On February 14, 2020 ropax MYKONOS PALACE of Minoan Lines was renamed FESTOS PALACE.
The large ship will be introduced on the Piraeus – Heraklion line.
Minoan Lines’ FESTOS PALACE Renamed KYDON PALACE
Eventually, Minoan Lines’ new restructuring plan in Crete is coming into force.
FESTOS PALACE has been renamed KYDON PALACE and from 17 February 2020 she will be introduced on the Piraeus – Chania line.
The rest of this ambitious plan is that KNOSSOS PALACE will be introduced -under the Grimaldi colours- on the Civitavecchia – Olbia line.
CRUISE BONARIA (ex. OLYMPIA PALACE) will be renamed either FESTOS or KNOSSOS PALACE, sport the Minoan Lines livery and serve the Piraeus – Heraklion run along with her sister MYKONOS PALACE, which will be renamed FESTOS or KNOSSOS PALACE.
That fleet reshuffling at Heraklion port mainly reveals Minoan Lines intention to offer more lane meters and less hotel services as the twins that are going to replace the classic Heraklion pair offer more freight space and less interior amenities.
About Last Week in Italy
Last week I was in Civitavecchia and Livorno on two different cruise assignments. These jobs are always good to combine with ferry photography. Especially with ISPS it has been increasingly difficult to see and photograph ferries. A cruise ship is a nice alternative.
Let’s start with Civitavecchia. The pictures shows (from left to right) CRUISE BARCELONA, MOBY DADA and MOBY TOMMY.
Don’t you expect a cappuccino in Italy? No, it was CAPUCINE showing up. This CLdN vessel has been chartered by the Italian MoD.
A fantastic sunrise asks for a FANTASTIC ship, like the one from GNV.
I visited Livorno with SEVEN SEAS SPLENDOR on Tuesday 4 February 2020.
The first ferry I saw leaving was the ELIANA MARINO. Only later on I realised she was the former PORTO EXPRESS / LOUISE RUSS.
Although the sky was blue the weather was extremely windy. After a while all ferries in and out needed tugs.
Low season means a few ferries are not in service or are in reduced service. Some are in Livorno for maintenance.
Moby is currently not covering the connection between Santa Teresa di Gallura, in Sardinia, and Bonifacio, in Corsica, after the ferry GIRAGLIA grounded and suffered an 8-metre hole in hull. Moby is now looking to charter a small ferry. It is likely that the sistership BASTIA (currently in dry dock in Livorno, see on the picture on the right) will be deployed on the line as soon as possible.
