AMSICORA at Olbia

AMSICORA was built in 2001 by FINCANTIERI for MINOAN LINES, she was named at the time EUROPA PALACE, the name is still very visible today at a close look at her bow, she has a sister ship, the BONARIA, in 2012 she was chartered by TIRRENIA, a company started in Naples in the 1930's connecting mainland Italy with several MED Ports, the company was acquired by CIN - Compagnia Italiana di Navigazione in 2011, interesting to see the name of TIRRENIA still going strong in the Mediterranean, these photos were taken from ZEUS PALACE at Olbia on the 23rd April 2017

"CRUISE OLYMPIA" leaving Ancona

The cruise ferry CRUISE OLYMPIA of MINOAN LINES, departs Ancona for Patras, the ship is the newest of the current fleet and displays just over 54.000 G.T., she was introduced in 2010, her sister ship the CRUISE EUROPA operates on the same route and came into service one year earlier. Photos 28.5.2016

Cruise Ferry "CRUISE EUROPA" of MINOAN LINES

Cruise Ferry "CRUISE EUROPA" arriving Ancona 14.11.2015. The ship together with her sister "CRUISE OLYMPIA" are operated by the 1972 founded Greek Ferry company "MINOAN LINES", one of the leading Ferry companies in Greece. These mega cruise ferries are on charter from GRIMALDI, parent company since 2008. CRUISE EUROPA was built in 2009 and OLYMPIA in 2010, at 54.000 GT they are the largest cruise ferries operating in the Adriatic Sea, they have two more sister ships the CRUISE ROMA and CRUISE BARCELONA, both operated by GRIMALDI on the Civitavecchia to Barcelona route. These quartet of ships can carry 2850 passengers and get to speeds of up to 28.5 knots. Photos 14.11.2015

"IKARUS PALACE" at sea

This last week has been all about the "IKARUS PALACE", I was not expecting to do another post about the ship so early, but after an incredible coincidence one of my FB friends was travelling on the cruise ship CELEBRITY ECLIPSE on the 8.9.2012, when just off Livorno captured the IKARUS arriving at the same port with me on board, incredible coincidence totally justifying this new post. Photos copyright Andrew Cooke

My first trip on board IKARUS PALACE

Friday 7.9.2012 was the date for my inaugural trip on board cruise ferry IKARUS PALACE, I had seen the ship for the first time in Barcelona a couple of months back, top photo, and I felt really excited because she looked such a beautiful ship, would never guess that two months on I would be sailing on her from Barcelona to Livorno. IKARUS PALACE is owned by MINOAN LINES but on charter with GRIMALDI LINES, she does a weekly round trip Livorno/Barcelona/Tangier, calling once more Barcelona on her way back to Italy, the operators rely very much on freight, containers and unaccompanied trailers. Once on board the ship I was really pleased with the ships layout and passenger facilities, she really looks like a cruise ship, plenty outdoor space not very common these days unfortunately, with a swimming-pool situated aft resembling cruise ships and liners. The crew is from Greece, however the Hotel services are secured by mainly very attentive staff from Philippines and Honduras. A closer inspection to the vessels interiors indicated that some of the rooms are in need of a complete refurbishment, it would be a shame not to intervene soon as the deterioration is quite at an advanced stage. the food is far from good as well, the reserved area for reclining-seats with its toilet facilities are in my opinion the worst area of the ship in need of a complete make over. Future posts will show the colourful and smart mediterranean style decor of the ship. For further information on IKARUS PALACE please see my post dated 13.7.2012. The route operated by IKARUS PALACE has such a great potential, Barcelona is Barcelona, Tuscany is easily reached from Livorno, Pisa is less than 10 miles away and Tangier gateway to the beautiful country of Morocco, this blog is committed from now on to do everything possible to promote this service.

"IKARUS PALACE" a beautiful cruise ferry in Barcelona

A BEAUTIFUL FERRY AT BARCELONA captured for the first time by my lenses, 4.7.2012. The ship was built in Norway in 1997 by FOSEN MEK VERKSTEDER A/S, she is 30.010 GRT, owned by MINOAN LINES with Greek registry and operated by GRIMALDI LINES on the Tangier-Livorno-Barcelona route. IKARUS PALACE is a fast ship, she has a top speed of over 28 knots, normally she cruises at 23, the ship has capacity for 850 cars and 120 trucks, 1500 passengers have from normal to luxury cabins on board ship, an original venue when travelling with MINOAN, is the opportunity for motorhome and caravan owners to use the ship's facilities, bathrooms, showers and electricity free of charge, certainly a one off