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Trans Sahara Routes.

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  #1  
Old 24 Mar 2006
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Ferry Europe to Tunis
I'm starting to look at booking a ferry for the crossing from Europe to Tunis this October. According to Sahara Overland, the cheaper route is Genoa - Tunis - Is this still true?

Also, there seem to be a number of online booking agents for this route, can anyone recommend a particular agent? Which one is cheapest? Is it cheaper (is it possible even?) to book directly with the ferry companies?

Having looked around on viamare.com, the cheapest routes seem to be Civitavecchia or Salerno to Tunis, both with Grimaldi for E178 plus tax (5m car, aircraft type seat). This is about half the price of the Genoa - Tunis route mentioned in the book. Is there some type of catch I haven't noticed here, or is it that Genoa is just easier for people from northern Europe?


Info much appreciated,

Cheers

Dan

[This message has been edited by danielsprague (edited 24 March 2006).]

[This message has been edited by danielsprague (edited 24 March 2006).]
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  #2  
Old 24 Mar 2006
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You could always do Marseille - Tunis with SNCM. By the time you've bought another tank of fuel to gert down to Italy the price difference isnt that much.

www.aferry.to/timetable/MarseilleTunisSNCM.htm
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  #3  
Old 27 Mar 2006
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Genova/Marseille

It depends
First , consider about strikes , very frequent in Marseille ....
It depends also where you come from .
I'm in Lyon and I prefer Genova ( direct across Alps then Torino ,not a lot km more ) for the first reason (stikes)
The last : there is THE cheapest fare on CTN (from Genova) , it's the "sidi bou said" fare , cheaper than Jasmin , but you can't chane your dates .
Other reason : the crew and service are a lot more "sympa" on CTN than SNCM .
Have a good trip !
RR.
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  #4  
Old 27 Mar 2006
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Thanks for that Roro. I'll have to look at your suggestion in some more detail again.
I have to admit I drove from Genoa to Geneva last year and that seemed a lot quicker than the coast road.
The other thing I forget is that not everyone travels with wife and two kids in an over-height Discovery, all of whom require a cabin with shower an wc.
Also for me the dates work better from Genova as I get about 4 days longer but still get to travel on the Cathage.
Kevin.

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Old 29 Mar 2006
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I'll be coming down from central Germany, so the Italian ports are more convenient.

Has anyone ever used the ferries from Civitavecchia, Salerno or Naples - these seem even cheaper.?

Cheers

Dan
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  #6  
Old 19 Apr 2006
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http://www.pm-04.com/dox/ferries.xls

Out of date (travelled in May 2004), but might still be useful?
There are some other useful docs here, too:

http://www.pm-04.com/links1.html
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Old 19 Apr 2006
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PS > I ended up going from Marseille and paying on-the-day. It doesn't cost any more, I stuck it on my VISA card and they told me that "the ferries are never full - we can always fit a bike on". I decided at the last minute, after a night on the Marseille dockside sleeping on a sheepskin under my bikel, that a cabin was a good idea. Recommended. You can't relax in an aircraft seat on the Tunis ferries as you will get robbed. A good night's sleep and a shower is also excellent preparation for Tunisian customs.
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Old 19 Apr 2006
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>>>...By the time you've bought another tank of fuel to gert down to Italy the price difference isnt that much.

Actually there is not much in it distance wise if coming from the Channel ports via northeast France, a bit of DE and across Switz (despite CH motorway sticker). And of course from Germany it is straight down to Genoa.

I have also heard lately that Grimaldi Genoa-Tunis is much cheaper than CTN/SNCM (which are surprisingly nice ships)

Ch
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Old 19 Apr 2006
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Robbed
I've not heard of anyone being robbed on any of the cross-Med ferries. Is this actually a problem or just 'I've got a mate who heard from his cousin...'?

Sam.
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Old 24 Apr 2006
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Chris Scott
I have also heard lately that Grimaldi Genoa-Tunis is much cheaper than CTN/SNCM (which are surprisingly nice ships)

Ch
I took both the ships "Habib" (CTN) and Grimaldi, Genoa to Tunis. Grimaldi ships are much more confortable and new then the CTN's. I don't remeber about the price, but for sure Grimaldi is not more expensive (and it's likely it is even cheaper...).
On the other hand, the old ship "Habib" is a classic for the saharian travellers, but this is the only advantage that she offers.
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Old 26 Apr 2006
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Sam Rutherford
I've not heard of anyone being robbed on any of the cross-Med ferries. Is this actually a problem or just 'I've got a mate who heard from his cousin...'?

Sam.
Hi Sam -

Not any experience of mine, just a 'vibe' I got. Lots of shady types on my boat, and I did see people swapping French number plates for Tunisian ones in the ferry queue. There was also a punch-up on the dock-side while I was trying to sleep. I felt more secure in my cabin, and I did have a few valuables, such as my GPS, laptop and mobile phone with me. You could say I felt pretty vulnerable. The pre-trip solo traveller nerves can't have helped!
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