GNV Azzurra ferry

Former names: SNAV Toscana, Peter Wessel, Wasa Star, Gotland

GNV Azzurra ferry current position

GNV Azzurra ferry current location is at West Mediterranean (coordinates 43.33050 N / 5.34866 E) cruising en route to Marseille. The AIS position was reported 4 minutes ago.

Current Position

Specifications of GNV Azzurra ferry

Year of build1980  /  Age: 44
Flag state Italy
BuilderOresundsvarvet (Landskrona, Sweden)
Classcruiseferry (Ro-Pax ship)
Ferry route / homeportsGenoa-Porto Torres (Sardinia)
Speed17 kn / 31 km/h / 20 mph
Length (LOA)169 m / 554 ft
Beam (width)25 m / 82 ft
Gross Tonnage29706 gt
Passengers2180
Cars562
Beds1786
Decks11
Cabins522
Last Refurbishment2017
Sister-shipsRigel II
Former namesSNAV Toscana, Peter Wessel, Wasa Star, Gotland
OwnerMediterranean Shipping Company (MSC)
OperatorGRANDI NAVI VELOCI

GNV Azzurra ferry Review

Review of GNV Azzurra ferry

GNV Azzurra ferry is a Ro-Ro passenger vessel operated by the Italy-based company GRANDI NAVI VELOCI. The ship has a max capacity of 2180 passengers and 562 cars. The vessel was launched in 1980 and currently operates on the Italy-Sardinia ferry route Genoa-Porto Torres (crossing time 12 hours).

Cabins

As cruise ferry, GNV Azzurra has 522 cabins with a total of 1786 berths. All staterooms are air-conditioned and with en-suite bathrooms (toilet/shower/washbasin, hairdryer). Suites additionally offer as amenities TV (satellite reception), radio, phone, mini-bar, large Porthole Window. Double suites are for 2 people (with 1 double bed). Family suites are for 3 people (1 double bed + 1 sofabed). Cots for children under 2 years are available upon request.

The ferry company provides bed linens, towels, and toiletries. Four staterooms are wheelchair-accessible (cabins adapted for disabled passengers). There are also "pet-friendly" cabins.

All passengers must vacate their staterooms 30 min prior to homeport arrival.

GNV Azzurra ferry ship (GRANDI NAVI VELOCI)

Shipboard dining and entertainment options

As facilities, the GNV Azzurra ship offers:

  • A la Carte Restaurant (formal venue - gourmet food, Mediterranean cuisine, fine wines, drinks, special children's menus)
  • Buffet (self-service restaurant, hot and cold meals, children's menus)
  • Snack Bar / Cafe is open year-round and sells sandwiches, cakes, pastries, fruit salads, yogurt, ice cream, hot/cold drinks.
  • The pizzeria is open high-season only and serves fresh-baked Neapolitan pizzas with traditional toppings.
  • Children's Play Area is an indoor playground equipped with a TV (showing cartoons), coloring tables, games, and toys. Supervised by dedicated staff fun activities for kids are provided complimentary during summer.
  • Reserved Seating Lounges (fitted with comfortable Pullman seats / fully-reclining leather armchairs)
  • Cinema, Bar, Piano Bar
  • At the Ferry Shopping Centre, retail outlets (boutique shops) sell at discounted pricing gifts and souvenirs, alcohol (spirits, wines), tobaccos, premium-brand perfumes and cosmetics, designer jewelry, fashion clothing and accessories, watches, sunglasses, personal hygiene products, travel essentials, confectionery, snacks, toys, puzzles, books, magazines.
  • free Wi-Fi, ATM / cash machine (next to Information Desk / Reception)

The vessel offers plenty of outdoor deck space.

The top-deck is Heli Deck with a helipad (helicopter landing area used in cases of emergency).

 

All onboard emergency instructions are displayed in staterooms, on the TV screens and at the ship's assembly stations (aka muster stations). Life jackets are issued at the assembly stations. In cases of emergency, the use of elevators/passenger lifts is forbidden.

GRANDI NAVI VELOCI cruise deals

As on cruise ships, all GNV ferries offer passenger cabins with modern amenities, individually controlled air-conditioning and en-suite facilities. Some suites are with private balconies.

Occasionally, the largest GNV ships are also used for Mediterranean mini-cruises - especially during the Christmas and New Year holidays.

  • Onboard food includes a huge variety of options. A la carte restaurants provide a combination of international, regional and Mediterranean food with a range of signature dishes for the 3 courses. The self-service/buffet dining provides passengers with an array of different choices in an informal setting. Snack Bars serve fast-food classics for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The Pizzeria is open during high season and offers fresh-baked Neapolitan pizzas with a variety of toppings. On the routes between Italy and Tunisia-Morocco are also available Halal meals - permissible by the traditional Islamic law food and drinks.
  • Ships' boutique shops sell at discount prices tobacco and alcohol (budget and premium wines and spirits), as well as luxury brand perfumes and cosmetics, designer jewelry, watches, fashion clothing and accessories, sunglasses, souvenirs, toys.
  • The shipboard Conference Centre serves the company's "GNV MICE and INCENTIVE" program and offers 5 different formats for group meetings, conventions and corporate events at sea and in port - Charters (full), Part Charters (dedicated onboard areas), Mini-Cruises, Floating Hotel (ship hotel) and Corporate Events (onboard aperitifs, lunches and dinners).

Children under 4 years of age travel free of charge on all GNV ships. Kids under 2 years of age travel free of charge on Tunisia and Morocco routes.

Cots, high chairs, bottle warmers, changing tables and cot sides are provided on request and free of charge.

GNV Azzurra ferry ship (GRANDI NAVI VELOCI)

Car decks

Follows a list of car decks-related safety procedures:

  • Disabled passengers or those requiring specific assistance should visit the ship's Information Desk (open 24-hours).
  • Apply handbrake and place the vehicle in park or 1st gear position. Switch off the ignition, alarm, electrical equipment, headlights. Gas cylinders, if any, must be switched off. Lock the vehicle.
  • From your vehicle take only valuables and essential hand baggage.
  • Make a note of your vehicle's location and garage deck number/stairway before leaving the car deck.
  • Access to the ship's vehicle (cargo) decks during the voyage is prohibited.
  • Smoking on vehicle decks, as well as in cabins and passenger lounges is forbidden.
  • Wait for the onboard announcement before returning to your vehicle.

In order to avoid air pollution, don't start the engine until instructed.

ferry company GNV Grandi Navi Veloci logo - CruiseMapper

The ship-charterer Grandi Navi Veloci (fleet, 1992-founded, headquartered in Genoa, Italy) is an Italian ferry company operating on shipping routes between mainland Italy, Sardinia, Sicily, Albania, France, Morocco, and Tunisia.

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GNV Azzurra ferry Wiki

The vessel (built as "Gotland") was launched on November 1, 1980, and acquired by the shipowner Rederi AB Gotland on June 24, 1981. It entered service on July 1, 1981.

The ship was previously operated under the names Wasa Star (1981-1984 by Rederi AB Gotland), Peter Wessel (1984-2008 by Larvik Line and Color Line), SNAV Toscana (2008-2017 by SNAV) and GNV Azzurra (since 2017 by GNV).

(SNAV Toscana) On April 19, 2008, the ship left Norway, repositioning to the Mediterranean to serve the routes Civitavecchia-Palermo (Sicily) and Civitavecchia-Olbia (Sardinia).

Fun fact is that in 2014 (during the Sochi Winter Olympic Games) the ferry was chartered as a hotel ship.

Among cruise vessels, the ferry's namesakes are the liner MS Azura (P&O UK) and the superyacht Emerald Azzurra (2021-built).