chris45ny

Last year's schedules prompted me to plan my itinerary and make hotel reservations. No problem going by ferry from Athens to Mykonos, Mykonos to Santorini but can't find anything from Santorini to Rhodes. Last year Anek Lines had the Preveli and Blue Star had the BS 1 that sailed on Saturdays. Leaving Santorini on 6/25/11 which is a Saturday. Only one I found is the Blue Star 2 that leaves Santorini on 6/24 at 00:20 arriving Rhodes 07:40. So that doesn't work unless I change from 3 nights to 2 on Santorini which I don't want to do. Does anyone know of any ferry going to Rhodes from Santorini on Saturday, 6/25/11?

Couldn't find any ferries from Rhodes to any port in Crete. Olympic Air has flight on 6/28/11 from Rhodes to Heraklion for 198 euros for 2 adults. Should I book that if I find a way to get to Rhodes from Santorini or do you think the price may go down? Are there any ferries to Crete that leave Rhodes on 6/28 which is a Tuesday?

The other problem is that if I decide to not go to Rhodes at all but go to Crete from Santorini I couldn't find any ferries for 6/25/11. I found Sea Jets on 6/24 or 6/26 to Crete. I really didn't think the runs would be so limited from Santorini to Crete. Anything I'm missing? Will other ferries be available later or is what I'm finding at www.openseas.gr it?

Thanks.

brotherleelove2004

Trying to extrapolate this year's schedule from last year's is an exercise in futility. Along with the Openseas website you can keep checking here for updates: http://www.gtp.gr

Ferry schedules for this upcoming June are just not complete yet. There may be other Santorini>Rhodes ferries added and for sure there will a ferry between Rhodes and Crete. Same applies for Santorini>Crete. In fact, look here: http://www.ferries.gr/hfd

Heimdall

Hi Chris,

FlyingCat 4 will be running from Santorini to Crete on June 25th, as you can see on http://www.ferries.gr/hfd/.

Regarding the Blue Star 1/2 route from Santorini to Rhodes, I don't believe there has been any change from last year. The ferry leaves Pireaus at 7pm on Tue, Thu, & Sun, arrives Santorini at midnight, then departs Santorini for Rhodes at 00:20am on Wed, Fri, & Mon. I just checked Open Seas, and that's the same schedule they used last year. They also have a ferry that leaves Santorini at 2pm on Saturdays and arrives on Rhodes at 9:40pm, but that doesn't start until Jul 2nd.

As for ANEK Lines' Preveli, you are way too early to see that sailing on any ferry website.

You wrote: <i>"I really didn't think the runs would be so limited from Santorini to Crete. Anything I'm missing?"</i> Yes. Santorini and Crete are on two different ferry routes. Outside the tourist season there is about one ferry per week between the two islands. In summer they are connected by catamarans operated by Hellenic Seaways and Sea Jets Consortium, possibly another company in 2011.

chris45ny

So if I'm reading things right I could catch the Flying Cat 4 from Santorini to Crete daily departing 17:55 and arriving Crete 19:30? That seems to be ok if I drop Rhodes. Checked air prices but close to 400 euros for the 2 of us from Santorini to Rhodes-over my budget for sure!! On the plus side it gives us more time in Crete and since we're staying with friends we'd save money. I really hate to miss Rhodes. I haven't made any hotel reservations for Rhodes yet so I'll keep checking the ferry websites to see if I can make Rhodes happen. Maybe I'll hit gold with Anek but I won't hold my breath. The only thing I could find for Anek right now is a ferry leaving Santorini on Saturday (6/25) at 04:25 arriving Rhodes 21:20 via Heraklion, Sitia, Kassos, and Karpathos. Don't think my husband will want to be on the ferry for 17 hrs.

Thanks lee and heimdall for the info-big help!!

travelerjan

The only swift ferry to Rhodes is that overnight one from Santorini ... you wll not find any fast ones appearing from Crete to Rhodes..... because except for Blue Star, ferries must make many stops, as you have found. As you say, you can "make Rhodes happen" if you are willing to spend 3 days on Santorini but just 2 nights... You might consider the fact that you are young, you will have the opportunity to return to Greece another year, and Rhodes will still be there.

Heimdall

Hi again Chris,

I believe you already have the available options for travel between Santorini and Rhodes.

Your problems with ferries stem from trying to string together a trip to islands on three different routes. The Greek ferry system is designed to link the mainland and islands along specified routes, and provide a lifeline for Greeks who live on these islands. In summer, catamarans are brought out of their winter layovers to serve some of the popular tourist routes, but these are for shorter links than Santorini - Rhodes.

The Blue Star 1/2 route is Piraeus to the Dodecanese, with a stop-off at Santorini 3-4 days per week. On alternate days it stops at Syros instead of Santorini. Until a few years ago that ferry didn't exist, and the only way to get from Santorini to Rhodes was on one of those slow ferries that serve the smaller islands.

If I'm not mistaken, that €200 per person flight you are looking at is actually two flights: one from Santorini to Athens, and another from Athens to Rhodes. You might check for a http://www.skyexpress.gr/ flight direct from Santorini to Rhodes, though. This little Crete-based airline has direct flights between some of the islands, but is very late to publish its timetables, and doesn't seem to be listed on any of the major airline booking websites. It also has a strict 12.5 kg baggage allowance, so you would have to travel light. You may wish to send them an email to enquire on their plans for summer 2011.

chris45ny

You're right heimdall. The flight from Santorini to Rhodes is via Athens. Sky Express won't work for us due to the strict baggage allowance. We're coming to Greece from a month in Egypt with the last week spent diving in the Red Sea area. Bringing scuba gear with us so will be at 20 kilos for sure each. Doesn't make sense to backtrack but it appears it's easier to get to Rhodes out of Athens. If I put Rhodes first I'd have to reschedule everything else and right now don't know if I want to do that. Like I said, we could add days to Crete which isn't a bad option and leave Rhodes for next year but getting there from Turkey before we do Crete again.

I really want to thank everyone for your great advice!!