grimaldi freighter cruise

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What it's really like to go on a cargo cruise around the Med

Who needs a tricked-out cruise ship full of passengers when you can have a boat to yourself sarah treleaven checks out cargo cruising, article bookmarked.

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It wasn’t your average cruise. The ship’s first officer, walking very briskly, showed us to the small, dorm-like room we had been assigned. It had one single bed and a couch that had been made up into a second bed. There was also a desk, a small armoire and a very tight bathroom – all very clean but very modest.

We had just boarded a Grimaldi cargo ship to spend five days sailing from Ashdod in Israel to Salerno. Jamie, my boyfriend, looked at me and smiled. We both knew this had been his idea. The trip was a fulfillment of Jamie’s dream and his love of massive industrial things. I was promised that I would have fun, too, but we both know that my idea of fun involves circulating canapés.

We’d booked the journey through a shipping agent with relative ease. At €1,230 for the cabin, it wasn’t overly cheap, and the information online was sparse, but as soon as we stepped onboard I realised exactly what this was: we were going to spend five days sailing on a massive steel parking garage, dropping new Fiats and used Mercedes in Limassol and Alexandria before docking in Italy, where we would disembark.

Our cabin was on the tenth floor, as were all the facilities we had access to: a dining room, lounge, and super-depressing “gym” complete with unplugged treadmill and ping pong table. We dumped our stuff and wandered down the hall to take our first meal.

Before embarking, I’d had visions of hobnobbing with a bunch of handsome Italian officers who would regale me with tales of giant squid sightings while pouring me limoncello. Instead, I found an austere room with one long table for the dozen or so officers (there was a similarly-sized group of mostly Filipino crew who had separate eating and sleeping quarters) and one small table for passengers.

We introduced ourselves to the only other passenger: a middle-aged, sandal-wearing German, who’d just spent six months driving around Israel: “the land of the Bible.” He went on to explain that he had spent "a night or two” on the West Bank.

“I can see now,” he said, imparting the deep expertise that can only be summoned from a night or two in a place, “why Israel can never give it back”.

Under normal circumstances, I’d have rolled my eyes and excused myself, but on the ship, we were stuck. For five days, we tried not to bring up politics. Many meals were eaten in near-silence with only occasional requests to pass the bread or salt.

Unlike the conversation, though, the food on the ship was both competent and plentiful. Breakfast was homemade bread and plum jam, but lunch and dinner involved multiple courses of pasta or soup, followed by fish or meat, plus a small lettuce salad with the occasional carrot or tomato. Dessert was always fruit. We were each given one adorable 250ml bottle of red wine with dinner.

On the first slow-moving day at sea, with no access to WiFi on the ship, I read and then reread all of the remaining tabs open in my internet browser. I thought of it as akin to fondly re-examining pictures of someone who recently died.

Soon, though, we found our rhythm. Days revolved around meals, for which – in true cruise style – I was never hungry but always ate. We watched fuzzy BBC World News in the lounge. We sat on deck and watched the lovely nothingness of the open sea. Occasionally, we were allowed on the bridge, where the captain made us a cup of black tea blended with spices he’d collected around the world. There were pre-dinner cocktails, mixing vodka we’d brought ourselves with juice pressed from Italian oranges. We were in bed most nights by 9pm, squeezed into one of the single beds to watch a movie.

Pulling into the ports at Limassol and Alexandria was thrilling. Disappointingly, we weren’t allowed off the boat, but loved every minute of standing on deck to watch the verdant Cypriot coastline or chaotic Egyptian city slowly come into focus while surrounded by working ships from around the world.

Unlike a conventional cruise, where an abundant staff bends over backwards, the officers were nice but preoccupied by the ship. Even with dozens of people on board, we were most often alone. It was just Jamie, me and the sea – along with some decent but not great Sicilian wine that we bought from the ship’s avuncular chef for €5.

Gradually, small intimacies emerged. On the third day, the chef blew me a kiss when I thanked him for lunch. The next day, filling handmade cannolo shells with sweetened ricotta, he beckoned us into the kitchen. He handed us each a finished cannolo, filled a bowl with four more and thrust it towards us, nodding towards our room. “Shhhhhhh,” he said.

On the fourth day, with two days at sea stretching ahead of us, I finally got restless. The lack of activity worked like a sedative, and I was keen to be reconnected to the world.

The next morning, when I woke in the Tyrrhenian Sea to a view of Calabria’s spectacular mountains, I had a burst of cabin fever and a thought popped into my head: how long would it take to swim to shore? Luckily, we docked in Salerno a few hours later.

But when we finally disembarked and I was back on dry land, I turned back to look at the old ship and realised that I would do it all again. Only I’d want to disembark at every port next time. Also, I would bring more vodka.

Travel essentials

Sarah travelled with Allalouf , an Israeli shipping agent. The total voyage (including all meals) cost €615 per person. Two of the most popular global booking agents are The Cruise People and Freighter Expeditions , but you can also book directly through some many operators, including CMA-CGM and Marine Link Tours . Unlike conventional cruises, itineraries often aren’t firmly set until six to eight weeks before the journey, so don’t expect an early bird special. Additional expenses can include specialised transport to and from ports, security clearance fees, and wine.

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Tips for Cruising on a Cargo Ship

All About Traveling on a Freighter

 Dan Barnes/Vetta/Getty Images

Cruising on a cargo ship might seem unusual if not absurd. But travelers do tag along for the ride on working vessels that frequently are transporting cargo and stopping at sometimes mundane ports.

Mundane might not sell cruises, but that word also could suggest an absence of gaudy tourism. Exotic, unspoiled attractions sometimes exist a short distance from an ordinary port city, and freighter cruise passengers generally have more time at a port for exploration.

So for the more adventuresome travelers among us, freighter cruises provide opportunities the vast majority of cruise passengers never experience. Are freighter cruises cheap? Price tags can be weighty, but the daily costs often work out to be quite reasonable. Also, keep in mind that you might need visas for some of the countries you stop at in the event you plan to disembark.

Freighter Cruise: Europe, Africa and Middle East

Mark D. Kahler

The Grimaldi Line  offers itineraries as short as 14 days from Southampton, U.K., but a more typical trip is of the 28- or 35-day variety. These trips can be booked through Maris Freighter Cruises starting at just more than 1,000 euros for the shortest trip and up to 3,600 euros or more for double-occupancy on the longest itinerary. The ports-of-call on these voyages are attractive. They include stops in Italy, Greece, Israel, and Turkey, as well as Dublin and Antwerp. 

The Royal Mail Ship RMS St. Helena makes frequent runs between Cape Town, South Africa, and the British island Ascension. 

The Bergen Line has grown into a passenger/cargo combination line. The ships delivered mail in Scandinavia, mainly along Norway's gorgeous western coast with trips to Iceland and Antarctica. Bergen now offers 11 ships that explore fairly small segments of that region.

Freighter Cruise: North and Central America

Mark Kahler

Hamburg Süd has freighter cruises leaving from a number of European ports with itinerary lengths of up to 84 days. It can cost from 600 euros to 1,300 euros to go to ports cities in Norway, Sweden, Germany, and the Netherlands.

Maris' FreighterCruises.com offers trans-Atlantic itineraries that explore a number of American ports , including Miami, New Orleans, and Savannah. Daily charges for these trips can be quite economical. It is about the price of a discounted traditional cruise. However, a hidden cost on these trips may also be "port and vessel fees" that be significant on some trips.

Note that on these trips, the itineraries sometimes begin and end in Europe with multiple stops in North America. For those who want to start and end a freighter cruise in North America, a lengthy (think months) commitment of time usually is needed to sail to another continent and back again.

Freighter cruise: South America

Freighter cruises that explore South American ports typically leave from Europe. Embarkation takes place in Antwerp and Hamburg. You can also find trips leaving from Hong Kong.

Grimaldi offers departures about every nine days for South America from Tilbury, England, via West Africa. Yellow fever inoculations are compulsory. Another shorter freighter cruise ends in Buenos Aires. Costs for an inside cabin are paid in euros.

Hamburg Süd offers South American freighter itineraries that vary between about one to three months. Because the number of days is large, the costs mount quickly. But the ports-of-call would be hard to match on many conventional cruise lines. Included in the trip itinerary: Rio de Janeiro, Santos, Zárate, Buenos Aires, Montevideo, and Paranagua.

Freighter cruise: Asia and Australia

CMA CGN offers a Trans-Pacific itinerary connecting the Americas with China and Japan.

Hamburg Süd has a few long-transit options between Singapore and Hamburg. Daily costs are low, but again, remember that the number of days at sea can result in a large bill. Quite a few ports-of-call are along the Pacific Rim. These voyages are for people who are willing to leave home for months at a time. If you're planning a trip of this magnitude, you should compare prices and itineraries with traditional cruises and other freighter lines.

Hamburg Süd also offers an East Asia/Far East route, on "the largest container vessel of the world." 

The Aranui 3 line operates round-trip cruises from Tahiti and will arrange picnic lunches and shore excursions for its passengers. Unlike many freighter cruise operations, Aranui will even make arrangements for special diets if given proper notice.

Freighter Cruise Pros

So, why should you even consider a freighter cruise? Take a look at the savings: fares are often under $200 per person per day, according to Margi Mostue, retired president of Freighter World Cruises. Many traditional cruises run that much or more per passenger, per day.

There are no planned activities, but the trade-off is a high degree of privacy. A typical freighter only can accommodate about 20 passengers—and many take even fewer. You can spend the day on deck in a lounge chair, reading your favorite book with no disturbances. Many of us prefer that experience to a highly orchestrated shipboard experience.

Many freighters do offer basics like an exercise room, reading room, and a movie collection at your disposal. A few even have swimming pools.

One traditional cruise activity that should be better on a freighter is the bridge tour. The ship's officers are likely to have much more time for your questions. Mostue says many freighter passengers actually forge life-long friendships with crew members. Obviously, this will vary from ship to ship and crew to crew.

Cruise lines tend to target ports that are favored tourist destinations. While this is not a bad thing, it can mean incredible congestion. Some relatively small port cities host several large luxury liners at the same time. Freighter captains pull into ports to deliver cargo. The odds are slim that you will put into a small port congested with tourists.

Freighter Cruise Cons

Taking on a few paying passengers to create an added revenue stream is nice, but it is not priority one on a freighter cruise. For that reason alone, this is not a good option for many budget travelers.

For example, if the crew decides for business reasons to bypass a port you have targeted, you will probably get a brief explanation and perhaps an apology. That's it. The cargo comes first. You must accept that before leaving port, and for many budget travelers, this is not acceptable.

Passenger cruise ships are engineered for comfort, and all but a few of the oldest ships have modern stabilizers that steady the ship in rougher seas. On a cargo ship, you might need your sea legs. So, if you are someone who is prone to motion sickness, think carefully about booking passage on a cargo ship. Check with the freighter line for an estimate of how stable the ship will be in the conditions of seas typical during your intended season of travel.

The odds of traveling with a qualified ship's doctor are smaller than what is found aboard a traditional cruise. Maximum and minimum ages are often part of the agreement.

Delays can occur as shipments of freight are weighed, loaded, or unloaded. Also, if you want to dress up for dinner with the captain, attend lavish cocktail parties, and experience culinary pleasures like ice carvings, you will not get that and may be disappointed. Special dietary needs may not also be accommodated. 

In short, if you require a lot of attention from the staff, freight cruising might not be a good choice. These trips are for people who have no qualms about landing in port, making their own local arrangements, and taking off for a day of exploring. Prepaid shore excursions through the line are not an option. 

Accommodations differ from traditional luxury cruises, too. Although cabins might be bigger, beds probably will fall mostly in the twin and double categories. Furnishings will be pleasant and functional, but do not look for luxury.

The biggest drawback of all prevents most budget travelers from booking a freighter cruise. The lengths of these trips often are measured in months rather than days. Even the shorter freighter cruise itineraries can require a time investment of a  month or more. That said, it is possible to book shorter segments in places like Europe or the Americas.

The Bottom Line

Freighter cruises are favored by retired travelers or those who have arranged extended leaves of absence from the workplace. Families with a traditional window of vacation time (three weeks or less in most of North America) will find freighter cruise options difficult to arrange.

But if you have that precious commodity of time on your side, these trips come with some handsome financial rewards. For those who enjoy the itinerary and the exploration more than the water slides and the organized shipboard entertainment will find freighter cruise options quite attractive. Load your mobile device with a variety of good book titles, exercise some patience, and revel in the sea air.

These trips are rare in our hurried society. If you are privileged to take one, be grateful for the money you will save and the uncommon cruising experience you will have.

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• CruiseMapper

Cruise Smeralda ferry

Former name: ikarus palace.

Cruise line GRIMALDI LINES (Ferries)

Cruise Smeralda ferry current position

Cruise Smeralda ferry current location is at Adriatic Sea (coordinates 43.62236 N / 13.50660 E) cruising en route to Ancona. The AIS position was reported 17 minutes ago.

Specifications of Cruise Smeralda ferry

•   Review
•   Wiki

Cruise Smeralda ferry Review

Review of cruise smeralda ferry.

HSF Cruise Smeralda ferry is a Ro-Ro passenger vessel (HSF=high-speed ferry) operated by the Italy-based company GRIMALDI LINES . The ship has a max capacity of 1528 passengers and 819 cars (or 90 cars plus 125 trucks/trailers). The vessel was launched in 1997 and currently operates on the Italy-Spain ferry route Savona - Barcelona (crossing time 17 hours) and on the Italy-Morocco route Savona -( Barcelona )- Tangier (crossing time 32 hours).

As cruise ferry, Cruise Smeralda has 196 cabins (of which 133x Inside, 49x Outside, 12x Superior). All staterooms are air-conditioned, soundproof, with en-suite bathrooms (toilet/shower/wash basin, hairdryer), lower and upper bunk beds (wall-mounted), bedside table/cabinet with stool or chair, mirrored vanity (small writing table with chair or stool), phone, wall-mounted reading lamps. The ferry company provides bed linens, towels, and toiletries.

Outside cabins are with bay window. Superior cabins additionally offer as amenities TV (satellite reception), mini-bar, double bed, 2-seater sofa. Two staterooms are wheelchair-accessible (cabins adapted for disabled passengers). The boat additionally offers a total of 181 reclining seats (aircraft-type seats in reserved seating lounges) available for pre-booking.

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

Shipboard dining and entertainment options

As facilities, the Cruise Smeralda ship offers:

• The ship has two main restaurants - A La Carte Restaurant and Self-Service (Buffet) Restaurant. Both venues feature panoramic (floor-ceiling) windows and are suitable for quick meals prepared by Italian master chefs. Personalized menus are also available, offering dishes made with gluten-free products. Booking onboard dining in advance (online) offers up to 50% off the onboard prices.
• Onboard dining includes 3 restaurant menus (Standard, Business, Premium) each with fixed (per person) prices for Breakfast and Lunch-Dinner.
• Premium menu is served at the A La Carte Restaurant only. It includes 1 starter, 1 first course meal, 1-second course meal, 1 side dish, 1 dessert (or fruits), 1 drink (0,5 L bottled water or 330 ml domestic beer or 370 ml wine / non-alcoholic beverage).
• Standard and Business menus are served at the Buffet Restaurant only.
• Standard menu includes Breakfast (1 hot drink, 1 croissant (or 2 butter and jam sandwiches), 1 glass of fruit juice), Lunch (1 first course, 1 main course, 1 side dish, 1 bread, 1 seasonal fruit, 1 drink / 0,5 L bottled water or 330 ml domestic beer or 250 ml wine / non-alcoholic beverage) and Dinner (1 first course, 1 main course, 1 side, 1 bread, 1 seasonal fruit, 1 drink).
• Business menu includes Breakfast (1 hot drink, 1 glass of fruit juice, 2 butter and jam sandwiches or 1 croissant + 1 yogurt), Lunch (1 appetizer, 1 first course, 1 main course, 1 side, 1 bread, 1 seasonal fruit, 1 dessert, 1 drink / 0,5 L bottled water or 330 ml domestic beer or 250 ml wine / non-alcoholic beverage) and Dinner (1 appetizer, 1 first course, 1 main course, 1 side, 1 bread, 1 seasonal fruit, 1 dessert, 1 drink).
• Snack Bar (Cafeteria / Patisserie) is open year-round and sells sandwiches, cakes, pastries, fruit salads, yogurts, ice cream, hot/cold drinks.
• Children's Room is a kids-dedicated indoor playground equipped with a large TV (for watching cartoons), bean bags, small tables with chairs, toys, games, ball pool pit, supervised activities.
• The Sun Deck has Solarium area with a heated swimming pool (open only during summer months), sunbathing area (sun loungers, deckchairs), outdoor seating (small tables and chairs). It is served by an outdoor pool bar (fast food, snacks, cocktails, beer, soft drinks). As a highspeed ferry, the sundeck area is protected from winds by transparent glass walls.
• The ship also has Disco (glass-dome covered nightclub), Casino (fully-equipped with gaming tables and slot machines), Video Games Room (arcade machines), Piano Bar (live music performances), Internet Cafe.
• There are two Reserved Seating Lounges (Economy-Class, Club-Class) fitted with comfortable Pullman seats (fully-reclining armchairs) and large TVs. There are also two exclusive Truck Driver lounges (restaurant, bar lounge).
• Onboard shopping options include several retail shops (boutiques and Mini Market) selling at discount prices alcohol (spirits, wines), tobaccos, premium-brand perfumes and cosmetics, designer jewelry, fashion clothing and accessories, footwear, designer watches, handbags, sunglasses, personal hygiene products, travel essentials, confectionery, snacks, toys, books, magazines, electronics and gadgets, special occasion gifts and souvenirs.
• (Lobby Deck) ATM/cash machine is located next to the Reception (Information Desk). Onboard Wi-Fi service is paid. WiFi packages can be purchased online (upon ferry bookings) or on the ship (at the Reception). WiFi service is available on all GRIMALDI ships.
• Wellness Center (on the sisterships Cruise Roma, Cruise Barcelona, Cruise Europe and Cruise Olympia) consists of Spa Reception, Spa Lounge, saunas, locker rooms, Turkish bath, round-shaped jacuzzi pool, relaxation area (with loungers), 2 massage rooms, facial lamps, solar showers, shop (for beauty products), outdoor sundeck area (with loungers and low tables), Beauty Parlor (Salon), Fitness (large gym with latest Technogym equipment). Wellness Center can be visited only by adults and teenagers (14 to 18 years old) accompanied by adults.

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

The vessel offers plenty of outdoor deck space. Infirmary (ship hospital) provides 24-hour nurse service.

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.

GRIMALDI ferry and cruise deals

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

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

• Each crossing can be customized, and specifically themed by travel agencies and event organizers thanks to GRIMALDI ships' large-sized event spaces that can be differently adapted according to specific requests. Among the most popular theme cruises, GRIMALDI offers voyages themed on sports, art, culture, history, music, religion.
• On the Rome-Barcelona routes, 2-day mini-cruise deals are offered.
• By the company's "Ad hoc" programs are organized religion-themed cruises for small and large groups of pilgrims. The itineraries allow pilgrimages from Italy (Civitavecchia-Rome and Porto Torres Sardinia) to Spain (Barcelona, tour to Sagrada Familia), France (Lourdes, tour to Grotto of Lourdes) and Carcassonne (Cathedral, Basilica of St Nazaire and St Celse).
• GRIMALDI FREIGHTER CLUB is reserved for all ferry passengers with minimum 2 crossings on GRIMALDI LINES ships. Club membership allows 5% Freighter Travel discount on the price.
• The ferry company offers group travel discount rates and for all types of passenger groups (minimum 20 people / with or without vehicles), including students, sports fans, religious groups, campers, music bands, etc.
• GRIMALDI's "Nave Piu Hotel" ("Ferry and Hotel") packages are offered for the Italian islands Sardinia and Sicily. The program is via partnerships with local hotels, villages, and residences.
• Shuttle bus service (between Naples and Civitavecchia-Rome) is offered for all daily departures, excepting Sundays. The bus ticket price is EUR 24 pp (each way), added to the ferry ticket price. The shuttle bus ticket can be purchased with the ferry ticket or on the ship. The shuttle service is subject to change and availability. Departure from Naples is at 4 pm (bus boarding starts at 3.30 pm) at Piazza Angioino / in front Stazione Marittima. Departure from Civitavecchia is at 8.30 pm (bus boarding starts at 8 pm) from the port.

GRIMALDI company offers the following discounted ferry travel deals:

• 20% discount for early bookings and departures (January through April 30th) for Sardinia, Sicily, Spain, Greece.
• 20% discount on the routes to and from Palermo Sicily (bookings and departures, January through April 30th).
• 20% discount on bookings that include departure within 7 days after booking. The offer is valid on ferries to Sardinia, Spain and the Livorno-Palermo route (January through April 30th).
• 20% discount for senior travelers (passengers over 60s. The offer includes Inside Cabin with no single supplement. The offer is limited and subject to availability.
• (Spain) 20% discount on campers is offered on return crossings from Barcelona to Civitavecchia and Porto Torres.
• (Greece) 20% discount is offered on return tickets (low season departures) on the Italy-Greece routes Brindisi-Igoumenitsa, Brindisi-Corfu and Brindisi-Patras. This low-season discount is also available on the reverse routes (from Greece to Italy).
• (Tunisia) 20% discount is offered on the return ticket on Italy-Tunisia and Tunisia-Italy routes.
• (Morocco) 20% discount is offered on the return ticket on Italy-Morocco and Morocco-Italy routes.
• (Greece) 30% discount is offered on low-season crossings from Italy to Greece with combined Grimaldi Lines and Minoan Lines bookings.
• 50% discount for kids 2 to from 2 to 12 years old and 100% discount (kids travel for free) for toddlers up to 2 years old. These offers are for a maximum of 2 kids per cabin and can't be combined with the "Superfamily and Friends" offer. Both offers are for roundtrips and subject to availability.
• 100% discount (kids travel for free) for children up to 12 years old is offered on all lines to and from Sicily Island. The offer is for roundtrips and subject to availability.
• 100% "SARDI DOC" discount (free car or motorbike in tow) and single cabin (no supplement) is offered for Sardinia Island natives and residents. Same goes for the 100% "SICILIANI DOC" discount (for Sicily Island natives and residents). These special offers are limited and subject to availability.
• (early booking through April 30th) 100% discount for cars is offered on the routes from Civitavecchia to Sardinia (Olbia and Porto Torres) for year-round departures. The offer can be combined with SARDI DOC (Sardinia resident discount rate).
• 100% discount on cars and motorbikes are offered on return crossings from Spain to Italy (not on all departures).
• (Spain) Special rates on Wednesday departures are offered on the Civitavecchia-Barcelona and Barcelona-Civitavecchia routes. The offer is limited and subject to availability.
• (Spain) Special rates for couples (2 passengers booked in the same stateroom) are offered on routes to and from Spain. The offer is limited and subject to availability.
• Special rates for kids and children up to 12 years of age are offered on all routes connecting Italy with Sardinia, Sicily, Spain, Tunisia, Morocco, Greece.
• (Spain) "Superfamily and Friends" discount rates are offered for 4 passengers booked in the same cabin. The offer is valid for 2 full-paying adults (3rd and 4th passengers travel for free) on return crossings from Spain to Italy. "Superfamily and Friends" rate can be combined with other discounts and special rates on offer.
• Note: Fixed fees (port charges, Government taxes) are excluded from discount fares.

The "Weekend a Bordo" (Weekend onboard) program gives passengers the opportunity to spend the weekend in Barcelona (Saturday to Tuesday. GRIMALDI's "Hotel on board" formula allows the ferries Cruise Roma and Cruise Barcelona to be used as hotel ships during the Barcelona port stop on Sunday.

• Saturday (0 midnight) - a departure from Civitavecchia (Rome)
• Sunday (8 pm) arrival in Barcelona, free-time city exploration, stateroom (overnight stay on the ferry)
• Monday - free-time city exploration, Barcelona departure 10:15 pm
• Tuesday (7 pm) - arrival in Civitavecchia (Rome)
• While on the ship (during the crossing) passengers can take advantage of all shipboard services and services (including spa, gym, casino, solarium, swimming pool, live music and entertainment, bars, lounges, restaurants).

GRIMALDI also offers honeymoon cruises at most affordable prices.

• Ferry fares are inclusive of Junior Suite cabin, roundtrip ferry cruise (for 2 passengers and 1 car), free entry to the ship's wellness center (plus 1 free spa treatment per person / "Back and Neck" massage ), meals (dinner at the ship's restaurant), port fees and taxes, in-cabin dining (Breakfast, complimentary fruits and sparkling wine).
• All these price-inclusive services and amenities are available in both directions (outward and return crossings).
• Honeymoon ferry cruise deals are offered on the ships Cruise Roma and Cruise Barcelona , with prices per couple EUR 640 (low season), EUR 740 (mid-season) and EUR 920 (high season).

Pets on the ship

Traveling with pets / domestic animals are allowed on all GRIMALDI ships. For dogs and cats are available dedicated onboard lodgings. Other animals (rabbits, birds, hamsters, etc) must be in passenger-owned carriers.

• Animals are not allowed in staterooms, seating lounges, bar lounges, and all public rooms. Animals are allowed only on outer decks, where they can be walked by their owners.
• During ferry booking, passengers have to select "Pet up to 6 kg" for animals traveling in pet cages and not requiring kennels. The "Pet over 6 kg" option is for animals needing onboard kennel (which must be booked in advance).
• During the crossing, animals are nourished by the owners. Water is provided by the crew. Animals must be maintained by the owners, who are obliged to remove excrements or any other uncleannesses produced by the animal.

Visually impaired passengers travel with their guide dogs at no extra cost. Guide dogs are allowed in the cabin. Disabled passengers or those with reduced mobility can also be accompanied by assistance dogs.

As freight, GRIMALDI ships allow transportation of semi-trailers, lorries (with or without drivers), cars, motorcycles (only as freight, without drivers), caravans, camper vans (without drivers), cargo containers, mobile machinery, boats (on cradle), industrial products.

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

Photos of Cruise Smeralda ferry

Other GRIMALDI LINES cruise ships

• Catania ferry
• Cruise Ausonia ferry
• Cruise Barcelona ferry
• Cruise Bonaria ferry
• Cruise Olbia ferry
• Cruise Roma ferry
• Euroferry Egnazia
• Euroferry Olympia
• Florencia ferry
• Mykonos Palace ferry
• Zeus Palace ferry

Cruise Smeralda ferry Wiki

The vessel was delivered to Grimaldi Group on June 28, 1997, and entered service on July 15. It was previously operated under the name Ikarus Palace (1997-2016 by MINOAN LINES , subsidiary of Grimaldi Group).

The ship is powered by four MAN B&W marine diesel engines (model 8L S8-64) with combined power output 44,5 MW. The propulsion is based on 2 CPPs (controllable pitch propellers). The sistership Pasiphae Palace (now Jean Nicoli) is currently operated by the French shipping company CORSICA linea SAS).

Ferry's namesakes are the passenger liner Costa Smeralda (2019-built, Costa Cruises ) and MV Esmeralda (1979-built riverboat).

Grimaldi Sailing Schedules

30/05/2020   Bristol and Limassol are currently suspended

Please email us for the current expected sailing schedules or to be put on the list to be notified when either are available. other services remain as published   [email protected]

A few more Armata sites in Cyprus

www.windowoncyprus.com   - General Information about the Island. www.cyprus-villas.com   - Villa and Apartment Holiday Rentals. www.cyprus-hotels.com   - Online Hotel brochure and booking facility. www.cyprus-car-hire.com - Car, bike and Limo reservation service. www.cyprus-wedding.com - Getting Married? Consider Cyprus. www.cyprus-flowers.com - Need to say thank you? Do it with flowers.

For cruises in Cyprus think Cruise Cyprus Copyright © 1997-2020 All rights reserved. Revised: May 30, 2020 .

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Cargoholidays the best freight cruise arround.

Cargo ship cruise to every destination. A freighter is probably exactly what you think it is: a cargo ship that travels the world delivering goods and products. Most of the major global freighter lines, CMA-CGM, Canada Maritime on Cargo ship cruise, and Freighter World Cruise offer any person seeking adventure the chance to come aboard for a fare on Cargo ship. As a paying passenger, you are accommodated in guest cabins and have access to most areas of the ship. While freighter travel is not as unaccommodating as one may think, it is generally for people who would prefer a laid-back setting on ship cruise, with a more rugged edge to it than your standard Carnival cruise. Some amenities you’ll see on a large cruise ship won’t be available on a smaller freighter ship for Cargo ship cruise.

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