Baleària is a Spanish ferry company founded in 1998 in Dénia (Alicante) by Adolfo Utor, its president and sole shareholder. In 2025 it carried 6.5 million passengers on 29 routes in five countries (Spain, Morocco, Algeria, the United States and the Bahamas) with a fleet of 44 ships and 3 more under construction, and it is one of the pioneers of LNG and electric ferries in Europe. In the Bahamas it sails as Balearia Caribbean, from Fort Lauderdale to Bimini and Grand Bahama, and you can book those sailings at I Love Ferry, an official partner of Balearia Caribbean.
| Founded | 1998, in Dénia (Alicante, Spain) |
|---|---|
| Founder and president | Adolfo Utor (sole shareholder since 2021) |
| Fleet (2025) | 44 ships, plus 3 under construction |
| Routes (2025) | 29 routes in 5 countries: Spain, Morocco, Algeria, the United States and the Bahamas |
| Passengers (2025) | 6.5 million |
| Cargo (2025) | 8.3 million linear meters |
| Revenue (2025) | 801 million euros (EBITDA: 170 million euros) |
| Employees (2025) | About 3,100 |
| After May 2026 | With the Canary Islands operations of Armas Trasmediterránea: more than 50 vessels, over 8 million passengers and 11 million linear meters of cargo a year, about 4,500 employees and a turnover above 1 billion euros |
| In the Americas | Balearia Caribbean, based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, since 2011 |
Ferries and fast ferries from Barcelona, Valencia and Dénia to Ibiza, Mallorca and Menorca, plus the Ibiza – Formentera link, the shortest crossing in the network at about half an hour.
Algeciras – Tangier Med, Tarifa – Tangier Ville, Motril – Tangier Med and Almería – Nador. Every summer Baleària takes part in Operation Crossing the Strait, the seasonal operation for travelers between Europe and North Africa.
Algeciras – Ceuta and Málaga – Melilla, among other links between the Spanish mainland and the two autonomous cities in North Africa.
From Valencia and Barcelona to Algiers and Oran, and from Valencia to Mostaganem.
Since May 18, 2026 Baleària runs the Canary Islands operations of Armas Trasmediterránea, including inter-island routes and connections with the Spanish mainland, under the Baleària Canarias brand.
The group's only routes in the Americas: Fort Lauderdale – Bimini (about 2 hours) and Fort Lauderdale – Grand Bahama (Freeport) (about 3 hours) on the fast ferry Jaume II, operated by its American subsidiary Balearia Caribbean. See the Bimini ferry and the ferry to Grand Bahama.
Baleària names many of its ships after women in science and history, such as Marie Curie, Hypatia de Alejandría, Rosalind Franklin, Hedy Lamarr and Eleanor Roosevelt. Some of its best-known ships:
If you are traveling between Florida and the Bahamas (Fort Lauderdale, Bimini, Grand Bahama), you need Balearia Caribbean: schedules, fares, the Jaume II, terminals and contact. You can book it at I Love Ferry, an official partner of Balearia Caribbean.
If you are traveling in Spain, Morocco or Algeria, you need Baleària: compare its routes at I Love Ferry (iloveferry.com).
Baleària is a Spanish ferry company founded in 1998 in Dénia (Alicante) by Adolfo Utor. It carries passengers and cargo to the Balearic Islands, the Canary Islands, Ceuta, Melilla, Morocco and Algeria, and in the Bahamas it operates as Balearia Caribbean from Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Baleària is headquartered in Dénia, on the Mediterranean coast of Alicante, Spain. Its American subsidiary, Balearia Caribbean, is based at Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Adolfo Utor, who founded the company in 1998, is its president and, since 2021, its sole shareholder.
In 2025 Baleària had 44 ships and 3 more under construction, 29 routes in five countries, 6.5 million passengers, revenue of 801 million euros and about 3,100 employees. After taking over the Canary Islands operations of Armas Trasmediterránea in May 2026, the group has more than 50 vessels, over 8 million passengers a year and a turnover above 1 billion euros.
Yes. Balearia Caribbean is the American subsidiary of Baleària. Since 2011 it has run the ferry from Fort Lauderdale to Grand Bahama (Freeport), and since 2019 also to Bimini, on the fast ferry Jaume II. I Love Ferry sells these sailings as an official partner of Balearia Caribbean.
Yes. Baleària is one of the pioneers of LNG-powered ferries in Europe, with ships such as Hypatia de Alejandría, Marie Curie and the fast ferry Eleanor Roosevelt, and in 2023 it introduced Cap de Barbaria, Spain's first electric ferry, between Ibiza and Formentera.
Yes. On May 18, 2026 Baleària took effective control of the Canary Islands operations of Armas Trasmediterránea, which now sail under the Baleària Canarias brand, including inter-island routes and links between mainland Spain and the archipelago.
Sources: Baleària corporate profile 2026 and press releases (May 2023 and May 2026), Baleària Help Center, Maritime Executive (April 2021). Last checked October 4, 2026. Ferry to Bahamas is an independent guide and agent: we are not Baleària.
Staying at least one night? Book your round trip with code LASTMOMENT and save 15% on the ferry.
Fort Lauderdale – Bimini round trips with a later return, at I Love Ferry. Book at least 7 days before you travel and by December 31, 2026. Not valid for one-way tickets or day trips. Non-refundable, limited seats. No vehicles: the ferry doesn’t carry passenger cars. Pets travel at the regular fee (no discount). Offer terms
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Booking a round trip to Bimini? Code LASTMOMENT gives 15% off Fort Lauderdale – Bimini round trips at I Love Ferry (not valid for one-way tickets or day trips; book at least 7 days ahead and by December 31, 2026).
