Ferry, Catamaran, or Hydrofoil?
May 12th, 2006, 02:37 PM
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Ferry, Catamaran, or Hydrofoil?
We are going to be traveling from Athens to Paros in June and are wondering what the difference is in price, speed, rockiness, and overall comfort and experience between the Ferry, Catamaran, and Hydrofoil. Any help would be much appreciated.
May 12th, 2006, 02:50 PM
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I don't think any hydrofoils run to Paros. They're small craft, generally suited more to sheltered waters.
There are fast car-carrying catamarans and slower car ferries. Fares are higher for the fast craft. The fast craft are smaller and lighter so will bounce up and down more in rough sea conditions. The ships have more open deck space (some fast craft have none).
There are fast car-carrying catamarans and slower car ferries. Fares are higher for the fast craft. The fast craft are smaller and lighter so will bounce up and down more in rough sea conditions. The ships have more open deck space (some fast craft have none).
May 12th, 2006, 02:56 PM
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If you use www.gtp.gr and plug in your travel dates you'll see which vessels you have to choose from. Generally there are two choices on that route, either a highspeed catamaran car ferry or the slower conventional car ferry. Sorry, I don't know prices, but in general I'd guess somewhere in the 25 Euro range for one way, economy class.
May 12th, 2006, 03:00 PM
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We took the ferry to Paros from Athens a few yrs ago in September & loved the fact that we could breathe in the fresh air (not shut in breathing cigarette smoke). It was spacious, waters were calm & views delightful.As a foot passenger, cheaper than the other options.
May 13th, 2006, 04:39 AM
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As others have said, there are no hydrofoils from either of the Athens ports to Paros. The car-carrying catamarans are huge ships, and so smooth that you don't realize how fast they are going unless you step out on the small outside deck at the stern. They have airline style seating, with smoking and non-smoking sections (but the rule isn't always strictly enforced).
Conventional ferries take twice as long to get to Paros, nearly six hours instead of three) but charge half the price. Most of them are very old and not particularly well maintained. I avoid them when I can.
A third type of ferry on that route is the Blue Star Naxos and Blue Star Paros. These ships have conventional hulls but are faster than the older ferries. They are modern, well maintained, and take about four hours to get from Pireaus to Paros. Tickets are higher than conventional ferries but lower than the highspeeds.
Finally, there is a passenger-only catamaran, Seajet2, which sails out of Rafina for Paros, with stops at Tinos, Mykonos, and Naxos. This small cat is very prone to cancellation in high winds, and with three stops, takes as long to get to Paros as the Blue Stars.
Conventional ferries take twice as long to get to Paros, nearly six hours instead of three) but charge half the price. Most of them are very old and not particularly well maintained. I avoid them when I can.
A third type of ferry on that route is the Blue Star Naxos and Blue Star Paros. These ships have conventional hulls but are faster than the older ferries. They are modern, well maintained, and take about four hours to get from Pireaus to Paros. Tickets are higher than conventional ferries but lower than the highspeeds.
Finally, there is a passenger-only catamaran, Seajet2, which sails out of Rafina for Paros, with stops at Tinos, Mykonos, and Naxos. This small cat is very prone to cancellation in high winds, and with three stops, takes as long to get to Paros as the Blue Stars.
May 13th, 2006, 07:32 AM
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What would be the difference in price if you place your reservation/purchase ticket on line as against buying it from agents at the port? Also, would I be better off buying from port agents a day or same day before departure to avoid any cancellation problem as far as weather is concerned? Thanks.
May 13th, 2006, 07:39 AM
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When I go to website of www.gtp.gr, and search for ex. Mykonos to Naxos, it asked me to choose between Mykonos port or town and for Naxos town or island. What's the difference?
May 13th, 2006, 08:35 AM
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Cheryl8, as far as I know the price is the same whether you book online or buy your ticket from an agent. I would never even consider booking ferry tickets online, so don't know first-hand if that is true or not. If you buy your tickets from an agent the night before and the sailing is cancelled, just go back to the agent for an instant refund and tickets for another ferry.
What is the difference between Mykonos port and town, and Naxos town and island? None - there is only one ferry port at each island, Mykonos town and Naxos town respectively. I have no idea why GTP has it listed that way. Over to you, Brotherleelove.
What is the difference between Mykonos port and town, and Naxos town and island? None - there is only one ferry port at each island, Mykonos town and Naxos town respectively. I have no idea why GTP has it listed that way. Over to you, Brotherleelove.
May 13th, 2006, 09:20 AM
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If you look closer you'll see that the designation for Mykonos Port is MYK whild Mykonos Town is MYC. There are choices because some people conduct their searches using these abbreviations instead of just using names. Both are in the system to allow for the broadest possible search to accomodate the largest number of people searching. Heimdall's right, there's no difference.
May 13th, 2006, 05:01 PM
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Thanks, Heimdall and Brotherleelove. We'll be taking the Hellenic Mykonos- Naxos (Sat., Lv. 10:15 am; VIP class w/c is supposedly high up economy and business as my DH gets seasick easily)and Blue Star Paros from Naxos to Santorini (Tues, Lv. 12:00 Noon, Economy). Not too crazy about the skeds as I rather leave Mykonos for Naxos early afternoon and leave Naxos for Santorini about late morning. But, I think it's the only sked for both Hellenic and Blue Star on those 2 destinations.
