© 2026 All rights reserved. No part of this site may be reproduced without our written permission.
Grandi Navi Veloci, known as GNV, is an Italian shipping company founded in 1992 by Aldo Grimaldi as a subsidiary of Grimaldi Group. Headquartered in Genoa, GNV became part of MSC Group in 2010 and merged with SNAV the same year. With a fleet of 26 ships covering 33 routes, GNV connects 8 countries: Italy, Spain, France, Albania, Tunisia, Morocco, Algeria and Malta. It was the first Italian company to introduce cruise ferries on Mediterranean routes, with Splendid and Majestic in the mid-1990s.
GNV operates 26 cruise-ferries, including some of the largest passenger ferries in Europe. The 1998-built GNV Excellent (2,230 passengers, 760 cars), the 2002 La Superba and 2003 La Suprema (2,920 passengers, 567 berths, 984 vehicles, 28 knots) anchor the long Mediterranean routes. The GNV Polaris (2024) and GNV Orion (2025) are the first two of four next-generation vessels with high environmental and passenger comfort standards. GNV Virgo, delivered in late 2025 from Guangzhou Shipyard International, is the first LNG-powered ferry in the Italian flag fleet, reducing CO₂ emissions by over 50% compared to previous-generation vessels. On board, larger ships offer à la carte and self-service restaurants, bars, snack and pizza counters, onboard shopping (perfumes, fashion, jewellery), entertainment lounges, swimming areas and cabins from interior to suites with sea views. Italy–Tunisia and Italy–Morocco routes additionally serve halal meals. Cabins range from interior 4-berth to deluxe suites with phone, TV and minibar. Conference facilities — the GNV MICE & INCENTIVE programme — accommodate group meetings and corporate events on board larger vessels.
On SimpleFerry, GNV tickets are bookable in real time with instant e-ticket delivery. Foot passengers, vehicles, motorcycles and campers are accepted on most routes. For long international routes such as Italy–Spain, Italy–Morocco and Italy–Tunisia, passengers should plan for ferry-style boarding well in advance, with passport documentation prepared at check-in. Onboard parking is on the vehicle decks; access to the vehicle deck during the voyage is prohibited, so essential items should be moved to cabin or seating areas before sailing. Smoking is forbidden on vehicle decks, in cabins and in passenger lounges.
GNV welcomes pets on board. Pets travel in dedicated pet cabins on certain ships, in pet carriers in seating areas, or in kennels on the vehicle deck. On open decks, dogs must be on a leash and muzzled. A valid pet passport and vaccination records are required, and small pets must be in carriers when in indoor common areas.
Children under 4 travel free on all GNV ships. Children under 2 travel free on Tunisia and Morocco routes. Cots, high chairs, bottle warmers, changing tables and cot sides are available on request, free of charge.
Yes, on Italy–Tunisia and Italy–Morocco routes the onboard restaurants serve halal meals as part of the standard menu.
Yes. GNV offers pet-friendly cabins, allows small pets in carriers and accommodates larger dogs with leash and muzzle on open decks. A valid pet passport and vaccination records are required.
Cruise Roma, Cruise Barcelona, La Superba, La Suprema and GNV Excellent offer multiple restaurants, snack bars, pizzerias, onboard shopping (alcohol, tobacco, perfumes, designer fashion), entertainment lounges and a wide range of cabin types up to deluxe suites.
No. For safety reasons, access to the vehicle deck during sailing is prohibited. Take essentials with you to your cabin or seating area before departure.
GNV is investing in dual-fuel and LNG-powered vessels — GNV Virgo (2025) is the first Italian-flagged LNG ferry — and runs scrubbers and lithium battery systems for zero emissions while docked. The company holds ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 certifications.
Ready to travel with Grandi Navi Veloci (GNV)? Search routes and compare prices on SimpleFerry.
Search ferry tickets