Minoan Lines

Overview

Minoan Lines wears two hats on the Adriatic. Its own routes page lists Patras–Igoumenitsa–Ancona as a Minoan Lines service, with two ships named for it: Cruise Olympia and Cruise Europa. Further south, on the routes to Corfu, the company operates differently: its homepage states plainly that Minoan is acting as “General Sales Agent in Greece for Grimaldi Euromed” on Igoumenitsa–Corfu–Ancona and Igoumenitsa–Corfu–Brindisi. You buy a Minoan ticket, but the ship and the crossing belong to Grimaldi.

The ownership structure explains why. Minoan Lines describes itself in its own footer as “a Grimaldi Group Company”, and Grimaldi Group’s corporate site lists Minoan among its shipping companies, calling it the leader in Greek cabotage passenger-freight transport for more than 40 years, headquartered in Heraklion, Crete. The relationship also shows up in the fares: a combined booking across Grimaldi Lines and Minoan Lines routes earns a 30 percent discount, covered below. For how Minoan compares with the other operators on this market, see our ferry companies overview.

Routes and Seasons

Minoan’s own Ancona–Patras corridor is the headline route, running alongside Superfast, ANEK and Grimaldi services on the same crossing. Minoan’s official timetable page for this route did not return usable schedule text at the time of research, and no static page states whether the service runs year-round or only in summer – treat departure days and times as something to confirm at booking rather than a fixed weekly pattern.

On the Igoumenitsa–Corfu–Ancona and Igoumenitsa–Corfu–Brindisi lines, Minoan sells Grimaldi Euromed’s capacity as agent rather than running its own timetable page. If Corfu specifically is your destination, our Italy–Corfu route guide covers the wider set of operators serving the island directly.

The Fleet

On its own Ancona route, Minoan deploys Cruise Olympia and Cruise Europa, both 225 metres long and rated for up to 2,850 passengers. According to Minoan’s fleet pages, Cruise Europa is the younger sister ship and joined the Adriatic service in 2009; exact construction years for either vessel are not published, so treat that date as a fleet-service milestone rather than a launch year.

On the Grimaldi-agency routes, the ships carry Minoan tickets but belong to Grimaldi’s fleet: Florencia (946 passengers, 129 cabins, 164 seats, 2,540 lane metres of garage) on Igoumenitsa–Corfu–Ancona, and Venezia (186.36 m long, 22 knots, 946 passengers, 129 cabins, 1,600 lane metres of garage) on Igoumenitsa–Corfu–Brindisi. Construction years for both are unpublished on the pages checked for this profile.

Cabins and Seats

Minoan’s booking terms describe cabins in an unusual way for this market: they are “characterised as a single bed or 2/3/4/5-berth depending on the number of passengers occupying them, not on the number of beds” – you book the cabin for your party, not a bed inside a shared room. Florencia and Venezia both list standard inside and outside cabins with four berths, accessible cabins for passengers with reduced mobility, and armchair seating for travellers skipping a cabin.

Minoan also markets something none of the other Adriatic operators currently offer: “Camping All Inclusive”, available on the Ancona routes for fully equipped motorhomes and caravans with their own sleeping area, kitchen and toilet – ordinary cars, minibuses and boats do not qualify. The package bundles a deck-passage-equivalent fare with the vehicle reservation and a 30 percent discount on à la carte and self-service restaurant meals during the crossing, and runs year-round. Gas appliances are not permitted on board for safety reasons, so confirm exactly what the package includes when you book.

Fares and Discounts

For the international routes – Igoumenitsa–Brindisi, Corfu–Brindisi, Igoumenitsa–Ancona and Corfu–Ancona, in both directions – Minoan lists a 20 percent discount for passengers 60 and over and the same 20 percent for travellers aged 12 to 26, both excluding fixed fees, the EU-ETS charge, cabin or vehicle supplements, pets and on-board spending. Both discounts are valid for bookings and departures between 4 February and 31 December 2026.

The return-ticket discount on these same routes is officially 20 percent, covering the passage, cabin supplement, pets and vehicles when booked together with the outbound leg; a separate overview page on the same site quotes 30 percent for what looks like the identical offer, so treat 20 percent – the figure on the dedicated policy page – as the one to rely on. Holders of a Minoan Bonus Club card get 15 percent on selected Grimaldi Lines routes including Greece, though the card stopped earning points on the Ancona–Corfu–Igoumenitsa line from 27 January 2025.

Check-in

For international routes, Minoan’s terms require passengers to check in with the port agency at least two hours before the scheduled departure; arriving later risks losing the right to travel without a refund. The terms do not separate foot passengers from vehicles on this route, unlike the three-hour rule you will find on some competing Adriatic services.

Web check-in is confirmed for Minoan’s Greek domestic routes, but nothing on the pages checked for this profile confirms whether it also applies to the Italy crossings – so plan to check in at the port rather than assume an online option. If you are weighing Minoan against Superfast, ANEK, Grimaldi and Ventouris, our operator comparison lays all six out side by side.

Travelling with Pets

Minoan’s booking terms, which cover both Minoan Lines and Grimaldi Lines International sailings, split pets by size: animals under 10 kg travel in a carrier, either in a pet cabin or a designated deck area, while larger animals need a kennel, and kennel space is limited per sailing. Assistance dogs travel without a carrier or muzzle on production of the relevant certificate.

On Florencia and Venezia specifically, the “Pet in Cabin” service lets an animal stay with its owner rather than in a kennel, though neither ship’s page publishes a fee for it. No page checked for this profile states an exact euro amount for pet travel on the Italy–Greece crossings, so confirm the cost when you book. Our guide to ferry travel with pets covers the documents you will need regardless of operator.

FAQ

Does Minoan Lines operate its own ships on every route?

No. On Patras–Igoumenitsa–Ancona, Minoan runs its own ships, Cruise Olympia and Cruise Europa. On the routes to Corfu (Igoumenitsa–Corfu–Ancona and Igoumenitsa–Corfu–Brindisi), Minoan sells Grimaldi Euromed’s sailings as General Sales Agent in Greece – the ticket is Minoan’s, the ship and crossing are Grimaldi’s.

What is Camping All Inclusive?

A package for fully equipped motorhomes and caravans on the Ancona routes, bundling a deck-passage fare with the vehicle reservation and a 30 percent discount on restaurant meals during the crossing. Ordinary cars, minibuses and boats do not qualify, and gas appliances are not allowed on board – confirm the exact terms when booking.

How early do I need to check in?

At least two hours before the scheduled departure for international routes, according to Minoan’s booking terms. Arriving later risks losing your right to travel without a refund.

How much is the return-ticket discount?

The dedicated policy page states 20 percent on the international routes, covering passage, cabin supplement, pets and vehicles when booked together with the outbound leg. A separate overview page on the same site lists 30 percent for what appears to be the same offer – treat 20 percent as the more reliable figure.

Can I bring a pet?

Yes. Minoan’s Florencia and Venezia both offer a “Pet in Cabin” service so animals can travel with their owner instead of in a kennel, and smaller animals may also travel in a carrier in designated deck areas. No page checked for this profile lists an exact fee, so confirm the cost when you book.