When we think of traveling to Mallorca, the first option that comes to mind is to do it by plane. It is undoubtedly the fastest means of transport, you can find tickets at a good price, and many flight frequencies, which makes it easier to plan your trip.
But we cannot ignore the fact that Mallorca has two excellent commercial ports (Palma and Alcudia), and as we will see, the trip by boat has several advantages over the plane.
How to go to Mallorca by ferry
The Spanish ports from where ferries leave for Mallorca are those of Barcelona, Valencia and Denia (in Alicante). Different types of ferries set sail from each of them. Some arrive at the port of Palma, while others do so at Alcudia.
How long does the ferry to Mallorca take?
It depends on the port of departure and destination, and the type of ship
Journeys from Barcelona to Palma take between 6 hours and 20 minutes at the fastest, and 7 hours and 15 minutes.
From Barcelona to Alcudia the time is notably shorter: around five hours.
From Valencia to Palma the journey takes between seven and seven and a half hours.
If we leave from the port of Denia, the crossing takes five and a half hours.
From Toulon, in the south of France, there is a line with three weekly frequencies that takes about 15 hours to make the crossing to Alcudia.
Ferry price to Mallorca
It also depends on the port of departure, the type of ship, or even the exact timetable.
It is best to check for yourself the availability and price for the dates you want to travel. However, we can give you an idea of the usual fares.
From Barcelona, we can find tickets from €26 each way (in a seat), or €69 per person in a cabin.
From Valencia we can find tickets from €34 for a seat or €52 per person in a cabin.
From Denia we can book from €75 per person. When using fast ferries there are no cabins available.
The journey between Toulon and Alcudia costs from €23 for a seat and €89 per person in a cabin.
Ferry price to Mallorca with car
In this case it is somewhat more complicated to give an orientation, as there are combined packages of car plus one or more passengers, and frequent offers that we should know how to take advantage of.
Even so, these would be approximate prices.
Departing from Barcelona, we can find tickets and car boarding from 49€ if our destination is Palma, and around 100€ if we go to Alcudia.
From Valencia the price is around €100 for one passenger in a seat and a car.
Departure from Denia is the most expensive option at around €180.
Finally, from Toulon it costs from €79 for a passenger with a car.
Why travel by ferry to Mallorca
Price
Despite the decrease in the price of airline tickets, for the same route it is usually cheaper to travel by boat.
In addition, if we carry a lot of luggage we will avoid the excess baggage fee charged by the airlines.
If you are travelling in a group, the price of sharing a cabin can make the journey even cheaper.
Car
If you are going to need a car during your stay, you can rent one, but another good option is to travel with your own car.
If we are going to need it for several days it will often be cheaper to take our car than to rent one, and in many occasions we can find very interesting offers of combined packages of car and up to four passengers.
Tranquillity
Airports are already synonymous with stress, haste and stress: from the moment of booking and obtaining boarding passes; arriving at the airport well in advance; checking in, going through strict security checks and boarding; spending a long time in a closed room, hoping not to have uncomfortable fellow travellers; not to mention if we suffer a delay.
At sea terminals, things tend to be much more relaxed.
The check-in and boarding process is more relaxed, and by the very nature of the mode of transport, security checks need not be as rigorous and intrusive as those at airports.
Pets
Travelling with pets by air can be very expensive and even dangerous for our furry companions. Above a certain weight, the animal cannot travel in the cabin, it will travel in one of the luggage holds, and will be alone for the entire journey.
On the other hand, on today’s ferries there are spaces adapted to pets, with large, well-ventilated cages, and there are even cabins specially adapted for them.
Being able to travel without losing sight of your pets adds to your peace of mind.
Group fun
The boat trip can be the start of the party with your group of friends.
Many have a bar on board. There are also those with a restaurant, swimming pool and even barbecues on deck.
Relax
If, on the other hand, we are looking for maximum peace and quiet, we can opt for a cabin (for up to four people), where we can rest comfortably (especially if we are on a night crossing), read or watch TV.
Freedom of movement
We all know what travelling by plane means, especially on short and medium-haul journeys: sitting all the time, squeezed between rows of increasingly narrow seats, with hardly any chance of getting up, and seeing the world through a window (if we have paid the usual extra for sitting next to one).
On the ferry, on the other hand, you can stroll around the deck, sit comfortably in one of the ship’s lounges or, if you’re travelling in a cabin, sleep peacefully.
Views and fresh air
There are few more beautiful sights than a sunrise or sunset over a calm sea.
With the usual ferry timetables, we will almost certainly be able to enjoy some of these experiences. And in any case, we can start our journey by sunbathing on deck while breathing in the clean, pure sea air.
