AF Mia

History
Italy
Name	1997-2001: Ikarus 2001-2016: Ikarus Palace 2016-present: Cruise Smeralda
Owner	1997-2016: Minoan Lines 2016-ownards: Grimaldi Lines
Operator	1997-2016: Minoan Lines 2016-present: Grimaldi Lines
Port of registry	1997-2016: Heraklion, Greece 2016-present: Palermo, Italy
Route	Barcelona-Tanger Med-Savona-Barcelona
Ordered	1995
Builder	Fosen Mek Verksteder A/S, Norway
Laid down	1997
Launched	1997
Maiden voyage	1997
Identification	Callsign: IMO: 9144811 MMSI: 247343200
Fate	In service
General characteristics
Type	Ro-pax ferry
Tonnage	29968 gt Summer DWT: 5150 t
Length	200.65 m (658 ft)
Beam	26 m (85 ft)
Draught	6.8 m (22 ft)
Ramps	two for vehicles one for passengers
Speed	26,4 knots
Capacity	1.528 passengers 819 cars

MS Cruise Smeralda is a RO/PAX ferry operated and owned by Grimaldi Lines. The ship built in Fosen Mek Verksteder A/S, Norway for Minoan Lines in 1997. The ship also have a sister ship Jean Nicoli for Corsica Linea. Her first name was Ikarus and then renamed Ikarus Palace.

Minoan Lines Career

The ship made her career for Minoan Lines in 1997 and worked for Patras-Igoumenitsa-Corfu-Venice route for many years with her sister ship Pasiphae. In 2001 both ships renamed. The first renamed Ikarus Palace and the second Pasiphae Palace. They worked both of them many years in the same route until Pasiphae Palace sold to SNCM and named Jean Nicoli. Ikarus Palace also made career in Piraeus-Heraklion route replaced other ship of her company. After the arrivals of the newest ships MS Cruise Europa, MS Cruise Olympia, Ikarus Palace laid-up in Patras and then made Patras-Igoumenitsa-Ancona route and then replace HSF Knossos Palace and HSF Kydon Palace in Piraeus-Heraklion route.

Charterer to Grimaldi Lines

Ikarus Palace then chartered for Grimaldi Lines. The ship when charterd for Grimaldi Lines began the Livorno-Barcelona-Tangier route. The ship also came many times in Greece to replace other ships of her company. The ship made her last route Patras-Igoumenitsa-Ancona route in 2016 and then sold to Grimaldi Lines and named Cruise Smeralda.

Route

Cruise Smeralda made every day Barcelona-Tanger-Savona-Barcelona route.