Grimaldi Lines Barcelona-Civitavecchia Ferry

I took the Grimaldi Lines ferry from Barcelona to Civitavecchia in July 2021 and it was comically bad. Unless you are moving a car long distance, or there is genuinely no better option, I would avoid this crossing.

The cabin was cramped, tired, and not especially clean. The bathroom was the kind of detail that sticks with you for the wrong reason: the sink drain was missing its stopper, so you could see down through the pipe. That is not a luxury complaint. It just made the room feel neglected.

Food did not save the trip. The casual option was basically ham-and-cheese sandwiches, Coke, and chips. The sit-down dining room sounded like it would be better, but it was expensive for what felt like reheated packaged food. I do not expect a ferry to be a great restaurant. I do expect the paid-up dining option to feel like someone tried.

There also was not much to do. Once you are away from shore, there is no mobile reception, the crossing is long, and the ship did not give me many ways to pass the time. Bring several books, downloads, or anything that works offline.

I like ferries, and I usually enjoy the rhythm of a long crossing. This was the exception. If you are comparing Barcelona to Rome-area options, I would only choose this ferry if the car or luggage logistics are the whole point of the trip.