FAQ

The ferry service on the Strait of Messina operates 24 hours a day, with one departure guaranteed every 40 minutes; therefore, it is not possible to book a specific departure time. You may only select the date of travel and use your ticket on any of the available crossings throughout the day.

On the Strait of Messina line, it is possible to purchase One-Way, 90-Day Return, 3-Day Return, or Same-Day Return tickets.
Return tickets for 3 days or same-day returns are more convenient than the combined cost of a one-way ticket and a 90-day return.
For more information, you can visit the dedicated section available via the link Rates.

Pre-sale purchases are available exclusively through the online booking platform on carontetourist.it and the C&T App. Alternatively, at Puntolis tobacconists you may purchase an “OPEN” ticket.

Buying a ticket online allows you to go directly to boarding without needing to stop by the terminal ticket office. To board, simply show the QR code displayed on your ticket to the staff in the boarding area.

Additionally, if you register with the Navigo Per Te programme, you can access further benefits, including a 5% discount for tickets valid for passengers with accompanying light vehicles.

You may request a refund for an unused or partially used ticket up to 31/01 of the year following the purchase. To request a refund, open a refund request through one of the following methods:

• By calling our Help Desk at +39.090.57.37
• By sending an e-mail to servizioclienti@carontetourist.it
• By filling out a paper form at the Info Point in Villa San Giovanni or Messina
• Using the "Refund Request" section at the link Refund Request | Caronte & Tourist
• From your personal account area

In the case of partial refunds, the refundable amount will be calculated by deducting the cost of the one-way fare from the total ticket amount.

Tickets valid for crossing the Strait of Messina cannot be modified. Unused tickets may still be refunded by 31 Januaryof the year following the purchase.

The outbound ticket can be used from either port, Messina or Villa San Giovanni. In the case of round-trip tickets, the return port will be automatically determined.

Night-rate tickets, available via all sales channels except authorised Puntolis tobacconists, are valid for travel between 22:00 and 04:00 on the ticket’s valid date.

No — a night-rate ticket only allows for both outbound and return journeys to be made between 22:00 and 04:00. If you wish to return outside this time window, a new one-way ticket must be purchased.

No agreements are currently available for this service.

Since 1^st May 2013, under Article 22 of Presidential Decree 633 of 26/10/72 and subsequent amendments, invoices for tickets on the Messina-Villa San Giovanni line can only be requested at the time of purchase and prior to ticket issuance.

On first request, it will be necessary to register your tax information via the E-Invoice section on the website.

The ferry route covers 3.3 nautical miles between Villa San Giovanni and Messina Rada San Francesco

Most ships in the fleet are equipped with an on-board bar. Alternatively, vending machines are available.

LPG-powered vehicles can be boarded, provided the LPG system is turned off and the vehicle is switched to petrol during the entire crossing, after notifying on-board personnel.

No — for safety reasons, no passenger is permitted to remain inside their vehicle during the crossing, except in exceptional cases and with prior authorisation. In the case of passengers with reduced mobility or specific needs, the customer service should be contacted.

No, non-operational vehicles cannot be boarded. The vehicle must be transported on a tow truck and a commercial vehicle ticket purchased.

The ferry ticket payment service via electronic tolling device is reserved for:

• Telepass Family and Business customers
• Customers with a UnipolMove device

Not eligible:

• Prepaid Telepass customers
• Europass customers

No specific activation request is required — use of the device on the dedicated toll lane implicitly activates the service upon first use.

The customer can request service deactivation at any time via their device provider’s private customer area.

The ferry service uses advanced technology capable of correctly classifying vehicles entering the dedicated toll lane and applying the appropriate fare.

Tickets issued via the electronic tolling lane do not require validation at the ticket office, allowing the customer to proceed directly to boarding.

• At Villa San Giovanni, at the C&T Terminal Ticketing located at the end of the Villa San Giovanni motorway exit
• At Messina, within the Rada San Francesco port area

No — it is simply a convenient payment method allowing you to remain inside your vehicle and pay via deferred charge.

For passengers with cars, motorbikes, or campers, the following ticket types are available:

• One-Way
• Same-Day Return
• 3-Day Return

The system will issue a ticket for each journey undertaken. At the outbound journey, a One-Way ticket will be issued at the toll lane.
On the return trip, you must pass through the dedicated lane of your chosen port. The return fare will be calculated based on the time elapsed between the outbound and return trips.
For example: a customer travelling with a car will purchase a One-Way ticket. If the return trip occurs after two hours, a return ticket will be issued with a fare equal to the difference between the One-Way and Same-Day Return fare.
The same principle applies to the 3-Day Return fare.

If the fare differs from the rates established by Caronte & Tourist, you must go to the Info Point or the pedestrian ticket office in Messina to request a new ticket with the correct fare. At the same time, by handing over the original ticket, a refund procedure for the incorrect ticket will be initiated.

The transit fare will be displayed on the terminal’s display in the lane and on the printed ticket issued by the same terminal.

You can later consult the list of chargeable boardings in your personal area on your device provider’s website.

Invoices are issued by the device provider. For any information, you must contact your provider directly.

For any clarification requests, you may write to servizoclienti@carontetourist.it  or call +39.090.57.37..