Holidays by sea: why more and more travellers are choosing to travel by ship

There is a way of travelling that turns the journey itself into an integral part of the holiday. This is travel by sea, chosen every year by millions of passengers who decide to reach Sardinia, Sicily, Spain and Greece by ferry, prioritising comfort, freedom and flexibility.
In this context, Grimaldi Lines is one of the leading operators in the Mediterranean, with a network of 20 regular ferry routes connecting Italia to some of the most popular destinations for domestic and international tourism. For Sardinia, the company operates routes between Livorno and Olbia and between Civitavecchia and the ports of Olbia, Porto Torres, Arbatax and Cagliari, as well as the Naples-Cagliari and Palermo-Cagliari routes. For Sicily, the ferries connect Palermo with Livorno, Naples, Salerno and Cagliari. Internationally, Grimaldi Lines serves Spain, linking Civitavecchia and Porto Torres with Barcelona, whilst the routes to Greece link Ancona and Brindisi with Igoumenitsa and Corfu. The network is completed by connections between Civitavecchia, Salerno and Palermo and the port of Tunis. From routes to Sardinia and Sicily to international connections to Greece, Spain and Tunisia, travelling by ferry continues to win over families, groups of friends, couples and road trippers.

With Grimaldi Lines, you can save money whilst travelling, thanks to new special promotions such as “Sunny Days 2026” and “Special Spain”: the Sunny Days 2026 offer is valid for bookings made between 5 and 21 June for selected routes and departures between 5 June and 17 December 2026. It offers a 20% discount – excluding fixed fees, EU ETS charges, cabin surcharges and on-board services – plus an extra 5% for those who book their ticket by first logging into the Grimaldi Club with their credentials. The Special Spain Offer is valid for bookings made between 5 and 21 June for selected departures between 5 June and 17 December 2026 on routes from Civitavecchia and Porto Torres to Barcelona and vice versa. It offers a 20% discount – excluding fixed fees, EU ETS charges and on-board services – and an extra 5% for those who book their ticket after first logging into the Grimaldi Club with their credentials.
The Grimaldi Club is the company’s loyalty programme, which converts the euros spent on purchasing a Grimaldi Lines ticket into ‘nodes’ (points), which can be redeemed for discount codes to use on a subsequent booking. The full terms and conditions are available on the Grimaldi Lines website.

One of the main advantages is the option to travel with your own vehicle. Cars, motorbikes, campervans or minivans allow you to experience your destination without constraints, avoiding luggage limits and the need to organise transport once you arrive. This is a solution particularly appreciated by those who choose ferry holidays, whether they are travelling around or seeking maximum independence.
The issue of comfort is also becoming increasingly important. The Grimaldi Lines passenger fleet consists of 14 modern vessels, including the latest generation of ferries and cruise ferries, designed to offer a complete travel experience. In particular, the flagship vessels Cruise Roma and Cruise Barcelona, operating on the Civitavecchia-Porto Torres-Barcelona route, and the sister ships Cruise Sardegna and Cruise Europa, operating on the Livorno-Olbia route, have been designed to transform the crossing into a true extension of the holiday.
The services available vary depending on the ship and the route operated and may include various types of cabins and suites, à la carte and self-service restaurants, relaxation areas, swimming pools with sun decks, children’s play areas, wellness centres, fitness areas and numerous entertainment options. The aim is to offer guests a pleasant and comfortable crossing, thanks also to the warm welcome from the crews and the quality of the on-board services.

For many families, moreover, the ship represents the ideal solution for travelling with pets. Bringing your dog or cat along is easy thanks to dedicated services and the option to choose accommodation suitable for your four-legged friends.
Then there is an emotional aspect that continues to make all the difference: the charm of sailing. Setting sail at sunset, dining whilst gazing out at the sea, waking up already at your destination, or spending a few hours on deck during the crossing gives the journey a slower, more immersive dimension.
In recent years, passenger shipping has attracted growing attention, even from those seeking more practical and comprehensive holiday options. In this context, operators such as Grimaldi Lines are increasingly focusing on integrated services, dedicated promotions and solutions capable of meeting the needs of a broad audience, ranging from leisure tourists to frequent travellers.
This focus on the travel experience is also accompanied by a constant commitment to sustainability. The flagship vessels Cruise Roma and Cruise Barcelona were, in fact, the first zero-emission ships in the Mediterranean whilst in port: during their stops at the quayside, they use special lithium batteries charged whilst at sea, thereby avoiding the release of polluting emissions in port areas close to urban centres.
Whether heading to Sardinia, Sicily, Greece, Spain or Tunisia, the ship is no longer merely a means of transport: for many travellers, it is already the start of their holiday.