Catania
Operated by Grimaldi Lines
Catania
Operated by Grimaldi Lines
Operated by Grimaldi Lines on the Brindisi Igoumenitsa & Brindisi Patras routes
The Catania ferry carries up to 840 passengers and 160 cars and offers an array of onboard facilities to keep you entertained during the crossing including a self-service restaurant, a choice of bars, a casino, a shop, a children’s play area and a choice of cabins.
Onboard you'll find comfortable air conditioned en-suite cabins with a choice of both inside and sea view (outside). The Catania also has 2 luxury suites with double beds as well as 2 cabins designed for disabled passengers. Each cabin contains 2 standard beds, 2 foldaway beds, a writing desk, a 4 door wardrobe, a mirror and a small armchair. In addition, the 2 Luxury suites feature a bedroom with a double bed, a TV set and a living room with a divan with double bedding. For those who prefer not to book a cabin there are 62 reclining seats available.
Meals are available in a spacious and elegant self-service restaurant with a choice of many different dishes on offer. The Vesuvio Club bar features a comfortable cafe room while in the outdoor sun deck bar (open in summer) you can have a drink and relax on one of the deckchairs in the sun.
You’ll find the onboard shop selling numerous products and souvenirs on the Catania.
Children are well catered for with Grimaldi Lines and the Catania features a dedicated child’s play area to keep younger passengers occupied during the trip.
Assisted can be provided if required however you will need to inform the staff on arrival at the port. The Catania contains 2 cabins designed for disabled passengers.
Please Note: Whilst we have taken great care in making our Catania guide as accurate as possible, onboard facilities, services and entertainment may vary depending on the date and time of year that you travel, facilities mentioned may change without notification and ferry companies reserve the right to operate vessels other than those mentioned at time of booking without prior notification.
out of 5
25% of our customers recommended this ship
"Sehr schlecht "
6 Stunde frühe müssen wir die Zimmer verlassen 😡😡😡🤮🤮🤮
"Painful"
Waiting louange open air at midnight freezing ,not ordre to board the ferry ,people pushing each other. Canons ok confortable if you are lucky to share it with respectful people ,beware of children! Could be a nightmare . Food ok,personnel ok .
"Good for Dogs"
I had a dog in a cabin. The cabin was very close to the deck and convenient for getting outside without causing any fuss with other passengers. The cabin was good value and comfortable.
"Disappointed"
They didn't have chance to make Trip, because the staff from Grimaldi's ferry's have closed office for checking early. I have been with 2 other car passengers one Italian lady and great Britain mean were out of travel. I am shocked... I came from Salerno Italy same company to Tunisia I made check in 2 hours before, but this Tunisian are not respectful, I'm sorry I said this. I will make big reclamation, I am late for my work, I have long trip to Finland, and I head to stay 3 nights more in hotel, and spend money, my emotions are so bead. I am not happy with this what happened. Sincerely Babuna
"Lovely views"
I would not recommend anyone take this ferry unless they booked a cabin. Cabins seem ok - someone kindly let me use the bathroom in their cabin, because the inadequate at best public toilet, was not working well and dirty. I had booked a seat ( daytime ferry) and the room with the seats was awful - broken seats, buts in the floor. Crew was nice. Food was better than expected. As long as you stayed on the top deck and dudn’t Have to use the bathroom, it was fine.
"Grim & Grotty Lines"
Purchased an overnight cabin with a window from Palermo to Salerno. The cabin stunk of smoke, despite no smoking signs. The toilet in the cabin stank of urine & faeces. There were no towels provided in the room, we had to asking for them. Air con was horrendously loud and ineffective. The entire cabin looked and felt dirty. Disembarking was chaotic, disorganised and it was as if it was the very first time they had ever disembarked. Many members of staff stood around smoking. You get what you pay for- overnight accommodation & access to the Amalfi Coast...
"Tiring journey"
I turned up three hours prior to departure only to be told the ferry was late in, meaning a three hour wait in hot sun. This meant we were late into Tunis and too late to find a hotel, so I had to stay up all night until I could find somewhere open. At least I have a tale to tell.
"Bad experience"
Unable to find the ticket office as not marked. Delayed departure by two hours. Uncomfortable beds , uncontrollable air conditioning, dining area dirty and chaotic and buffet food looked old. Morning coffee in a plastic cup and Cornetto rubbery. Not a good experience at all and not cheap.
"bad experience"
Be sure that you will not find a WC at all in the morning. The sheep is very slow and no place to seat.
"Dreadful experience "
Filthy antiquated ship with shambolic organisation for boarding and leaving
"Okay, but confusing for foot passengers "
It was really unclear where to go as foot passenger. I asked the guy at the ticket desk but my italian was limited and I ended up wandering around until someone from customs stopped me. Ferry was okay, wouldn't recommend the food - expensive and not great. Cabin was okay.
"Terrible experience, I would never take Grimaldi again"
Total confusion at the boarding. We arrived more than 120 minutes before departure as per the website and nothing was open. We waited two hours before we could checkin. Once we checked in we went to the gate not well indicated at all so we made a few uturns. Once in line, we will waited another hour before boarding, all the trucks and pedestrians could go in but not the cars. Horrible experience waiting in the sun with no facilities. Once on board, the room was ok. We had lunch and dinner during the crossing, the lunch was fine but the dinner was cold. Everyone kept returning their plates. Just for clarity, wr took the catania from palermo to salerno. The ship over state was dirty, I kept washing my hands all day
"Chaos"
Boarding was disorganised chaos. Would never use this ferry company again staff were surly and ignorant thought they were doing you a favour!!2
"It is ok"
We took the ship from tunis to palermo. There are many tunisians on board with many luggages. Suggest to arrive the terminal 2 hours before and make it less hassle. The check in+securuty check is quite smooth. We had two bed cabinet, it is as it shown on their website. Don't expect any cruise shio fancy thing but the bed is ok. Staff are ok on the ship. The restaueant a bit chaotic, many people sleep on the sofa in there, a bit noisy. The food is horrible and not cheap. So maybe better bring your own food. Better have your own cabinet if you are group of two. It is ok for traveling to destination, don't expect anything more.
"Not Bad"
The ship is showing it's age.Many people who don't have a cabin to sleep and sleep in the lounge take thete.places as soon as they come on board,occypying many tables and booths.This needs to be addressed.
"Disaster"
I was circumvented by this company and caused me physical and moral damage. I attended the trip three hours before I found someone representing this alleged company.I will file a legal complaint against this alleged company.Caused material damage more than 1000 euros and moral damage
"Appalling"
We were told to arrive at least two hours ahead of departure time, which we did. we were told that there was a 'delay', and were given a bottle of water and a voucher for a cafe which did not seem to exist. Some four and a half hours later, we were allowed to board. There was filth and chaos everywhere. We had trouble getting to our cabin, as just about every spare space in the corridors was filled with people sleeping or resting on blankets, etc. The cabin was fine, apart from the fact that, when the sheets were pulled back, they were fouled with excrement. In addition, we were told to leave the cabin some two hours before arrival, as 'we had arrived' (staff's words), and they had to change the bedding(!). We then had to find, with little success, a seat outside, as all the interior ones were covered with people sleeping on them. I have never been so relieved to get off a vessel; the whole trip was a farce, and a disgrace to the company. never again, Grimaldi.
"A Horrible experience"
If you can afford to fly and don't need to take a car with you to or from Salerno/Palermo then avoid using the ferry at all costs!! My wife and I were staying near Salerno so we decided to take the ferry to Sicily for the second part of our holiday. We were foot passengers and booked a long time ahead. We liked the idea of getting the night ferry from Salerno to Palermo so that none of our holiday time was wasted with travelling as we would be sleeping on the ferry. We had a text from Grimaldi a few days before to tell us that the sailing would be half an hour later than scheduled (00.30 instead of 23.59) which was fair enough but that is where the good experience ended! We are used to cross channel ferries where there is a terminal for foot passengers to use and assumed that the same would be the case in Salerno. We also took the opportunity of asking the security chap on the gates of the port earlier in the day when we should turn up (as we had to factor in returning the hire car etc...). He said the gates opened at 20.00 so we dropped off the car in Salerno as arranged at 19.00 and got a taxi with our luggage to the port. 1. There is no passenger terminal at Salerno (and as far as I could see the next day none at Palermo either). 2. The Gates did not open as suggested, indeed the ferry didn't even turn up until gone 10pm. 3. All the passengers had to stand or sit outside the gates of the port on the public highway/pavement. There were no benches or indeed seating of any sort whatsoever. We stood or sat on the curb. Luckily we had mossie gel with us or we would have been eaten alive! It was hot, but it was night time. Had it been day time it would have been dangerous to wait as long as we did as there was no shade either and Salerno in early September is jolly hot. 4. Grimaldi ferries are not the roll on roll off ferries we are used to in the English Channel. They are old fashioned drive on and off at the same end. This makes loading and unloading vehicles a slow process, made even worse by the fact that they do not put lorry tractor units on the vessel so every single lorry trailer has to be individually driven on or off individually by little tractor units operated by the Port. It took over two hours to unload the ferry when it finally arrived. All the time the passengers were still outside the port gates watching and sitting on the pavement. The cars going on the ferry were also not allowed into the port and the road and roundabout just outside the port gates became a big car park. Bizarre and not at all safe. 5. The process of checking in was positively wacky! Out of each group or family one person had to take the ID documents and tickets for himself and the others in his party to a portakabin about 100 yards inside the port. Transport to this cabin was by means of a small mini bus. The man in the cabin did not look in the two passports that I provided him with, he simply glanced at their covers and then issued our boarding passes. This whole procedure meant that it was impossible for either the port authorities or Grimaldi to have any idea at all of the actual identity of the passengers on the ship. Nor did we have to show a boarding pass when we were finally allowed to enter the port or on entering the ship itself so it would have been remarkably easy to travel without a ticket. Grimaldi thus cannot have known even how many people were actually on the ship. The safely and security implications of such lax procedures are obvious! 6. When the port gates were finally opened the cars were allowed to drive in first. The foot passengers remained outside on the public road where I would add that there was no lavatory. Nor was there any facility whatsoever for the elderly or disabled. There were a number of families present with small children. 7. Eventually the foot passengers were allowed to enter the port. The first lot were picked up by a mini bus. The rest were then told just to walk through the po
"Just a late departure "
Boarding was delayed because every car coming off the ferry was being searched by the authorities. Our voyage arrived in Salerno two hours late which for us was no great inconvenience because the scheduled arrival was very early in the morning.
"Awful organisation"
Apart from poor antonio, who seemed to be a one man band and was actually sitting on his motorbike begging for the walking passengers to be allowed on 2 hours after the time, the organisation out of Italy was dreadful. We arrived at 6.20 pm for our 11.59 pm trip only to be mucked around with the check in process, dropped back out to the gates and then left until after 2am until being walked on in pure chaos. Once on board we realised nothing had been cleaned. The toilets were covered in poo and toilet paper was sticking to shoes it was so thick! No sleep was had. Over 17 hours and not a nice way to finish our holiday to Italy.
"Didn't even get let on"
The website notes that we can board on last call an hour before. Myself and 3 other passengers were left to not take the ferry even though we got there 1h15 min before departure. The agent who was working (who didn't even work for grimaldi) told us they wouldn't explain why they weren't letting us on. LACK OF COMMUNICATION! We checked in, went through border control and security and were not let on regardless. Don't waste your time and money.
"poor operator offers second rate service to Africa"
Interesting to see how a European operator feels able to offer such a poor service, I suspect because the destination is African. Foot passengers have to wait for trucks etc to unload before entering via the car deck (I had to wait outside on the dock with no facilities for almost 2 hours to board, when returning from Italy). Food poor and small portions vutr expensive, service poor, and the cabin hard various fixings broken. The sailing itself was fine but companies should be shamed for their attitude to largely Tunisian customers.
"A total mess, but not much choice"
Awful experience all the way long, in both directions, but not much choice when you want to travel with your car between Tunisia and Italy, as the competition ( GNV) is at least as bad. On the Palermo side, you don’t get ANY indication: where the line starts, where to check in etc. A 3hr minimum delay seems guaranteed. Add to that a standard 4 hrs waiting for the customs and police clearance twice per trip ( departure and arrival), especially on the Italian side, and your 11hr trip becomes a 20-22hr long one. It’s better to get a private cabin, even for a daytime trip , even if you’re alone. Most passengers and service crew are totally undisciplined. Smoking everywhere, people lying / sleeping on floors in corridors, etc.. I would rate zero for all the one stars below. Navig. crew is ok
"Good experience"
A last minute decision to catch the ferry from Salerno to Palermo rather than drive all the way down the coast. Good price, with only a little more for a basic inside cabin. A little rough crossing, but not too bad. Very little food offered for breakfast, a bit disappointing.
"Avoid Salerno"
The Grimaldi ferry “port” at Salerno for foot passengers was non-existent. Instead passengers huddled at a freight gate for hours, waiting for permission to enter. Ferry itself was standard, but Grimaldi Lines was totally insulting to its few foot passengers.
"Afloat in palermo"
Simple to book but not easy to get on to the Catania and almost as difficult to get off. Relaxed and protracted immigration service at Palermo led to v late sailing. Ensure you have time and relax and enjoy the trip.
"Change of schedule 28 January 2018"
The quality of the ship and facilities was fine. What was not good was the consequences of the change of vessel and schedule. Firstly the delay in crossing of 4 hours was emailed to me AFTER I had already started my journey to the port. I just had to accept the change in departure from 19.00 to 23.00. NO REASON WAS GIVEN. Second - there are no passenger facilities at Palermo. No waiting room etc. It was a good time particularly cold night. When the check-in cabin opened about 19.30, I was told that I should be able to check-in and board soon after 20.00. This was not true. I eventually boarded at almost 23.00, for the departure just before midnight. That meant a total wait on a cold quayside of around 7 hours. I find that unacceptable and could have been avoided if Grimaldi had emailed e.g. the day before. It is also annoying that Grimaldi staff at the time of port were not truthful about the reason for the delay - both the reason for 4 hr late arrival, and the extra 3 hours delay in boarding. Better communication in key to a satisfied passenger.
"Tunis to Palermo"
The ship left with 3 hours delay. I was told in advance about one and half hour delay but not 3 hours. No announcement kept passengers informed. At the last police control before boarding the ferry, I had 140 dinars left with me. The police custrom officer claimed that was illegal and to let me pass he asked for a tip... I refused to do to so. 140 dirams was not an illegal amount and as I am going to be back in Tunisia in April, I am going to spend that money there. The staff was rude both before boarding and on the boat
"Nightmare voyages"
Two utterly disgusting journeys never to be repeated. The only good thing to be said is that the passenger terminal in Tunis is well designed and well run by courteous staff. On the outward and return voyages sailing was delayed by many hours. The ship was dirty and badly maintained. The toilets were filthy and in constant use for every kind of ablution. The floors could hardly be walked on as so many people had put down bedding and were sleeping on them. The noise of children screaming never abated. The food looked and smelled vile. The ferry staff were evidently working hard to serve people and try to maintain hygiene standards but with such numbers it was a losing battle. There was no passenger terminal at Palermo just endless waiting in queues watching passengers being treated with contempt by arrogant police and customs officials. On the return journey from Palermo we stood for hours in extreme cold without access to toilet facilities. I wouldn’t wish the whole horrible experience on Adolf Hitler let alone my worst enemy.
"Good option to avoid driving"
Good ferry connection but delayed by over 2 hours. Cabin was clean and had all the necessary facilities.
"Not a Professional Service and Over Crowded"
I received an email notification just a few hours before travel informing me the travel has been delayed by 7 hours, if not convenient I can travel after a weeks time or request my money back. Many other passengers did not receive the notification. It then sailed 3 hours after the rescheduled time. When booking it stated I had a cabin but there was not a cabin available when I arrived. The ship appeared to be extremely over crowded, as there wasn't even a spare chair or even a space on the floor to lay down as hundreds of people had put their mattress and bedding on the floor which took up all available space. It was not because they were quick or first to grab a space but because the boat appeared to take more people than it could cater for. The ship looked like a refugee ship with over crowded people and insufficient space to walk without stepping over people. The food which I bought was cold. I witnessed a member of staff yelling at a passenger, he was totally unprofessional and very rude, in what was an unnecessary situation as he could have approached the passenger politely and passed on his message as a consequence of his actions there was almost a riot from on lookers. I am English but a high majority of passengers were Arabic and appeared to be treated as second class citizens or beggars. The facilities were limited, my return travel was with a different company so I was able to compare, the other company was a 100% better in all aspects; space, lounge areas, food, treatment, promptness, evening entertainment with a live singer, various shops, children's play room, various restaurants, lots of sleeping places, 3 different movie rooms, lots of choice of where to sit. It seemed as though Grimaldi Lines had over filled the ship exceeding its capacity to gain the maximum money, it seemed like the Titanic waiting to happen. I would never you this company again.
"Time "
Not ones not twice but three times I traveled with the company and when it comes to the arrival destination they are very good because they are on time all the time and that my opinion.
"Very Nice Room"
Once we got to the room, it was more than we had hoped for. However, getting there was a very long and difficult process. There was no organized procedure for cars to enter the shipyard...we arrived on time but had to wait an additional hour in the heat, and then cars piled through the gate in a haphazard fashion. If cars had been lined up as they arrived, and later arrivals lined up behind them around the parking area, once boarding happened it would have been much better. We finally entered the yard, and were placed in rows to begin boarding, but nobody told us that the paper reservation had to be converted into actual tickets! If my wife hadn't figured this out in the nick of time, we would have been sent back to acquire them, which would have set us back another hour or so. We felt very bad for the people we saw this happening to. Once we were on the ship, we were fine, but getting there was an absolute nightmare. I recommend the ship, but not the process used to get us on board.
"Getting on takes so much time"
We waited so much time before getting on ferry. I mean so much delay time.
"Basic and functional "