The crossing from Genoa to Palermo was without doubt the most disorganised and chaotic ferry experience we have had. We arrived punctual and compliant as ever at about 9pm – making us the third vehicle in the queue! After multiple (further) delays the departure was eventually schedule for 1.30 am – we spent the time taking turns as DJ and enjoying really for the first time the potential of the van’s excessive array of speakers and subwoofers!
Eventually the signal came to move, whereupon commenced something like the flag waving at a Formula One race as frustrated Italians jostled for rank. It turns out they were only competing for a chance to wait some more, as six once orderly lines of cars were funneled haphazardly into two.
As a taller vehicle we were ushered to one side and had a front row view of the simultaneous freight, passenger and vehicle loading “system”. This amounted to frantic hand signals by the ship’s crew to pedestrians, cars and a whirlwind of full-time specialised container drivers who spun their trolley-trucks at breakneck speed to whizz semi-trailer loads and containers aboard (in reverse!). Health and safety precautions amounted to honking and yelling.
At some point it became necessary for the mere mortals to repeat the freigh drivers’ trick of reversing onto the ship. We we entertained for some time by the 45 degree margin of error with which even the smallest fiat 500’s attempted the ramp!
Somehow we all found our way aboard. I was grateful for a friend’s truck driving trick of hanging out the drivers window while reversing!
The cruise was uneventful, food and WiFi as unreliable as the boarding process but the shower was scalding hot and had pressure like a fire-hose so I was willing to forgive a lot.
We are so glad to have arrived!
– Martyn
38.202552, 13.241204
