GNV Excelsior ferry

GNV Excelsior ferry is a Ro-Ro passenger vessel operated by the Italy-based company GRANDI NAVI VELOCI. The ship has a max capacity of 2253 passengers and 760 cars or 150 trucks (semi-trailers). The vessel was launched in 1999 and currently operates on the ferry routes Italy-Spain-Morocco or Tunisia (Genoa-Barcelona-Tangier or Tunis) during the low season, and Italy-Sicily (Genoa-Palermo) in the summer.

Cabins

As cruise ferry, GNV Excelsior has 429 cabins (on decks 7 and 8, including 38 Suites) with a total of 1415 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.

Shipboard dining and entertainment options

As facilities, the GNV Excelsior ship offers:

• (deck 6) A La Carte Restaurant (The Swordfish) also serves a kids menu with dishes specifically designed for children.
• (deck 6) Self-Service / Buffet Restaurant (The Transatlantic) - kids menus are also available.
• (deck 6) Snack Bar / Cafe is open year-round and sells sandwiches, cakes, pastries, fruit salads, yogurt, ice cream, hot/cold drinks.
• (deck 6) The pizzeria is open high-season only and serves fresh-baked Neapolitan pizzas with traditional toppings.
• Library, Reading Lounges, Conference Centre (Meeting Room)
• 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.
• Gaming and gambling include Arcades (Gaming Rooms) and Casino (Slot Machines/location on Deck 6 near the bar lounge).
• Photographer (seasonal)
• Wedding Chapel
• (deck 6) The Magnifica (lounge bar/bow location)
• (deck 6) Plaza Arcade (piano bar / midship location)
• (deck 9 midship) Four Seating Lounges (fitted with comfortable Pullman seats / fully-reclining leather armchairs, large TVs) are available to passengers without booked cabins.
• At the Ferry Shopping Centre, retail outlets (boutique shops) sell at discounted pricing gifts and souvenirs, alcohol (spirits, wines), tobaccos, perfumes, cosmetics, personal hygiene products, clothing, sunglasses, jewelry, accessories, 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 and features a swimming pool on its Sun Deck.

The Wheelhouse/Navigation Bridge is located forward on Deck 6.

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

There is a large cargo area for vehicles, spread on 4 decks and accessible via 3 rear ramps.

The ship is equipped with 6 closed rescue boats, 1 rescue boat, 1 semi-rigid lifeboat, numerous liferafts.

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.
• 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.
• 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.

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.

The shipowner 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.