Grimaldi Lines onboard experience

[Iskra]

I’ve booked on Grimaldi Lines overnight from Tunisia to Palermo next year as a foot passenger. This is one of their more obscure routes and they seem to have a wide variety of ship types, so I’m not sure what to expect onboard beyond a restaurant.

Has anyone sailed with Grimaldi before? What’s it like onboard? I’m particularly interested to know what sort of lounge spaces are available on board, what the breakfast options are and what outside viewing spaces are available as we approach Sicily in the morning? Also, this sailing is a Saturday night, so will it be something of a party ship?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Welly]

I think YouTuber Steve Marsh went on a Grimaldi Lines ferry and was underwhelmed by the experience.

 

[Iskra]

I think YouTuber Steve Marsh went on a Grimaldi Lines ferry and was underwhelmed by the experience.

Thank you, I’m currently out of the UK so not able to watch lots of videos for data reasons, but I will watch on my return.

I would appreciate a plurality of opinions however, if any forumites can add anything. I enjoy Steve’s videos and his travel habits are similar to mine, but I have noticed that when he pushes himself too far and gets fatigued he can be less balanced with his views so I’m looking for more than just his opinion. I also can get narky when doing ridiculously long days and whacky itineraries, so it’s not a criticism of Steve as it is entirely understandable.

 

[Welly]

Just found Steve's video: It turned out that he had not been told that the Grimaldi ferry from Rome to Barcelona was holding a big party when he booked it!

 

[AlterEgo]

Full disclosure, this is my own video on the same route and I went for the best package. I thought it was pretty good!

This isn't the vessel that serves the Tunis route though so your experience may vary.

 

[Iskra]

Full disclosure, this is my own video on the same route and I went for the best package. I thought it was pretty good!

This isn't the vessel that serves the Tunis route though so your experience may vary.

Thank you! Again, I will watch when I am able to and I may be back with questions

 

[Lxd2]

Hi. Sorry I have only just seen this post, but thought my experiences from back in 2010 might be of some interest. I can't comment much on the ferry itself as my journeys Palermo - Tunis and Tunis - Palermo were with a different ferry company GNV (Grandi Navi Veloci), but the only thing to be warned is that the border formalities on the Italian side were extremely slow and chaotic... perhaps this has now changed - I hope so. Departing Palermo, my ferry was 2 hours late because of the time it took for one single Italian border police officer to process all the foot passengers. Coming back, it also took almost 2 hours to get off the ferry, again due to the very slow processing by Italian border police. On the Tunisian side, by contrast, it was all quite quick and efficient. I see that your journey will be overnight. My return journey from Tunis to Palermo was also overnight. We had to vacate the cabins about 2 hours before arrival, which was not great, especially as there was only one cafe open on board to spend the remaining two hours, with the usual Italian breakfast of coffee and sweet filled croissants.

 

[eastwestdivide]

I’ve used GNV*recently but only Naples-Palermo. Worst part as a foot passenger was finding the right spot in Naples port, and then finding the exit at Palermo, dodging the trucks. And I speak/read passable Italian. Not much in the way of signage and the ticket directions were geared to car passengers.
*The marketing team were out when they named the company - Grandi Navi Veloci = Big Fast Ships!