Florencia ferry

MV Florencia ferry is a Ro-Ro passenger vessel operated by the Spanish company GRIMALDI LINES. The ship has a maximum capacity of 949 passengers, 160 cars, and 100 trucks (trailers). She was launched in 2004 and currently serves the Italy–Sardinia route Civitavecchia-Olbia (crossing time 6.5 hours) and the Spain–Italy route Barcelona-Savona (crossing time 17 hours).

Cabins

As a cruise ferry, Florencia has 93 cabins (interior and exterior) with a total of 400 berths. Exterior cabins feature bay windows. All staterooms are air-conditioned, soundproof, and equipped with en-suite bathrooms (toilet, shower, washbasin, hairdryer), lower and upper wall-mounted bunk beds, bedside cabinet, mirrored vanity (small writing desk with armchair), 4-door wardrobe, telephone, and wall-mounted reading lamps. Bed linens, towels, and toiletries are provided.

Two staterooms are wheelchair-accessible (adapted for disabled passengers). Two are Suites, each with a double bed and a living room with a double sofabed. The ship also offers 62 reclining seats (aircraft-style in reserved lounges) available for pre-booking.

All passengers must vacate their staterooms 30 minutes before arrival at the homeport. Passengers with reduced mobility always board first, while disabled passengers traveling with their own vehicles disembark last. Reserved seats and public bathrooms are adapted for passengers with reduced mobility and for visually impaired travelers.

For passengers without cabins but with reserved seats, the ship provides a dedicated luggage room that remains locked during the voyage. The luggage allowance is 40 kg (for cabin passengers) and 30 kg (for seat passengers).

Shipboard dining and entertainment

Florencia offers the following facilities:

• Two main restaurants – A La Carte and Self-Service (Buffet). Both feature panoramic windows and serve meals prepared by Italian chefs. Personalized menus, including gluten-free options, are available. Booking dining in advance online offers up to 50% savings.
• Three restaurant menus (Standard, Business, Premium) with fixed prices for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
• Premium menu (served only at the A La Carte Restaurant) includes 1 starter, 1 first course, 1 second course, 1 side dish, 1 dessert (or fruit), and 1 drink (0.5 L bottled water, 330 ml beer, 370 ml wine, or soft drink).
• Standard and Business menus are available at the Buffet Restaurant. Each includes breakfast, lunch, and dinner with varied selections of hot and cold items, bread, fruit, and drinks.
• The cafe (self-service cafeteria) offers sandwiches, cakes, pastries, pizza, snacks, chocolates, ice cream, fresh juices, and beverages (coffee, tea, liqueurs, soft and alcoholic drinks).
• Shopping options include boutiques and a Mini-Market offering discounted alcohol, tobacco, perfumes, cosmetics, fashion, footwear, accessories, watches, jewelry, travel essentials, books, magazines, electronics, toys, gifts, and souvenirs.
• Children’s Room – an indoor playground with TV (cartoons), bean bags, tables, chairs, toys, games, playhouse, ball pit, and supervised activities.
• Sun Deck – Solarium (sunbathing area with deck chairs) and pets area (kennels and walking zone). Owners may visit their pets during the crossing and must request staff permission to walk dogs.
• Disco Bar (nightclub).
• Video Games Room (arcades) and Casino (slot machines).
• ATM located near Reception. Paid Wi-Fi service is available, with packages purchasable online or at Reception.

The top deck features a Heli Deck with a helipad for emergency use.

All public decks are connected by elevators and staircases. Emergency instructions are displayed in cabins, on TVs, and at muster stations. Life jackets are distributed at assembly stations. Elevators may not be used in emergencies.

GRIMALDI ferry and cruise deals

Like cruise ships, Grimaldi ferries offer cabins with modern amenities, air-conditioning, and en-suite facilities. Some suites feature private balconies.

Grimaldi’s larger ships are occasionally used for Mediterranean mini-cruises, especially during Christmas and New Year holidays.

• Crossings can be customized or themed by travel agencies and organizers (sports, art, culture, history, music, religion).
• Rome–Barcelona routes include 2-day mini-cruise offers.
• “Ad hoc” programs include religion-themed cruises for pilgrims with itineraries covering Italy, Spain, France, and Carcassonne.
• GRIMALDI FREIGHTER CLUB offers 5% discounts for members with at least two crossings.
• Discounts are available for group travel (minimum 20 people), including students, sports fans, bands, religious groups, and campers.
• “Nave Piu Hotel” packages combine ferry travel with hotel stays in Sardinia and Sicily.
• Shuttle bus service between Naples and Civitavecchia (EUR 24 pp each way) is available for most daily departures.

Discounted deals include:

• 20% discounts for early bookings (January–April) to Sardinia, Sicily, Spain, and Greece.
• 20% off Palermo routes (January–April).
• 20% off bookings made within 7 days of departure (January–April).
• 20% off for senior travelers (60+), including inside cabins with no single supplement.
• 20% camper discounts on Spain routes.
• 20% off return tickets on Italy–Greece routes during low season.
• 20% off return tickets on Italy–Tunisia and Italy–Morocco routes.
• 30% off Italy–Greece low-season crossings with combined Grimaldi and Minoan bookings.
• Children 2–12 years: 50% off; under 2 years: free. (Maximum 2 children per cabin, roundtrip only).
• Children up to 12 years: free on Sicily routes (roundtrip only).
• “SARDI DOC” and “SICILIANI DOC” offers for residents/natives include free vehicle transport and single cabin with no supplement.
• 100% discount on cars (Civitavecchia–Sardinia, early bookings through April).
• Special fares on Spain routes for couples, families, and midweek departures.

Note: Port charges and taxes are excluded from discount fares.

The “Weekend a Bordo” program includes weekend stays in Barcelona with accommodation onboard Cruise Roma or Cruise Barcelona during port calls.

Honeymoon cruise packages include Junior Suite cabin, roundtrip voyage (2 passengers + 1 car), spa access, treatments, meals, and in-cabin extras, with seasonal pricing.

Pets on the ship

Pets are allowed on all Grimaldi ships. Dogs and cats have dedicated onboard lodgings, while other animals (rabbits, birds, hamsters, etc.) must remain in passenger-owned carriers. Animals are not allowed in staterooms, lounges, or indoor public areas. They may only access outdoor decks for walks under owner supervision.

Car decks

Grimaldi ferries transport semi-trailers, lorries, cars, motorcycles (as freight only), caravans, camper vans, containers, machinery, boats (on cradles), and industrial products.

Florencia has three garage decks accessed via the stern. Lower decks are for trucks and freight, while middle and upper decks are for passenger vehicles. All are connected by internal ramps.

Car deck safety procedures:

• Disabled passengers should contact the Information Desk (open 24 hours).
• Apply handbrake, park in gear, switch off ignition, alarms, lights, and gas cylinders. Lock vehicle.
• Take only valuables and essential baggage.
• Note vehicle’s location and deck number before leaving.
• Access to vehicle decks is prohibited during the voyage.
• Smoking is forbidden on vehicle decks, in cabins, and lounges.
• Wait for announcement before returning to vehicles.
• Do not start engines until instructed, to avoid pollution.

The shipowner Grimaldi Lines (fleet, founded in 1999, headquartered in Civitavecchia-Rome) is an Italian ferry company operating exclusively in the Mediterranean, connecting mainland Italy with Sardinia, Sicily, Spain, Greece, Morocco, and Tunisia.