Livorno - Bastia

Getting there and terminal

The three operators leave from different parts of the port of Livorno, so follow the signs for your own operator.

• Moby: Stazione Marittima, Via Donegani, 57100 Livorno. Leave the motorway at the "Porto" exit and follow "Imbarco Passeggeri", "Via Guido Donegani" and "Moby". Two paid car parks take cars and motorhomes, and there are charging points for electric cars.
• Corsica Ferries: Calata Carrara, Nuova Stazione Marittima, 57100 Livorno.
• Cors'express: Porto di Livorno 2000, Piazzale dei Marmi 12, 57123 Livorno. From the A12, take the "Livorno Porto" exit and follow "Calata Carrara" or "Darsena Toscana".

Driving from Britain, you cross the Channel to Calais, continue through France to the Riviera and follow the Italian coast to Tuscany. If you fly in, Pisa airport is the nearest: the Pisa Mover shuttle reaches Pisa Centrale station in about 5 minutes, every 5 to 8 minutes from 06:00 to midnight, and regional trains continue to Livorno Centrale. From there the port is about 10 minutes by bus or taxi.

Check-in and departure

Each operator has its own timetable and its own check-in times.

• Moby sails from mid-May to the end of September, usually at 08:00, and reaches Bastia after 4 hours 30 minutes. With a vehicle, be at check-in 90 minutes before departure; on foot, one hour before from June to September and 30 minutes before otherwise. Check-in is electronic, beside the ship, and every passenger needs an original passport or identity card.
• Corsica Ferries sails all year with up to three crossings a day, in the morning, at midday and in the afternoon. The ferry usually leaves at 13:45 or 14:00, on some days around 08:30, and in summer also around 17:00. The crossing takes 4 to 6 hours. With a vehicle, be at check-in at least one hour before departure, on foot 30 minutes before; in high season allow 1 hour 30 minutes, as the ship can leave up to 30 minutes early. Online check-in opens seven days before departure.
• Cors'express sails six times a week and takes 2 hours 15 minutes to 2 hours 30 minutes, usually at 09:45, on some days at 11:45 or in the evening around 18:30. Be at the terminal at least 1 hour 30 minutes before departure; boarding closes 15 minutes before.

The next departures of all three operators are in the timetable.

On board

Moby usually runs the Moby Kiss on this route. Its cabins all have an en suite shower, and lounges have numbered seats. Corsica Ferries has cabins and, on day sailings, a lounge with reclining seats; you can use your mobile phone for the whole crossing.

The Cors'express fast boat has seats on two levels, drink and snack machines and paid Wi-Fi. Your own food and drinks are not allowed on board.

Vehicle, bike and pets

Only Moby and Corsica Ferries carry cars, motorbikes and motorhomes. Give every dimension when you book, including roof box, bike rack and towbar; Moby counts the length overall and asks you to declare vehicles over 220 cm high. On Corsica Ferries gas cylinders stay closed, and there is no electricity or sleeping in the vehicle on board. The car deck is closed during the crossing, so take everything you need upstairs. Cors'express takes bikes only on request. More in taking a motorhome to Corsica.

Each operator has its own pet rules. With Moby your pet needs its own ticket and travels in a pet cabin or on the outer decks, on a lead and with a muzzle, never in the car. With Corsica Ferries you declare the dog when you book; it stays with you in the areas open to dogs or travels in a dog cabin. Cors'express takes dogs and cats under 8 kg in a closed carrier, declared when you book. Papers and kit are explained in taking a pet to Corsica.

Arrival and onward travel

All three operators arrive in the commercial port of Bastia, Moby and Corsica Ferries at the Gare Maritime, 20200 Bastia. With Moby and Cors'express you are in Bastia around midday, with the afternoon ferry of Corsica Ferries in the early evening. Car parks are close to Terminal Nord. Heading north, the D80 takes you onto Cap Corse; southbound you leave town on the T11. Trains run from Bastia to Corte, Ajaccio and Calvi.

Coming from western Liguria? Savona - Bastia also carries cars and sails overnight.

Tickets and fares

Corsica Ferries sells two fares: Standard can be changed for a fee but is not refundable; Flex can be changed and is refunded on a sliding scale, and you choose it when you book. Cors'express sells Standard, Essential and Flex, and the fare sets how much luggage you can bring: Standard is non-refundable, Flex can be changed free of charge. If a Cors'express sailing is cancelled because of the weather, you rebook or take a credit. Moby prices each ticket per person and direction. How to compare the three operators is explained in ferry prices to Corsica.