Shipping line
CTN Ferries
The Tunisian line on the way to Tunis: company, ships, routes, check-in, vehicles and dogs.
- Tunisia's state shipping line, founded 1959, home port La Goulette
- Two routes on this site, Marseille - Tunis and Genoa - Tunis, year-round
- Carthage and Tanit with cabins, restaurants, halal menus and onboard kennel
Company profile
About CTN Ferries
Table of Contents
About CTN Ferries
CTN stands for Compagnie Tunisienne de Navigation, Tunisia's state shipping line, based in Tunis. It was founded on 7 March 1959, is wholly owned by the Tunisian state and reports to the Ministry of Transport. Its home port is La Goulette in the Gulf of Tunis, from where it runs the passenger routes to Marseille and Genoa; alongside this it operates freight services, for example to Barcelona and Livorno. The fleet comprises six of its own ships, four ro-ro freighters and two passenger ferries, supplemented by chartered vessels. In some booking systems CTN appears under the name "Tirrenia (CTN)"; this stems from a sales partnership and has nothing to do with the Italian line Tirrenia.
Ships
The two passenger ferries are the Carthage and the Tanit. The Carthage, from 1999, carries 2,208 passengers and 666 cars, while the Tanit, put into service in 2012, is the line's largest ship with 3,200 passengers and 1,060 vehicles. Both are built for overnight crossings: with cabins with and without a porthole, an en-suite bathroom and some with a television, restaurants and bars with halal menus, a duty-free shop, children's areas including a nursery, outdoor decks, kennels for pets and WiFi.
Routes on this site
CTN sails two of the five Tunisia routes: Marseille - Tunis, alternating with Corsica Linea, and Genoa - Tunis, alternating with GNV, both overnight ferries taking around 24 hours. Because two lines share the departures, check the timetable to see which one sails on your day; check-in times, onboard offerings and pet rules differ by operator.
Check-in, vehicle and pet
CTN requires that you complete registration at least four hours before boarding; with a vehicle, allow extra time for passport and customs checks. Everyone travelling to Tunisia needs a passport; an ID card is not enough. Cars, motorbikes, motorhomes and caravans travel too; give the exact dimensions when booking. On arrival, Tunisian customs issues a temporary circulation permit and enters the vehicle in the holder's passport; details are covered in the guide Taking a motorhome to Tunisia. Register pets when booking; depending on the ship, they travel in a pet-friendly cabin or in the kennel, a lead and muzzle are required for boarding, and CTN requires a valid vaccination certificate. The line does not carry dog breeds classified as dangerous. What Tunisia and the return to the EU require is explained in the guide Taking your dog to Tunisia.
Tickets
CTN structures its tickets into fare tiers such as Spot, Famille or Escapade, which differ in flexibility and included services; the price depends on season, accommodation and vehicle, and summer months are markedly more expensive than spring and autumn. How the fares are structured is shown in the price overview, and the price for your date in the route's booking window.
CTN Ferries FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Questions and answers about CTN Ferries and the ferries to Tunis
Which routes does CTN sail to Tunisia?+
On this site, the overnight ferries Marseille - Tunis and Genoa - Tunis, both around 24 hours to La Goulette. On both routes CTN alternates with a second line: with Corsica Linea from Marseille, and with GNV from Genoa. The exact departures are in the timetable.
Which ships does CTN use?+
The Carthage (1999), with space for 2,208 passengers and 666 cars, and the larger Tanit (2012), with 3,200 passengers and 1,060 vehicles. Both have cabins with and without a porthole, restaurants and bars with halal menus, children's areas, outdoor decks, a kennel and WiFi.
When do I need to be at the port for CTN?+
CTN requires that you complete registration at least four hours before boarding; with a vehicle, allow extra time for passport and customs checks. Everyone travelling to Tunisia needs a passport; an ID card is not enough.
Can I bring my car or motorhome?+
Yes, cars, motorbikes, motorhomes and caravans travel too; you give the dimensions when booking. On arrival, Tunisian customs enters your vehicle in your passport. What applies to campers is covered in the guide Taking a motorhome to Tunisia.
Can my dog travel on board?+
Yes, with registration at booking; depending on the ship, your pet travels in a pet-friendly cabin or in the kennel, a lead and muzzle are required for boarding, and CTN requires a valid vaccination certificate. CTN does not carry dog breeds classified as dangerous. More in the guide Taking your dog to Tunisia.
How much does the crossing with CTN cost?+
CTN structures its tickets into fare tiers such as Spot, Famille or Escapade, which differ in flexibility and inclusions; the price depends on season, accommodation and vehicle. The price overview explains the fares, and the booking window on the route page shows the price for your date.