Camping on Board

What Is Camping on Board?

On most ferry routes, passengers with vehicles are expected to lock up their car or camper and move upstairs to the passenger decks for the duration of the crossing. The vehicle deck – a large, low-ceilinged cargo hold – is off-limits to passengers once the ship is at sea.

"Camping on board" (Minoan Lines calls it "Camping All Inclusive") changes this arrangement for motorhome and campervan passengers, but in 2026 it only exists on two sailings: Ancona–Patras and Ancona–Igoumenitsa. Instead of abandoning your vehicle, you stay in it on the vehicle deck, sleep in your own bed, and the fare includes 30% off meals in the on-board restaurant. You do not book a cabin – your camper is your cabin.

This arrangement has existed on the Ancona route for years and remains popular with overlanders, retired couples travelling in large motorhomes and campervan families who prefer their own space to a ship cabin. The vehicle deck used for camping on board is exposed to fresh sea air (sometimes quite cold, even in summer), which is worth factoring into your preparation.

Which Operators Offer Camping on Board?

Camping on board is not the multi-operator option it once was. In 2026, exactly one operator still runs it on the Italy–Greece routes:

Details of Minoan's Camping All Inclusive fare – exact inclusions, pricing – can vary by sailing. Always confirm at booking.

Superfast Ferries and ANEK Lines, run together on the Adriatic as "Anek Superfast", stopped camping on board in 2004, citing the IMO's ISPS security code – the announcement is still online at superfast.com. Grimaldi Lines and Ventouris Ferries have never let passengers back onto the vehicle deck during a crossing: Grimaldi's own FAQ is explicit ("Can I have access to the garage while travelling? No."), and Ventouris says the same – the parking area is locked after departure and reopens only shortly before arrival.

Vehicle Deck Access During the Voyage

This is where the rules genuinely differ, and where a lot of the confusion online comes from:

• Minoan Lines (camping on board): you settle into your camper before departure and may get scheduled access windows during the crossing. The exact policy varies by ship and sailing, so ask when you book.
• Superfast/ANEK, Grimaldi Lines, Ventouris (every other operator): the vehicle deck is locked for the entire voyage, full stop – there is no camping-on-board exception to ask about.

When booking with Minoan, check the specific access policy for your sailing. If deck access matters to you – for example because you have pets, need regular medication stored in the camper, or have young children who sleep there – this is an important question to ask before you book.

Electricity and Water

Whether Minoan provides shore power at your camping-on-board berth is not something we can confirm from public sources, and it is not detailed in what Minoan currently publishes about the Camping All Inclusive fare. Ask about it directly when you book, and do not assume a hook-up will be there.

Propane and other gas cylinders are not allowed on board for safety reasons, so plan to run your fridge and cooker on another power source, or eat in the ship's restaurant – the fare already includes 30% off meals there.

Water is not connected on the vehicle deck. Fill your fresh water tank before boarding, or use the ship's water points in the passenger area if you run low. Keep grey and black water in your tanks for the crossing.

How to Book Camping on Board

The "Camping All Inclusive" fare is a specific booking category with Minoan Lines, separate from the standard vehicle-plus-cabin combination, and only bookable on the Ancona–Patras and Ancona–Igoumenitsa sailings. When searching for tickets, look for it labelled "camping on board", "Camping All Inclusive" or sometimes just "deck" in the accommodation selector. On some booking platforms it appears as an alternative to cabin options; on others you must select it explicitly.

The total price is close to a deck/passenger booking plus your camper or caravan reservation – there is no separate cabin fee on top. If you do not see this option while booking a Minoan Ancona sailing online, call Minoan or a specialist ferry booking agent directly, as it is not always clearly labelled on third-party platforms.

Use our search to compare live prices across operators. For the two Minoan routes you can check whether your sailing offers the Camping All Inclusive rate; on every other route, you'll see seat and cabin fares for your vehicle instead:

Camping on Board vs. Booking a Cabin

This comparison applies specifically to Minoan's Ancona–Patras and Ancona–Igoumenitsa sailings, since that is the only place camping on board still exists.

A cabin for two passengers on a long overnight crossing – say Ancona to Patras – typically adds €40–120 per person above the base fare, depending on the cabin class and the season. For two people, that is €80–240 extra for a four-berth interior or outside cabin.

Camping on board eliminates this cost entirely. You pay the vehicle fare (which includes the camping-on-board deck space) and the passenger fares, and that is it – plus the 30% restaurant discount that comes with the fare. The saving is most noticeable in peak season (July–August), when cabin prices are at their highest.

The trade-off is comfort in the conventional sense: you do not get access to the ship's shower facilities as freely (you can use them in the passenger area if you go upstairs), you are subject to whatever vehicle deck access Minoan allows on your sailing, and the deck environment is noisier and more exposed than a cabin. Many campervan travellers consider this a worthwhile trade – they already have their own comfortable sleeping space and prefer it to an unfamiliar ship bunk.

Practical Tips for Camping on Board

• Ask about power before you go: Minoan does not publish whether camping-on-board berths get shore power – ask directly when booking rather than assuming a hook-up will be there.
• Dress for the cold: vehicle decks are open to sea air, and even on summer nights the Adriatic can be cool. Have warm layers and good sleeping insulation.
• Pack what you need before the deck closes: once access is restricted, you cannot retrieve items. Take your toiletries, medication, phone chargers and anything else you need to the passenger area when you go up.
• No gas on board: propane and other gas cylinders are not allowed for the crossing. Plan meals around the included restaurant discount, or switch your fridge to another power source before boarding.
• Levelling: you cannot level your camper on a moving ferry – and the ship will roll. If you are sensitive to motion, take precautions. The vehicle deck is lower in the ship and generally more stable than the upper passenger decks.
• Register your vehicle length accurately: camping-on-board spaces are allocated by vehicle size. If your camper is longer than booked, you may not fit in the designated space.

FAQ

What does camping on board mean on a ferry?

Camping on board means you stay overnight in your own motorhome or campervan while it sits on the vehicle deck of the ferry, using your own bed, toilet and kitchen instead of booking a cabin. In 2026 it exists on only one Italy–Greece route: Minoan Lines' Ancona–Patras and Ancona–Igoumenitsa service, sold as the "Camping All Inclusive" fare. Whether shore power is provided at the berth is not published anywhere – ask when you book.

Which ferry operators offer camping on board to Greece?

Only Minoan Lines, and only on Ancona–Patras and Ancona–Igoumenitsa. Superfast Ferries and ANEK Lines stopped camping on board in 2004 for ISPS security reasons; Grimaldi Lines and Ventouris Ferries keep the vehicle deck locked for the entire crossing on every route they run. Those three offer camper-specific discounts instead of an overnight stay in the vehicle – an automobile & camper club discount, or a restaurant deal.

Is camping on board cheaper than a cabin?

On the routes where it's available, yes. Minoan's "Camping All Inclusive" fare replaces the cabin cost: you pay the vehicle fare plus the passenger fares but skip the cabin supplement, and get 30% off restaurant meals during the crossing. On every other operator this comparison doesn't apply, since campers there book a seat or a cabin like any other passenger.