Trasmediterránea and Trasmed

Spain's historic Mediterranean operator

Trasmediterránea is one of Spain's oldest and most recognisable ferry brands. It was formed from a merger of four shipping companies and began sailing on 1 January 1917. For much of the twentieth century it held a near-monopoly on Spanish island ferry routes, became state-owned in 1978, and was privatised in 2002 as Acciona Trasmediterránea. Naviera Armas, a Canary Islands shipping group, bought Acciona's stake in 2017–2018.

Since then the company has been split up, which is why you now see two different names:

• Trasmed (Trasmed GLE). In 2021 Armas sold its mainland–Balearic business to the Italian Grimaldi group: ships, the Valencia terminal, ticket offices and the rights to the routes. Grimaldi set up Trasmed GLE, based in Valencia, to run them. If you are booking a ferry to Mallorca, Ibiza or Menorca under the old Trasmediterránea name, it is now Trasmed.
• Naviera Armas (Armas Trasmediterránea). Armas kept the Canary Islands and Strait of Gibraltar routes. In 2025 it agreed to sell them: Baleària took over the Canary Islands in May 2026 and the Alborán Sea and some Strait assets in July 2026, and DFDS is taking over the Algeciras–Tangier Med service.

This guide covers both, with the focus on the Mediterranean.

Trasmed: the Balearic Islands

Trasmed's network links two mainland ports with Mallorca, Ibiza and Menorca. Figures below are Direct Ferries' 2026 weekly counts and typical crossing times.

From Barcelona, Trasmed sails overnight to Palma de Mallorca (about 7 hours, about 6 sailings a week, with departures around 22:30 on the Ciudad de Palma), to Ibiza (about 8.5 hours) and to Mahón on Menorca (about 8.5 hours). It also lists a couple of sailings a week to Alcúdia in the north of Mallorca. See the Barcelona to Mallorca ferry.

From Valencia, Trasmed's base, ferries run to Palma (about 8 hours, daily) and Ibiza (under 7 hours), plus a weekly sailing to Mahón. Valencia is a logical choice for travellers coming from central or southern Spain, avoiding the longer drive north to Barcelona. See the Valencia to Mallorca ferry.

Trasmed also lists weekly inter-island sailings, such as Palma–Ibiza, Palma–Mahón and Mahón–Alcúdia. It does not run the Ibiza–Formentera hop; that is Baleària, Trasmapi, Formentera Lines and Aquabus (see the Ibiza to Formentera ferry).

Fleet and on board

Trasmed's ships are conventional ro-pax ferries carrying passengers, cars, trucks and coaches, including the Ciudad de Palma, Ciudad de Granada, Ciudad de Barcelona and Ciudad de Sóller. There are no fast ferries in the fleet. Accommodation ranges from reclining seats to private cabins, and Trasmed offers pet cabins.

On-board amenities typically include a self-service restaurant or cafeteria, a bar lounge, and exterior deck space. The overnight crossings from Barcelona or Valencia to the Balearics make for a practical journey: board in the evening, sleep, and arrive early in the morning, without airport check-in or luggage limits. Arrivals in Palma are often around 05:30, so a cabin is worth considering.

Naviera Armas on the Strait of Gibraltar

Under the Armas Trasmediterránea name, Naviera Armas sailed from Algeciras to Ceuta and to Tangier Med. The Tangier Med service and the ferry Volcán de Tamasite are passing to DFDS after Spain's competition authority (CNMC) approved the deal with conditions in summer 2026. On Algeciras–Ceuta, Armas was still sailing in late September 2026 with the fast ferry Villa de Agaete, but DFDS declined that part of the business and the CNMC requires it to pass to a third operator. Check this route close to your travel date. See Algeciras to Ceuta, Algeciras to Tangier Med and our Spain–Morocco ferries guide.

Booking and tips

For summer travel to the Balearics, book early. Vehicle space in July and August is limited across all operators on these routes, not just Trasmed, and cabins for overnight crossings sell out well in advance for the peak weeks.

Trasmed competes with Baleària and GNV on the Barcelona routes. The overnight ferry is often good value compared to flying once you factor in luggage, airport transfers and the cost of renting a car at the destination versus bringing your own. Foot passengers should check in about 45 minutes before departure, and drivers about 90 minutes before.

Book Balearic sailings with Trasmed directly or through Direct Ferries and Ferryhopper, which list Trasmed alongside Baleària and GNV. Older booking pages may still show the Trasmediterránea name for these routes. Comparing operators at the same time helps you find the best fare and departure time.