Sailing to Sardinia with Moby Aki and Moby Orli

The route: Genoa–Olbia overnight

Both ships run on the seasonal night route between Genoa and Olbia, with daily departures in peak season. The crossing takes roughly 10 to 11 hours: departure is usually late evening, arrival early morning – a classic case for the night ferry with a cabin (more in our day vs. night ferry comparison).

Moby Aki: the more modern of the two

The Moby Aki is about 175 metres long and offers room for over 2,000 passengers and around 750 vehicles across several car decks. On board are roughly 320 air-conditioned cabins, all with a private bathroom. Depending on the season, it's also used on the Livorno–Olbia route.

Moby Orli: a ship with an eventful past

Built in 1986, the Moby Orli is noticeably older and previously sailed under several other names: launched in Finland, she spent years as the "Pride of Bilbao" crossing the rough Bay of Biscay between England and Spain, and most recently as "Princess Anastasia" in the Baltic Sea. She only joined Moby Lines in 2022 and was refurbished in Messina. At around 177 metres long, with room for up to 2,500 passengers and about 580 vehicles, she's similarly sized to the Moby Aki but noticeably more traditional in her interior.

What awaits on board both ships

• Cabins: from simple interior cabins to outside cabins – recommended for the night crossing, even for short routes.
• Restaurants and bars: both self-service and table-service restaurants are available on both ships.
• Car deck: enough room for cars and most motorhome sizes.

Practical for trip planning

For choosing your crossing, it usually matters less which of the two ships actually sails – both offer the same basic comfort for a night crossing. More important are departure time, cabin category, and checking in on time at the car deck – see our general article on the ferry ships to Sardinia.