Wow, a trip on the night ferry to Corsica is definitely one of the best trips we've ever taken. It does ask a bit of you: first by car to Marseille, then the car onto the night ferry, and then you arrive the next morning in Corsica, perhaps France's best-kept secret. A paradise, but the journey there is at least as cool. We travelled with Corsica Linea and this is what you need to know.
By car on holiday to Corsica
The idea for this holiday to Corsica arose because we've loved the Côte d’Azur for years, especially after a fantastic holiday in the area around Saint-Raphaël, Saint-Aygulf and Agay. The azure blue sea, small coves where you can go snorkelling and the charming little beaches with cosy bohemian beach bars always give us that ultimate holiday feeling we're looking for. Even during the summer holidays, it never feels truly crowded there. But we knew the region well by now and so we started looking for a destination with the same vibe. So we ended up in Corsica. The fact that you can drive there ultimately tipped the scales.
And we've never regretted it for a second. Corsica is everything we'd hoped for, and perhaps even more. Imagine a clear blue sea, idyllic bays, atmospheric beach bars, colourful flowers, and charming villages. Even during the summer holidays, it's not overly crowded anywhere. Perhaps because the island is a little more effort to reach than many other sunny destinations. And that makes the extra travel time more than worth it. In fact, the overnight ferry crossing is an experience in itself, as far as we're concerned. With your own cabin, you'll sleep soundly and wake up the next morning with Corsica on the horizon.
Everything you need to know if you're taking the night ferry to Corsica!
Before we take you on board, let's cover the practicalities first. There are broadly three ferry companies with which you can sail to Corsica: Corsica Linea, Corsica Ferries and La Méridionale. From France, boats depart from Marseille, Toulon, and Nice, among other places. If you are travelling via Italy, you can depart from Livorno, Genoa, or Savona, among others. Which route is most convenient largely depends on where on Corsica you want to be.
Make no mistake, Corsica is a large island. Because of the many mountain roads, you will often be on the road for longer than you might think from looking at a map. It is therefore important to think carefully about your arrival port in advance. If you are mainly staying in the south, then Ajaccio or Porto-Vecchio is a logical choice. For the north, Bastia or L’Île-Rousse are often more convenient. We chose the Marseille-Ajaccio route with the night ferry of Corsica Linea. After that, we did a three-week road trip around the island and took the night ferry back to Marseille from L’Île-Rousse. For our trip, that turned out to be the perfect route. And sleeping on a boat is ama-zing! Travelling with children? They will never forget this adventure!
By overnight ferry with Corsica Linea from Marseille to Corsica
An adventure! By overnight ferry with Corsica Linea to the beautiful island of Corsica. We knew it was possible, but we could barely find any examples online of travel bloggers or influencers who had gone before us and shared their experiences. Nor did we know anyone in our own circle who had made the crossing. Where exactly do you need to go? How does it work to drive on board with your car? What does the cabin you sleep in look like? Should you book the discounted three-course dinner in advance, as the shipping company advises, or can you just as well à la carte Order something or bring your own food? Is there a microwave on board? Do you get seasick easily? And what can you actually expect from your cabin? We'll take you through it step-by-step and share all the practical information we would have liked to know beforehand ourselves.
Going to Corsica by car? It's possible! You can then take the overnight ferry.
With the night ferry to Corsica: this is how the day of departure goes
The preparation for this trip is actually very straightforward. It's a bit like checking in for a flight, but there are a few things that are handy to know beforehand. You naturally wouldn't want to miss that boat, and with it, the start of your holiday. What a disappointment that would be! In the days leading up to departure, you'll regularly receive emails from Corsica Linea with practical information. These will state the departure time of the boat, the check-in time you're expected, and where you need to be.
Don’t forget your passport – make sure you keep it within easy reach in the car, as there’s a customs check before departure. Pack your car sensibly too. Once you’re on board, you won’t be able to go back to your car. What’s more, the cars are parked quite close together (and tightly), so everyone is expected to get out quickly. So put everything you’ll need that evening and the following morning into a bag, or make sure you can quickly retrieve your suitcase from the car. Also, download a few films or TV series at home, as French television is rather dull if you don’t speak the language well. Are you travelling in an electric or hybrid car? Then the battery must be below 30% before departure. (The ferry company has listed on its website where you can recharge after arrival.) They’re also strict about devices with rechargeable batteries; you’re not allowed to leave them charging unattended.
Which gate does Corsica Linea use?
What we found confusing beforehand was that the emails kept mentioning that we would later hear from which gate the boat would depart, in our case gate 1 or 3A (which are also mentioned separately on the traffic signs with separate routes, confusing!). Because of this, we constantly kept an eye on our mailbox, but an extra message never arrived. In retrospect, it turned out that this was not necessary at all. You simply drive to the Corsica Linea terminal, the address of which is clearly stated on the website. From there, everything is self-explanatory!
Officially, you're asked to be there about 2.5 hours before departure. We were even earlier, because, you know, you never know. Looking back, that really wasn't necessary. For us, check-in started exactly as communicated beforehand at 15:45 and the ferry departed precisely at 18:15. Of course, every departure is different, but even after 17:00 we saw cars still queuing to drive on board. Experienced locals who know exactly when to join the queue? No idea. We wouldn't risk it ourselves for a well-deserved holiday, but it does show that you really don't have to queue for hours beforehand.
On board Corsica Linea
Our first tip: book a private cabin with a window. This nearly turns the crossing into a hotel experience. Think of it as a compact hotel room with four single beds, two of which are bunk beds, a television, and a basic bathroom with a shower, toilet, mirror, and sink. It's a pleasant place to retreat to and, moreover, surprisingly spacious and spotlessly clean. The beds are wonderfully comfortable, although we found the pillows a bit on the small side. So, by all means, bring your favourite pillow from home. (A golden tip for any holiday anyway, as nothing beats sleeping on your own pillow.) The gentle rocking of the boat is also wonderfully soporific. Go to bed on time too, because around 5:45 AM you will be woken via the intercom with the announcement that Corsica is in sight and breakfast is ready.
The boat itself feels a bit like a luxurious version of the ferry to Texel, if you know it. There's a cosy bar with TV screens where many people have a drink or play a game, so be sure to pop that game back in your bag before you leave the car. On board, you'll also find a restaurant, a snack bar, and plenty of places to sit both inside and out. So no, you really don't necessarily need to book the three-course dinner in advance. It's also quite pricey. In the snack area, you can order pizzas, meal salads, sandwiches, snacks, and drinks, among other things. There's also a microwave, so you can easily bring your own food. If only we'd known! Many French people had a well-stocked cool bag with them and had a cosy picnic on deck. We stuck to a meal salad and had thought about getting croissants for breakfast the next morning.
The long journey is absolutely worth it! Corsica is beautiful!
Night ferry to Corsica: don't miss the sunrise
One last tip: don't just use the announcer's alarm for breakfast, but also take a walk to the outer deck. As Corsica slowly draws nearer and the first rays of sun appear over the sea, you'll know exactly why this way of travelling is so special. The view is truly magnificent. Around 7:00 AM, the doors to the car deck open, and you can return to your car. An unexpected advantage of arriving early? There's a good chance you'll also be one of the first to disembark. Do you want to make this trip during the summer holidays? Then book well in advance. We booked our crossing in the winter, after first plotting our route and choosing accommodation. This might sound like a lot of preparation and a considerable drive from the Netherlands, but believe us, this trip is worth every minute of planning!
And would you also like to make the drive to Marseille part of your holiday? Then an overnight stay in Beaune and afterwards in Avignon real recommendations. This way, not only Corsica becomes an adventure, but the journey there too.
Photo credits: thegreenlist.nl.
