The Patras, Greece to Brindisi, Italy car–ferry ships of the Hellenic Mediterranean Lines (HML) stop at Igoumenitsa, before crossing the Adriatic Sea and vice versa, as well as the ships of Superfast Ferries, ANEK Lines and several other shipping companies, before going to Ancona, Bari or Venice in Italy, and vice versa.
On June 8, 2011 ANEK Lines and Superfast Ferries created a joint venture in Piraeus-Heraklion and Patra-Igoumenitsa-Ancona routes with two RO-PAX ships in the first one (the ANEK-owned "Olympic Champion" and the Superfast-owned "Superfast XII") and three in the second one (the ANEK-owned "Hellenic Spirit" and the Superfast-owned "Superfast VI" and "Superfast XI").
In addition, InterRail global passes include ferry crossings from Patras and Igoumenitsa (Greece) to Ancona and Bari (Italy) operated by Superfast Ferries and Blue Star Ferries (fuel surcharges, port taxes, high season supplements as well as cabin accommodation are extra).
Knossos was laid up until March 1996, when she started sailing on the Patras—Igoumenitsa—Corfu—Ancona service.