Minoan Lines

Who they are

Minoan Lines was founded in Heraklion on 25 May 1972, making it one of the longest-established companies serving Crete. Its ships have long had a reputation for comfortable, well-kept interiors, and the Piraeus–Heraklion overnight is its signature route.

Minoan Lines is now majority-owned by the Grimaldi Group, the Italian shipping company that also owns Grimaldi Lines and Finnlines. Grimaldi built up its stake in 2008 and ended that year with about 85% of the company. Minoan still trades as a Greek brand focused on Crete, and it sells Grimaldi's Italy–Greece ferries as their general sales agent in Greece.

Network and main routes

The Piraeus–Heraklion overnight is Minoan's domestic route. In 2026 the Knossos Palace left Piraeus at 21:00 every night, called at Milos at 01:00 and reached Heraklion at 06:30. The return left Heraklion at 21:00 for Piraeus. The route runs all year, and you can also book Piraeus–Milos or Milos–Heraklion on their own.

On the Adriatic, Minoan sells the Grimaldi Euromed ferries between Italy and Greece:

• Ancona–Igoumenitsa, daily all year at 19:30 in 2026, arriving at 18:00 the next day. From 29 June to 13 September 2026 the ships also called at Corfu. The ships were the Venezia and Florencia.
• Brindisi–Igoumenitsa, with Corfu calls.

Minoan's old Venice route is no longer listed on its timetables. For Venice to Greece, look at the ANEK-Superfast service instead; see our Superfast Ferries guide.

Fleet and on board

Minoan's ships are large ro-pax ferries. Accommodation ranges from deck class and reserved air seats to cabins in several grades, from shared 4-berth cabins to private 2-berth outside cabins. On the overnight Crete crossing many travellers choose a cabin over a seat for the privacy and the bed. In 2026 deck tickets to Heraklion cost about €42 and a 2-berth outside cabin about €110 per person.

Public areas include a restaurant, self-service cafeteria, bars, a shop and outdoor deck space. The garage takes everything from motorcycles to campervans and trucks.

Booking and tips

For Piraeus–Heraklion, book early for summer, especially with a vehicle or if you want a cabin. Deck tickets are easier to find, but cabins and car space go first. The ANEK Lines / Blue Star Ferries overnight to Heraklion leaves Piraeus at the same time (21:00, via Serifos) and arrives about 20 minutes later, so compare cabin prices on both. Crete ferries usually use gates E2 and E3 in Piraeus, far from the metro.

Minoan offers 25% off for passengers over 60 and family packages. Its loyalty scheme, the Minoan Bonus Club, gives members 10% to 20% off Crete and Milos sailings and on the Italian lines, including Grimaldi Lines.

See our Athens to Crete ferry and Athens to Milos ferry guides for times, fares and port tips.