Grimaldi Lines

Who they are

Grimaldi Lines is the passenger-ferry arm of the Grimaldi Group, one of the largest shipping conglomerates in Europe. The group's origins are in freight logistics — it remains one of the world's largest operators of car-carrier vessels — but the passenger brand has grown into one of the most recognisable names on the western Mediterranean.

Where most Italian ferry companies concentrate on domestic island routes, Grimaldi Lines reaches further: Spain, Greece, Tunisia and Malta sit alongside Sardinia and Sicily in the network. The ships are large, modern cruise-ferries in many cases carrying well over a thousand passengers alongside extensive vehicle decks, giving the crossings a genuine cruise-ferry atmosphere rather than a purely functional feel.

Network and main routes

Grimaldi's network pivots around a handful of Italian mainland ports — principally Civitavecchia (the port of Rome), Livorno, Salerno and Palermo — with crossings fanning out across the western and central Mediterranean.

Sardinia is the backbone of the domestic network, with sailings to Cagliari, Porto Torres and Olbia. These crossings suit travellers driving from Rome or Tuscany who want to take their car to the island without a long detour north.

Sicily is served from multiple mainland ports, with Palermo acting as both a destination and a transit hub for onward sailings. Grimaldi's Palermo–Salerno and Palermo–Livorno routes are popular with both tourists and freight customers.

Spain represents Grimaldi's most international route for leisure travellers: the Civitavecchia–Barcelona corridor is a flagship service, popular with car-carrying travellers who want to cross the western Med in a single overnight sailing rather than driving around France.

Greece (Igoumenitsa and Patras) and Tunisia (Tunis) round out the international network, though frequency on some of these routes can vary by season.

Fleet and on board

Grimaldi's passenger ships are genuinely large cruise-ferries. The Cruise Roma, Cruise Barcelona and sister vessels are among the biggest ferries in the Mediterranean, offering a range of accommodation well beyond the basic open-seat experience: inside and outside cabins, premium suites, restaurant dining, self-service buffets, bars, a swimming pool on some vessels, and duty-free shopping.

Deck-class travel (reclining seats or open deck space) is available on most routes for foot passengers on a budget, but on overnight crossings of 12 hours or more a cabin adds genuine value. Cabins range from simple 4-berth inside berths to en-suite doubles; booking a cabin also gives you a quiet space for an early arrival at port.

Vehicle loading is via bow or stern ramps, and the freight and passenger operations run in parallel — do not be surprised to board alongside trucks and trailers on major routes.

Booking and tips

Book Grimaldi Lines routes well in advance for the summer peak, particularly if travelling with a car on the Spain or Sardinia routes. Vehicle spots on the Civitavecchia–Barcelona sailing fill up quickly in July and August. Foot-passenger tickets are more available last-minute, but popular sailings can sell out cabin categories early.

For the Spain crossing, departing in the evening from Civitavecchia and arriving the following morning in Barcelona is the most popular pattern — it maximises daylight time at both ends and avoids a full day at sea. The reverse (Barcelona evening → Civitavecchia morning) works just as well.

Grimaldi Lines also participates in Minoan Lines' Adriatic network through group ownership — if you are combining a western Med crossing with a Greece trip, both brands are bookable through the same group infrastructure.