Trapani to Tunis with Grimaldi Lines
The arrival time was indicated as three hours before sailing , but the ticket office only opened an hour prior to departure. Be prepared for lengthy and detailed customs and police pre-departure and arrival checks as well as vague directions from officials. There are at least five different sets of Tunis officials to satisfy on arrival by car and it can take over an hour. On board, the ship was being prepared for the summer season (I assume), so almost everything was closed,(shops, fitness, pool etc) including even toilets over an hour before arrival! The ferry is predominantly a migrant worker shuttle so can be a little like a camp-site on board. Restaurant has a good menue but most was not available. The very relaxed staff are nonetheless friendly and polite.
Barcellona to Civitavecchia with Grimaldi Lines
Not friending staff!!!!! And NO postcard your ship!!!!!!!
Barcellona to Tanger Med with Grimaldi Lines
We had to wait over 4 hours past the scheduled departure time for boarding, with absolutely no explanation as to why from the Spanish staff in Barcelona. In fact, when we asked what was going on all they did was threaten to call the police! We had booked a suite for the trip (the most expensive way to travel) and 3 hours before the ferry even got to Tanger-Med we were forced to vacate our room and sit on the floor in the public spaces (there were no seats to be found anywhere for customers who had booked a cabin). This was so they could supposedly clean the rooms in anticipation of the next customers. Given that the ferry had a 5 hour layover in Tanger-Med, they had plenty of time to do this in port. Also, on our return journey the suite we were in had NOT been properly cleaned - no fresh toilet paper/soap/shampoo and a dirty razor in the shower! We ate in the expensive restaurant with some friends on board on one occasion, and were treated terribly by the staff. The meat was undercooked and had to be sent back, and the fish was overcooked and had the texture of rubber. It was inedible, and was also sent back. We then had a huge argument from the staff when we refused to pay for meals which had not been eaten (the fish never returned to the table). They were rude to us and our friends, and told us we were causing them to have to work late!
