To get an "official" answer I called the TraghettiPer Hotline. Deborah was so kind to let me send the 5. questions per e-mail for the purpose of publishing the answers here and this is the reply i got:
Before starting to answer your questions, I would like to say that at
the moment, as a sales decision from our web site
www.traghetti-elbareservation.it, it was decided not to book the bike
as a vehicle directly following the portal but to manage it only by
telephone.
The context of the answers is relative to the case in which the
passenger takes his bike inside the garage. As you requested, now I
answer to your questions:
All the ferry companies (Toremar - Moby - Blunavy and Corsica/Elbaferries) take bikes.
All the route/ships allow taking bikes. For Piombino _ Cavo with hydrofoil "the Schiopparello Jet"/Toremar (15 ') passenger must to
contact/buy the ticket office at the port. Alternatively if one wants
to go to Cavo with bike, he can take the Moby ferry.
First, we do the estimate, and then if the customer wants to confirm, we ask for the data to fill in the reservation form (names +
email + telephone number) and the payment by phone always with the
customer by credit card (Visa / mastercard). Once the payment is
completed, the ticket's issue procedure begins, the pdf generation of
the tickets and the tickets are sent via email.
Bicycles are placed in an area of the ship's garage by operators of the company.It 's a passenger care. The timing of presentation depends
on the company - approximately 40 minutes before departure. Generally,
passengers with bikes / motorcycles or other necessities are made to
go up first, to prevent the exhaust fumes of cars entering the garage.
Booking is always recommended.
The hand-carried bicycle inside has its cost / price.
Attention! In the case of a bicycle that is carried in its special bag
inside - it is referred to as baggage. For this reason all that is
mentioned above is no longer valid.
Hoping to have answered in a clear and understandable way,
Best regards
Traghetti-Elbareservation.it Deborah - callcenter
Tel. +39 0565 960130