“Plans to protect air and water, wildlife and fauna are really plans to protect humans,” American politician and environmentalist Stewart Udall was fond of saying in the 1960s. And today we know that everyone's choice can make a difference, even on vacation. Starting with the choice of means of transport.
On environmentally friendly ferries
There have been shipping companies that have been paying attention to sustainability for years. One of them is Grimaldi linesa brand of the maritime group of the same name operating in the passenger transport sector. Around twenty routes covered by the company with 14 ships. All the routes that allow travelers to reach, from Italy, some of the main destinations on the Mediterranean Sea, including Sardinia, Sicily, Spain, Greece And Tunisia. All this, on board latest generation ferries that not only offer high standards of safety and hospitality, but are also environmentally conscious.
In recent years, in fact, Grimaldi Lines has invested decisively in innovative technologies aimed at gradually reduce CO2 emissions of its activities, from large batteries to solar panels to silicone paints that do not release biocides into the sea.
The result? Since 2019, the two flagship ships Cruise Roma and Cruise Barcelona charge during navigation and, when stopped in port, do not generate carbon dioxide emissions. Furthermore, in the near future, 22 ships capable of reducing CO2 emissions per transported load by 50% compared to the previous generation of ships of the same type will be delivered to Grimaldi Lines.
Added to all this is the patenting, by the Grimaldi group with the collaboration of the Department of Chemical Engineering of the Federico II University of Naples, of a system which, installed on board ships, takes enormous quantities from the sea during navigation on the water and filters them, retains microplastics and returns the purified water to the sea. And the various initiatives already underway to raise awareness among passengers on board: invitation to the selective collection of waste, installation of recycling machines special compactions, water savers in cabins, plastic cups replaced by fully recyclable materials.
In short, being sustainable pays off in the end. This proves it 70% growth in ferry or hydrofoil travel bookings in 2023 compared to the previous year. A boom that seems to be confirmed in the Mediterranean also for summer 2024, a season where there is no shortage of opportunities to arrive at your destination by traveling in a green way, lulled by the sea.
From Sardinia to Spain via Greece: all the itineraries
With Grimaldi Lines, Sardinia remains the first destination, connected at high frequency with Tuscany (Livorno-Olbia), Campania (Naples-Cagliari), Sicily (Palermo-Cagliari) and Lazio (Civitavecchia-Porto Torres, Civitavecchia-Olbia, Civitavecchia-Cagliari and Civitavecchia-Arbatax) and vice versa. The crossing, aboard the two flagship ships Cruise Roma and Cruise Barcellona and the two sister ships Cruise Sardegna and Cruise Europa, is a foretaste of a vacation, with spacious cabins, a panoramic à la carte restaurant, a wellness center be and a gym, swimming pool with solarium, children's playroom, casino and nightclub.
To all this are added the four lines which connect the Sicily (Livorno-Palermo, Naples-Palermo, Salerno-Palermo, Cagliari-Palermo and vice versa), both of which reach the Spain (Civitavecchia-Barcelona, Porto Torres-Barcelona and vice versa), four hours around Greece (Ancona-Igoumenitsa, Ancona-Corfù, Brindisi-Igoumenitsa, Brindisi-Corfù and vice versa) and the three direct Tunisia (Civitavecchia-Tunis, Salerno-Tunis, Palermo-Tunis and vice versa).
From the car to Fido: the advantage, not only economic, of traveling by sea
Choosing the ferry as a means of transport to reach a destination is not only profitable in environmental terms. In fact, comfort also benefits, especially if you are traveling in company. The crossing aboard Grimaldi Lines ships is in fact ideal for a very broad target audience, ranging from couples to families with children to groups of friends of all ages. They are always welcome too 4-legged friendswho can stay in the cabin thanks to the special service animal in cabin. Differentiated services are then accompanied by considerable pricing flexibilityable to meet the particular needs of each person, at different times of the year.
Train and boat. And the holidays get even greener
New this summer, the partnership of Grimaldi lines with Trenitalia. A new opportunity for travelers who want to reach their destination by combining train and boat and be even more sustainable. The ticket train + boat, which can be purchased in a single solution through all Trenitalia sales channels, is available for destinations in Sardinia and Sicily along the axes Civitavecchia-Olbia, Civitavecchia-Porto Torres, Civitavecchia-Cagliari, Civitavecchia-Arbatax, Naples- Cagliari, Naples-Palermo and vice versa. versa. Soon it will also be available for the Livorno-Olbia and Livorno-Palermo routes.
Do you want to stay up to date on the world of travel?
There is of course still the possibility of boarding Grimaldi Lines ships with your own car. Loaded with baggage but above all with expectations and dreams for the new vacation that is about to begin. Indeed, this can already start on board the ferry.
Information: grimaldi-lines.com
