Ferry to Sardinia from Italy & Barcelona — Up to 15% Discount with RENTAL12 Partner Code

A complete 2026 guide to ferry routes to Sardinia — with an exclusive 15% discount on Grimaldi Lines for RENTAL12 guests (excluding fixed taxes, EU ETS costs and on-board services).

How the RENTAL12 + Grimaldi Lines partnership works

Quick answer: RENTAL12 has a direct partnership with Grimaldi Lines that gives every confirmed guest up to 15% off ferry tickets (excluding fixed taxes, EU ETS costs and on-board services) on four Sardinia routes. Use code RENTAL12GL at booking on grimaldi-lines.com, valid until 31 January 2027.

Booking a ferry to Sardinia and a place to stay are usually two separate jobs. We made them one. Every traveler who confirms a stay at a RENTAL12 apartment in Olbia or Golfo Aranci unlocks the same partner discount code on Grimaldi Lines — RENTAL12GL — that we negotiated directly with the carrier in early 2026: 15% off-peak (1 January–30 June 2026 and 7 September 2026–31 January 2027) and 10% in peak summer (1 July–6 September 2026), excluding fixed taxes, EU ETS costs, and on-board services. There is no minimum stay, no hidden tier system. The discount applies the same way to a January overnight crossing as to an August family booking.

It works because we own and operate 37 properties inside Olbia and just up the coast in Golfo Aranci, and Grimaldi Lines docks within walking distance of half of them. Their ferries arrive in Olbia early morning. Our team meets guests, hands over keys, points them toward the parking lot we keep at Via Sassari 20, and pours the first espresso. The partnership turns the ferry crossing from a logistics problem into part of the holiday.

The full terms — routes, dates, what is and is not covered, how to redeem the code — are in the sections below. The shortcut: up to 15% off (excluding fixed taxes, EU ETS costs and on-board services), code RENTAL12GL, four routes, valid through 31 January 2027.

Ferry to Sardinia from Italy: 4 routes covered by your discount

Quick answer: The RENTAL12GL code unlocks up to 15% off four Grimaldi Lines routes to Sardinia: Livorno–Olbia year-round, Civitavecchia–Olbia in summer (1 June–30 September 2026), Civitavecchia–Porto Torres year-round, and Porto Torres–Barcelona. All four operate in both directions (excluding fixed taxes, EU ETS costs and on-board services).

Sardinia is an island, so a ferry is the most flexible way in if you want to bring your own car, a camper, motorbikes, or simply more luggage than the airline allows. Grimaldi Lines is one of the two main carriers serving the routes RENTAL12 guests use most. Below are the four covered routes, with departure ports, arrival ports, and what to expect onboard.

Route	Crossing time	Frequency	Best for
Livorno ↔ Olbia	~9 hours overnight	Daily, year-round	Tuscany road-trippers, north-Italy departures
Civitavecchia ↔ Olbia Summer only	~6 hours daytime / ~8 overnight	1 June–30 September 2026	Rome travelers, summer family trips
Civitavecchia ↔ Porto Torres	~7 hours	Year-round	Rome travelers heading to North-West Sardinia
Porto Torres ↔ Barcelona	~12 hours overnight	Multiple sailings per week	Spanish travelers, Mediterranean road-trippers

Livorno to Olbia ferry: schedule, duration, what to expect onboard

Quick answer: The Livorno–Olbia ferry is the most popular Grimaldi Lines route to North Sardinia, sailing daily year-round on a roughly 9-hour overnight crossing. Cabins, restaurants, and a dog-friendly deck are standard. With the RENTAL12GL code, RENTAL12 guests save up to 15% on the ticket (excluding fixed taxes, EU ETS costs and on-board services).

The Livorno route is the workhorse of the Italian ferry network to Sardinia. It runs every night of the year, giving travelers from Tuscany, Emilia-Romagna, Lombardy, and pretty much all of north-central Italy a comfortable way to drive onboard, sleep in a cabin, and step off in Olbia ready to start the day. For travelers from Germany, Switzerland and Austria driving south through the Brenner Pass, Livorno is the natural ferry port: it’s a five- to seven-hour drive from Munich, four from Zurich, six from Vienna.

Departures. Most Grimaldi Lines Livorno–Olbia sailings depart in the late afternoon or evening (typical times: 22:00–23:00) and dock in Olbia around 06:00–07:00 the next morning. There are also occasional daytime sailings in high season. Consult grimaldi-lines.com for the calendar that matches your dates.

What to book. If you’re crossing overnight, book a cabin — not a deck-passage seat. The price gap is small, the comfort gap is huge. Inside cabins are the cheapest sleep option; outside cabins (with a porthole) are a small upgrade and worth it. Pets travel either in pet-friendly cabins or in onboard kennels (the kennels are heated, ventilated and inspected; many travelers find their dog handles them better than expected, but cabin space if you can swing it).

What’s onboard. The Livorno–Olbia ships have full restaurants, self-service bistros, bars, a small shop, family lounges, and (on most ships) a swimming pool that opens in summer. Wi-Fi is available but charged separately — one of the “on-board services” the discount does not cover. Plan to entertain children with downloaded movies, books, and a deck of cards rather than counting on streaming.

Arriving in Olbia. Olbia’s Isola Bianca terminal is just over a kilometer from the city center. Most RENTAL12 apartments are a 5–15 minute drive from the dock. If you arrive without a car, taxis usually queue at the terminal exit, or pre-arrange a transfer with our team via WhatsApp.

Rome (Civitavecchia) to Sardinia ferry: Olbia & Porto Torres routes

Quick answer: The ferry from Rome to Sardinia leaves from Civitavecchia, the port city 80 km northwest of Rome reached in 50 minutes by direct train from Roma Termini. Grimaldi Lines runs Civitavecchia–Olbia (summer 2026 only) and Civitavecchia–Porto Torres year-round. Both are covered by the RENTAL12GL 15% discount (excluding fixed taxes, EU ETS costs and on-board services).

If you search “rome to sardinia ferry” or “ferry from rome to sardinia,” what you actually want is Civitavecchia. Civitavecchia is Rome’s deep-water port, 80 km up the Tyrrhenian coast and connected to Roma Termini railway station by direct trains in 45–55 minutes (a few faster ones in 40). Cruise ships use the same port, so the infrastructure is excellent and signage is multilingual.

Civitavecchia ↔ Olbia (summer only)

This is the high-summer Rome–to–North-Sardinia route. It runs from 1 June through 30 September 2026 only. Crossing time depends on the sailing — daytime crossings are roughly 5–6 hours, overnight slightly longer. For July and August dates, book early; this route fills fast.

Civitavecchia ↔ Porto Torres

This route lands you on Sardinia’s north-west coast instead of the north-east. Useful for travelers heading to Alghero, Stintino, La Pelosa beach, the Asinara national park, or the Bosa coast. Crossing is roughly 7 hours, year-round. From Porto Torres to Olbia is a 2-hour drive across the island, so consider this a destination route, not a roundabout way to Olbia.

Getting from Roma Termini to the ferry. Trenitalia regional trains run Roma Termini → Civitavecchia roughly twice an hour. Buy tickets at the machines, validate at the platform, ride 50 minutes. From Civitavecchia railway station to the port’s passenger terminal it’s a 20-minute walk or a short bus ride; signage to “porto” is clear. If you’re bringing a car onto the ferry, drive directly to the port and follow the “Grimaldi Lines” check-in signs.

Porto Torres to Barcelona ferry: the Mediterranean route

Quick answer: The Porto Torres–Barcelona ferry is a roughly 12-hour overnight crossing connecting north-west Sardinia to Catalonia. Multiple weekly sailings, both directions, year-round on most weeks. Covered by the RENTAL12GL 15% discount (excluding fixed taxes, EU ETS costs and on-board services) — ideal for Spanish travelers and Mediterranean road-trippers.

The Barcelona route is the international leg of the partnership. It connects Sardinia to mainland Spain via Porto Torres, the deep-water port on Sardinia’s north-west tip. Crossings are typically overnight (roughly 12 hours) and run multiple times per week; the schedule expands in summer. For Spanish residents, this is the most flexible way to reach Sardinia with a car — flying with a vehicle is impossible, and the only alternative is to drive through France, Switzerland, and Italy to Genova or Livorno, which is two long days minimum.

For RENTAL12 guests in Olbia, Porto Torres is on the opposite side of the island — about a 2-hour drive across the SS131 highway. So the Porto Torres–Barcelona route mainly serves: (a) Spanish travelers spending a few days exploring north-west Sardinia and only later moving to Olbia, or (b) road-trippers using Sardinia as a Mediterranean stopover. Both groups still get the full 15% RENTAL12GL discount on Grimaldi Lines.

If you’re traveling from Spain and your final destination is Olbia or Golfo Aranci, factor in the cross-island drive. The roads are good, the scenery is excellent (much of it through the Logudoro inland), but plan to break the journey rather than rolling off the ferry and immediately driving for two hours.

Naples to Sardinia ferry & other carriers: a quick honest map

Quick answer: A direct ferry from Naples to Sardinia is not part of our Grimaldi Lines partnership. The Grimaldi RENTAL12GL discount covers Livorno, Civitavecchia and Porto Torres only. If you’re traveling from Naples, the easiest route to North Sardinia is by train to Civitavecchia (~5 hours via Rome) and then the ferry to Olbia or Porto Torres — both Civitavecchia routes are discount-eligible.

We get this question a lot, especially in summer: “Is there a ferry from Naples to Sardinia?” The answer is qualified. Different carriers have offered the route at various times of year, but Grimaldi Lines does not currently include a Naples–Sardinia route in the RENTAL12 partnership. So if you’re asking specifically about the discount: your three Italian departure ports are Livorno, Civitavecchia, and Porto Torres.

For travelers based in Naples or southern Italy, the cleanest route to Olbia is: Naples → Roma Termini by train (1 hour 10 minutes on Frecciarossa) → Civitavecchia by regional train (50 minutes) → ferry to Olbia or Porto Torres. Total transit time is roughly 5–6 hours plus the ferry crossing. Drive yourself if you want a car onboard; otherwise the train route is faster than driving from Naples to Civitavecchia.

How to redeem your RENTAL12GL code on Grimaldi Lines

Quick answer: Enter RENTAL12GL in the promo code field on grimaldi-lines.com or in the Grimaldi Lines mobile app. You can also quote the code by phone at +39 081 496 444, by email to [email protected], or in person at Grimaldi Lines sales offices in Naples, Rome, Cagliari and Brindisi. Bring your RENTAL12 booking confirmation to port check-in.

What happens when you arrive in Olbia (parking, ZTL, your apartment)

Quick answer: Most Grimaldi Lines ferries dock in Olbia’s Isola Bianca terminal at 06:00–07:00. RENTAL12 apartments are 5–15 minutes away. Park free at our private lot on Via Sassari 20 (essential for the Olbia ZTL), pick up keys via our 24/7 WhatsApp team, and you’re settled in within 25 minutes of docking.

The ferry experience and the apartment experience are connected. Where you land, where you park, how the keys reach you, who is awake at 6 a.m. to answer your WhatsApp — we built the welcome around the ferry’s realistic arrival window because half our guests come this way.

The Isola Bianca terminal

Olbia’s ferry terminal sits on a long causeway just north-east of the historic center. Cars roll off the lower decks; foot passengers exit through the upper terminal. Taxis usually wait outside. From the terminal gates, the historic center is a 7-minute drive; most RENTAL12 apartments are within 5–15 minutes.

The Olbia ZTL (limited traffic zone)

The historic center of Olbia is a ZTL — a limited traffic zone — meaning private vehicles need a permit to enter or risk a fine. The Comune of Olbia does not issue tourist permits. The cleanest fix is to park outside the ZTL and walk in, which is why we maintain a private lot at Via Sassari 20, exclusive to RENTAL12 guests. We’ll send you the address and code before you arrive. (See our full parking guide and the ZTL explainer.)

Check-in & key handover

Most ferries dock between 6 and 7 a.m. We send check-in details — address, lockbox code, parking instructions — the night before. The team is on WhatsApp 24/7 (the number actually answers within minutes, even at dawn). If you’d rather meet a human, schedule a key-handover at the apartment for 7 a.m. and we’ll be there. There’s no minimum waiting period: the apartment is yours from the moment you arrive.

First espresso, fresh fruit, fresh bread

We leave a small welcome basket in every apartment: fresh fruit, a loaf of Sardinian pane carasau or local bread, coffee, espresso pods, milk, and a bottle of water. After a long ferry, that’s the difference between “we’ll find a café in two hours” and “the holiday started right now.”

Official RENTAL12GL discount terms — Grimaldi Lines partnership

Discount rate in two seasonal bands

• 15% for departures from 1 January 2026 to 30 June 2026 and from 7 September 2026 to 31 January 2027 (excluding fixed taxes, EU ETS costs and on-board services)
• 10% for departures from 1 July 2026 to 6 September 2026 — peak summer season (excluding fixed taxes, EU ETS costs and on-board services)

Routes covered (4 connections)

• Livorno ↔ Olbia — year-round
• Civitavecchia ↔ Porto Torres — year-round
• Civitavecchia ↔ Olbia — only for departures between 1 June 2026 and 30 September 2026
• Porto Torres ↔ Barcelona — year-round

What the discount applies to

APPLIES TO: base passenger fare, accommodation supplements (cabin), vehicle transport, pet supplements. Valid for both standard and special tariff levels. The discount applies to the RENTAL12 customer and co-travelers on the same booking.

DOES NOT APPLY TO: fixed taxes, EU ETS cost component, on-board services (meals, pet in cabin, Wi-Fi, wellness centre), insurance policies.

Combinability

• ✓ Combinable with active Grimaldi Lines special offers at the time of booking, unless the individual offer's terms state otherwise
• ✗ NOT combinable with Sardinian/Sicilian resident or native tariffs — if you have a Sardinian/Sicilian resident in your booking, compare both options and use whichever is cheaper (resident rates usually win)
• ✗ NOT combinable with other agreements, partnerships, or other discount codes

How to book (4 channels)

1. Online: grimaldi-lines.com or GrimaldiMobile app — enter code RENTAL12GL in the dedicated field at checkout
2. By phone: Grimaldi Lines Call Center +39 081 496 444 — quote "Convention RENTAL12" and code
3. By email: [email protected] — quote Convention RENTAL12 and code
4. Grimaldi Lines sales offices: Naples (Via Marchese Campodisola 13) · Rome (Via Rasella 157) · Cagliari (Via della Maddalena 3) · Brindisi (Viale Regina Margherita 40)

At check-in

You must present your RENTAL12 booking confirmation (confirmation email or printout). Passengers without proof of the RENTAL12 reservation must pay the price difference based on the standard fares available on the day of departure.

Validity, cancellation & modification

• Validity: bookings and departures until 31 January 2027
• Not retroactive: valid only for new bookings (cannot be applied to already-issued tickets)
• Standard tariff: follows the cancellation/modification conditions of the chosen tariff level
• Special tariff: non-refundable, but modifiable under the prevailing conditions

Official Grimaldi Lines conditions valid 12 May 2026 · General conditions of carriage on grimaldi-lines.com. Under Directive (EU) 2023/959, since 1 January 2024 a variable "EU ETS costs" line item has been included in the ticket price (per passenger and per vehicle), depending on the route, which is neither discountable nor refundable.

Frequently asked questions about the Grimaldi Lines ferry discount

Quick answer: Below are the seven questions we get most often from RENTAL12 guests booking ferries to Sardinia. Discount = 15% (excluding fixed taxes, EU ETS costs and on-board services), code RENTAL12GL, four routes, valid through 31 January 2027.