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Festos Palace

Car and passenger ferry · operated by Minoan Lines

Passengers2,104
Vehicles735 cars
Service speed26 kn

The second of the two big overnight ships on the Cretan line, near-identical to Knossos Palace and working the same Piraeus–Milos–Heraklion run with cabins, reclining seats, restaurants and bars.

Previously sailed as Mykonos Palace, Amsicora and Europa Palace.

On board the Festos Palace

  • Bar
  • À la carte restaurant
  • Self-service restaurant
  • Shop
  • Wi-Fi
  • Outside deck

Where you can sit

  • Deck seatsOutdoor seating, unreserved
  • LoungeIndoor seats and couches
  • Numbered seatsAirline-type reserved seatsreserved
  • CabinInside and sea-view cabinsreserved

Where is the Festos Palace now?

Looking for her latest AIS position…

Positions by AIS from the University of the Aegean’s Aegean network. Coastline © OpenStreetMap contributors. Live positions are indicative and are not a navigational aid.

Specifications

Built2002
BuilderFincantieri, Sestri Ponente (Genoa)
Built inItaly
Length214 m
Beam26.4 m
Gross tonnage36,825
Service speed26 knots

Where the Festos Palace sails

Minoan Lines do not publish which ship works which crossing, so we cannot list her sailings — they file 70 departures over the next 14 days without naming a vessel on any of them. The routes she works are below; the operator's own booking page names the ship once you pick a date.

Usually works Piraeus–Milos–Heraklion, both directions (the Cretan line).

  • She and Knossos Palace swap between the morning and evening departures, so the ship on a given sailing is worth checking when you book.
  • Spent six years in Italian waters as Amsicora before returning to the Greek network, so older photographs of this ship may show a different name and livery.
Book your ferry tickets here

Frequently asked questions

What is the Festos Palace like?

The second of the two big overnight ships on the Cretan line, near-identical to Knossos Palace and working the same Piraeus–Milos–Heraklion run with cabins, reclining seats, restaurants and bars. She is a car and passenger ferry built in 2002.

Who operates the Festos Palace?

The Festos Palace is operated by Minoan Lines, part of Grimaldi Group.

Does the Festos Palace carry cars?

Yes. The Festos Palace is a vehicle ferry and carries up to 735 cars as well as foot passengers.

How fast is the Festos Palace?

She works at a service speed of 26 knots.

Does the Festos Palace have Wi-Fi?

Yes, the Festos Palace carries Wi-Fi aboard.

Vessel details as published by the operators and cross-checked against maritime registers. Schedules from the current timetable. Updated 26 August 2026.