Our top priority is to ensure the Health and Safety of our passengers, associates and company’s personnel

As the safety of our passengers and partners is our top priority, a series of precautionary measures have been adopted to minimize the spread of COVID-19. Specifically:

• We intensified the cleaning and disinfection activities of cabins and common areas in our vessels, in collaboration with specialized disinfection and cleaning companies, in addition to the regular daily hygiene and cleaning procedures.
• We strictly adopt all precautionary measures for the operation of restaurants, bars and stores on board our vessels, in accordance with the latest instructions/provisions of the Greek Government.
• The operation of our stores (except the kiosk) and of all a la carte restaurants as well as serving by the bars on board has been suspended. Bars and lounges will operate strictly by following precautionary actions and guidelines in regards to prohibitive measures of non-crowding.
• We constantly inform our officers and crew members so that they can be fully compliant with the latest precautionary measures (applied for the health, hygiene and safety of themselves but also our passengers) and to be able to manage emergencies in case someone develops symptoms that can be attributed to COVID-19 coronavirus infection.

Always having as our top priority, the health and safety of our passengers, our business partners and staff, we have proceeded to the adoption of precautionary measures in accordance with the guidelines of the Hellenic National Public Health Organization and the designated authorities against the spread of COVID-19 coronavirus. Specifically:

• We adopted remote work for the majority of our executives as well as telecommuting and videoconferencing.
• We temporarily suspended the operation of our headquarters and retained the operation of our port offices to provide our services to our passengers and associates.
• We intensified the precautionary measures of safety and hygiene and we provided every employee at our port offices with antiseptics, masks and gloves.
• We are in constant communication with the official authorities to make sure we are always aligned with the latest official guidelines in order to inform our personnel accordingly.
• We keep our company’s executives up to date on preventive and protective measures, following the guidelines of the Hellenic National Public Health Organization.
• We have placed a special marking at least one meter away from the point of sale (agency counter), to strictly observe the safety distance between agency employees and/or the passenger public/transportation partners, during waiting service period. And we posted informative material for every trading passenger or business partner to follow the security and safety measures while waiting at the agency.

Following the latest government order to help counter the outbreak of COVID-19 coronavirus, a new order has been announced with regards to the transportation of passengers and vehicles from/to Italy. Specifically, the embarkation of passengers and vehicles from/to Italy is strictly forbidden (except trucks and cargo). The prohibition is effective from 15/03/2020 at 15:00 till 31/05/2020 .

For Adriatic Lines, we’re giving you the flexibility to reschedule your trip and make your tickets open with no change fees.

Tickets for the Adriatic Lines (Ancona / Venice) can be converted to open date tickets with a validity of one year from the date of travel. For any bookings made including the Early Booking Offer, passengers retain the offer (20% discount) when they declare new travel dates without being asked to pay a fare difference (unless they wish to upgrade or the new travel dates fall into a different travel season compared to their prior booking and ticket prices vary (eg. from low to mid, from mid to high season).

For further information or any clarifications, we kindly advise passengers to contact Minoan Lines’ agencies and port offices, their travel agents or the points of sale where their tickets were issued (online sales pages).

Furthermore, our cargo associates for Adriatic Lines are kindly informed with the following:

• Regarding the distribution of cargo drivers in cabins, we have taken precautionary measures to accommodate only one driver per cabin per journey on the Adriatic routes, following the implementation of the above Government Directive. Given the current ban on passenger traffic, it is foreseen that the above precautionary measure will be adequately implemented.
• All cargo drivers should fill in the relevant form, with which they certify that they meet the conditions necessary to enable them to embark the vessel.
• If a driver has symptoms attributable to virus infection, he must not travel. If a case of COVID-19 is observed on a driver during the voyage, detailed instructions have been given to our crew members on how to prevent risks and manage any person with flu-like symptoms and/or symptoms attributable to the infection.
• Drivers are asked to avoid cash and card payments (except "contactless" cards) if possible and to avoid contact when handing over travel documents to the check-in staff.

EXTRAORDINARY MEASURES TO PREVENT THE SPREAD OF THE CORONAVIRUS
In force from the day the trips are allowed again until 15/07/2020

COMPANY PROCEDURE
In order to ensure the utmost in health safety standards and guarantee the serenity of a safe journey to all passengers, the Company:
-    will operate its ships at 50% of the maximum permitted passenger capacity;
-    will provide a complementary kit of personal protective equipment, including gloves and masks, for all passengers at the time of boarding that shall be used during their stay on board;
-    will take temperature readings before passengers board. Anyone with a temperature over 37.5 ° C will not be allowed to board;
-    will arrange for all passengers to provide a self-certification form upon boarding declaring that they do not have any symptoms similar to those caused by the coronavirus and that they have not been in contact with people who have tested positive or are presumed to be so;
-    will ensure that the ship’s doctor will be present, regardless of the number of passengers on board;
-    has provided for the exclusive use of cabins (same family unit only);
-    has introduced specific protocols for the careful sanitisation of cabins and on-board areas;
-    has introduced specific health monitoring protocols for shipboard personnel;
-    has provided the crews with tools and training aimed at limiting the risk of contagion;
-    has paid particular attention to training its crews to ensure assistance to passengers and for compliance with prevention, containment and emergency management measures.

CHECK-IN AND BOARDING
In order to avoid people gathering in crowds and in compliance with safe social distancing, passengers must check in on time to ensure that all control and boarding activities can be completed. Passengers must check in wearing masks (including children 6 years old and up).
The Company has prepared a complementary kit (masks, gloves) for all passengers who do not have their own.
Those travelling with their car may preferably check-in while remaining in their vehicle and will receive from the control officer (checking documents and tickets) a sticker with the cabin number to bring with them and another to stick on the car; at the ramp, the driver parks the car in the garage.
Passengers will only need to go to the ticket office if they have to make changes or additions to the ticket.
The staff in charge of fast check-in will wear personal protective equipment such as gloves and masks, limiting contact with the documents to be checked as much as possible. 
All passengers must arrive for boarding with a completed self-certification form provided by the Company. Before boarding all passengers will have their temperature taken. Anyone with a temperature over 37.5 ° C, will not be allowed to board.

RECEPTION ON BOARD     
In order to speed up boarding – carried out strictly in compliance with safe social distancing and wearing masks – all the information that can be sent by the Company to the passenger and vice versa before departure is exchanged electronically at the time of booking. Cabins are assigned in advance.
Passengers are frequently reminded to comply with behaviour and social distancing rules through the use of public announcements, informative flyers, posted in the public areas of the ship, and through a memo in the cabin.
In corridors, at reception and in all common areas, including lifts, it is always mandatory to respect safe social distancing of at least one meter between passengers. To facilitate compliance with this rule, barriers (Tendiflex) and signs will be used. All reception staff on board will wear personal protective equipment such as gloves and masks. Disinfectant gel dispensers have been positioned at various points on the ship.

CLEANING AND SANITISATION OF CABINS AND COMMON AREAS
All areas of the ship, public or for private use, will be subject to regular sanitisation specifically to contrast bacterial and viral agents. All activities will be carried out by operators equipped with appropriate personal protective equipment such as gloves and masks.

RESTAURANT SERVICES
Access to and the use of tables in restaurants and bars is limited to avoid gatherings and allowing safe social distancing of at least one meter between each customer, except in cases of families or relatives. The crew on board will ensure people do not gather in groups.
The opening hours of the catering services will be adequate to the number of passengers and to ensure compliance with the criteria of social distancing.
Room Service has been enhanced and the offer extended to include all the ship's food services, including those on the external decks, to facilitate the purchase and consumption of meals.
The kitchen and service staff at the self service areas and those serving at the tables wear personal protective equipment such as gloves and masks and regularly sanitise the surfaces.
For the purchase of extra services on board, the use of contactless credit cards is encouraged to minimize contacts and the circulation of money.

PAX-OUT AND DISEMBARKATION
Pax-out and disembarkation are organised in such a way as to avoid people gathering in crowds and in compliance with safe social distancing. On-board staff will be present to assist with operations to regulate the flow of people.

CREW
The Company has introduced health protocols to monitor crew health on board, in order to minimise any health risks to passengers and staff. Our crew will comply with safe social distancing, the obligation to wear disposable masks and gloves, use disinfectant gels, and with follow scrupulous cleaning and personal hygiene protocols.
 

MANDATORY "PRE-BOARDING HEALTH DECLARATION" FORM (COVID-19) ON MINOAN LINES’ DOMESTIC ROUTES

Further to the latest COVID-19 guidelines announced by the Greek Authorities for the prevention of the new coronavirus transmission and spread, it is mandatory for all passengers to complete the “Pre-boarding Health Declaration Form”(download here)  and submit it to the vessel's Chief Purser along with their ticket, when boarding, prior to the vessel's departure. Boarding will not be allowed if the form hasn’t been completed and submitted.

RESTRICTIVE MEASURES FOR TRANSPORTATION ON PASSENGER FERRIES  

According to Government Decision the transportation of citizens with ferries continues to be restricted until 18.05.2020 . ONLY permanent island residents and / or residents of the mainland, healthcare personnel, governmental, public affairs and special enforcement officials who are currently working to the islands and special cases or circumstances (e.g. medical emergencies, attendance to funeral services. etc.)  are permitted to travel to the islands by ferry following the hygiene and social distancing guidelines and submitting the special documents required.

IMPORTANT UPDATE

For trips within the period from 25/02/2020 up to 31/10/2020 the following apply:

In case of requests concerning issued tickets within the above mentioned period due to travel restrictions or passengers requests not to travel due to uncertainty surrounding the Covid-19 pandemic or cannot travel due to cancellation – under Greek or EU law – of scheduled routes..

Minoan Lines can reimburse customers with 18-month vouchers (OPEN TICKETS) valid for 18months from the initial trip date. In a time period of 18 months, customers may at any time use their vouchers for any destination of Minoan Lines’ domestic routes. All vouchers will be equal to the price of tickets that were originally booked. In case the OPEN tickets are not used passengers can request their money back after the 18months pass.

• For Domestic Lines, we’re offering you the flexibility to reschedule your trip and convert your tickets to open. If you wish to cancel your booking please contact your travel agent or call Minoan Lines at +30 2810399899.
• Passengers or/and cargo associates are kindly requested to restrict the use of cash and prefer payment with contactless debit or credit cards during ticket and/or bill of lading issue, and to avoid contact when handing over identification, travel and cargo documents at the port agency or to the check-in staff during embarkation.
• In the framework of the precautionary measures and the instructions of the competent authorities for the avoidance of crowding, all passengers are kindly advised to be at the company's port offices on the day of their trip, at least two hours prior to the scheduled departure time, in case they need to change their tickets or issue new ones.
  Specifically, from 25/4 to 30/5, the embarkation hours at the ports of Souda and Piraeus are as follows:
  Souda Port : Boarding time starts at 18:00
  Piraeus Port: Boarding time starts at 19:00
• In terms of the allocation of passengers or cargo drivers in cabins, we have taken precautionary measures, and we will be hosting only one person per cabin. Given the current ban on passenger traffic, it is foreseen that the above precautionary measure will be adequately implemented.

  This will apply also for passengers travelling in economy (DECK) or VIP seats, who must comply to the directive for one person with 10sq.m. distance during their trip.

For bookings or further information with regards to the current critical situation, our itineraries and policies you are kindly advised to:

• Contact Minoan Lines central agencies or port offices via e-mail or by telephone as well as your travel agent.

  For any trips scheduled later than 7 days, we kindly ask passengers to send their claims via e-mail, so that we can prioritize travelling for passengers or partners who require immediate customer service.

• Visit our official page www.minoan.gr

Kindly note that the aforementioned procedures and precautionary measures onboard and ashore are some of the necessary actions taken according to the instructions and guidelines provided by Health and other Authorities for the prevention of the epidemic virus and the protection of our customers, associates and our staff from the effects of COVID-19.

For further information on COVID-19, check out the supplementary information here.

Together, we will come out of this stronger than ever before!