Frequently asked questions

How to apply the discount:

• In the search form, tick the "Residents" box

• The system automatically shows the discounted fares available

• Enter the passengers' residence details

Which documents to show at boarding:

• Identity card showing the municipality of residence, or

• An original certificate of residence

Special cases:

• The discount is valid only for resident passengers: if you travel with non-residents, the system applies mixed fares

• In some cases the discount extends to natives (people born on the island even if no longer resident)

• The exact conditions vary by company

FAQ Category: Fares and discounts

The age bands differ for each company. As a guide:

Children:

• 0–3 years: often free (without an assigned seat)

• 4–12 years: around 50% discount

• 13–25 years: full or reduced fare (it varies)

Seniors:

• Over 60 or 65: 10–25% discount (with some companies)

• Often cannot be combined with other offers

How to apply the discounts: enter each passenger's age on the departure date: the system automatically calculates the applicable fare.

⚠️ The age must be given as at the departure date, not at the time of booking.

FAQ Category: Fares and discounts

The ferry sector offers some concessions for students, with conditions that vary by company.

Discounts for individual students:

• Erasmus fares or "Under 26" fares with some international companies (usually 10–15% off)

• Resident + away-from-home student fares: for those studying in another region (mainly for Sardinia and Sicily)

• Show your university record book or institution card at boarding

Discounts for school groups:

• Reduced fares for school trips, educational journeys, youth sports tournaments

• Minimum 15–20 students + accompanying teachers

• Some companies grant free travel for one or more teachers per 15–20 students

• Request a quote via gruppi@netferry.com

What is needed for a school group request:

• The institution's name and VAT number

• Number of students (age range) + teachers

• Route and dates

• Any accompanying coach

University agreements:

• Some universities have agreements with specific companies

• Check with your university office

💡 For an individual student on a domestic route, the resident fare (where applicable) is often better value than the student fare.

FAQ Category: Fares and discounts

The ferry sector offers some concessions for people with disabilities, with rules that vary by company.

Discounts for civil disability:

• Some companies apply discounts for passengers with a certified civil disability of 74% or more (under the Italian system)

• Sometimes the discount also extends to the accompanying person

• Documents required: disability certificate or medical board attestation

Discounts for blind passengers (Italian Law 138/2001):

• Totally blind (cat. A) and severely visually impaired (cat. B) passengers are entitled to reduced fares

• Discount also extended to an accompanying person with some companies

• Certification: Italian Blind Union card or health authority certificate

Accessible cabins (PRM):

• Available on larger ships

• Not always bookable online: it depends on the company

• Contact us on +39 0831 564 257 to check availability and assistance

Guide dogs:

• Travel is always free, including the cabin

• See the dedicated FAQ "Does my guide dog travel free of charge?"

PRM assistance:

• Assistance at the port and on board is free by law (EU Regulation 1177/2010)

• It must be requested at least 48 hours before departure

💡 The exact conditions vary a lot by company: it is always best to call us to check the best solution for your specific route.

FAQ Category: Fares and discounts

The final price of a ferry ticket is the sum of:

• Basic passenger fare: varies for adult/child/senior

• Vehicle fare: if you travel with a car, motorbike, motorhome, etc.

• Accommodation: deck passage, reclining seat, cabin

• Port taxes and charges: ISPS, disembarkation taxes, quay dues

• Fuel surcharge (bunker): in some cases

• Discounts applied: residents, early booking, loyalty, etc.

• NetFerry booking fees: for the intermediation service

The full breakdown is always visible in the summary before payment.

FAQ Category: Fares and discounts

Early booking is the promotion that rewards those who book well in advance. Key features:

• Typical discounts: 15%–30% off the standard fare

• Promotion deadline: usually by the end of May for the summer season

• Limited availability: a set quota of places for each ship and accommodation category

• The fare is often non-changeable / non-refundable: always read the conditions

💡 When to book:

• Summer (June–August): book between January and March

• Public holidays and long weekends: at least 2–3 months in advance

• Very busy routes: book as soon as the timetables are released

FAQ Category: Fares and discounts

Last-minute offers do exist, but they are much less common in the ferry sector:

• Companies try to maximise advance sales with early booking

• Only if unsold places remain might they publish last-minute promotions

• Close to the departure date, fares tend to rise, not fall

Booking last minute only makes sense if:

• You are fully flexible on date and route

• You are happy with "budget" accommodation (deck passage)

• You travel in low season

Sign up to our newsletter to be notified of any last-minute promotions.

FAQ Category: Fares and discounts

Port taxes are compulsory charges set by the maritime authorities of each port. They generally include:

• ISPS (International Ship and Port Facility Security): security charge

• Quay and mooring dues

• Embarkation/disembarkation tax (varies by port)

• Any local visitor levies (e.g. on some Greek islands)

They are always included in the ticket price shown during booking.

FAQ Category: Fares and discounts

NetFerry discount codes are distributed through targeted campaigns: newsletters, partnerships, seasonal promotions and various initiatives.

How to apply the code:

• Complete the route search and choose your accommodation

• Go to the accommodation selection page (Step 2)

• Find the "Discount code" field (or "Voucher", "Coupon")

• Enter the code exactly as you received it (it is case-sensitive)

• Click "Apply": the discount will be deducted from the total

• Continue with the passenger details and payment

Usage rules:

• One code only per booking

• Cannot be combined with other promotions unless stated otherwise

• Each code has an expiry date and sometimes specific routes/companies

• The discount is usually applied to the basic fare, not to taxes and charges

If the code does not work:

• Check that it is still valid

• Check that the route or date is eligible

• Try typing it in manually (without copying extra spaces)

• Contact us at info@netferry.com with the code and the attempted booking

💡 To receive discount codes, sign up to our newsletter from the website footer.

FAQ Category: Fares and discounts

Visitor taxes and disembarkation taxes are local charges applied by some authorities for tourism or environmental purposes.

Taxes ALREADY INCLUDED in the ticket:

• Disembarkation tax for Italy's smaller islands: applied by some municipalities on arrival (Ponza, Ventotene, some smaller islands). Usually €1–3 per person

• Balearic eco-tax (Ibiza, Majorca, Formentera): since 2016, usually €1–4 per person per night, often already charged on board or included

• ISPS port charges: included in all tickets

Taxes to pay DIRECTLY on site:

• Hotel visitor tax: paid directly to the hotel at check-out (variable: from €0.50 to €7 per night depending on the destination)

• Specific municipal charges: some municipalities introduce separate levies (always check locally)

How to check what you have already paid:

• In the NetFerry booking summary, the item "Port taxes and charges" includes the compulsory maritime taxes

• Hotel visitor taxes are separate and not included in the ferry ticket

FAQ Category: Fares and discounts

NetFerry manages several types of commercial agreements with companies, associations and public bodies.

How to use an existing agreement:

• Check with your company/association how it works in practice (usually a discount code or a dedicated portal)

• Enter the code in the relevant field when booking

• At boarding, show your membership card or employer's certificate if required

Types of agreements we manage:

• Corporate: ticket discounts for employees of partner companies

• Professional associations: professional bodies, trade unions, trade associations

• Public bodies: armed forces, police forces, magistrates (often already managed by individual companies)

• Company recreation clubs: employee groups with recreational benefits

Setting up a new agreement for your company:

If you represent a company or association interested in signing an agreement with NetFerry, write to info@netferry.com stating:

• Company name and VAT number

• Approximate number of employees/members

• Most-used routes

• Commercial contact person

One of our managers will contact you to define the conditions.

FAQ Category: Fares and discounts

The pricing logic for return vs one-way tickets is more complex than you might think.

Companies with an automatic return discount:

• They apply discounts of 5% to 15% on the combination

• Some require the return date to be within X days (e.g. 30 days)

• Examples: SNAV, Ventouris, some Greek routes

Companies with no return discount:

• They simply add together the two single-leg fares

• In this case, booking a return or two separate tickets costs the same

Cases where ONE-WAY + ONE-WAY works out cheaper:

• If the early booking fare is only available on one of the two dates

• If you have a resident fare valid in one direction only

• If the legs are operated by different companies

• If one leg is on special promotion and the other in high season

What NetFerry does:

Our booking system calculates both the available return combinations and the cost of two one-way tickets, showing the best-value solution. Just set the correct dates.

💡 For very busy routes (Greece in August, Sardinia in July), booking the return together often also secures closer cabins and a better chance of a place on the same ship.

FAQ Category: Fares and discounts