Ferry information about ferries in Greece
Ferries operate all year round in the Greek Islands, although the more remote might get only one ferry a week. The high season for frequent ferry sailings is June to September, with the tourist peak period in July and August so many Greek ferries set sail over a relatively short periods each year and lay idle for the rest.
Summer ferry schedules never used to be issued before May but ferry firms have already released their 2014 schedules. Each ferry company still publishes only its own schedule but there are now websites such at Greek Travel Pages where you can find comprehensive details of routes and Greek Island ferry connections. Most operators keep to the same ferry schedules year on year but it is not uncommon for companies to ‘trade’ routes, change boats, or alter schedules.
Low season ferry schedules used to be notoriously difficult to come by but ferry firms are now looking to increase tourism beyond the usual summer months. Greek Island hopping in the winter however usually means catching ferries on main island routes. Ferry firms must get licence to operate a main ferry route and that means providing a service all year round, even to the less popular islands. Bad weather will be a much bigger problem over winter and sailings will often be cancelled at short notice in bad weather.
Most visitors to Greece ride a ferry at one time or another. Taking a ferry can be a fun experience or a frustrating one. There are some vital things to know that will make traveling on ferries easy and enjoyable.
ferry schedules are never published, change randomly, and are as unpredictable as the weather.
That being said, there are a set of established routes that never seem to be deviated from simply because they are necessary transportation links between population and tourist centers. Of course, when it comes time to plan your trip, make the appropriate inquires with travel agents or ferry companies to confirm routes and times.
Types of ferries
Ferries come in all shapes and sizes. Some are not too much different than cruise ships while others hardly look sea-worthy. Prices between two destinations (on the same type of boat) are always the same but the services offered on each line can be drastically different. Some ferries are new, clean, and offer decent services. At the opposite end of the spectrum there are old, run-down ferries.
Catamarans
Catamarans offer faster service than normal ferries. The larger catamarans are air-conditioned and fast. The smaller catamarans are slower and are extremely bumpy in choppy seas. The fares for catamarans are generally the same as for hydrofoils.
Hydrofoils
Hydrofoils are known in Greece as “Dolphins” and the largest company is called Hellas Flying Dolphins. Hydrofoils can be up to twice as fast as ferries but are also twice the price. The hydrofoils do not take cars or motorbikes and normally operate only during high season. The ride can be extremely bumpy in rough seas and not necessarily smooth when the seas are calm. A further downside is that they are prone to cancellation in rough seas or high winds.
Classes available on the ferries
Several classes of service are available on the ferries. First class includes a private lounge with a dedicated bar or restaurant and private cabins for overnight trips. Second class sometimes has a dedicated lounge and smaller cabins for long hauls. Tourist class including a pullman seat is available on big ferries. Third class or deck class is the cheapest way to travel. You are allowed access to the deck and sometimes an inside lounge.
Ferry Tickets and agencies
Almost all travel agents in Greece sell ferry tickets. In fact, it is not uncommon to see hundreds of travel agent offices lining the streets on the way to the port. All ferry agents have access to the same reservation system so it does not matter if you buy your ticket downtown or at the port.
Likewise, all travel agents are required to sell the tickets at the same price. What the travel agents don’t tell you is that they might sell tickets for only one or two lines. So if there is a ferry leaving in one hour that you would like to catch but it is not on a line that a particular travel agents sells, you will not know about that ferry.
This leads to the annoying need to visit several travel agents to make sure you get the times and schedules for all of the available ferry lines. The other option is to pay a visit to the port police or in larger ports to the main ticketing office. Here you will be able to obtain a list of all of the ferries leaving, their destinations, and times.
But if you’re not near the port or if it’s a long way to go, your best option is to simply visit a few different travel agents until the whole picture is clear.
Arriving and Departing
The lines to get on a ferry can stretch for miles in large ports. The associated traffic jams can be equally large. If you’re planning on taking your car on a ferry you are well advised to arrive several hours in advance.
In addition to the cars, mopeds, motorcycles, and trucks getting onto ferries are the swarms of people. Screaming kids, slow moving elderly people, dogs, cats, and everyone in between push to get on board. The scene is not much different than a three ring circus, all orchestrated by the ferry personnel and port police.
Finding your ferry
At large ports, finding your ferry can often be a challenge in itself. The name of the boat is painted in large English letters on the back and side of the boat and also on your ticket. It is not uncommon for three different port police to tell you to go three different directions to find your ferry.
Leave yourself plenty of time and patience. At smaller ports, where there are only one or two berths, the task is much easier and the crowds much lighter. Outside of the high season, June to August, the chaos is not quite as high.
Ferry tickets
Your ticket will normally be taken as you enter the ferry. Retain your stub throughout your journey as it shows the class you have paid for and sometimes your seat number or cabin number.
After your ticket is taken you will normally climb the stairs to the decks reserved for passengers. Here, people will jockey for position. As most of the classes do not have assigned seating, the rush to get on board is followed by the rush to get a good seat.
On deck or in a cabin?
In the summer this means outside in a sunny spot on the deck or on the air conditioned inside with a good view out to sea. The inside lounges are almost always smoky, loud, and a bit on the dirty side. The snack bar food is not the best, although the longer haul ferries tend to have better cafeteria food at fairly reasonable prices.
Island hopping by ferry
If you are on a ferry that makes several stops make sure to listen for your port. Beware that in some cases you are expected to know which stop is yours, as announcements are not always made over the loud speaker.
At smaller ports in villages or on the islands, the ferry will not stop for very long. Cars and trucks will change position, people will enter and exit simultaneously, and then the ferry will be gone. At large and small ports alike, no one waits for those who are late.