Mykonos Palace ferry

Mykonos Palace is a Ro-Ro passenger ferry operated by the Italy-based company GRIMALDI LINES. The ship has a maximum capacity of 1912 passengers and 821 cars (or 110 cars and 104 trucks/trailers). Launched in 2002, the vessel currently serves the Italy–Sicily–Tunisia routes Civitavecchia–Palermo–Tunis (18.5 hours crossing) and Salerno–Palermo–Tunis (16.5 hours crossing). The Sicily–Tunisia crossing takes approximately 11.5 hours. The Italy–Sardinia crossing is 6.5 hours. During summer, the ferry also operates the Greece–Crete route Piraeus–Chania (approx. 9 hours).

Cabins

As a cruise ferry, Mykonos Palace offers 192 cabins (103 Inside, 75 Outside, 12 Deluxe) with a total of 732 berths. All staterooms are air-conditioned, soundproof, and feature en-suite bathrooms (toilet, shower, washbasin, hairdryer), lower and upper wall-mounted bunks, bedside table/cabinet with stool or chair, mirrored vanity (small writing desk with chair or stool), phone, and reading lamps. Bed linens, towels, and toiletries are provided.

Outside cabins have bay windows. Deluxe cabins additionally offer satellite TV, mini-bar, double bed, and a two-seat sofa. Two wheelchair-accessible staterooms are available. The ferry also offers 108 reclining seats (aircraft-style seating) in reserved seating lounges.

All passengers must vacate their cabins 30 minutes prior to arrival.

Shipboard dining and entertainment options

Facilities aboard Mykonos Palace include:

• Two main restaurants: an A La Carte Restaurant and a Self-Service (Buffet) Restaurant, both with panoramic windows. Menus include gluten-free options, and booking dining online can save up to 50% off onboard prices.
• Three fixed-price menus (Standard, Business, Premium) for Breakfast and Lunch/Dinner.
• Premium menu (A La Carte Restaurant only) with starter, first course, second course, side dish, dessert or fruit, and drink (water, beer, wine, or non-alcoholic beverage).
• Standard and Business menus (Buffet Restaurant only), each including specific combinations of hot drinks, pastries, appetizers, first and second courses, side dishes, desserts, fruit, bread, and drinks.
• Three bars, including a Snack Bar (Cafeteria/Patisserie) operating year-round with sandwiches, pastries, yogurts, fruit salads, ice cream, and beverages.
• Children’s Room with TV (cartoons), bean bags, small tables, toys, games, and a ball pit, plus supervised activities.
• Disco (nightclub), Video Games Room, Reserved Seating Lounges (Economy and Club Class), Main Lounge, Cinema, Piano Bar, Card Room, Internet Café, Kiosk.
• Reserved Seating Lounges with Pullman seats (fully reclining armchairs) and large TVs, plus two exclusive Truck Driver lounges (restaurant and bar).
• Onboard shopping: boutiques and a mini-market selling alcohol, tobacco, perfumes, cosmetics, fashion, accessories, watches, sunglasses, hygiene products, snacks, toys, electronics, gifts, and souvenirs.
• ATM (Lobby Deck) near Reception. Paid Wi-Fi available; packages can be purchased online or onboard.
• Wellness Center with spa (sauna, lockers, jacuzzi, relaxation area, massage rooms), outdoor sundeck with loungers/tables, beauty parlor, and fitness center. Access is limited to adults and teenagers 14–18 accompanied by adults.
• Sun Deck with swimming pool, jacuzzi, poolside bar, sunbathing loungers, tables, and TVs.

The top deck features a Heli Deck with a helipad for emergency helicopter operations.

Extensive outdoor deck space is available. A fully equipped infirmary offers 24-hour nurse service.

Emergency instructions are posted in staterooms, on TV screens, and at muster stations. Life jackets are distributed at muster stations, and elevators must not be used during emergencies.

GRIMALDI ferry and cruise deals

All Grimaldi ferries offer modern passenger cabins with en-suite facilities and individually controlled air-conditioning. Some suites feature private balconies.

Grimaldi ships are occasionally used for Mediterranean mini-cruises, especially during Christmas and New Year.

• Crossings can be customized for themed events, including sports, art, culture, history, music, and religion.
• Rome–Barcelona 2-day mini-cruise deals are offered.
• “Ad hoc” programs organize religious pilgrimages from Italy to Spain and France (including Lourdes and Carcassonne).
• GRIMALDI FREIGHTER CLUB: passengers with at least two crossings receive 5% discount on freighter travel.
• Group discounts are available for groups of 20+ people (with or without vehicles), including students, sports fans, religious groups, campers, and music bands.
• “Nave Più Hotel” packages combine ferry travel with accommodations at partner hotels in Sardinia and Sicily.
• A shuttle bus (Naples–Civitavecchia) is available (except Sundays) for EUR 24 per person each way.

Discounted ferry fares include:

• 20% advance-booking discounts (January–April 30) for Sardinia, Sicily, Spain, Greece.
• 20% discount on Palermo routes (January–April 30).
• 20% discount for departures within 7 days of booking (Sardinia, Spain, Livorno–Palermo).
• 20% senior discount (60+), with Inside Cabin and no single supplement (subject to availability).
• Spain: 20% discount on campers on return Barcelona–Civitavecchia and Barcelona–Porto Torres crossings.
• Greece: 20% return-ticket discount on Brindisi–Igoumenitsa, Brindisi–Corfu, and Brindisi–Patras (low season) and reverse routes.
• Tunisia and Morocco: 20% return-ticket discounts.
• Greece: 30% discount on low-season crossings with combined Grimaldi–Minoan bookings.
• Kids: 50% discount (ages 2–12) and 100% discount for toddlers (under 2), max 2 kids per cabin; roundtrip only; limited availability.
• Sicily: 100% discount for children up to 12 on all Sicily routes (roundtrip; subject to availability).
• SARDI DOC / SICILIANI DOC: 100% discount on car/motorbike + free single cabin for Sardinia and Sicily residents (subject to availability).
• Early booking (until April 30): 100% discount for cars on Civitavecchia–Sardinia routes; combinable with SARDI DOC.
• Spain: 100% discount for cars/motorbikes on return Spain–Italy crossings (selected departures).
• Spain: special Wednesday rates for Civitavecchia–Barcelona and Barcelona–Civitavecchia.
• Spain: special rates for couples sharing a stateroom (subject to availability).
• Special children’s fares on all routes between Italy and Sardinia, Sicily, Spain, Tunisia, Morocco, Greece.
• Spain: “Superfamily and Friends” offer—4 passengers in the same cabin pay for 2 adults; 3rd and 4th travel free (return Spain–Italy).

Note: fixed fees (port charges, government taxes) are not included in discount fares.

The “Weekend a bordo” program allows passengers to spend a weekend in Barcelona aboard Cruise Roma or Cruise Barcelona, which act as hotel ships during the port call.

• Saturday (00:00) departure from Civitavecchia
• Sunday (20:00) arrival in Barcelona; overnight aboard
• Monday free time in Barcelona; 22:15 departure
• Tuesday (19:00) arrival in Civitavecchia
• Passengers may use all shipboard amenities during the crossing.

Grimaldi also offers honeymoon cruise packages:

• Fares include Junior Suite, roundtrip ferry (2 passengers + 1 car), wellness center access (plus one free spa treatment per person), dinner at the onboard restaurant, port fees and taxes, in-cabin breakfast, fruit, and sparkling wine.
• Packages are offered on Cruise Roma and Cruise Barcelona at EUR 640 (low season), EUR 740 (mid-season), and EUR 920 (high season) per couple.

Pets on the ship

Pets/domestic animals are allowed on all Grimaldi vessels. Dedicated lodgings are available for dogs and cats. Other small animals (rabbits, birds, hamsters, etc.) must remain in passenger-provided carriers.

• Animals are not permitted in staterooms, seating lounges, bars, and indoor public rooms. They are allowed only on outer decks.
• During booking, select “Pet up to 6 kg” for small pets traveling in cages, or “Pet over 6 kg” for animals requiring an onboard kennel (advance booking required).
• Owners are responsible for feeding, caring for, and cleaning up after their animals during the voyage. Water is provided by the crew.

Guide dogs for visually impaired passengers travel free of charge and are permitted in cabins. Assistance dogs may accompany disabled or mobility-impaired passengers.

Car decks

Grimaldi ferries transport a wide range of freight: semi-trailers, lorries (with or without drivers), cars, motorcycles (as freight only), caravans, camper vans, cargo containers, mobile machinery, boats on cradles, and industrial goods.

Car-deck safety procedures include:

• Passengers requiring assistance must contact the 24-hour Information Desk.
• Set handbrake and park gear; turn off ignition, alarms, and electrical equipment; close gas cylinders; lock the vehicle.
• Take only valuables and essential hand baggage.
• Remember vehicle location and garage deck number/stairway.
• Access to vehicle decks is prohibited during voyages.
• Smoking is forbidden on vehicle decks, in cabins, and in lounges.
• Start the engine only when instructed to avoid air pollution.
• Wait for announcements before returning to the vehicle.

Grimaldi Lines (fleet), founded in 1999 and headquartered in Civitavecchia (Rome), operates exclusively on Mediterranean routes linking mainland Italy with Sardinia, Sicily, Spain, Greece, Morocco, and Tunisia.