Greece
Minoan Lines
Cruise-ferries to Crete and across the Adriatic
Est. 1972Heraklion, Crete, Greece
Photo: Dkoukoul / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)- 25
- Routes
- 12
- Ports
- 11h 1m
- Avg crossing
- 3 cruise-ferries
- Vessels
- 1972
- Founded
Minoan Lines is a cruise-ferries to Crete and across the Adriatic, founded in 1972 and based in Heraklion, Crete, Greece. It operates 25 ferry routes serving 12 ports. Across its network, crossings average about 11h 1m.
Live board
Minoan Lines departures today
Filtered to sailings that operate on today's date — open a departure for its full timetable.
Timetables
Which routes does Minoan Lines operate?
25 routes with live schedules.
| Route | Crossing | Sailings | Operators | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Patras → Ancona | 21h 30m | 9 / wk | 2 | Greece |
| Ancona → Patras | 21h 30m | 8 / wk | 2 | Italy |
| Milos → Piraeus | 3h 15m | 7 / wk | 4 | Greece |
| Piraeus → Heraklion | 7h 50m | 7 / wk | 4 | Greece |
| Igoumenitsa → Patras | 6h | 6 / wk | 3 | Greece |
| Ancona → Igoumenitsa | 15h 30m | 5 / wk | 3 | Italy |
| Heraklion → Santorini | 1h 35m | 4 / wk | 3 | Greece |
| Piraeus → Milos | 4h 30m | 2 / wk | 2 | Greece |
| Piraeus → Chania | 8h | 2 / wk | 3 | Greece |
| Heraklion → Milos | 4h 40m | 1 / wk | 1 | Greece |
| Heraklion → Piraeus | 9h 30m | 1 / wk | 1 | Greece |
| Santorini → Heraklion | 2h | — | 1 | Greece |
Heraklion6 routes
Igoumenitsa3 routes
Piraeus3 routes
Ancona2 routes
Milos2 routes
Patras2 routes
Trieste2 routes
Chania1 route
Ios1 route
Mykonos1 route
Paros1 route
Santorini1 route
Network
Where does Minoan Lines sail?
Minoan Lines sails to 12 ports.
Compare
How does Minoan Lines compare?
Side-by-side with the operators Minoan Lines shares crossings with.
Experience
Onboard & services
- Cruise-ferry cabins
- Airline-style seats & deck
- Vehicle decks
- Restaurants & shops
- Exhaust-gas scrubbers
- One of Greece's largest ferry lines and the lifeline of Crete
- Founded 1972 in Heraklion; owned by Italy's Grimaldi Group since 2008
- Overnight Piraeus–Heraklion and Piraeus–Chania on 'Palace'-class cruise-ferries
- Named Passenger Line of the Year by Lloyd's List in 2006
- Integrated with Grimaldi's Adriatic Greece–Italy network
About
About Minoan Lines
Minoan Lines is one of Greece's largest and best-known ferry companies, and the historic maritime lifeline of Crete. Founded in Heraklion in 1972, it has been owned since 2008 by Italy's Grimaldi Group, which folded it into a pan-Mediterranean network.
Crete and the Adriatic
Its flagship domestic routes run overnight from Piraeus to Heraklion and to Chania (Souda), worked by the award-winning Fincantieri-built "Palace"-class cruise-ferries Knossos Palace, Festos Palace and Kydon Palace — each carrying over 2,000 passengers and hundreds of cars. On the Adriatic, Minoan is integrated with Grimaldi's Ancona and Venice/Trieste–Igoumenitsa–Patras corridors linking Greece and Italy.
Comfort and fares
Accommodation spans deck (economy), numbered airline-style seats and inside/outside cabins, with discounts for children, seniors and groups; fares are in euros and vary by route and season. Minoan was named Passenger Line of the Year by Lloyd's List in 2006 and was among the first Greek operators to fit exhaust-gas scrubbers; its logo draws on the "Prince of the Lilies" fresco from the Palace of Knossos.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
When was Minoan Lines founded?
Minoan Lines was founded in 1972, and is headquartered in Heraklion, Crete, Greece.
Where does Minoan Lines sail?
Minoan Lines operates 25 ferry routes and serves 12 ports in Greece, including Ancona, Chania, Heraklion, Igoumenitsa, Ios, Milos, Mykonos, Paros and more.
Can I take a car on Minoan Lines ferries?
Yes — Minoan Lines operates vehicle-carrying ferries on some routes. Book vehicle space in advance, especially in peak season, and check the specific crossing for size limits.
What facilities are available on Minoan Lines ferries?
Minoan Lines ferries typically offer Cruise-ferry cabins, Airline-style seats & deck, Vehicle decks, Restaurants & shops, Exhaust-gas scrubbers. Facilities vary by vessel and route — check the specific sailing for details.
How early should I arrive for a Minoan Lines ferry?
Arrive at the terminal at least 30–60 minutes before a Minoan Lines departure as a foot passenger, and allow longer with a vehicle. Boarding and check-in times vary by port and route — confirm with Minoan Lines.
How do I find Minoan Lines ferry times?
Browse the live timetables for every Minoan Lines route on this page. Schedules are updated as the operator publishes them — always confirm with Minoan Lines before travelling, as sailings change seasonally.
Reviewed by Serhat Özçelik, Founder & Editor of Ferry Schedule Hub · Last updated June 29, 2026.
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