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" is a special tariff offered on selected sailings that changes this arrangement for motorhome and campervan passengers. Instead of abandoning your vehicle, you park on a designated section of the open deck (or a partly open vehicle deck), connect to a shore-power socket, and spend the night in your own bed. You do not book a cabin – your camper is your cabin.

This arrangement is well established on Adriatic ferry routes and is popular with overlanders, retired couples travelling in large motorhomes and campervan families who simply prefer their own space. The vehicle decks used for camping on board are generally 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 available on night sailings from the main Italian Adriatic ports to Greece. The key operators are:

Availability varies by sailing and season. Always confirm at booking that the camping-on-board tariff applies to your specific departure.

Not every sailing from a given port offers camping on board. Daytime crossings and shorter routes (such as Bari – Igoumenitsa or Brindisi – Igoumenitsa) are less likely to have this option, since the crossing time does not justify spending the night on deck. The longer overnight crossings – especially Ancona – Patras (around 20–21 hours) and Venice – Patras (around 24–30 hours) – are where camping on board makes most sense and is most widely available.

Vehicle Deck Access During the Voyage

This is one of the most common sources of confusion among first-time campervan ferry passengers. The rules vary significantly between operators:

• Restricted access (most common): during the crossing, passengers are not permitted on the vehicle deck while the ship is under way. You go down to your camper to settle in before departure, then must leave the deck before the ship moves. You can return at the scheduled time – often a window around midnight or after a set number of hours at sea – and must leave again before arrival.
• Limited windows: some operators allow two or three short access periods during the night, typically 15–30 minutes each, so passengers can check on their vehicle or retrieve items.
• Open-deck camping: on a few sailings (usually on the open upper vehicle deck), passengers can come and go with more freedom, as the deck is exposed rather than sealed. This is more comfortable in terms of access but less so in terms of weather.

When booking, check your operator's specific policy for the 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.

Electricity on Board

Camping-on-board berths are equipped with a 230 V Schuko socket (the standard European two-pin socket). Power is typically limited to a maximum of around 6–10 A per berth, which is sufficient for lights, phone charging, a compressor fridge and a CPAP machine, but will not run an air conditioning unit or an electric kettle simultaneously.

The most important thing to bring is a long extension lead – ideally 10–15 metres. The socket may be on a pillar some distance from where your camper is parked, and a short cable will not reach. A 16 A CEE caravan connector (blue) is not standard on these ferries; you will need a Schuko-to-Schuko lead or adapt accordingly.

Water is not connected on the vehicle deck. You will need to fill your fresh water tank before boarding or use the ship's water points in the passenger area (bring a collapsible container if your tanks run low). Grey and black water must be retained in your tanks throughout the crossing.

How to Book Camping on Board

The camping-on-board tariff is a specific booking category, separate from the standard vehicle + cabin combination. When searching for tickets, look for options labelled "camping on board", "deck camping" 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 you pay is: passenger fare × number of people + vehicle fare by length. There is no separate cabin fee on top – the camping-on-board access replaces the cabin. If you do not see this option during online booking, call the operator or a specialist ferry booking agent directly, as the option may not be clearly labelled on all third-party platforms.

Use our search to compare live prices across operators – you can filter by vehicle type and see which sailings offer camping-on-board rates:

Camping on Board vs. Booking a Cabin

The financial case for camping on board is straightforward. 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. The saving is most noticeable in peak season (July–August), when cabin prices are at their highest and a camping-on-board tariff can be €100–200 cheaper for two people than an equivalent cabin booking.

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 vehicle deck access restrictions, 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

• Bring a long extension lead: 10–15 m Schuko lead is the single most important item. Without it, you may not be able to reach the power socket from your parking spot.
• 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.
• Gas rules: close all gas cylinder valves before boarding. Some operators require cylinders to be off and the locker unlocked for inspection. Check the operator's specific rules when booking.
• 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 sleeping overnight in your own motorhome or campervan while it is parked on the vehicle deck of the ferry. The ship provides an electricity connection. You use your own bed and facilities rather than booking a ship cabin. Access to the vehicle deck during the crossing depends on the operator – it is often restricted to set time windows.

Which ferry operators offer camping on board to Greece?

Superfast Ferries, ANEK Lines, Minoan Lines and Grimaldi Lines all offer camping on board on their overnight sailings from Italy to Greece. It is most commonly available on the longer routes such as Ancona – Patras and Venice – Patras. Not every departure has this tariff – check when booking.

Is camping on board cheaper than a cabin?

Yes. The camping-on-board tariff replaces the cabin cost: you pay passenger fares plus the vehicle fare, but no cabin supplement. On a long overnight crossing, a cabin for two people typically costs €80–240 extra depending on class and season, so camping on board can offer a meaningful saving – particularly in peak summer when cabin prices are highest.