Shipping line
Grandi Navi Veloci
The Genoa-based line on the way to Tunis: company, fleet, routes, check-in, vehicles and dogs.
- Genoa-based shipping line, founded 1992, part of the MSC Group since 2010
- Three routes to Tunis from Genoa, Civitavecchia and Palermo, year-round
- 25 ships on 33 Mediterranean routes, pet-friendly cabins and halal menus on board
Company profile
About Grandi Navi Veloci
Table of Contents
About Grandi Navi Veloci
Grandi Navi Veloci, or GNV, is a ferry line based in Genoa. It was founded in 1992 by Aldo Grimaldi from the Genoa branch of the Grimaldi shipowning family; since 2010 GNV has belonged to the MSC Group of Captain Gianluigi Aponte, based in Geneva. According to the company, it operates 25 ships on 33 routes to 23 destinations in the Mediterranean: to Sicily, Sardinia, Malta, Spain, France, Albania, Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia. Despite the shared origin, GNV is today a company independent of Grimaldi Lines.
Fleet to Tunis
According to the timetable data, the La Suprema and the GNV Aurora sail from Genoa, and the GNV Auriga, the GNV Orion and the Splendid from Civitavecchia and Palermo. The La Suprema, built in 2003, is 211.5 metres long, carries 2,920 passengers in 567 cabins (37 of them suites) and 984 vehicles, and sails at 28 knots; on board there is a pizzeria, an à la carte and a self-service restaurant, a children's area, a prayer room, a shopping area and WiFi. The GNV Auriga (built 2005) is 214 metres long and holds 2,908 passengers in 319 cabins, with an à la carte restaurant, self-service, a games room and pet-friendly cabins. The GNV Orion, from 2024, is the newest ship on the line at 218 metres: 1,730 passengers, 418 cabins, 15 of them suites, and 25 knots. On the Tunisia routes GNV serves halal dishes alongside Italian cuisine.
Routes on this site
GNV sails three of the five Tunisia routes on this site, all year-round and all to La Goulette: Genoa - Tunis directly in around 23 hours 45 minutes, Civitavecchia - Tunis with a stop in Palermo in around 28 hours (the return around 31 hours 45 minutes) from the Stazione Marittima at the Calata Laurenti, and Palermo - Tunis in around 12 hours, usually departing in the evening. In Tunis, GNV docks at the southern quays of La Goulette. The exact departures are shown in the timetable.
Check-in, vehicle and pet
All passengers must check in; online check-in is available and saves queuing. According to GNV, check-in in Genoa at the Ponte Caracciolo opens five hours before departure with a vehicle and four hours on foot, and closes 60 minutes before; in Civitavecchia and Palermo, GNV advises arriving at the port well ahead of departure because passport and customs checks take time. On foot you present your ticket and passport and receive your boarding card; with a vehicle you also need your driving licence and vehicle documents, and the car gets a sticker for the garage deck. Details for campers are covered in the guide Taking a motorhome to Tunisia.
Pets travel in the pet-friendly cabins you choose when booking; in other accommodation animals are not allowed and they stay in the onboard kennel instead. A lead is required in shared areas, and a muzzle where required; bring the vaccination record, a bowl, lead, muzzle, waste bags and a tag with a phone number. From summer 2026, GNV is setting up dedicated pet areas in restaurants and shops. What Tunisia and the return to the EU require is explained in the guide Taking your dog to Tunisia.
Tickets
GNV sells the crossing from deck passage through reclining seats to inside and outside cabins and suites; the price depends on season, accommodation and vehicle. The line advertises seasonal offers for Tunisia and special fares for residents, for example during Ramadan. How the fares are structured is shown in the price overview, and the price for your date in the route's booking window.
GNV FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Questions and answers about GNV and the ferries to Tunis
Which routes does GNV sail to Tunisia?+
Three connections to Tunis (La Goulette): Genoa - Tunis in around 23 hours 45 minutes, Civitavecchia - Tunis with a stop in Palermo in around 28 hours, and Palermo - Tunis in around 12 hours, usually departing in the evening. The exact departures are in the timetable.
Which ships does GNV use to Tunis?+
According to the timetable data, from Genoa the La Suprema (2003, 2,920 passengers, 567 cabins) and the GNV Aurora; from Civitavecchia and Palermo the GNV Auriga (2,908 passengers), the GNV Orion (2024, 1,730 passengers, 418 cabins) and the Splendid. All have a restaurant, self-service, onboard shop and children's area.
When do I need to be at the port for GNV?+
According to GNV, check-in in Genoa opens 5 hours before departure with a vehicle and 4 hours on foot, and closes 60 minutes before. Online check-in is available. Everyone travelling to Tunisia needs a passport; with a vehicle you also need your driving licence and vehicle documents.
Can I bring my car or motorhome?+
Yes, cars, motorbikes and motorhomes travel too; you give the dimensions when booking. At the port, GNV checks the vehicle documents and issues a sticker for the garage deck. What applies to campers in Tunisia is covered in the guide Taking a motorhome to Tunisia.
Can my dog travel on board?+
Yes. Pets travel in pet-friendly cabins, which you choose when booking, or otherwise in the onboard kennel; a lead and muzzle are required in shared areas. Bring the vaccination record, a bowl, lead and muzzle. More in the guide Taking your dog to Tunisia.
How much does the crossing with GNV cost?+
The price depends on season, accommodation (deck passage, reclining seat, inside or outside cabin, suite) and vehicle; GNV advertises seasonal offers and resident fares. The price overview explains the fares, and the booking window on the route page shows the price for your date.