review of grimaldi ferry barcelona to porto torres
Aug 23rd, 2014, 08:11 AM
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
review of grimaldi ferry barcelona to porto torres
This was a lovely way to travel overnight. The most challenging part was getting to the boat. There is absolutely no information anywhere on the ticket or website telling you where to catch this ferry and there are no signs until you get quite close. Turns out it is MANY blocks away from the metro. Thankfully our cab driver knew where to go! I definitely would not advise trying to take public transport to get to it. A cab from Sants train station was 17 euros.
Once we got in the station, there still were no real signs. We got in a very long line which turns out you need to do in order to get your “official tickets”. The confirmation you print off the internet is not sufficient. You will need your passport. From there you go upstairs where there is an apparently defunct security check (certainly was not being used when we were there) and then down another set of stairs where you will be picked up by a shuttle bus which then takes you to the boat. All without any signs or directions... I advise going early.
We had a junior suite which was lovely for the four of us. A full queen bed and 2 twin bunks. Quite comfortable. Temperature was good although not adjustable. Good blackout curtains. There was a tiny bathroom with a tiny shower and good towels.
There was plenty to explore on the ship. Many bars and restaurants. We only bought coffee having read other reviews and brought our own food. The cappuchino was excellent and only 1.6 euros which I thought quite reasonable. The teenagers enjoyed the arcade games room and there was a room with climbing toys for the very little kids. The pool was closed - I don’t know if it is ever open.
We had to leave our cabin about an hour before the ferry landed but could go sit in the bar or wherever with our luggage. As foot passengers it was quick and easy to disembark. However, again, once you are off the boat there are no signs directing you anywhere. It lets you off in what seems to be the middle of nowhere - miles from the centre of Porto Torres. There were two buses sitting there - but we had no idea where they were going. No one spoke any English but the bus was free so we figured it was going into the town - which it did.
It dropped us off in town but again somewhere with no signs or directions. We had a car rental arranged but others were trying to get a bus to Olbia and there seemed to be no information anywhere to help them out. I hope they eventually made it!! After asking at various businesses in town and showing them our car rental confirmation we were directed a number of blocks away where we did indeed find our car! We were very glad it was the middle of the morning - I would not have wanted to be figuring this out late at night...
A note on car rentals - we booked online from Sardinia Rentals. The sign on the shop we were directly to was something completely different (started with an M - I can’t quite remember). Anyways - they seem to be the only car rental in town and they did have our reservation. They were fine to deal with.
Once we got in the station, there still were no real signs. We got in a very long line which turns out you need to do in order to get your “official tickets”. The confirmation you print off the internet is not sufficient. You will need your passport. From there you go upstairs where there is an apparently defunct security check (certainly was not being used when we were there) and then down another set of stairs where you will be picked up by a shuttle bus which then takes you to the boat. All without any signs or directions... I advise going early.
We had a junior suite which was lovely for the four of us. A full queen bed and 2 twin bunks. Quite comfortable. Temperature was good although not adjustable. Good blackout curtains. There was a tiny bathroom with a tiny shower and good towels.
There was plenty to explore on the ship. Many bars and restaurants. We only bought coffee having read other reviews and brought our own food. The cappuchino was excellent and only 1.6 euros which I thought quite reasonable. The teenagers enjoyed the arcade games room and there was a room with climbing toys for the very little kids. The pool was closed - I don’t know if it is ever open.
We had to leave our cabin about an hour before the ferry landed but could go sit in the bar or wherever with our luggage. As foot passengers it was quick and easy to disembark. However, again, once you are off the boat there are no signs directing you anywhere. It lets you off in what seems to be the middle of nowhere - miles from the centre of Porto Torres. There were two buses sitting there - but we had no idea where they were going. No one spoke any English but the bus was free so we figured it was going into the town - which it did.
It dropped us off in town but again somewhere with no signs or directions. We had a car rental arranged but others were trying to get a bus to Olbia and there seemed to be no information anywhere to help them out. I hope they eventually made it!! After asking at various businesses in town and showing them our car rental confirmation we were directed a number of blocks away where we did indeed find our car! We were very glad it was the middle of the morning - I would not have wanted to be figuring this out late at night...
A note on car rentals - we booked online from Sardinia Rentals. The sign on the shop we were directly to was something completely different (started with an M - I can’t quite remember). Anyways - they seem to be the only car rental in town and they did have our reservation. They were fine to deal with.
Aug 24th, 2014, 11:40 PM
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I just looked up these directions on Grimaldi's website and they look good. Unfortunately, when we were travelling, I had only printed off the info from the company we booked with (Aferry) and they were definitely not as thorough! I also did a search on Google maps and came up empty. Somehow did not think to go to Grimaldi's website but will next time - thank you!
Thread
Original Poster
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Frankval
Europe
6
Mar 11th, 2007 01:00 PM
