxed: a sea crossing rather than a cruise.

Booking and tips

Corsica Ferries opens summer sailings early in the year, and popular July and August departures can fill several weeks in advance. Booking as soon as dates are confirmed is the best strategy if you are travelling with a car. Vehicle spots run out faster than passenger seats. The company runs a loyalty scheme, the Corsica Club.

Fares are dynamic, and mid-week departures are often cheaper than weekend sailings. If you are travelling as a foot passenger and have flexibility, last-minute availability often appears on quieter routes.

Connections from the Italian ports are worth considering if you are combining a Corsica visit with time in Tuscany or Liguria; the crossing from Livorno is a scenic and practical alternative to the French mainland routes.