Minoan Lines takes delivery of new cruise ferry

Minoan Lines has taken delivery of the Cruise Olympia, the last in a series of four ferries ordered by the Grimaldi Group and built by Fincantieri.

The vessel sailed to the Greek port of Patras to join her twin ship Cruise Europa, Travel Daily News reported.

Both ferries will operate on the route linking Ancona in Italy to the ports of Igoumenitsa and Patras in Greece.

Measuring 225 metres in length and with the capacity to hold 250 passenger cars each, the Cruise Olympia and Europa are the largest vessels of their kind currently deployed in the Mediterranean.

Onboard facilities include a la carte and self-service restaurants, swimming pools, casinos and children's play areas.

Antonis Maniadakis, managing director of Minoan Lines, said: "The Cruise Olympia shows the continuous commitment of Minoan Lines towards excellence, innovation and environmental respect.

"Her deployment, together with her twin Cruise Europa on the route between Ancona, Igoumenitsa and Patras, will bring not only benefits to tourism and trade but also to the economies of Italy and Greece."

The company also operates ferries from Venice to Corfu and from Piraeus to Heraklion.

Posted by Mark Robinson