I Love Ferry News

From September 2026, I Love Ferry adds the Italian ferry company Grimaldi Lines to its booking platform. For the first time, travellers in Spain will be able to compare and book directly the ferry between Barcelona and Porto Torres — the northern gateway to Sardinia — and between Barcelona and Civitavecchia, the seaport of Rome, alongside the rest of the Mediterranean ferry companies and in a single click.

This is no minor addition. Grimaldi Lines is one of the most important ferry companies in the western Mediterranean: it has been connecting Spain with Italy and Sardinia for decades aboard its latest-generation cruise ferries, and its arrival on I Love Ferry responds to real demand. There are thousands of travellers who want to cross the Mediterranean without going through an airport — with their car, their family, their pet. For them, the ship is not just the means of transport: it is the start of the holiday.

Who is Grimaldi Lines?

Based in Naples, the Grimaldi Group operates 38 routes in the Mediterranean connecting Italy with Spain, Greece, Sardinia, Sicily and North Africa. Its ships allow passengers to board on foot, by car, motorbike, van or motorhome, and its fleet includes some of the largest and best-equipped cruise ferries in the Mediterranean. From Spain, the Port of Barcelona is its main point of departure, with regular crossings to Sardinia and mainland Italy all year round.

The Cruise Barcelona, Grimaldi Lines' flagship on the Barcelona–Sardinia–Rome route. Capacity for 2,874 passengers and 215 vehicles.

The routes from Barcelona: Sardinia and Rome

From the Port of Barcelona, Grimaldi Lines operates two routes that you can now book directly on I Love Ferry.

The first is Barcelona → Porto Torres, in northern Sardinia. The crossing takes between 13 and 15.5 hours depending on the date, with an overnight departure from Barcelona and arrival early the next morning. Grimaldi Lines operates this route all year round, with up to five crossings a week in summer and at least one weekly connection in low season. Tickets start from €36 per person in deck passage.

The second is Barcelona → Civitavecchia, the main port of Rome, 80 kilometres from the Italian capital. The journey takes approximately 20 hours. It is also an overnight trip: you board in Barcelona at night and wake up in Italy. This route also includes the exclusive Hotel On Board service, which we cover further on.

Both routes are part of the same itinerary operated by the Cruise Barcelona: Barcelona → Porto Torres → Civitavecchia. This means you can combine both destinations in a single trip, stopping over in Sardinia before continuing to mainland Italy.

The ships: Cruise Barcelona and Cruise Roma

Grimaldi Lines operates these routes with two sister ships: the Cruise Barcelona and the Cruise Roma. Built in 2008 and recently refurbished, they have capacity for up to 2,874 passengers and 215 cars, with 479 cabins including 68 luxury suites — Junior Suites and Owner Suites. They are among the largest cruise ferries sailing between Spain and Italy today.

When you board the Cruise Barcelona you won't feel like you're on a ferry. You'll feel like you're on holiday.

On-board services: the holiday begins on the ship

The Cruise Barcelona has an à la carte restaurant with a Mediterranean menu, a self-service buffet and a snack bar. It has a deck pool — especially enjoyable on the daytime return trip from Sardinia — a wellness centre with sauna, Turkish bath, jacuzzi, massage room and a gym equipped with Technogym, a children's play area, a boutique and on-board Wi-Fi.

As for accommodation, the company offers everything from deck passage — the most affordable option, with access to all common areas — to reclining seats, interior and exterior cabins with a private bathroom and air conditioning, and luxury suites with a full cruise experience. For those travelling with a pet, pet-friendly cabins are available from €10 per trip.

Hotel On Board: the argument you don't expect from a ferry

The Hotel On Board service is exclusive to the Barcelona–Civitavecchia route and is, probably, the most unexpected argument for choosing the ship over the plane when going to Rome. It works like this: you arrive at the port of Civitavecchia in the morning, but instead of disembarking immediately, you can stay on board all day — using the pool, the spa, the restaurants — and not disembark until the afternoon. In practice, you save a night's hotel in Rome and arrive in the city already rested, with the afternoon ahead of you. For those travelling in summer, when central hotels skyrocket in price, this service can mean a very significant saving. The ship is the hotel.

La Pelosa beach, in Stintino, a few kilometres from the arrival port of Porto Torres. One of the most photographed beaches in the Mediterranean.

Sardinia: why it's worth the trip

Sardinia is not a trendy destination. It is a permanent one. An island that has been in the imagination of European travellers for decades and still surprises those who visit for the first time. The arrival port, Porto Torres, is in the north of the island, a few kilometres from Stintino and the legendary La Pelosa beach. From there, with your own car on board, you have immediate access to everything that makes Sardinia unique: the Costa Smeralda with its turquoise waters, Porto Cervo and Baja Sardinia; the wild interior of the Gennargentu National Park and the stone villages of Barbagia; the west coast with Alghero and its Catalan-influenced architecture; and an unrivalled archaeology with more than 7,000 nuraghi scattered across the island.

The advantage of arriving by boat with your own car is essential to truly enjoy Sardinia. Public transport on the island is limited. Without a car, Sardinia is a beach destination and little more. With a car — which you board from Barcelona with no extra effort — it becomes a complete adventure.

Civitavecchia is the port of Rome. From there, 80 kilometres from the city, you have direct access to Tuscany, Umbria and the Amalfi Coast.

Civitavecchia: the gateway to Rome, Tuscany and the Amalfi Coast

Civitavecchia is 80 kilometres from Rome — about 50 minutes by car or commuter train — and is the perfect starting point for one of the most legendary journeys in Europe. To the north you have Florence two hours away, Siena two and a half hours away and the Chianti vineyards in between. To the south, Naples, Pompeii, Positano and Capri. And along the way, the Rome of the Colosseum, the Vatican, Trastevere and the Trevi Fountain.

Many travellers who already use this route make the itinerary in two stops: outbound from Barcelona to Porto Torres (Sardinia) and return from Civitavecchia to Barcelona. Two destinations in a single trip, making the most of the ticket.

Travelling with a car, pets and family

Grimaldi Lines allows you to board with cars, motorbikes, vans, motorhomes and campers. A practical tip: bring the fuel tank to a minimum before boarding — it is a port safety rule — and book your car-deck space in advance in high season, as spaces for large vehicles sell out first.

Pets are welcome on all the ships. You can house them in the kennels set up on deck or book a pet-friendly cabin — from €10 per trip — so they travel with you. Documentation required: a European pet passport with up-to-date vaccinations, especially rabies, and an implanted microchip.

For families with children, Grimaldi Lines applies a 50% discount for children aged 2 to 12 and free travel for babies under 2. An overnight crossing with a cabin is far less traumatic for young children than an early-morning flight: they fall asleep at sea and wake up in Sardinia.

Discounts and how to get the best price

Grimaldi Lines has dynamic pricing: the earlier you book, the better the price you'll find. As well as early booking, which can mean up to a 20% discount, the company offers a 20% discount for travellers over 60 with the "SENIOR" code — combinable with other offers — a 15% discount for motorhomes and campers with the Promo Camper Spain, and a 20% last-minute discount with the Book and Sail fare for those with flexible dates. Residents of Sardinia also have access to special fares.

At iloveferry.com we automatically compare all the fares available for your date and travel configuration, so you can see the real price — with all supplements included — before making any decision.

Why book on I Love Ferry

I Love Ferry is an independent ferry comparison site. We are not the website of any ferry company. With the addition of Grimaldi Lines you can compare in real time the ferries of all the companies operating from Spain — Baleària, Trasmapi, Trasmed, Fred Olsen, Naviera Armas, GNV and Grimaldi Lines — in a single search, without having to visit each website separately, with no hidden fees and with the most up-to-date prices at all times.

If you have any questions about the route, the timetables or how to organise your trip, our team knows the crossings inside out and is happy to help.

Ferry Barcelona → Sardinia Ferry Barcelona → Rome

Frequently asked questions about Grimaldi Lines and the routes from Barcelona

At I Love Ferry we are delighted to be able to offer you the Grimaldi Lines routes, and we will keep working to give you the best information on timetables, prices and everything you need to know before boarding. Have a great trip! ♥