Αt a glittering ceremony held on 25 November 2005 at the Athenaeum Intercontinental hotel in Athens for the Greek Shipping Awards 2005, the highly respected and internationally renowned shipping newspaper Lloyd's List awarded Minoan Linesthe Passenger Line of the Year award.
This award is a particularly special honour, given the high competition in this category and the significance of the institution.
The award was received on behalf of the Board of Directors of MINOAN LINES by the company's managing director Mr A. Maniadakis. In his award speech to those present, Mr Maniadakis said: "It is with much joy and emotion that I receive the award for Passenger Liner of the Year on behalf of the Board of Directors of Minoan Lines. It is truly a great honour. We thank you all warmly. We are particularly grateful to our company's thousands of shareholders - the fundamental basis of every successful company - for the support and trust they have shown to Minoan Lines. I would like to thank our banks and associates for the excellent cooperation and, most of all, all the passengers and customers who prefer to travel with our high speed cruise ferries on our domestic and foreign lines, demonstrating in this way their satisfaction with the high standards and reliability of our services. Moreover, I would like to express - from the depth of my heart - my gratefulness to our dedicated and excellent staff, on land and sea, for their professionalism, which has made Minoan Linesthe leading company in the passenger sector. We thank them warmly for this wonderful journey that has now lasted for 33 years."
Members of the company's Board of Directors and other executives were also at the ceremony.
Minoan Lines' future prospects and business activities highlight a new philosophy and orientation.
The year 2001 marks the beginning of harvesting the fruits of years of dedicated efforts for growth and development.
Cruise & Ferry Info, a recognised European publisher and passenger shipping industry expert proclaimed the H/S/F Knossos Palace, as the Best and most luxurious cruise ferry in the world for the year 2000.
In the Cruise & Ferry Conference / Lloyd's List competition, H/S/F Knossos Palace won the Best Overall Interior Design Award.
In addition, Minoan Lines was awarded the international Zitelle-Meeting Planner Dell' Anno Award in recognition of its excellence in services and professionalism.
The international awards won by our newly built ships underline the company's competence and status in the national and international coastal shipping sector.