Spanish Ferries & Jetfoil Services
There are many useful ferries serving the islands and Africa. Jetfoil services are proving veryt popular with those who like to cut travelling time to a minimum and enjoy the sensation of travelling over the waves. And for those who like the idea of something more exotic a transparent submarine is on order from Finland for use in the Balearics.
Sea Ferries
The Compania (Cia) Trasmediterranea has a long history of providing strategic connections between the Spanish mainland and the many islands under the Spanish flag. The fleet consists of about forty vessels which provide overnight services from Valencia to Majorca, Menorca, Ibiza and connections to Formentera. The same applies from Barcelona and the Balearic Islands, Cadiz and the Canary Islands, Algeciras and North Africa. In slack periods the ferries are used for cruises. If you have the time, a voyage can be more enjoyable than a flight and you can take your car too.
Owing to EU regulations and pressure from other companies, Trasmediterranea no longer has the monopoly on these services. Isnasa (Islena de Navegacion) is one rival. It operates four ferries providing eight services daily on the Algeciras-Ceuta route, six to Tangier and one from La Tarifa to Tangier. Smaller companies ply between some ports but Trasmediterranea and Isnasa are the two main companies. They have now also been joined by Ferrimaroc plying between Almeria and Nador on Morocco's North African coast, as well as some other newcomers.
Jetfoil Services
The papers greeted the advent of the first jetfoil in Spain with headlines such as 'The First European', 'Best In The World' and so on despite the fact that the jetfoil has been well known for decades. The services link Spanish ports, the Canary Islands and cross the Straits of Gibraltar from Algeciras to Ceuta . It is planned to serve Melilla too. These services are organised by Compania Trasmediterranea.
Private services are also being developed. There is a summer only service from Denia on the Costa Blanca to Alicante and Ibiza. Other routes are under consideration. This also applies to Gibraltar. A jetfoil service could alleviate conditions in holiday periods. Immigrant Arab workers wishing to return home at these times create chaos. The Red Cross provides special temporary shelters for them. If you are planning to use this ferry crossing it is best to avoid July and August as an extremely long wait in trying circumstances is likely.
